PIN GRABBER COUPLER

DISPOSITIF D'ACCOUPLEMENT D'ATTACHE A ACCOUPLEMENT PAR AXE

English Abstract

Coupler has a safety lock and a latching hook. The safety lock pivots between an unlocked position in which it does not contact a first implement pin receivable within a pair of apertures, and a locked position in which it retains the first pin within the apertures. The latching hook pivots between an unlatched position in which it does not contact a second implement pin receivable within another pair of apertures, and a latched position in which it retains the second pin within the apertures. A spring biases the safety lock toward the locked position, maintaining engagement of the safety lock with the first pin and preventing its withdrawal from the apertures in the event of a hydraulic system failure. When the implement is released, the spring contin- ues to bias the safety lock toward the locked position, preventing withdrawal of the first pin from the apertures in the event of a hydraulic system failure before completion of the release operation.

French Abstract

Dispositif d'accouplement comprenant un verrou de sécurité et un crochet de verrouillage. Le verrou de sécurité pivote entre une position de déverrouillage dans laquelle il ne contacte pas le premier axe qui se loge au sein d'une paire d'ouvertures, et une position de verrouillage dans laquelle il retient la première goupille au sein des ouvertures. Le crochet de verrouillage pivote entre une position de déverrouillage dans laquelle il ne contacte pas le deuxième axe qui se loge au sein d'une autre paire d'ouvertures, et une position de verrouillage dans laquelle il retient la deuxième goupille au sein des ouvertures. Un ressort fait dévier le verrou de sécurité vers la position de verrouillage, le fixant ainsi au premier axe pour l'empêcher de quitter les ouvertures en cas de panne du circuit hydraulique. Une fois l'axe libéré, le ressort continue de faire dévier le verrou de sécurité vers la position de verrouillage, empêchant le premier axe de quitter les ouvertures en cas de panne du circuit hydraulique avant la fin du processus de relâchement.

Claims

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WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A coupler, comprising:
first and second spaced-apart, substantially parallel upper side
plates;
first and second spaced-apart, substantially parallel lower side
plates, the first lower side plate fixed to and extending downwardly
from the first upper side plate and the second lower side plate fixed to
and extending downwardly from the second upper side plate;
a first pin-receiving aperture formed in a forward end of the first
lower side plate and a second pin-receiving aperture formed in a
forward end of the second lower side plate in transverse alignment
with the first pin-receiving aperture;
a third pin-receiving aperture formed in a rearward end of the
first lower side plate and a fourth pin-receiving aperture formed in a
rearward end of the second lower side plate in transverse alignment
with the third pin-receiving aperture;
a first mounting pin mounted between forward ends of the first
and second upper side plates;
a second mounting pin mounted between rearward ends of the
first and second upper side plates;
a safety lock pivotally mounted between the first and second
lower side plates for pivotal movement of the safety lock between an
unlocked position in which the safety lock is rearward of the first and
second pin-receiving apertures and does not contact a first implement
pin receivable within the first and second pin-receiving apertures, and
a locked position in which the safety lock extends forwardly into the
first and second pin-receiving apertures to contact and retain the first
implement pin within the first and second pin-receiving apertures;
a latching hook pivotally mounted between the first and second
lower side plates for pivotal movement of the latching hook between

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an unlatched position in which the latching hook is forward of the
third and fourth pin-receiving apertures and does not contact a second
implement pin receivable within the third and fourth pin-receiving
apertures, and a latched position in which the latching hook extends
rearwardly into the third and fourth pin-receiving apertures to retain
the second implement pin within the third and fourth pin-receiving
apertures;
a power cylinder pivotally coupled between the latching hook
and the safety lock at opposing cylinder ends, the power cylinder
selectably actuatable to pivotally move the latching hook between the
unlatched and latched positions;
a first link having one end pivotally mounted between the first
and second lower side plates and an opposite end pivotally coupled to
the power cylinder;
a second link pivotally coupled to the power cylinder and
pivotally coupled to the safety lock; and
a third pin extending through the first and second links and
pivotally coupling the opposite end of the first link to the power
cylinder and pivotally coupling the power cylinder to the second link;
wherein actuation of the power cylinder to pivotally move the
latching hook into the latched position pivotally moves the first link
and the second link to pivotally move the safety lock into the locked
position.
2. A coupler as defined in claim 1, wherein the safety lock is forwardly
pivotally biased toward the first and second pin-receiving apertures.
3. A coupler as defined in claim 2, wherein the first mounting pin is
rotatably mounted between the first and second upper side plates and
the second mounting pin is fixed between the first and second upper
side plates.

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4. A coupler as defined in claim 3, wherein the first and second
pin-receiving apertures have upward and forward-facing openings and
the third and fourth pin-receiving apertures have downward-facing
openings.
5. A coupler as defined in claim 4, further comprising a spring pivotally
biasing the safety lock toward the locked position.
6. A coupler, comprising:
first and second spaced-apart, substantially parallel upper side
plates;
first and second spaced-apart, substantially parallel lower side
plates, the first lower side plate fixed to and extending downwardly
from the first upper side plate and the second lower side plate fixed to
and extending downwardly from the second upper side plate;
a first pin-receiving aperture formed in a forward end of the first
lower side plate and a second pin-receiving aperture formed in a
forward end of the second lower side plate in transverse alignment
with the first pin-receiving aperture;
a third pin-receiving aperture formed in a rearward end of the
first lower side plate and a fourth pin-receiving aperture formed in a
rearward end of the second lower side plate in transverse alignment
with the third pin-receiving aperture;
a first mounting pin mounted between forward ends of the first
and second upper side plates;
a second mounting pin mounted between rearward ends of the
first and second upper side plates;
first and second safety locks pivotally mounted between the first
and second lower side plates for pivotal movement of the first and
second safety locks between an unlocked position in which the first
and second safety locks are rearward of the first and second

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pin-receiving apertures and do not contact a first implement pin
receivable within the first and second pin-receiving apertures, and a
locked position in which the first and second safety locks extend
forwardly into the first and second pin-receiving apertures to contact
and retain the first implement pin within the first and second
pin-receiving apertures;
a latching hook pivotally mounted between the first and second
lower side plates for pivotal movement of the latching hook between
an unlatched position in which the latching hook is forward of the
third and fourth pin-receiving apertures and does not contact a second
implement pin receivable within the third and fourth pin-receiving
apertures, and a latched position in which the latching hook extends
rearwardly into the third and fourth pin-receiving apertures to retain
the second implement pin within the third and fourth pin-receiving
apertures;
a power cylinder pivotally coupled between the latching hook
and the first and second safety locks at opposing cylinder ends, the
power cylinder selectably actuatable to pivotally move the latching
hook between the unlatched and latched positions;
a first link having one end pivotally mounted toward a first side
of the coupler between the first and second lower side plates and an
opposite end pivotally coupled to the power cylinder;
a second link having one end pivotally mounted toward a
second side of the coupler between the first and second lower side
plates and an opposite end pivotally coupled to the power cylinder;
a third link pivotally coupled, toward the first side of the
coupler, to the power cylinder and pivotally coupled to the first safety
lock;
a fourth link pivotally coupled, toward the second side of the
coupler, to the power cylinder and pivotally coupled to the second
safety lock; and

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a cylinder end pivot pin extending through the first, second,
third and fourth links, the cylinder end pivot pin pivotally coupling the
opposite end of the first link to the power cylinder and pivotally
coupling the opposite end of the second link to the power cylinder and
pivotally coupling the power cylinder to the third link and pivotally
coupling the power cylinder to the fourth link;
wherein selectable actuation of the power cylinder selectably
pivotally moves the latching hook between the unlatched and latched
positions;
actuation of the power cylinder to pivotally move the latching
hook into the latched position pivotally moves the first link and the
third link to pivotally move the first safety lock into the locked
position; and
actuation of the power cylinder to pivotally move the latching
hook into the latched position further pivotally moves the second link
and the fourth link to pivotally move the second safety lock into the
locked position.
7. A coupler as defined in claim 6, wherein the first and second safety
locks are forwardly pivotally biased toward the first and second
pin-receiving apertures.
8. A coupler as defined in claim 7, wherein:
the first mounting pin is rotatably mounted between the first and
second upper side plates;
the second mounting pin is fixed between the first and second
upper side plates;
the first and second pin-receiving apertures have upward and
forward-facing openings; and
the third and fourth pin-receiving apertures have
downward-facing openings.

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9. A coupler as defined in claim 7, wherein the first safety lock is
mounted toward the first side of the coupler and the second safety lock
is mounted toward the second side of the coupler opposite the first
side of the coupler.
10. A coupler as defined in claim 9, wherein:
actuation of the power cylinder to pivotally move the latching
hook into the latched position further braces the first link against first
safety lock, inhibiting movement of the first safety lock away from the
locked position; and
actuation of the power cylinder to pivotally move the latching
hook into the latched position further braces the second link against
the second safety lock, inhibiting movement of the second safety lock
away from the locked position.
11. A coupler as defined in claim 9, further comprising:
a third pin pivotally coupling the latching hook between the first
and second lower side plates;
a fourth pin pivotally coupling the power cylinder to the
latching hook;
a fifth pin pivotally coupling the one end of the first link
between the first and second lower side plates and pivotally coupling
the one end of the second link between the first and second lower side
plates;
a sixth pin pivotally coupling the third link to the first safety
lock and pivotally coupling the fourth link to the second safety lock;
and
a seventh pin pivotally coupling the first safety lock between the
first and second lower side plates and pivotally coupling the second
safety lock between the first and second lower side plates.

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12. A coupler as defined in claim 6, further comprising:
a first spring pivotally biasing the first safety lock toward the
locked position; and
a second spring pivotally biasing the second safety lock toward
the locked position.
13. A coupler as defined in claim 11, wherein:
selectable actuation of the power cylinder moves the power
cylinder between a retracted position and an extended position;
movement of the power cylinder into the retracted position
pivots the latching hook forwardly about the third pin into the
unlatched position;
movement of the power cylinder into the retracted position
further pivots the first link and the second link rearwardly about the
fifth pin;
movement of the power cylinder into the retracted position
further pivots the third link and the fourth link rearwardly about the
cylinder end pivot pin; and
rearward pivotal movement of the third link and the fourth link
about the cylinder end pivot pin further pivots the first safety lock and
the second safety lock rearwardly about the seventh pin.
14. A coupler as defined in claim 13, wherein:
rearward pivotal movement of the first link moves the first link
away from the first safety lock, permitting movement of the first safety
lock away from the locked position; and
rearward pivotal movement of the second link moves the second
link away from the second safety lock, permitting movement of the
second safety lock away from the locked position.
15. A coupler as defined in claim 11, wherein:

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selectable actuation of the power cylinder moves the power
cylinder between a retracted position and an extended position;
movement of the power cylinder into the extended position
pivots the first link and the second link forwardly about the fifth pin;
movement of the power cylinder into the extended position
further pivots the third link and the fourth link forwardly about the
cylinder end pivot pin; and
forward pivotal movement of the third link and the fourth link
further pivots the first safety lock and the second safety lock forwardly
about the seventh pin into the locked position.
16. A coupler as defined in claim 15, wherein:
forward pivotal movement of the first link braces the first link
against the first safety lock, inhibiting movement of the first safety
lock away from the locked position; and
forward pivotal movement of the second link braces the second
link against the second safety lock, inhibiting movement of the second
safety lock away from the locked position.
17. A coupler as defined in claim 1, wherein actuation of the power
cylinder to pivotally move the latching hook into the latched position
further braces the first link against the safety lock inhibiting movement
of the safety lock away from the locked position.

Description

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PIN GRABBER COUPLER
Technical Field
[0001] This disclosure pertains to a coupler for releasably and lockably
coupling an implement such as a bucket to the end of a boom, with the
coupler having a mechanism for inhibiting unintentional release of the
implement.
Back round
[0002] Powered digging or material-moving machines such as excava-
tors and backhoes typically have an operator-manipulable boom to which one
of a variety of implements can be coupled. Typical implements include
buckets of various sizes and shapes, rakes, clamshells, grab-buckets, rippers,
augers, grapples, hammers, etc.
[0003] The machine operator must sometimes interchange implements to
perform different tasks. For example, an operator moving loose material with
a bucket may encounter hard material which must be broken up before it may
be moved with a bucket. In such a case, the operator may wish to remove
the bucket from the machine's boom, mount a ripper on the boom, use the
ripper to break up the hard material, then remove the ripper and remount the
bucket in order to continue moving the broken material.
[0004] A coupler is commonly fixed at the end of the boom. The
coupler includes a mechanism for coupling any one of the implements to the
boom. The implements are adapted for such coupling by providing them with
mounting pins which are engaged by the coupler in well known fashion. The
coupler can be actuated by the operator in order to quickly and easily decou-
ple an implement from the machine then recouple it to another implement,
without requiring the operator to leave the machine's operating cab.
[0005] If the mounting pins of an implement are not properly engaged
by the coupler it is possible for the implement to suddenly and unexpectedly
decouple from the machine's boom. If this happens damage or injury may be

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caused to the coupler, to the implement or to nearby items or persons. This
problem is addressed by the coupler described below.
[0006] The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related
thereto are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations
of
the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a
reading
of the specification and a study of the drawings.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0007] Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of
the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed
herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.
[0008] Figures 1 and 20 are respectively right and left side oblique
lower front isometric views of the coupler.
[0009] Figures 2 and 21 are respectively right and left side isometric
views of one of the coupler's lock links.
[0010] Figures 3 and 22 are respectively right and left side isometric
views of one of the coupler's safety locks.
[0011] Figures 4 and 23 are respectively right and left side isometric
views of one of the coupler's torsion springs.
[0012] Figures 5 and 24 are respectively right and left side isometric
views of one of the coupler's cylinder mount links.
[0013] Figures 6 and 25 are respectively right and left side isometric
views of the coupler's latching hook.
[0014] Figures 7 and 26 are respectively right and left side isometric
views of the coupler's hydraulic cylinder.
[0015] Figures 8 and 27 are respectively right and left side oblique
lower front isometric views of the coupler, and depict a portion of an imple-
ment having forward and rearward pins respectively positioned within the
coupler's forward and rearward coupling apertures before activation of the
coupler's safety locks and latching hook.

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[0016] Figures 9 and 28 are respectively right and left side front eleva-
tion views, on an enlarged scale, of the Figure 8 coupler.
[0017] Figures 10 and 29 are respectively right and left side section
views, on an enlarged scale, taken (Figure 10) with respect to line 10-10
shown in Figure 9 and (Figure 29) with respect to line 29-29 shown in
Figure 28.
[0018] Figures 11 and 30 are respectively right and left side section
views, on an enlarged scale, taken (Figure 11) with respect to line 11-11
shown in Figure 9 and (Figure 30) with respect to line 30-30 shown in
Figure 28.
[0019] Figures 12 and 31 are similar to Figures 8 and 27 respectively,
but show the coupler after activation of the safety locks and before
activation
of the latching hook.
[0020] Figures 13 and 32 are respectively front elevation views, on an
enlarged scale, of the coupler shown in Figures 12 and 31 respectively.
[0021] Figures 14 and 33 are respectively right and left side section
views, on an enlarged scale, taken (Figure 14) with respect to line 14-14
shown in Figure 13 and (Figure 33) with respect to line 33-33 shown in
Figure 32.
[0022] Figures 15 and 34 are respectively right and left side section
views, on an enlarged scale, taken (Figure 15) with respect to line 15-15
shown in Figure 13 and (Figure 34) with respect to line 34-34 shown in
Figure 32.
[0023] Figures 16 and 35 are similar to Figures 8 and 27; and to
Figures 12 and 31 respectively, but show the coupler after activation of both
the safety locks and the latching hook.
[0024] Figures 17 and 36 are respectively front elevation views, on an
enlarged scale, of the coupler shown in Figures 16 coupler and 35 respec-
tively.

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[0025] Figures 18 and 37 are respectively right and left side section
views, on an enlarged scale, taken (Figure 18) section view taken with
respect to line 18-18 shown in Figure 17 and (Figure 37) with respect to line
37-37 shown in Figure 36.
[0026] Figures 19 and 38 are respectively right and left side section
views, on an enlarged scale, taken (Figure 19) with respect to line 19-19
shown in Figure 17 and (Figure 38) with respect to line 38-38 shown in
Figure 36.
Description
[0027] Throughout the following description specific details are set forth
in order to provide a more thorough understanding to persons skilled in the
art. However, well known elements may not have been shown or described
in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure. Accordingly, the
description and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a
restrictive, sense.
[0028] Coupler 10 includes right and left upper side plates 12, 14 which
transversely locate pins 16, 18. Plates 12, 14 are fixed in spaced-apart,
substantially parallel relationship by right and left lower side plates 20,
22.
Plates 20, 22 are in turn fixed in spaced-apart, substantially parallel
relation-
ship by flanges 24, 26, 28. More particularly, the right and left outward ends
of rearward flange 24 bridge across and are welded to the inward sides of
side plates 12, 14, 20, 22. The right and left outward ends of upper and
lower forward flanges 26, 28 are welded to the inward sides of lower side
plates 20, 22. The opposed ends of pin 16 are journalled for rotation in
bearings 19, 21 which are mounted in the upper forward ends of right and
left upper side plates 12, 14 respectively. The opposed ends of pin 18 are
journalled and fixed in bearings 23, 25 which are mounted toward the
rearward ends of right and left upper side plates 12, 14 respectively.

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[0029] Transversely aligned forward pin-receiving apertures 30 are
formed in the forward ends of lower side plates 20, 22. Transversely aligned
rearward pin-receiving apertures 32 are formed in the rearward ends of lower
side plates 20, 22. Forward pin-receiving apertures 30 have upward and
forward-facing openings 34. Rearward pin-receiving apertures 32 have
downward-facing openings 36.
[0030] Latching hook 38 (best seen in Figures 6 and 25) is pivotally
mounted on pin 40 which extends through latching hook 38's upper aperture
41. The right end of pin 40 is journalled for rotation in bearing 42 (Figure
1)
which is mounted in the lower rearward end of upper side plate 12 and in the
upper rearward end of lower side plate 20. The left end of pin 40 is
journalled for rotation in bearing 44 (Figure 20) which is mounted opposite
bearing 42 in the lower rearward end of upper side plate 14 and in the upper
rearward end of lower side plate 22.
[0031] Right side safety lock 46 (best seen in Figure 3) has a ratchet
face 55 and upper and lower apertures 56, 58. Left side safety lock 48 (best
seen in Figure 22) has a corresponding ratchet face 59 and upper and lower
apertures 60, 62. Right side torsion spring 108 (best seen in Figure 4) is
positioned on the inward side of right side safety lock 46 to transversely
align
the coiled portion of spring 108 with aperture 56. Left side torsion spring
110 (best seen in Figure 23) is positioned on the inward side of left side
safety lock 48 to transversely align the coiled portion of spring 110 with
aperture 60. Upper apertures 56, 60 are transversely aligned with one
another and with the coiled portions of torsion springs 108, 110. Safety lock
upper pivot pin 50 extends through apertures 56, 60 and through the coiled
portions of right and left torsion springs 108, 110 as shown in Figures 1 and
20. The opposed ends of pin 50 are journalled for rotation in bearings 52, 54
which are mounted in the upper forward ends of lower side plates 20, 22 as
shown in Figures 1 and 20 respectively. Safety locks 46, 48 are thus spaced
apart and pivotally mounted on safety lock upper pivot pin 50.

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[0032] Right side cylinder mount link 64 (best seen in Figure 5) has an
engagement face 67 for engaging ratchet face 55 of right side safety lock 46
as explained below, and has upper forward and lower rearward apertures 68,
70. Left side cylinder mount link 66 (best seen in Figure 24) has a corre-
sponding engagement face 71 and upper forward and lower rearward aper-
tures 72, 74. Lower rearward apertures 70, 74 are transversely aligned with
one another; and upper forward apertures 68, 72 are transversely aligned
with one another. Cylinder mount link pivot pin 76 extends through lower
rearward apertures 70, 74 as shown, for example, in Figures 10 and 29. The
opposed ends of pin 76 are journalled for rotation in bearings 78, 80 which
are mounted in the lower forward ends of lower side plates 20, 22 respec-
tively as shown in Figures 1 and 20 respectively. Cylinder mount links 64,
66 are thus spaced apart and pivotally mounted on cylinder mount link pivot
pin 76.
[0033] As best seen in Figures 6 and 25, latching hook 38 has right and
left halves which are transversely aligned and joined by sleeve 83 and spacer
87. Latching hook 38's upper aperture 41 extends transversely through
sleeve 83. Transversely aligned central apertures 88 extend through latching
hook 38's right and left halves between sleeve 83 and spacer 87. Sleeve 86 is
fixed on the rod end of hydraulic cylinder 82 (best seen in Figures 7 and 26).
Sleeve 86 is positioned between latching hook 38's right and left halves to
transversely align sleeve 86's aperture 89 with and between apertures 88.
Cylinder rod end pivot pin 84 extends through apertures 88, 89 as shown, for
example, in Figures 10 and 29. The rod end of hydraulic cylinder 82 is thus
pivotally coupled to latching hook 38.
[0034] Right side lock link 94 (best seen in Figure 2) has upper and
lower apertures 98, 100. Left side lock link 96 (best seen in Figure 21) has
corresponding upper and lower apertures 102, 104. As previously explained,
cylinder mount links 64, 66 are spaced apart on cylinder mount link pivot pin
76. Right side lock link 94 is positioned on the right side of right side

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cylinder mount link 64 to transversely align apertures 68, 98. Left side lock
link 96 is positioned on the left side of left side cylinder mount link 66 to
transversely align apertures 72, 102. The cylinder end of hydraulic cylinder
82 is positioned between cylinder mount links 64, 66 to transversely align
cylinder end aperture 90 (best seen in Figures 7 and 26) with apertures 68,
72, 98, 102. Cylinder end pivot pin 92 extends through the aligned apertures
68, 72, 98, 102, 90 as shown, for example, in Figures 11 and 30. The
cylinder end of hydraulic cylinder 82 is thus pivotally coupled to cylinder
mount links 64, 66 and to lock links 94, 96.
[0035] As previously explained, safety locks 46, 48 are spaced apart on
safety lock upper pivot pin 50. More particularly, right side lock link 94 is
positioned on the right side of right side safety lock 46 to transversely
align
apertures 58, 100; and left side lock link 96 is positioned on the left side
of
left side safety lock 48 to transversely align apertures 62, 104. Safety lock
lower pivot pin 106 extends through aligned apertures 58, 62, 100, 104 as
shown, for example, in Figures 11 and 30. Lock links 94, 96 are thus pivot-
ally coupli~d between safety locks 46, 48 and cylinder mount links 64, 66.
[0036] Right and left side torsion springs 108, 110 are coiled around
safety lock upper pivot pin 50 as previously explained. The springs' up-
wardly extending ends 112, 114 bear against upper forward flange 26. The
springs' transversely inwardly extending lower ends 116, 118 are seated
within transverse recesses (not shown) in safety locks 46, 48 respectively.
Springs 108, 110 thus bias safety locks 46, 48 clockwise with respect to
safety lock upper pivot pin 50, as shown, for example, in Figures 10, 11, 14,
15, 18 and 19.
[0037] In operation, pins 16, 18 are coupled to a machine's boom (not
shown) in well known fashion to mount coupler 10 on the end of the boom.
The machine operator initially actuates a cab-mounted control mechanism
(not shown) to fully retract hydraulic cylinder 82 into the retracted position
best seen in Figures 10-11 and 29-30. Such retraction pivots latching hook

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38 forwardly (i.e. clockwise about pivot pin 40, as viewed in Figures 10-11;
and counterclockwise about pivot pin 40, as viewed in Figures 29-30) such
that latching hook 38 is clear of rearward aperture 32; and pivots cylinder
mount links 64, 66 rearwardly (i.e. clockwise about pivot pin 76, as viewed
in Figures 10-11; and counterclockwise about pivot pin 76, as viewed in
Figures 29-30). Such pivotal movement of cylinder mount links 64, 66 draws
lock links 94, 96 rearwardly (i.e. toward the right, as viewed in Figures 10-
11; and toward the left, as viewed in Figures 29-30) on cylinder end pivot pin
92. Since lock links 94, 96 are coupled between cylinder mount links 64, 66
and safety locks 46, 48 on pivot pins 76, 106 respectively, safety locks 46,
48
are also drawn rearwardly (i.e. pivoted counterclockwise about safety lock
upper pivot pin 50 as viewed in Figures 10-11; and clockwise about pin 50 as
viewed in Figures 29-30), such that safety locks 46, 48 are clear of aperture
30 as shown in Figures 8-11 and 27-30.
[0038] The operator then manoeuvres the machine's boom to position
forward mounting pin 120 of implement 124 within coupler 10's forward pin-
receiving aperture 30 and to position implement 124's rearward mounting pin
122 within coupler 10's rearward pin-receiving aperture 32 as shown in
Figures 8 and 27.
[0039] The operator next actuates the aforementioned control system to
extend the cylinder end of hydraulic cylinder 82 to the left, as viewed in
Figures 14-15 (i.e. to the right, as viewed in Figures 33-34). Such extension
pivots cylinder mount links 64, 66 forwardly (i.e. counterclockwise about
pivot pin 76, as viewed in Figures 14-15; and clockwise about pivot pin 76,
as viewed in Figures 33-34). Such pivotal movement of cylinder mount links
64, 66 moves lock links 94, 96 forwardly on cylinder end pivot pin 92.
Since lock links 94, 96 are coupled between cylinder mount links 64, 66 and
safety locks 46, 48 on pivot pins 76, 106 respectively, safety locks 46, 48
are
also drawn forwardly (i.e. pivoted clockwise about safety lock upper pivot
pin 50 as viewed in Figures 14-15; and counterclockwise about pin 50 as

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viewed in Figures 33-34), such that safety locks 46, 48 extend within aper-
ture 30 atop implement 124's forward mounting pin 120. The ratchet faces
55, 59 of safety locks 46, 48 engage the locking faces 67, 71 of cylinder
mount links 64, 66 preventing withdrawal of pin 120 from aperture 30 as
shown in Figures 12-15 and 31-34. Springs 108, 110 bias safety locks 46, 48
clockwise with respect to safety lock upper pivot pin 50 as viewed in Figures
14-15 (i.e. counterclockwise as viewed in Figures 33-34) maintaining engage-
ment of safety locks 46, 48 atop pin 120 and preventing withdrawal of pin
120 from aperture 30 in the event of a hydraulic system failure.
[0040] The operator continues to extend the rod end of hydraulic
cylinder 82 to the right, as viewed in Figures 18-19 (i.e. to the left, as
viewed in Figures 37-38), thereby pivoting latching hook 38 counterclockwise
about pivot pin 40 as viewed in Figures 18-19 (i.e. clockwise about pivot pin
40 as viewed in Figures 37-38) to extend latching hook 38 into rearward
aperture 32 beneath implement 124's rearward mounting pin 122, preventing
withdrawal of pin 122 from aperture 32 as shown in Figures 16-19 and 35-
38.
[0041] To release implement 124 from coupler 10, the operator first
actuates the aforementioned control system to retract hydraulic cylinder 82's
rod end to the left as viewed in Figures 14-15 (i.e. to the right as viewed in
Figures 33-34). Such retraction pivots latching hook 38 forwardly (i.e.
clockwise about pivot pin 40 as viewed in Figures 14-15; and counterclock-
wise about pivot pin 40 as viewed in Figures 33-34) into the position shown
in Figures 12-15 and 31-34 in which latching hook 38 is clear of rearward
aperture 32. The operator continues to retract hydraulic cylinder 82's
cylinder end to the right as viewed in Figures 10-11 (i.e. to the left as
viewed
in Figures 29-30). Such retraction pivots cylinder mount links 64, 66
rearwardly, drawing lock links 94, 96 rearwardly on cylinder end pivot pin
92 thereby overcoming the biasing of springs 108, 110 and drawing safety
locks 46, 48 rearwardly such that safety locks 46, 48 are clear of aperture 30

CA 02577732 2007-02-09
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as shown in Figures 8-11 and 27-30. It will be noted that springs 108, 110
maintain engagement of safety locks 46, 48 atop pin 120 during release of
implement 124 from coupler 10 until the final phase of the release operation
in which the springs' biasing is overcome as aforesaid, thus preventing
withdrawal of pin 120 from aperture 30 in the event of a hydraulic system
failure before completion of the release operation.
[0042] While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have
been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain
modifica-
tions, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore
intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced
are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and
sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.

Representative Drawing