Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FRAME FOR MOUNTING ON A BOOM MOUNTED
QUICK CHANGE BRACKET
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mounting
frame -for attachment to a tool such as a clamshell,
bucket, grapple, or power unit support for an auger,
hydraulic hammer, or compactor, that will permit quick
attachment to a bracket on an arm or boom, such as a
backhoe or excavator arm.
With the advance of reliable, positive locking
quick attachment brackets, it has become desirable to
use a quick attachment arrangement for interchanging
buckets, power earth augers, compactors, clam shells,
grapples, breakers and other implements as well.
Efforts have been made to provide couplings
that can automatically connect tools to an articulated
arm of an excavator, backhoe or the like, but most of
these require operator action, as well as lacking
reliability. Many of the present quick attachment
brackets are complicated and time consuming in
operation, requiring mechanically removing pins for
connection as well as disconnection. One of the prior
art couplings is illustrated in U.S. Patent No.
5,110,254.
A readily used frame that will easily adapt
for use on a wide variety of attachments is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mounting
frame having an adapter plate that can be attached to
a wide range of tools and accessories for a backhoe or
excavator, or other implements that support a mating
quick change bracket. The mounting frame permits quick
attachment to a boom or arm and is adaptable to be used
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with several types of tools . The frame can be welded to
the tool, or in cases where the tool normally is
attached to an arm with pin connectors, the frame can
include an adapter plate that pins to the existing pin
holes on the tool. The frame can be otherwise supported
on the tool as well.
When the frame has an adapter that is pinned
or bolted onto the tool, one frame can be used with
several different tools that attach to a quick
attachment bracket on a boom or arm. The mounting frame
will mount onto a quick attachment bracket, and is
locked in place for use.
In a preferred form of the present invention
a quick attachment bracket is mounted on a backhoe or
excavator arm and the mounting frame couples to the
quick attachment bracket. The quick attachment bracket
is pivoted on the arm and also connected to the
operating linkage used for controlling the tool. The
quick attachment bracket can be pivoted about a
horizontal axis under power.
The quick attachment bracket as shown carries
a spring loaded latch member that is pivotally mounted
on the bracket so it will pivot to a position wherein it
will engage and hold a frame on a bucket or tool. The
quick attachment bracket and the mounting frame of the
present invention on the tool are made to slide
together. As the bracket slides into place on the
mounting frame under power operation of the boom or arm,
the mounting frame seats in a receptacle on the bracket
at one end and receives and retains a nose piece of the
quick attachment bracket in a retainer slot formed by
encircling walls at the other end of the frame. When an
automatic latch is provided, the latch pivots out of the
way to accommodate the latching movement of the bracket
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relative to the frame. As the bracket seats in position
on the frame, the latch snaps into place under the
spring load to securely hold the frame on the bracket.
The frame and bracket also can be secured by draw bolts
or other fasteners.
The frame is usable on a wide variety of tools
that now are pinned to linkages on the arm of a backhoe
or excavator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a
backhoe or excavator arm having a quick attachment
bracket for receiving and holding a mounting frame made
according to the present invention installed on a
conventional bucket;
Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view with
parts in section and parts broken away showing details
of a quick attachment bracket and a mounting frame using
an adapter plate made according to the present
invention;
Figure 3 is a sectional view showing a
mounting frame and quick attachment bracket in a latched
position;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the quick
attachment bracket detached from its supports on a
backhoe or excavator arm;
Figure 5 is a side perspective view
illustrating a mounting frame used in Figure 1;
Figure 6 is an end view taken generally along
line 6--6 in Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a mounting
frame coupled to a bolt on attachment plate through
support bracket;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the mounting
frame of Figure 7 installed on a power unit:
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Figure 9 is a perspective view of the mounting
frame connected to a pin bracket;
Figure 10 is a perspective view of the
mounting frame and brackets shown in Figure 9 attached
with pins to a power tool;
Figure 11 is a side view of a grapple
utilizing a mounting frame coupled directly to the
grapple, with parts in section and parts broken away;
Figure 12 is a sectional view similar to
Figure 3 showing a bolt on connection for the frame; and
Figure 13 is a sectional view taken on line
13--13 in Figure 12.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A powered implement arm 16 such as on an
excavator or backhoe is used to mount an auxiliary tool,
as shown a bucket 20. The arm 16 is pivotally mounted
to a boom arm section that is in turn pivotally mounted
to the excavator or backhoe represented at 10. The arm
16 is controlled and operated from the mounting
platform, using hydraulic actuators operated from a
source of hydraulic fluid under pressure, and operated
by valve controls 14. An outer end of the arm 16 as
shown mounts a link assembly 18 that is used for
controlling pivoting of a tool represented as a bucket
20 relative to the arm 16. The link assembly 18 is
actuated with a double acting hydraulic actuator shown
at 22 and operated through valve 14. The actuator 22
extends and retracts an actuator rod 22A under power and
controls pivotal movement of a quick attachment mounting
bracket 24 that is pivotally mounted on a pin 26 to the
outer end of the arm 16. The actuator 22, acting
through link assembly 18 will control pivoting of the
bracket 24 about the horizontal axis of the pin 26. The
hydraulic actuator 22 can be attached directly to the
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bracket 24 to eliminate the link assembly 18, if
desired.
The link assembly 18 as shown, has a pair of
links 19A and 19B that are pivotally mounted together
with a pin 19C. The pin 19C also is the attachment pin
for the actuator rod 22A. The links 19A and 19B are
suitably bifurcated to permit attachment on the single
pin 19C. The link 19A is pivotally mounted to the arm
16 with the pin 19D and the outer end of link 19B is
pivotally mounted to quick attachment bracket 24 with a
pin 28.
The quick attachment bracket 24 as seen in
Figures 2, 3 and 4 has a pair of side plates 30, 30 that
support a bar 32 that extends across the space between
the side plates 30 at a nose portion 33. The nose
portion 33 is narrower in fore and aft directions and
will be used to provide a latching portion. The nose
bar 32 is welded to the side plates 30 to form an
assembly. The side plates 30 have lower support ears 36
that are recessed to support a "C" shaped saddle or
retainer 40 that also extends across the space between
the side plates 30 and is welded thereto to secure the
opposite ends of the plates 30 of the quick attachment
bracket 24. A tongue 40C of the saddle extends between
the side plates 30. The saddle is a retainer or latch
portion that is open in direction toward nose or
latching portion 33.
The side plates 30 receive the main mounting
pin 26 through bores 26A and the pin 26 extends across
the space between the side plates 30. The linkage pin
28 also extends through bores 28A and extends across the
space between the side plates 30.
A pin 38 is supported on the outer ends of the
ears 36 of the side plates and is held in place
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partially under a lead-in lip 40A on one outer edge of
the "C" shaped saddle 40. The pin 38 extends outwardly
beyond the side plates 30 to provide support ends 38A,
which are used to support a mounting frame 48, shown
welded to the bucket in the first form of the invention,
during mounting and releasing the frame and attached
tool from the quick attachment bracket 24.
The pivot pin 28, as shown for automatic
operation, also mounts a frame latch 41 (Figures 2 and
3). The latch 41 is a yoke shaped member that has a
pair of latch arms 42 held together with a latch bar 43
at their outer ends . The arms 42 have hubs 44 that also
have bores that pivotally mount over the pivot pin 28.
The hubs 44 have control arms 45 extending therefrom,
and the arms 45 are spring loaded with strong
compression springs 46 that are retained in spring
supports 47 that are fixed to the side plates 30 and
bear against the arms 45. The end 43A of the latch 41
is rounded with a large radius for smooth engagement
when latching.
The latch 41 is thus urged by the springs 46
to rotate in counterclockwise direction as shown in
Figures 2 and 3, and the latch 41 is retained from
rotating beyond a desired position, by a block or
cylinder 84.
The mounting or attachment frame 48 is used to
couple to quick attachment bracket 24 shown in Figures
1-4. The frame 48 is made up of side plates 50, 50 that
are welded to a latch backing plate 52. The latch
backing plate 55 is welded to an adapter plate 49 to
make a plate assembly 55.
The backing plate 52 of frame 48 in the form
shown, is formed to mate with and be retained by the
latch 41 of quick attachment bracket 24 and is perhaps
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best understood from the showing in Figures 2 and 3.
Plate 52 includes a planar flange portion 52A at one
end. In the mid portions of the plate 52 it bends
inwardly through opening 49A in adapter plate 49 that
forms part of a secure mounting for attachment to a
bucket or tool. An inclined latch wall section 52B and
a section 52A of plate 52 is formed to extend through
opening 49A so it protrudes through the opening to an
opposite side of the plate 49 from portion 52A. Side
plates 50 support the plate 52 along its side edges and
the center portions also extend through opening 49A.
The plate 52 has a section 52F that is coplanar with
planar flange portion 52A and on the same side of the
plane of plate 49 as portion 52A. The end of the plate
52 then has a flange 52C formed at right angles to the
plane of the planar flange portion 52A and the wall
section 52F; as well as at right angles to the main
portion 49B of plate 49.
The plate 49 is formed inverted into a channel
53, forming a latch rim with flange 52C. Flange 52C
forms part of the rim or channel 53, as perhaps can be
best seen by referring to Figure 3. The channel 53 is
formed with a base wall 49C bent from plate portion 49B
and an outer wall 49D is formed from plate 49 to extend
back toward the opposite end of the plate 49. The
channel base is double thickness with flange 52C. The
opening 49A formed in the plate 49 permits the latch
section 52B of plate 52 and portions of side plates 50
to extend to position to be engaged by latch 41 when the
frame 48 is attached to the mounting bracket 24.
The side plates 50 of the frame 48 are spaced
wider than the side plates 30, the bar 32 and the "C"
shaped saddle 40 of bracket 24. The side plates 50 thus
will fit over the outside of the quick attachment
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bracket 24 when the bracket 24 seats on the quick
attachment frame 48. The lower ends of the side plates
50 have ear or hook ends 54 with receptacles 56 formed
in them for engaging rod ends 38A for support.
The latch 41 is held in its "ready" position
shown in Figure 1 when the quick attach bracket 24 is
ready to be used, and while many latch holders can be
used, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, a pivoting pawl 58 is
mounted on a shaft 57, on at least one side of the
latch. The pivoting pawl 58 aligns with a hub 44 of the
frame latch 41 and as shown in Figure 3 the pawl 58 is
positioned to engage a stop lug 59 integral with a hub
44. The stop lug has a stop surface 59A for holding the
latch retracted in a retracted or release position. The
pawl 58 is spring loaded with a torsion spring (not
shown) to rotate in clockwise direction. The pawl 58 is
optional, in that the latch 41 can be held in position
by actuator 84, which will be explained subsequently.
The end of the latch 41 protrudes into the area
overlying the "C" shaped saddle 40 when the latch is in
its ready position as shown in Figure 2.
The frame 48 can also be retained in position
with bolts that extend from the frame 48 to the bracket
24 to hold the frame 48 in place.
The attachment frame 48 plate 49 forms an
adapter plate providing a base for support of the frame
to tools such as the bucket 20. The adapter plate 49
defines a reference plane for fastening additional
supports that are used as welding or support brackets.
For example, in Figures 1 through 6, the
adapter plate 49 is supported by brackets 60 that are
welded to the adapter plate 49 and are notched so they
support the interior of channel 53 with end portions 62
and have shank lengths 64 that support the plate and are
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sufficiently high so the latch wall portions 52B and 52H
of the plate 52 will not interfere with the back wall of
a bucket on which the frame 48 is mounted. In Figure 1
the frame 48 is welded to a conventional bucket back
wall 20A. Using the adapter plate 49 and the brackets
60 makes it possible to convert buckets with pivot pin
brackets to be mounted on a quick exchange system, by
cutting off the existing brackets and welding on the
frame 48 using the brackets 60 and the adapter plate 49.
The attachment frame 48 and the added brackets
60 permit mounting the attachment frame through the
adapter plate to any tool that has a flat wall that is
the normal attachment location for the tool.
The channel 53 forms a first latching rim or
interlocking retainer engaging the quick attachment
bracket 24. The interlocking of channel or rim 53 is
done with a linear motion, and the first end of the
attachment bracket 24 has a receptacle, the C shaped
saddle 40, that is open in direction toward the nose
piece or latching portion 33 and forms a first
interlocking latching portion for engagement with rim or
channel 53, while the nose piece 33 forms a second
latching portion.
The side plates 50 have spaced apart ears 70
that protrude from the plate 52. These ears 70 have
slots that receive a cross retainer bar 72, that is thus
spaced from the parallel plate portion 52A of plate
assembly 55 to form a receiver slot 73 for the nose
portion 33 and nose bar 32. Upon sliding the quick
attachment bracket 24 into latched position along plate
52 after the bracket has been pivoted clockwise in
Figure 2 until the edges 32 rest on plate portions 52A
and 52F, the nose bar 32 and nose piece 33 will pass
between the bar 72 and the plate portion 52A as the
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channel or rim 53 seats in the receptacle formed by C
shaped channel 40 on the quick attachment bracket 24.
The attachment frame 48 can easily be
installed on the quick attachment bracket 24 on the arm
16 using a procedure shown schematically in Figures 2
and 3. When the bucket 20 or other tool is to be
attached to the arm 16, the receptacles 56 of side
plates 50 are hooked onto the ends 38A of the rod 38,
with the bucket or tool in an appropriate stored
position. As shown, the bucket can be stored by resting
it on the ground. Elongated tools can be stored either
to be in a substantially horizontal position, or
supported in a vertical rack. Moving the arm 16 to the
desired location and extending the actuator 22 will roll
the quick attachment bracket 24 so that the nose bar 32
and nose portion 33 fit between the side plates 50, 50
and edges 32A can be rested against the plate portions
52A and 52F, which are part of plate assembly 55, when
the receptacles 56 are supported on rod ends 38A. The
relative position of frame 48 is shown in dotted lines
in Figure 3. The channel or rim 53, including flange
52C, forms a retainer rim end that slips into the "C"
shaped saddle 40 receptacle or retainer by moving the
arm 16 about its mounting pivot to linearly slide the
attachment bracket 24 in direction as indicated by arrow
75 in Figure 3 to engage and retain both ends of the
attachment frame. The rim or channel 53 is held in "C"
shaped member 40 and the nose piece 33 slides under the
bar 72 to be held in slot 73 by bar 72, plate portion
52A and side plates 50.
The latch 41, and in particular the ends of
arms 42 and the cross member 43, will slide out of the
way as the quick attachment bracket 24 moves into
position on the frame 48 until the frame is retained by
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the saddle 40 and the nose portion 33, is held in slot
73 by the cross bar 72. The latch 41 will slide on the
plate portion 52F and will then spring back to cause the
end 43A to rest against the inclined latch plate section
52B of plate 52 and hold the quick attachment frame 48
securely on the quick attachment bracket 24. Again, the
nose bar 32 can be attached to a cross member supported
on the top edges of the ears 70 with bolts, if the
automatic latch is not used, as shown in Figure 12.
The latch 41 can be released for disconnecting
frame 48 by actuating suitable actuators 84 that are
mounted on brackets 86 on the side plates 30. The
actuators 84 have rods 85 that act on the arms 45 and
retract the latch 41 to clear the plate 52 and permit
the quick attachment frame 48 to be released from the
quick attachment bracket 24. Pawl 58 will seat on the
surface 59A to hold the latch 41 in its released
position after the quick attachment frame 48 has been
removed. The pawl 58 is spring loaded with a torsion
spring toward the surface 59A. A pry bar or lever can
be used in recess 80 for unlatching the latch 44, for
manual operation. For unlatching the motion of the
bracket 24 can be reversed to move so the frame 48 is in
the relative dotted position of Figure 3. The
receptacles 56 will receive the ends 38A of rod 38, so
as the bracket 24 is lifted away from the frame 48 and
the tool, the frame 48 and tool will hang on rod 38 for
permitting movement to a stored location.
The bucket 20 or other tool thus can be
quickly attached to or removed from a backhoe or
excavator arm when using the adapter plate and frame of
the present invention.
The adapter plate and frame for the quick
attachment bracket are usable in a wide variety of
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installations. The adapter plate and attachment frame
48 is shown in Figures 7 and 8 assembled to a bolt on
plate used with a hydraulic breaker tool. The brackets
60 are replaced with brackets 90 that form a desired
angle to tilt the plate 49 relative to the bolt on plate
92. The plate 92 has bolt holes 93 at its edges. The
brackets 90 are positioned along the opposite sides of
the plate 49 and provide clearance for the latch
bracket. The lifting recesses or receptacles 56 are
raised so there is clearance to attach the bracket 24 in
the manner shown in Figure 3. Figure 8 is a perspective
view from the opposite side from Figure 7 and shows the
plate 92 bolted to the frame or housing 94 of a
hydraulic breaker 96. The hydraulic motor is not shown,
but is on the interior of the frame or housing 94..
The attachment frame 48 in Figures 7 and 8 is
numbered as in the previous form of the invention, and
the channel 53, including plate portion 52C are
reinforced and supported with a proj ecting section 95 of
the brackets 90 that fits inside the channel formed.
The attachment bracket is attached to the frame 48 as
described before, with the rod ends 38A supporting the
frame 48 through the receptacles 56 in the side plates
50, and then rolling the bracket against the plate
assembly 55. The bracket is then slid to push the nose
portion 33 into the slot 73 as the rim or channel 53
seats in "C" shaped section 40 so the frame is retained
on the quick attachment bracket. The latch 41 then
locks the two parts together, or the two parts can be
bolted to hold them from reverse movement, which
movement uncouples the frame and bracket.
Figures 9 and 10 show the attachment frame and
adapter plate mounted on brackets for use with an
implement the has existing pin connections for
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attachment to a boom or arm. Such pin connections can
be pins such as pins 26 and 28 shown in Figures 1 and 2,
so the auxiliary tool is supported directly on the
linkage on the boom. In this form of the invention, the
frame 48 is made as before and has side brackets 100
welded to opposite edges of the adapter plate 49, which
forms part of the plate assembly 55, and which has the
end channel 53 that is retained in the quick attachment
bracket 24. The frame 48 and brackets 100 make an
adapter assembly 101. The brackets 100 have pin openings
102 surrounded by hubs 103 that align between the spaced
brackets 100. There are two set of openings 102 on each
of the brackets 100. The openings are of size to
receive mounting pins 104 of standard size to fit into
the mounting holes of pin mounted auxiliary tools.
The brackets 100 have recesses 108 to provide
clearance for the quick attachment frame 24 adjacent the
retainer channel or rim 53, and also have reinforcement
portions 110 that are welded to the channel 53 of the
adapter plate 49.
In Figure 10 the brackets 100 and the frame 48
are shown mounted on the pin mount flanges 112 of a
frame or housing 114 of a hydraulic breaker 116. The
brackets 100 position the adapter plate assemble 55 at
the proper angle for mounting the tool onto the pins at
the end of a boom or arm. The pin connections can be
used to transfer the assembly 101 of the frame 48 and
the brackets 100 from one attachment to another.
Buckets, earth augers, clamshells, and a variety of
other tools use pin connectors, and the assembly 101 can
be used with any attachment that has the pin connectors
to convert the attachment to a quick attach coupling
usable with the quick attachment bracket 24.
The frame 48, including the retainer rim
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formed by channel 53 and the flange 52C and the retainer
slot 73 are used as described to effect retaining the
frame 48 in position on the attachment bracket 24.
Figure 11 shows a grapple 120 that has three
spaced grapple teeth 122 (two are shown where the
closest one is broken away). The teeth 122 are mounted
on an end wall assembly 123, that is also used for
mounting the bracket 48. The wall 123 can be welded to
the frame 48. Brackets 124 can be welded to the frame
48 if desired, and supported on the end wall of the
grapple.
The frame 48 can be welded in place on the
grapple and then attached to the bracket 24, as shown
and described in relation to the previous figures.
Grapples are used with "thumbs" or other
reaction members against which the grapple will clamp
loads, and the quick attachment bracket and frame
permits changing the grapple to a different style
without unpinning the thumb or reaction member. This
greatly simplifies changing the grapples.
It should be noted that the frame 48 is used
on buckets of all sizes, and wider buckets are
accommodated easily, without altering the frame.
In Figures 12 and 13 show a bolt connection
for securing the frame 48 to the bracket 24. The latch
41 and pawl 52, actuator 84 and spring 46 can all be
eliminated from the bracket assembly. The remaining
parts are numbered as in the first form of the
invention. The ears 72 have flat edge surfaces 79, on
which end flanges 130 of a cross bar 132 rest. The
cross bar 132 has a pair of bolt holes through which
bolts 134 extend and the bolts are long enough to extend
through aligning holes in the nose bar 32. When the
frame 48 and the bracket are slid almost into
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engagement, the bolts 134 can be inserted through the
aligning holes on the cross bar 132 and the nose bar 32
and tightened to securely hold the bracket and the frame
48 together.
The nose bar 32 and the cross bar can be
clamped so they are in contact when the bolts are fully
tightened. This option of bolting the parts together is
usable as shown with a frame that also can be used with
an automatic latch, since the plate 52 can be used as
formed for the automatic latch with the bolted
connection.
Fast reliable operation for interchanging
buckets or other attachments or tools is achieved. The
ability to remove the bucket with the bucket off the
ground without having the bucket fall freely is helpful,
and is achieved by use of the overlapping ears 54 and
receptacles 56 on the frame 48, in combination with the
ends 38A of rod 38.
Although the present invention has been
described with reference to preferred embodiments,
workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes
may be made in form and detail without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention.
