RETAINER FOR NON-ROTATING CONNECTING PIN

DISPOSITIF DE RETENUE POUR AXE DE LIAISON NON TOURNANT

English Abstract

An anti-rotation pin structure for an agricultural implement includes a
retainer laser
cut from flat stock to include a pin-receiving opening with opposing grooves
which are
adapted to receive the ends of a cross pin. The retainer is secured to one
side of support
structure and receives a simple support pin having small bores extending
diametrically
through its ends. The cross pin is inserted through one of the bores with the
ends of the
cross pin projecting radially outwardly a short distance from opposite sides
of the support
pin. The end of the support pin opposite the cross pin end is inserted through
the openings
until the projecting cross pin ends seat in the opposing grooves. Thereafter,
a quick lock pin
is inserted through the bore in the end opposite the cross pin end to fix the
cross pin inside
the pin retainer and lock the support pin against rotation.

Claims

CLAIMS
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege
is
claimed are defined as follows:
1. An implement pin structure for pivotally connecting relatively movable
first and
second members including pin-receiving apertures, the pin structure
comprising:
a cylindrical pin of preselected diameter having an outer surface, a shaft
axis and
first and second opposed ends, the first and second ends including respective
first and
second bores extending perpendicularly to the axis;
a cross pin supported within the first bore and including an outermost end
extending
radially outwardly from the outer surface;
anti-rotation structure connected to the first apertured member including an
aperture
and a cross pin receiving groove extending radially from the aperture;
the cylindrical pin insertable through the anti-rotation structure aperture
and through
the pin-receiving apertures in the first and second members, wherein the
outermost end of
the cross pin seats in the groove to thereby prevent rotation of the
cylindrical pin relative to
the first apertured member; and
a locking pin selectively insertable and removable from the second bore and
limiting
axial movement of the cylindrical pin relative to the first apertured member
to thereby retain
the outermost end of the cross pin in the cross pin receiving groove.
2. The pin structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the locking pin comprises
a
shank slidable by hand within the second bore independently of any tools.
3. The pin structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cross pin includes
opposed
ends extending radially outwardly from the outer surface of the cylindrical
pin, and the cross
pin receiving groove extends radially from opposite sides of the aperture in
the anti-rotation
structure.
4. The pin structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the anti-rotation
structure
comprises a flat piece of laser cut stock fixed to the first member.
5. The pin structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the anti-rotation
structure is cast
integrally with first member and comprises an outward projection.
6. The pin structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the anti-rotation
structure
comprises a thin member projecting outwardly from the first member, and
wherein the first

end of the cylindrical pin is substantially contained within the thin member
when the cross
pin is seated in the groove.
7. The pin structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein the locking pin further
includes a
stepped end connected to the shank and a locking bail rotatably supported by
the stepped
end and movable to a locking position encircling the second end of the
cylindrical pin.
8. The pin structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the opposed ends of the
cross
pin are spaced a preselected distance apart, the anti-rotation structure
aperture has a
diameter approximately equal to but slightly greater than the diameter of the
cylindrical pin,
and the groove has ends spaced a distance approximately equal to but greater
than the
preselected distance.
9. The pin structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cross pin comprises a
cross
pin.
10. In an implement including connecting structure having first and second
apertured plates with spaced outer sidewalls, and an apertured element,
connecting pin
structure pivotally connecting the apertured element to the apertured plates,
the connecting
pin structure comprising:
a pivot pin of preselected diameter having opposed first and second ends
spaced a
distance apart greater than the spacing between the outer sidewalls;
a cross pin extending radially outwardly from the first end of the pivot pin;
the second end of the pin including a second end bore extending through the
diameter, the second end insertable through the apertured plates and apertured
element
with the second end bore extending outwardly of the outer sidewall of the
second plate;
an anti-rotation retainer secured to the outer sidewall of the first plate and
receiving
first end of the pivot pin, the retainer including a groove for receiving a
portion of the cross
pin; and
a hand operated locking pin selectively lockable in the bore for limiting
axial
movement of the pivot pin and maintaining the portion of the cross pin in the
groove to
thereby prevent rotation of the pivot pin relative to the first plate.
11. The connecting pin structure set forth in claim 10 wherein the anti-
rotation
retainer comprises a flat member projecting from the outer sidewall of the
first plate and
having an apertured portion for receiving the pivot pin, the first end of the
pivot pin being
substantially retained within the apertured portion when the locking pin is
locked in the bore,

wherein the groove comprises a radial extension of the apertured portion for
receiving an
outermost portion of the cross pin.
12. The connecting pin structure as set forth in claim 11 wherein the first
end
includes a first end bore and wherein the cross pin is secured in the first
end bore.
13. The connecting structure as set forth in claim 12 wherein the cross pin
comprises a spring pin.
14. The connecting structure as set forth in claim 12 wherein the spacing
between
the first end bore and the second end bore prevents movement of the cross pin
from the
groove while permitting unhindered insertion and removal of the locking pin by
hand.

Description

CA 02274237 1999-06-10
RETAINER FOR NON-ROTATING CONNECTING PIN
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1) Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates generally to agricultural implements and, more
specifically, to pin construction for such implements.
2) Related Art:
Pins are used at numerous locations on implements to connect two or more
structures which rotate or otherwise move relative to each other. With the
relative
movement of the structures, there is a tendency for the connecting pin to
rotate also. Often
to reduce pin and pin support wear and to maintain a desired pin orientation,
an anti-rotation
device is employed to fix the pin against rotation. Some current weldments
with anti-rotation
devices fix the connecting pin with a tube and a through hole arrangement.
Such devices
can significantly increase clearance requirements and often include costly
tubing wherein
the inner diameter has to be held to close tolerances. Further, removing the
pin can be
difficult or require specified torque values be applied when reinstalling the
pin or other
hardware.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved anti-
rotation
pin structure. It is a further object to provide such a structure which
overcomes most or all
of the aforementioned problems.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved anti-
rotation pin
structure which is simple and relatively inexpensive in construction and easy
to attach and
remove. It is a further object to provide such a structure which obviates tube
and through
hole arrangements.
It is another object to provide an improved anti-rotation pin structure which
facilitates
removal and reinstallation of the pin without requiring tools or torque
specifications. It is yet
another object to provide such a pin structure which is easy to manufacture
and is
particularly adaptable to laser cutting techniques.
A pin retainer constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention
includes a retainer laser cut from flat stock to include a pin-receiving
opening with opposing
grooves which are adapted to receive the ends of a cross pin or spring pin. In
an alternate
embodiment, the retainer shape can be designed directly into a pin support
casting. The
retainer is secured to one side of the pin support structure with the pin-
receiving opening
aligned with a corresponding pin opening in the pin support structure to
receive a simple
support pin having small bores extending diametrically through its ends. The
spring pin is

CA 02274237 1999-06-10
inserted through one of the bores with the ends of the spring pin projecting
radially
outwardly a short distance from opposite sides of the support pin. The end of
the support
pin opposite the spring pin end is inserted through the openings until the
projecting spring
pin ends seat in the opposing grooves. Thereafter, a quick lock pin is
inserted through the
bore in the end opposite the spring pin end to fix the spring pin inside the
pin retainer and
lock the support pin against rotation.
The pin construction is simple and inexpensive, and easy to attach and remove.
Tubes having inner diameters with close tolerances are eliminated, and
clearance
requirements are kept to a minimum. The spring pin and quick lock pin
arrangement is easy
and inexpensive to manufacture, and the support pin can be easily removed and
reinstalled
without tools or special torque requirements. Once installed, the support pin
is held against
rotation by the retainer.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed
description in
view of the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of a portion of a connecting structure showing the
retainer and
the spring pin end of the connecting pin.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the connecting structure of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the connecting pin of FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of one side of the connecting
structure of
FIG. 1 with the connecting pin removed to more clearly show the details of the
retainer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, therein is shown connecting structure 10 for
an
implement or the like (not shown). The connecting structure 10 includes first
and second
parallel spaced plates or elements 12 and 14 with outer sidewalls 12a and 14a.
The
structure 10 is attached to a first portion of the implement and a supported
element 18, such
as a cylinder end or a beam connected to a second portion of the implement, is
pivotally
connected between the plates at aperture locations 22 and 24 by connecting pin
structure
indicated generally at 28. A pin anti-rotation retainer 30 is secured to the
outer sidewall 12a
and receives one end of the pin structure 28.
The pin structure 28 includes a cylindrical pin member 38 having a shaft axis
38a
2

CA 02274237 1999-06-10
and opposed beveled ends 42 and 44. The ends 42 and 44 include small bores 62
and 64
which are parallel to each other and extend through the diameter of the member
38
(perpendicular to the shaft axis 38a). A small cross pin such as a spring pin
or roll pin 72 is
inserted into the bore 62 and extends radially outwardly a short distance from
the outer
surface of the pin member 38 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The cross pin 72 can also be
solid if the
specific joint requires a stronger pin. The spacing between the bores 62 and
64 is greater
than the spacing between the outer sidewalls 12a and 14a so that
insertionlremoval of pin
74 by hand is unhindered. The spacing, however, is small enough so there is
insufficient
axial movement of the pin 38 to disengage pin 72 from the retainer 30.
A conventional quick attach pin 74 (FIG. 2) is selectively insertable into and
removable from the bore 64. The quick attach pin 74 includes a stepped end 76
pivotally
supporting a locking bail 78 that is rotatable upwardly from a locking
position (shown)
encircling the end 44 when the pin shank is supported in the bore 64 to an
unlocking
position (not shown) offset outwardly from the end. When the bail 78 is in the
unlocking
position, the shank of the pin 74 can be slid into and out of the bore 64 by
hand
independently of tools.
The anti-rotation retainer 30 is preferably laser cut and fabricated from flat
stock to
include a central aperture 82 which, when the retainer is secured to the side
12a, aligns with
the apertures 22 and 24 (FIG. 4). The retainer 30 may be cast integrally with
the element
12 rather than laser cut. The aperture 82 has a diameter approximately equal
to but slightly
greater than the diameter of the pin member 38. Diametrically opposed grooves
or spring
pin-receiving recesses 86 and 88 project outwardly from the aperture 82 and
have a depth
slightly greater than the diameter of the spring pin 72.
Initially, the spring pin 72 is inserted in the bore 62 of the pin member 38.
The
opposite end 44 of the pin member 38 is then inserted through the aperture
locations 22 and
24 and through a bore in the supported element 18. The end 44 of the pin
member 38
extends through a washer 90 which abuts the sidewall 14a (FIG. 2). The
radially projecting
ends of the spring pin 72 seat in the grooves 86 and 88 with the beveled end
42 projecting
only a small amount axially from the outer wall of the retainer 30. The shank
of the pin 74 is
inserted through the bore 64, and the bail 78 is rotated downwardly (as seen
in FIG. 2) over
the end 44 to retain the pin 74 in position. The grooves 86 and 88 secure the
pin member
38 against rotation relative to the plates 12 and 14 so that the supported
element 18 rotates
3

CA 02274237 1999-06-10
on the wide surface of the pin member between the sidewalls 12 and 14 rather
than the pin
member rotating in the narrow aperture locations 22 and 24. A relatively
narrow pin
arrangement with pin insertion and removal by hand without need for tools and
with
minimum clearance requirements is thus provided.
Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent that
various
modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as
defined in
the accompanying claims.
4

Representative Drawing