Quick-release fastener device formed of two connection parts, for attaching a tool to the end of the arm of a machine

Abstract

Quick-release fastener including a first connection part for attaching to a tool and a second connection part for attaching to an arm of a machine, the first part including a base plate with a front and rear edge, a coupling pin or hook protruding from the lower face of, and a locking hook protruding from the upper face of, the base plate. The second part includes a hook or pin to couple to the coupling pin or hook of the first part, and a slidably mounted locking plate, the locking hook of the first part passing through a through-opening formed in the slidable locking plate of the second part to hook to an edge of the opening once the locking plate has slid to lock the quick-release fastener device. The front edge of the base plate of the first part defines a notch, in particular in a flared shape.

Claims

1. A quick-release fastener device for attaching a tool such as a bucket to the end of the arm of a machine such as a hydraulic shovel or the like, comprising a first connection part (1) intended to be attached to the bucket and a second connection part (2) intended to be attached to the arm, the first part (1) comprising a base plate (3) having a front edge (11) and a rear edge (10), a coupling hook (4, 5) or pin protruding from the lower face of the base plate (3) on the rear side, and a locking hook (6) protruding from the upper face of the base plate (3), the second part (2) comprising a pin (9) or hook intended to be coupled to the coupling hook (4, 5) or pin, as the case may be, of the first part (1), and a slidably mounted locking plate (32) biased by spring means, the locking hook (6) of the first part (1) being intended to pass through a through-opening formed in the slidable locking plate (32) of the second part (2) in order to be hooked to an edge of the opening once the locking plate (32) has slid in order to ensure the locking of the quick-release fastener device, characterised in that the front edge (11) of the base plate (3) of the first part (1) defines a notch (15), in particular in a flared shape.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the locking hook (6) has a shank part (7) and a head part (8) which projects laterally from the shank part (7) in the forward direction, and the notch (15) extends so far as to be vertically in line with the head part (8) of the locking hook (6), in particular as far as the shank part (7).

3. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the first connection part (1) comprises at least one rear tab (4, 5), in particular two rear tabs (4, 5), one left and one right, in the form of coupling hooks intended to be coupled to a pin (9) of the second connection part (2).

4. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the front edge (11) is notched in that it comprises a central portion (12) and two portions, one right (13) and one left (14), which are tilted with respect to the central portion (12), in particular by an angle of between 30 and 60, in particular of 45, so as to form the notch (15).

5. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the front edge defines two front prominences (16, 17), one left and one right, on either side of the notch when viewed in a longitudinal section from back to front, each prominence comprising an upper end portion that is curved, in particular in the form of a circular arc, having its concavity facing downwards.

6. The device according to claim 5, characterised in that the two prominences, one left and one right, end in two protuberances, one right and one left, respectively.

7. The device according to claim 6, characterised in that, when viewed in a longitudinal section from back to front, each protuberance comprises, starting from the lower surface of the base plate (3), a curved upper end portion (18) having its concavity facing downwards, which is preceded by an intermediate curved portion (19) having its concavity facing upwards, which in turn is preceded by a rectilinear portion (20) that is vertical or substantially vertical, for example forming an angle of 5 to 10 with the vertical, and extends up to the upper face of the base plate (3).

8. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that, in the upper surface of the base plate (3) of the first part, left-hand and right-hand side shoulders (21) are formed which define respective left-hand and right-hand flow channels which extend between the rear edge (11) and the front edge (10) and through which water and/or soil and/or other waste products can flow.

9. The device according to claim 7, characterised in that, when viewed from above, inner side walls of the shoulders each comprise a rear portion (25), an intermediate portion (26) and a front portion (27), front ends of the intermediate portions being closer to the longitudinal central axis of the base plate (3) than the rear ends are.

10. The device according to claim 8, characterised in that upper surfaces of the shoulders (21) are sloped downwards from the outside inwards.

11. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that at a front end of the second connection part (2), two abutments (52, 53), one left and one right, project from the lower face of the base plate (30).

12. The device according to claim 11, characterised in that the front edge defines two front prominences (16, 17), one left and one right, on either side of the notch when viewed in a longitudinal section from back to front, each prominence comprising an upper end portion that is curved, in particular in the form of a circular arc, having its concavity facing downwards, further characterised in that upper surfaces of the shoulders (21) are sloped downwards from the outside inwards, further characterised in that, in the upper surface of the base plate (3) of the first part, left-hand and right-hand side shoulders (21) are formed which define respective left-hand and right-hand flow channels which extend between the rear edge (11) and the front edge (10) and through which water and/or soil and/or other waste products can flow, and further characterised in that there is formed in each abutment (52, 53) a respective region (50, 51) having a surface whose shape is complementary to the upper end surface of the prominences (16, 17) of the first part (1) such that said prominences (16, 17) are in surface contact with said regions (50, 51) when the device is in the locking position.

13. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that two protrusions (40), one left and one right, project from the lower face of the base plate (30) of the second part in the region of the rear edge.

14. The device according to claim 13, characterised in that each protrusion (40) comprises a central, concave region, the concavity of which faces downwards and is of a complementary shape to the upper, convex face (42) of the two hook-shaped tabs (4, 5), one left and one right, of the first part (1) such that the two protrusions (40) come into surface contact with the two hook-shaped tabs (4, 5) when the device is in the locking position.

15. A first connection part (1) intended to be part of a quick-release fastener device for attaching a tool such as a bucket to the end of the arm of a machine such as a hydraulic shovel or the like, said device comprising the first connection part (1) intended to be attached to the bucket and a second connection part (2) intended to be attached to the arm, the first part (1) comprising a base plate (3) having a front edge (11) and a rear edge (10), a coupling hook (4, 5) or pin protruding from the lower face of the base plate (3), and a locking hook (6) protruding from the upper face of the base plate (3), the second part (2) comprising a pin (9) or hook intended to be coupled to the coupling hook (4, 5) or pin, as the case may be, of the first part (1), and a slidably mounted locking plate (32) biased by spring means, the locking hook (6) of the first part (1) being intended to pass through a through-opening formed in the slidable locking plate (32) of the second part (2) in order to be hooked to an edge of the opening once the locking plate (32) has slid in order to ensure the locking of the quick-release fastener device, characterised in that the front edge (11) of the base plate (3) of the first part (1) defines a notch (15), in particular in a flared shape.

Description

[0025] Solely by way of example, preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of an embodiment of a first connection part of a quick-release fastener device according to the invention;

[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective top view of an embodiment of a second connection part of a quick-release fastener device according to the invention, capable of interacting with the first connection part from FIG. 1;

[0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rear of the second connection part from FIG. 2;

[0029] FIG. 4 is a side view from the right-hand side of a middle part of the quick-release fastener device in the locked state, the first and second connection parts interacting with one another;

[0030] FIG. 5 is a perspective bottom view of a front part of the second connection part from FIG. 2;

[0031] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a front part of the quick-release fastener device in the locked state, the first and second connection parts interacting with one another;

[0032] FIG. 7 shows the quick-release fastener device implemented on a bucket, the second connection part from FIG. 2 being attached to the arm of the machine (not shown in the figure) and being locked to the first connection part 1, which in turn is attached to the bucket;

[0033] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a different embodiment of the coupling device in the locked state, in which the quick-release fastener and the connection device are locked together;

[0034] FIG. 9 is a perspective top view of the quick-release fastener of the device from FIG. 8, in the non-armed state;

[0035] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the quick-release fastener from FIG. 9 in which a wrench has been coupled to the quick-release fastener in order to switch it to the armed state;

[0036] FIG. 11 is a substantially identical perspective view to that in FIG. 10 in which the wrench has been pivoted forwards in order to pull the upper locking plate forwards and thus switch the quick-release fastener into the armed position;

[0037] FIG. 12 is a side view of the device from FIG. 8 in an unlocked state, the quick-release fastener being in the armed state from FIG. 11 and the wrench having been withdrawn;

[0038] FIG. 13 is a sectional view along the longitudinal central axis of the device in the non-armed state from FIG. 12;

[0039] FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the device identical to the view in FIG. 13, still in an unlocked state, but in which the head of the locking hook has entered the openings in the base plate and locking plate of the connection part;

[0040] FIG. 15 is a larger-scale view of the part circled in FIG. 14;

[0041] FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the device identical to the views in FIGS. 13 and 14, still in an unlocked state, but in which the head of the locking hook has moved beyond the openings in the base plate and locking plate of the connection part;

[0042] FIG. 17 is a larger-scale view of the part circled in FIG. 16;

[0043] FIG. 18 is a sectional view of the device identical to the views in FIGS. 13, 14 and 16, but with the device in the locked state, as also shown in FIG. 8;

[0044] FIG. 19 is a larger-scale view of the part circled in FIG. 18;

[0045] FIGS. 20 to 25 are identical sectional views to FIGS. 13, 14, 16 and 18, showing the different relative positions of the two parts of the device during the unlocking and uncoupling operation;

[0046] FIG. 26 is a larger-scale view of the part circled in FIG. 23;

[0047] FIG. 27 is a larger-scale view of the part circled in FIG. 24;

[0048] FIG. 28 is a larger-scale view of the part circled in FIG. 25;

[0049] FIG. 29 is a perspective top view of the first connection part of the device shown in FIG. 8; and

[0050] FIG. 30 is a perspective bottom view of the second connection part of the device shown in FIG. 8.

[0051] In the various drawings, elements having the same function are denoted by the same reference numeral.

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a first connection part 1 of a quick-release fastener device according to an embodiment of the invention. This first part 1 is intended to be rigidly connected to a bucket, in particular by the underside, and to be coupled to the second connection part 2 shown in FIG. 2, which in turn is rigidly connected, in particular by the top side, to the arm of the machine by means of vertical flanges and pins (not shown).

[0053] The first connection part 1 comprises a base plate 3, from the rear edge 10 of which there project two hook-shaped coupling tabs 4, 5, one right and one left, which are intended to be hooked to a spindle or pin 9 protruding from the second part 2 in order to achieve the coupling of the two parts 1 and 2.

[0054] A locking hook 6 extends substantially vertically with respect to the upper face of the plate 3 in that it comprises a shank part 7 and a head part 8 which extends laterally forwards from the shank part 7.

[0055] The front edge 11 is notched in that it comprises a rectilinear central portion 12 and two rectilinear portions 13 and 14, one right and one left, which are tilted with respect to the rectilinear central portion 12, in particular by an angle of between 3 and 60, in particular of 45, so as to form a notch 15. The notch 15 extends under the head part 8 of the hook 6, in particular as far as the shank part 7.

[0056] The front edge 11 defines, on either side of the notch, two prominences 16, 17, one left and one right, which end in the form of two protuberances, one right and one left, respectively. When viewed in a longitudinal section (from back to front), each protuberance comprises, starting from the lower surface of the base plate 3, a curved end portion 18 having its concavity facing downwards, which is preceded by a curved intermediate portion 19 having its concavity facing upwards, which is in turn preceded by a rectilinear portion 20 that is vertical or substantially vertical, for example forming an angle of 5 to 10 with the vertical, and extends up to the upper surface of the base plate 3.

[0057] Furthermore, in the upper surface of the plate 3, left-hand and right-hand side shoulders 21 are formed which, together with a central seat 22, define respective left-hand and right-hand flow channels which extend from the rear edge to the front edge and through which water and/or soil and waste products can flow. When viewed from above, the outer side walls of the shoulders are substantially rectilinear from the rear edge to the front edge, whereas the inner side walls of the shoulders each comprise a rectilinear rear portion 25, a rectilinear intermediate portion 26 and a rectilinear front portion 27. The rectilinear front and rear portions 25 and 27 are parallel to one another and parallel to the outer side walls, the intermediate portion being tilted with respect to the two portions 25 and 27, in particular by an angle of between 10 and 45, in particular between 20 and 30, the front ends of the intermediate portions 26 being closer to the centre than the rear ends are. The upper surfaces of the shoulders 21 are sloped downwards from the outside inwards.

[0058] The head part 8 of the hook comprises a front upper surface that is tilted with respect to the vertical, in particular by an angle of between 3 and 60, and a lower surface 23 that faces downwards while being substantially horizontal but in particular slightly tilted by an angle of a few degrees. The head part 8 further comprises two lugs 24, one left and one right, which extend laterally towards the left and the right with respect to the rest of the head part 8.

[0059] FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a connection part. A different embodiment is shown in FIG. 9. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the locking plate and the springs have been omitted. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, they are identical to those in the embodiment of FIG. 9.

[0060] The second connection part 2 comprises a base plate 30, from the lower face of which two rings 31 extend, through which the pin or spindle 9 is intended to pass in order to allow the two connection parts 1, 2 to be coupled together by hooking the hooks 4 and 5 to the spindle 9.

[0061] Moreover, an upper locking plate 32 is mounted on the base plate 30 so as to be slidable with respect thereto, the slidable plate 32 being biased rearwards by means of two springs 700, the respective rear ends of the springs being attached to lugs 33 formed in the region of the raised rear edge of the plate 30.

[0062] In both the base plate 30 and the slidable plate 32, respective through-openings 34 and 35 are formed, which face one another and are of a substantially rectangular shape having a width dimension that is substantially equal to the width dimension of the head 8 of the hook in the region of the two lugs 24, the size of the openings being sufficient, however, to allow the hook 6 to pass therethrough while ensuring a certain amount of centring achieved owing to the substantially identical width dimensions of both the hook in the region of the lugs 24 and the rectangular through-openings.

[0063] At the front end of the second connection part 2, two abutments, 52, 53, one left and one right, project from the lower face of the base plate 30. There is formed in each abutment 52, 53 a respective recess 50, 51 whose shape is complementary to that of the protuberances of the prominences 16, 17 such that said protuberances are received within said recesses when the device is in the locking position. Each recess is open on the underside, laterally to the outside, and rearwards. When the protuberances are received in the recesses 50, 51, the vertical inner side faces of the protuberances bear against a respective inner wall 54, 55 of the recesses 50, 51.

[0064] Two protrusions 40, one left and one right, project from the lower face of the base plate 30 in the region of the rear edge. Each protrusion comprises a central, concave region, the concavity of which faces downwards and is of a complementary shape to the upper, convex face 42 of the two hook-shaped tabs 4, 5, one left and one right, such that, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 4, the two protrusions come into surface contact with the two tabs 4, 5 when the device is in the locking position.

[0065] Two fingers 41, one left and one right, project from the upper face of the base plate 30 and are intended for interacting with flexible strips 36 (well known in the art; see in particular FR-A-2946061) in order to ensure additional locking safety by preventing the slidable plate 31 from falling down in the event that the springs constraining it let go or break.

[0066] Two studs 60, one left and one right, project from the upper face of the base plate 30 on the front side, substantially in the region of the front edge of the opening in the slidable plate 31, their function being to receive a cylindrical spindle 37 (omitted in FIG. 2 but visible in FIG. 9) on each side, which is intended for holding the locking plate in its receptacle as it moves in translation during the locking operation. Said spindles 37 are offset upwards by a few millimetres with respect to the locking plate in order to give said plate a certain degree of tipping freedom over an angle alpha (shown in FIG. 16) when the first connection part 1 lifts the locking plate up in order to trigger the locking. These cylindrical spindles 37 are also used as a maximum abutment during the unlocking of the plate.

[0067] A central hook-shaped toe 61 projects from the upper face of the base plate 30 and forms a stop for the locking plate as it moves rearwards.

[0068] To implement the locked connection between the first and second connection parts of the quick-release fastener device, the operator first ensures that the two hooks 4 and 5 of the first part 1 are hooked to the spindle 9 protruding from the second connection part 2, then brings about a relative rotational movement of the two connection parts by means of the arm of the machine.

[0069] FIGS. 11 to 28 show the different locking and unlocking steps.

[0070] Firstly, before the locking operation, the second connection part 2, in particular the locking plate 32, has to be placed in an armed position, i.e. shifted forwards so that its through-opening 35 is substantially in line with the through-opening 34 in the base plate.

[0071] To achieve this arming, a fork-shaped wrench 200 is used, there being a stud 201 protruding laterally from one 204 of the prongs of the fork whereas the other prong 205 has a shape adapted to the shape of the front edge of the base plate so that, once the stud 201 has been inserted into a hole 202 formed in a bump 203 projecting upwards from the locking plate, said fork can come into contact with the front edge of the base plate 30 in order to raise it and thus, by means of the wrench, pull the locking plate 32 forwards with respect to the base plate, counter to the springs 700, while passing over a hump 500 protruding from the upper face of the base plate 30. This hump 500 has a rear face 501 that is tilted, in particular by around 45, and a vertical front face 502, the tilt of the rear face 501 allowing a rear rim 503 of the locking plate to pass over the hump as the plate moves forwards. The steps for switching the plate into the armed state are identical to those shown in FIGS. 22 to 28 for illustrating the unlocking and uncoupling of the two connection parts.

[0072] In the armed position, the rear face of the rear rim 503 of the locking plate 32 bears against the vertical front face 502 of the hump 500, in particular in accordance with surface-to-surface contact.

[0073] FIGS. 12 to 19 show the different relative positions of the two connection parts 1 and 2 during the coupling and locking operations.

[0074] In FIGS. 12 and 13, the two parts 1 and 2 are hooked to one another by the hooks 4, 5 and the spindle 9, the locking plate 32 being in the armed position.

[0075] First, the two connection parts continue their relative rotational movement until a shoe 505 protruding from the central seat 22 behind the head of the hook 6 abuts the lower face 504 of the rear rim 503 of the locking plate 32, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15.

[0076] The effect of the two connection parts continuing their relative rotation is that the locking plate tips by an angle Alpha (permitted by the spindles 37 being positioned offset slightly upwards, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17), the effect of which is to raise the rear rim 503 of the locking plate 32 beyond the hump 500. At the same time, the head of the hook 6 is passed above the locking plate.

[0077] Since the rear rim 503 then no longer abuts the hump 500, the action of the springs 700 is no longer obstructed, and so the plate 32 is pulled rearwards until an upper tilted face 505 of the front rim 506 of the plate 32 becomes wedged against the lower bearing surface 23 of the head 8 of the hook 6. In particular, the upper face 505 and the bearing surface 23 are tilted with respect to the horizontal by the same angle. The device is thus locked, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19.

[0078] FIG. 5 shows the connection part 1 attached to the bucket, and the second connection part 2 attached to the arm of the machine by means of two flanges (shown but without a reference numeral) and pins (not shown). The two parts are in the locked position.

[0079] FIGS. 29 and 30 show the first and second parts of the device shown in FIG. 8, illustrating the differences between the device in FIGS. 1 and 2 and that in FIG. 8.

[0080] As can be seen in FIG. 29, the two prominences 16, 17 defined on either side of the notch by the front edge 11 of the first connection part 1 have an upper end surface that is rounded, having its concavity facing downwards.

[0081] The abutments 52, 53 of the second connection part have a lower surface, each comprising two regions, namely an outer region 50 and an inner region, the outer region 50 having a surface whose shape is complementary to that of the upper end surface of the two prominences, whereas the inner region is cuneiform.

[0082] In particular, as is the case with the upper end surface of the prominences, the surface of the outer region 50 is tilted downwards from the outside inwards.