DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a device which is intended and arranged as a transverse hinge device for allowing an implement to be pivoted in the transverse direction (for example a closed bucket, a set of pallet forks, etc.) relative to an implement coupling of a manipulation arm of a soil-shifting, loading, reaching or similar device or vehicle, which manipulation arm and/or implement coupling are pivotable in an essentially vertical plane of principle motion (see for example

https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shovel,

https ://en. wiki pedia.org/wi ki/Loader_(equipment),

https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verreiker,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telescopic_handler,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excavator).

Object of the present invention is to provide a transverse hinge device, also referred to as tilting or pivoting device, having a very small distance ("depth") between, on the one hand, the coupling plane with the implement and, on the other hand, the coupling plane with the implement coupling of the manipulation arm. Due to the fact that this distance (at least in the central position of the transverse hinge device) is small, usually it is not necessary to disassemble the transverse hinge device during operation, when 'tilting' the implement to the right or to the left is not necessary, i.e. swivel or hinge in transverse direction. Because the transverse hinge device thus always remains attached to the manipulation arm, even during exchanging the implement (e.g. excavator bucket) for another implement (e.g. a set of pallet forks), time is saved.

According to the invention, a device intended and arranged as a transverse hinge device is provided for pivoting of an implement in transverse direction relative to a implement coupling of a manipulation arm of an soil-shifting, loading, handler or a similar device or vehicle, which manipulation arm and/or implement coupling is pivotable in a essentially vertical main plane of motion, which transverse hinge device in use is arranged between an implement coupling of the manipulation arm and an implement, wherein the transverse hinge device comprises a first coupling yoke arranged for coupling to the implement coupling of the manipulation arm at a first coupling plane, and a second coupling yoke arranged for coupling to the implement at a second coupling plane, wherein the transverse hinge device further comprises a pivot yoke arranged for

(a) pivoting the first coupling yoke relative to the pivot yoke around a first pivot assembly with a pivot axis essentially distanced (+d) from the centre towards one side (R), in order to perform a transverse movement of the first coupling yoke in a transverse plane of motion, perpendicular to said plane of principle motion, between a zero position in which the coupling planes of both coupling yokes extend parallel to each other, and a first angular position in which the coupling planes of both coupling yokes are at an angle unequal to 0° relative to each other in the direction of that one side, and

(b) pivoting the second coupling yoke relative to the pivot yoke around a second pivot assembly with a pivot axis essentially distanced (-d) from the centre towards the other side (L), in order to perform a transverse movement of the second coupling yoke in a transverse plane of motion, perpendicular to said plane of principle motion, between said zero position, in which the coupling planes of both coupling yokes extend parallel to each other, and a second angular position in which the coupling planes of both coupling yokes are at an angle unequal to 0° relative to each other in the direction of that other side.

The device according to the invention forms, so to speak, a Z-shaped construction, wherein the Z is being formed successively by: the first coupling yoke, the pivot yoke and the second coupling yoke, wherein the first coupling yoke and the pivot yoke are mutually pivotably interconnected via a first ("eccentric") pivot assembly on one side thereof. The second coupling yoke is pivotable connected to the pivot yoke via a ("eccentric") pivot assembly located on the other side of the pivot yoke. The first coupling yoke enables, together with the pivot yoke, "tilting" of the implement to one side. The second coupling yoke, again together with the (centrally located) pivot yoke, enables "tilting" of the implement to the other side.

Preferably, the transverse hinge device comprises drive means, for example hydraulic drive cylinders, and control means adapted to drive the coupling yokes relative to the pivot yoke such, that the coupling planes of these yokes either extend parallel to each other, or extend at an angle unequal to 0° to the one side or extend at an angle unequal to 0° to the other side. The invention will now be further discussed with reference to the figure description below.

Figure 1 shows in 3D an embodiment of the device according to the invention;

Figures 2a-c show schematically the operation of the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 and 2a-c show an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention, which is intended and arranged as a transverse hinge device 1 for pivoting an implement 2 (side A) in the transverse direction relative to an implement coupling (side B) of a manipulation arm of a soil-shifting, loading, handler or similar device or vehicle, which manipulation arm and/or implement coupling are pivotable in an essentially vertical plane of principal motion.

In use, the transverse hinge device 1 is arranged between an implement coupling of the manipulation arm and an implement, wherein the transverse hinge device 1 comprises a first coupling yoke 3 which is provided with a coupling construction 4a for coupling with the implement coupling of the manipulation arm at first coupling plane 4 (on side B). Furthermore, the transverse hinge device comprises a second coupling yoke 5 provided with a coupling construction 6a for coupling with the implement at second coupling plane 6 (on side A).

Furthermore, the transverse hinge device 1 comprises a pivot yoke 7 arranged for (a) pivoting the first coupling yoke 3 relative to the pivot yoke 7 around a first pivot assemby with a pivot axis 8 located in the direction of one side R, essentially distanced +d from the centre M (the vertical centre plane, usually corresponding with the vertical plane of principal motion of the manipulating arm and/or the implement coupling of the respective soil-shifting, loading, handler or similar device or vehicle) of the transverse hinge device 1, for performing a transverse movement 9 of the first coupling yoke 3 in a plane of transverse motion, perpendicular to the aforementioned plane of principal motion 10, between a zero position, in which the coupling planes 4 and 6 of both coupling yokes 3 and 5 extend parallel to each other (see Figure 1 and Figure 2a), and a first angular position (see Figure 2b), wherein the coupling planes 4 and 6 of both coupling yokes 3 and 5 are at an angle a unequal to 0° relative to each other in the direction of that one side, side R, and (b) pivoting the second coupling yoke 5 relative to the pivot yoke 7 around a second pivot assembly with a pivot axis 11 located in the direction of the other side L, essentially distanced -d from the centre M, to perform a transverse movement 12 of the second coupling yoke 5 in a plane of transverse motion, perpendicular to said plane of principal motion 10, between said zero position, wherein the coupling planes of both coupling yokes extend parallel to each other (see figure 1 and figure 2a), and a second angular position b in which the coupling planes 4 and 6 of both coupling yokes 3 and 5 are at an angle unequal to 0° relative to each other in the direction of that other side, side L The transverse hinge device 1 is provided with drive means, represented in Figure 2a-c by hydraulic drive cylinders 13 and 14 and control means (not shown), which are arranged for driving the coupling yokes 3 and 5 relative to the pivot yoke 7 such, that the coupling planes 4 and 6 of the device either extend parallel to each other (see Figure 1 and Figure 2a) or extend at an angle a unequal to 0° to one side R or at an angle b unequal to 0° to the other side L

Accordingly, the present invention provides for a transverse hinge device with a very small distance ("depth") between, on the one hand, the coupling plane 6 with the implement and, on the other hand, the coupling plane 4 with the implement coupling of the manipulation arm. Since this distance D is small in the central position of the transverse hinge device (the rest position, in which the - main directions of - the coupling yokes 3 and 5 extend parallel to each other and to the pivot yoke 7), it is in most cases unnecessary to disassemble the transverse hinge device when the transverse hinge device is not actually being used .