ASSEMBLY FOR WORKINGS , COMPOSED OF A TOOL , A HANDLING APPARATUS AND A QUICK COUPLING DEVICE BETWEEN TOOL AND APPARATUS

The present invention refers to an assembly for workings, composed of a tool, a handling apparatus and a quick coupling device between tool and apparatus.

The Applicant of the present invention has filed, on 8 March 2011, Application EP2378004 related to a quick coupling device to connect a tool to a handling apparatus, such as the arm of an excavator .

Such device operates well for the application for which it is provided: after a time, however, it has been discovered that its operation could be strongly improved as regards accuracy and operating quickness; moreover, it has been noted that such device could be used in rather different and wider fields of application than those of the excavators, such as for example in agriculture or in civil- industrial fields. The Applicant of the present Application has also filed document EP16000524.5 related to an assembly composed of a tool, a handling apparatus and a quick coupling device between tool and apparatus, all with an hydraulic operation which guarantees practically automatic connection and disconnection operations.

Documents EP-Al-1 353 Oil and US-Al- 2009/255151 respectively disclose a front quick coupling device, and an apparatus equipped with an hydraulic connection circuit.

All prior solutions are however either scarcely safe, due to the danger of a disconnection between handling apparatus and tool if not all correct connection operations are performed, or very costly, , due to the presence of components and circuits adapted for the purpose but with a costly embodiment .

Object of the present invention is therefore solving the above prior art problems, by providing an assembly for workings composed of a tool, a handling apparatus and a quick coupling device between tool and apparatus, which allows quick, precise and accurate coupling movements, is of a reduced cost and allows a safe and automatic connection, independent from possible lack of connection by a user.

A further object of the present invention is providing a device as described above, which can be used in other fields of application, for example in the agricultural field for ploughs with agricultural/industrial tractors and telescopic lifters/forklifts .

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will appear from the following description, are obtained with an assembly for workings composed of a tool, a handling apparatus and a quick coupling device between tool and apparatus as claimed in claim 1.

Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

It is intended that the enclosed claims are an integral part of the present description.

It will be immediately obvious that numerous variations and modifications (for example related to shape, sizes, arrangements and parts with equivalent functionality) can be made to what is described, without departing from the scope of the invention as appears from the enclosed claims. The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, provided as a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the assembly for workings of the present invention in a first opening step;

Figure 2 is a top view, partially in section, of a preferred embodiment of the coupling element of the assembly for workings of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the quick coupling device of the assembly for workings of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a front view of the quick coupling device of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the quick coupling device of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of the assembly for workings of Figure 1 in a closing position;

Figure 7 is a top view of a variation of the quick coupling device of the assembly for workings of the invention;

Figure 7A is a top view of the disconnecting means of the assembly for workings of the invention;

Figures 8 and 9 are a top view and a rear sectional view which show the working position of the assembly for workings of the present invention; - Figures 10 and 11 are a top view and a rear sectional view which show the disconnection position of the assembly for workings of the present invention;

Figures 12 and 13 are a top view and a rear sectional view which show the disconnection position of the assembly for workings of the present invention;

Figures 14 and 15 are a top view and a rear sectional view which show the connection position with another tooling of the assembly for workings of the present invention;

Figure 16 is a side view of the coupling element of Figure 2; and

Figure 17 is a vista top view of a variation of the quick coupling device of the assembly for workings of the invention.

With reference to the Figures, example and absolutely not limiting embodiments of the assembly for workings 1 of the invention are shown and described, composed of a tool 2 equipped with a quick coupling device 3, 3' and a handling apparatus 4 equipped with a coupling element 5, 5' adapted to be coupled with the quick coupling device 3, 3' .

In a first variation thereof, shown in Figures

1, 3, 4 and 5, such quick coupling device 3 substantially comprises:

- a first supporting structure 7, preferably shaped as a plate;

- a first engagement element 9, 11 operatively connected to the first supporting structure 7 and composed of: at least two box-shaped elements 13, 15 having one of their own edges obliquely cut in order to obtain in every box-shaped element 13, 15 respective recesses 16, 18; and at least two stoppers 20, 22 each operatively connected to each box-shaped element 13, 15;

- at least one engagement pin 23; and

- at least one dowel 67 for activating the connection,

wherein the operating connection between first supporting structure 7 and first engagement element 9, 11 provides a facilitated and unmovable connection with a second engagement element 24 with which the coupling element 5 of the handling apparatus 4 is equipped.

In particular, in a first variation thereof shown Figures 2 and 16, the coupling element 5 substantially comprises:

- a second supporting structure 26, preferably shaped as a plate;

the second engagement element 24, operatively connected to the second supporting structure 26 and composed of: at least two engagement teeth 28, 30 adapted to mutually go away and near through sliding along a direction perpendicular to the coupling direction between coupling element 5 and quick coupling device 3; at least one elastic element 32 for thrusting said engagement teeth 28, 30 towards the operative coupling with the respective recesses 16, 18 of every box-shaped element 13, 15; and connecting means 34, 36, preferably of the connecting rod type, between the elastic element 32 and the engagement teeth 28, 30; and

- at least one recess 38 obtained in said second supporting structure 26 and adapted to house the at least one pin 23 during the operating connection between coupling element 5 and quick coupling device 3. In a second variation thereof, shown in Figure 17, such quick coupling device 3' substantially comprises :

- a first supporting structure 7, preferably shaped as a plate; and

- a first engagement element 9, 11 operatively connected to the first supporting structure 7 and composed of: at least two box-shaped elements 13, 15 having one of their own edges obliquely cut in order to obtain in every box-shaped element 13, 15 respective recesses 16, 18; and at least two stoppers 20, 22 each operatively connected to each box-shaped element 13, 15;

at least two wedges 80, 82 placed at respective opposite ends with respect to the at least two box-shaped elements 13, 15, also having one of their own edges obliquely cut in order to obtain in every wedge 80, 82 respective recesses; and

- at least one dowel 67 for activating the connection,

wherein the operating connection between first supporting structure 7 and first engagement element 9, 11 provides a facilitated and unmovable connection with a second engagement element 24 with which the coupling element 5' of the handling apparatus 4 is equipped.

In particular, in a second variation thereof shown in Figure 7, the coupling element 5' substantially comprises:

- a second supporting structure 26, preferably shaped as a plate;

the second engagement element 24, operatively connected to the second supporting structure 26 and composed of: at least two engagement teeth 28, 30 adapted to mutually go away and near through sliding along a direction perpendicular to the coupling direction between coupling element 5' and quick coupling device 3' ; at least one elastic element 32 for thrusting the engagement teeth 28, 30 towards the operative coupling with the respective recesses 16, 18 of every box-shaped element 13, 15; and connecting means 34, 36, preferably of the connecting rod type, between the elastic element 32 and the engagement teeth 28, 30; and

- at least two engaging projections 84, 86 placed at respective opposite ends with respect to the at least two engagement teeth 28, 30 and adapted, when coupling, to engage, for sliding in the respective recesses, the at least two wedges 80, 82 of the quick coupling device 3' .

The operation of the assembly for workings 1 of the invention, when coupling between the quick coupling device 3, 3' and the coupling element 5, 5' is as follows.

As shown in Figure 1, the coupling element 5, 5' , through a suitable movement of the handling apparatus 4, is taken above the quick coupling device 3, 3' placed on the unmoving tool 2. Through sliding of the second supporting structure 26 on the first supporting structure 7, coupling element 5, 5' and quick coupling device 3, 3' are approached, till the pin 23 does not penetrates in the recess 38 (or, in the second variation, the engaging projections 84, 86 enter their respective wedges 80, 82) ; following their coupling, the two supporting structures 7 and 26 push the dowel 67 so that it goes in contact with the abutment element 60, going to activate the elastic thrusting element 32, which pushes the engagement teeth 28, 30 to mutually move away and in sliding engagement inside the recesses 16, 18, till a maximum stroke (which can be well seen in Figure 2 which also shows the two operating positions of the engagement teeth 28, 30) given by the length of the respective connecting means 34, 36. The operating coupling position shown in Figure 6 is thereby reached.

For the disconnection operations, it is possible to use a mechanical solution, as shown in Figure 7, composed of a metallic bar 40 inserted into a suitable slit 42 obtained in the supporting structure 44 of the coupling element 5, 5' . The metallic bar 40 allows levering on the elastic element 32 to free the engagement teeth 28, 30 from the recesses 16, 18 in order to allow the uncoupling of the coupling element 5, 5' from the quick coupling device 3, 3' .

Instead of a mechanical solution, it is possible to provide an hydraulic solution, for example composed of at least one small piston (not shown) which performs the disconnection action by counteracting the thrust of the elastic element 32.

Though operating in a wholly satisfactory way with the above described configuration, the assembly for workings 1 of the invention can also be equipped with a safety mechanism 50, always more and more requested by safety standards in force, which prevents the inadvertent detachment between coupling element 5, 5' and quick coupling device 3, Such safety mechanism 50 substantially comprises :

at least one small safety pin 52, 54 operatively connected to a respective engagement tooth 28, 30, each small safety pin being equipped with a respective safety spring 56, 58 having a thrusting direction perpendicular to the thrusting direction of the elastic thrusting element 32;

- an abutment element 60, preferably of a disk shape, equipped with a plurality of abutment springs 62, 64 having thrusting direction perpendicular with respect to the thrusting direction of the elastic thrusting element 32 and identical to the thrusting direction of the safety springs 56, 58, the abutment element 60 being equipped with an external perimeter wall 65 adapted to operatively engage the small safety pins 52, 54 when uncoupling, and being equipped with a central recess 66 adapted to contain the small safety pins 52, 54 when coupling.

Figures 8 to 15 show the various operating steps of the safety mechanism 50, and namely:

- entry of the small safety pins 52, 54 into the central recess 66 through a thrust of the safety springs 56, 58: in this situation, the engagement teeth 28, 30 remain in an immovable engagement in the recesses 16, 18 and enable the disconnection step, since the external perimeter wall 65 laterally abuts against the small safety pins 52, 54 and prevents the engagement teeth 28, 30 from mutually moving away due to the thrust of the elastic element 32;

- moving away the abutment element 60 from the small safety pins 52, 54 when coupling: in this step, the small safety pins 52, 54 going out of the central recess 66 and engage in abutment against the upper part (not the lateral one any more) of the external perimeter wall 65 through the thrust of the safety springs 56, 58;

when the abutment element 60 is moved away and the small safety pins 52, 54 end their sliding on the upper part of the external perimeter wall 65, they completely free from the abutment element 60 and thereby free the engagement teeth 28, 30, that can therefore move one away from the other and make the final operating connecting step.

In detail, Figures 8 and 9 are a top and a side view of the working position of the assembly for workings 1 of the present invention: in such Figure, it can be seen how the plates 7 and 26 are mutually in contact and integral through the engagement teeth 28, 30 engaged in the box-shaped elements 13, 15; the elastic element 32, through the connecting means 34, 36, takes care of thrusting to keep in position the engagement teeth 28, 30 and, if necessary, recover, due to the specific inclined shape of the box-shaped elements 13, 15, the minimum clearance that should occur between the plates 7 and 26 subjected to the working load.

Figures 10 and 11 are a top view and a rear sectional view of the disconnection position of the assembly for workings 1 of the present invention: in such Figure, it can be seen how the plates 7 and 26 are still in contact, but nor integral any more. In fact, by using the suitable mechanical disconnecting element 40 (or an equivalent hydraulic piston) , the elastic element 32 is compressed and, through the connecting means 34, 36, positions the engagement teeth 28, 30 near the centre of the plate 26, disengaged from the box- shaped elements 13, 15. In this position, the small safety pins 52, 54, pushed by the cup springs 56, 58, engage the internal recess 66 of the abutment element 60 and keep the engagement teeth 28, 30 in the centre, in spite being pushed towards outside the elastic element 32.

Figures 12 and 13 are a top view and a rear sectional view of the disconnecting position of the assembly for workings 1 of the present invention: in such Figures, it can be seen how, by means of the arm of the handling apparatus 4, the plate 26 is lifted from the plate 7; the dowel 67 moves away from the engagement element 60, which, pushed by the springs 62, 64, frees the small safety pins 52, 54. The engagement teeth 28, 30, which are always subjected to the load of the elastic element 32, moves towards outside for a limited length, kept by the small safety pins 52, 54 which interfere with the external perimeter wall 65 of the recess 66. It is thereby possible to proceed with the change of the tool 2, since the engagement teeth 28, 30 are kept in and do not interfere with the box-shaped elements 13, 15.

Figures 14 and 15 are a top view and a rear sectional view of the coupling position to another tooling of the assembly for workings 1 of the present invention: in such Figures, it can be seen how, by means of the arm of the handling apparatus 4, the plate 26 is positioned and centred above the plate 7 of another tool 2, engaging the recess 38 onto the pin 23 (in the first variation) , or making the wedges 80, 82 slide below the engaging projections 84, 86 (in the second variation). In such a way, the dowel 67 pushes upwards the engagement element 60, which in turn pushes the small safety pins 52, 54 over the external wall 65 of the recess 66 which houses them. The engagement teeth 28, 30, pusher by the elastic element 32, are free of moving towards the outside, going to engage below the box-shaped elements 13, 15, making the plates 7, 26 integral. In such a way, one returns to the working position previously show in Figures 8 and 9.

In the above described structure, the assembly for workings 1 of the invention is thereby adapted to be used in many different applications, among which those currently known are as follows:

- the handling apparatus 4 is composed of an excavator and the tool 2 is composed of a toothed excavating bucket;

- the tool 2 is composed of a road demolishing hammer;

- the handling apparatus 4 is composed of an agricultural or industrial tractor, the tool 2 is composed of a plough and the coupling element is composed of a gimbal with which the plough head is equipped; and

- the handling apparatus 4 is composed of a telescopic lifter or a forklift.