A very easy implementation of alarm deactivation procedure is to switch off the coupler control circuit. An alternative, as shown in the bottom half of Figure 4, is to again bring the coupler into a crowd position, this time while the accessory 28 is engaged to the arm Being close to the cab, the crowd position allows the operator visually to inspect the coupling to verify that the coupling is correct.
A further alternative can include the use of the coupler control and one or more of the hydraulic or position sensors of the arm or coupler to provide a confirmation of a completed, correct, coupling procedure, whereupon the alarm will only be deactivated when the coupling procedure has been correctly carried out.
The alarm system provided in the described embodiment of the invention comprises a light 50 and a loudspeaker The light is mounted, in this embodiment, on top of the cab 14 to increase its visibility to bystanders. It might instead be mounted, however, on either the arm or the coupler. The loudspeaker is mounted, in this embodiment, on the frame of the excavator laterally of the arm, so that a clear sound path may be present between the loudspeaker and the addressees of the acoustic warnings.
It can also, or instead, be located elsewhere. The light and the loudspeaker may also, or instead, be combined into a single, dedicated, alarm and siren system, similar in principle to those used for house security. Further, the loudspeaker or loudspeakers may be capable of reproducing speech warnings, i.
Any speech-type warnings may be prerecorded, and could be outputted according to a predetermined sequence. For example the speech warnings may also be used not only to warn operators external to the cab of the excavator, but also to inform such operators of the operation that is being carried out by the machine, or to let them know how long there is before such an operation is accomplished.
The speech warnings may be transmitted in conjunction with any other type of acoustic warning such as siren-style warning, a white noise, an alarm bell or an alarm tone, or combinations thereof, in any sequence or fashion. The visual or audible warning device can be part of the in-built alarm system of the excavator 10, such as by wiring the coupler warning system into the circuitry of one of the CPUs of the excavator, or it can be a retrofit unit or stand-alone unit for fitting as an ancillary item.
As shown in Figure 1 , the warning system can comprise a light emitting unit 50, such as a red or blue or yellow or orange flashing light 50, which is affixed onto the body roof of the excavator. It can alternatively be fitted elsewhere on the body, or onto the arm of the excavator, or multiple such lights can be provided on various parts of the body or arm of the excavator.
The light should be easily be visible by bystanders. By a flashing light, we include lights with directional flashing, such as that achieved with a rotating element within the light unit. Although the alarm is discussed above as being turned on upon moving the arm and coupler into a crowd position, the coupling and uncoupling procedures, and the alarm therefor, may be started without having to bring the arm and coupler into their respective crowd positions, such as by triggering the alarm whenever the control box in the cab is activated.
Nevertheless, many preferred automatic or semiautomatic couplers require a crowd position to be adopted before a coupling or decoupling procedure can be carried out, e. That is because that crowd position ensures that the front jaw opens upwardly, whereby the accessory 28 is still safely held within that front jaw even if the rear latch 34 is unlatched for commencing the uncoupling procedure. Therefore it is preferred to have a detection of a crowd position within the procedures of the present invention's warning system.
Nevertheless, not all coupler systems have this preferred safety element, whereby, if appropriate, the warning system can be activated to sound the alarm where an unlatching of the latch can be commanded manually irrespective of the position of the coupler, i.
For example, the sensors could detect that the accessory has been decoupled successfully, and can be used to transmit that information to the warning control circuit 48, which can in turn deactivate the alarm 50, 52 without having to wait for a crowd position to be adopted for turning off the alarm.
The sensors may also be involved to confirm or check that the attachment has been coupled or uncoupled successfully, thereby preventing inadvertent or inappropriate alarm deactivations. The above-mentioned features can also be fitted to couplers having a different internal configuration, or couplers having different latching mechanisms. Referring to Figures 5 and 6, one such alternative coupler 24 is shown. Its various modes of operation are disclosed in full in GB Therefore a full description of those modes of operation is not required herein.
However, in brief, the coupler 24 comprises, like in the previous embodiment of Figure 2, two arm attachment points 26 for attachment to the excavator arm of an excavator , and two jaws - a front jaw 30 and a rear jaw Further, the rear jaw 32 is associated with a pivoting latching hook 34 that is powered for movement between latching and unlatching positions by a hydraulic ram The coupler 24 is also adapted to accommodate a variety of different accessories - accessories with different pin spacings between the pin centres.
For that purpose, the rear jaw 32 is significantly wider than the diameter of a typical accessory's attachment pin. As such, with one pin located in the front jaw 30, the second pin of the accessory can still be accommodated in the second jaw 32 even where there is a significant variance in the pin centres, such as a range of variance of between 5cm and 20cm.
These features are all common to many designs of coupler, including many of those disclosed above in the above-mentioned patent applications. In addition to those common features, however, the coupler 24 of Figures 5 and 6 also includes a blocking bar 60 that is powered by its own hydraulic ram That blocking bar 60 also features a hook-latching hook 64 that is selectively engageable on a member 66 of the frame 68 of the coupler Further, the coupler has a second latch That front latch 70 can be powered if desired, by the provision of a further ram, but in this embodiment it is instead gravity operated for movement into an open or closed condition, e.
To allow that front latch 70 to open, however, the rear hook 34 must first be retracted into a non latching position. This is to prevent the free end 72 of an arm 74, extending from the front latch 70, from engaging the underside of another arm 76, extending out from the back of that rear hook A further layer of safety, however, is also provided - in order to move that rear hook 34, the blocking bar 60 must also be powered into its open or non blocking position, as shown in Figure 5.
Otherwise the powering of the hook 34 will cause the backside 80, 82 of that hook to engage the end 61 of the blocking bar 60 two such backsides 80, 82 are shown to reflect the fact that different accessory pin spacings can be accommodated, as taught by GB, and others. The rear hook 34 can then be powered into the non latching position of Figure 5. In addition to that, however, there is an even further layer of safety - the hook-latching hook That prevents the blocking bar from being powered into a non-blocking position whenever it is engaged with the member Therefore, before the blocking bar can be powered up into a non-blocking position, the coupler must first be appropriately rotated in the anti-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 6.
This direction of rotation is a movement towards the crowd position during normal use of the coupler on the end of an excavator arm. The alarm of the present invention can be integrated into this form of coupler by applying any of the previously disclosed arrangements thereto, such as sensors for the jaws, or for the latching hooks or for the rams, or by applying alternative sensors, such as a sensor to monitor the position of the hook-latching hook 64 relative to the member 66, or by monitoring the proximity of the free end 72 of the arm 74 of the front latch 70 relative to the end of the other arm 76 of the rear hook The condition of the second ram 62 might also, or instead, be monitored.
Many other arrangements or sensor locations can also be anticipated for the present invention. Referring still to figure 6, the coupler has an actuator in the form of a hydraulic ram.
It has a rod and a body, with the rod being adapted to move within or along relative to the body. As shown, the rod has three spaced markers 91 , 92, 93 thereon, and the body has a sensor 94 in its gland - i. The sensor is for sensing the movement of the markers past it, or for detecting the position of the markers relative to that sensor.
The sensor can thus sense or determine or track the status of the ram. In place of the three spaced markers, there could be three spaced sensors. More or less than three is also possible. However, in a preferred arrangement the number corresponds to the number of stages provided for the blocking bar 60 - in this example, three, as signified by the three stepped surfaces 80, 82, 83 on the rear of the rear hook By doing this, the status of the actuator is constantly known, and that information can be displayed to the operator in the cab or it can be linked to the alarm system previously described so as to sound or display the alarm in the event that there are movements through designated stages.
With this arrangement, additional warnings can be provided if the determined status of the actuator is wrong for the safe mounting of an accessory. For example, if the actuator is determined to be extended beyond the final marker, then the hook will be extended beyond a pin engaging position, whereby there cannot be a pin in the jaw. This could suggest a "pin-miss", i. Likewise if the actuator is determined not yet to have reached an expected extent of extension for a given pin spacing, then the pins may be incorrectly mounted within the jaws, or the ram may have failed.
The previously described hydraulic pressure monitoring sensor might also be provided, however, like with the first embodiment. The present invention also provides, in addition to these inventive couplers, and the inventive alarm system for such couplers, an excavator 10 that has a quick coupler 24 coupled to the distal end 22 of its excavator arm 12 , and methods of using the same.
In preferred embodiments, the quick coupler 24 can be operated from the cab 14 of the excavator 10 , and it is connected to a warning control system Thus, warnings are given to bystanders, so that they can clear the area surrounding the coupler whenever the coupler's mode of operation is made active such as a decoupling or coupling procedure , which periods of time present an increased level of risk to the bystanders in relation to an inadvertent accessory drop event.
Referring next to Figures 7 to 31 , a further aspect of the present invention is described. This instructional device of the invention comprises an instructional device with a visual display unit incorporated therein within an aperture of the housing thereof. The instructional device comprises a processor and memory means and stores instructional information relating to one or more coupler 24, such as those shown in Figures 2 and 5. The illustrated instructional device additionally comprises four buttons, recessed relative to the face of the instructional device so as to minimise the risk of accidental pressing thereof.
Those buttons can be aligned with visual buttons on the screen such that when the buttons are pressed, they effectively select the appropriate option on the screen 0 signified by the relevant screen button Alternatively, the screen can be a touch screen, whereby a direct pressing of the screen button can be used for selecting that button.
The mechanical buttons 1 2 are ruggedized so as to resist water and dirt ingress. The housing is likewise ruggedized so as to protect the electronics contained therein.
Screens, housings and buttons of this type are available from companies such as Maxima Technologies, by whom various in-vehicle information clusters and displays have been manufactured. This instructional device can be made of any desired size, although a unit having approximate dimensions of mm by mm by 25mm would be adequate for the purpose.
The housing is typically formed of an engineering resin that is reinforced with the fibres and can be UV resistant. The screen can have a safety glass front with optional anti-glare and anti-fog coatings.
It may be backlit, e. A suitable processor will be provided within the instructional device, such as an AR 9 32 bit chip. The buttons can be a plurality of tactile-form of switches, typically sealed and LED backlit so as to illuminate any markings thereon.
The instructional device may be screen mounted, dashboard mounted or integrated into the dashboard, or it may be on its own separate pedestal.
The instructional device is preferably fixed in a fixed location within the cab of the excavator upon its installation, or it might be pivotable or swivelable, although it might even be removable therefrom for external control or for providing external instructions for control of the coupler, such as if external controls for the coupler are provided on the excavator. The instructional device can incorporate an internal buzzer or an internal speaker for outputting audible warnings or audible signals.
Preferably the device will be IP 67 rated at the front and IP 66 rated at the back, and as such is weather-proofed. Other weather-resistance standards might be adequate, however, for many applications of use.
The instructional device incorporates programmable memory and can be preprogrammed with instructional information relating to at least one coupler, and especially the coupler for which it is intended to be instructing actions for. It may also have an upload port e. The instructions can be in the form of multiple screens, for example a series of 4 to 15 screens per mode. The device preferably has a total storage capacity in excess of 50 or even 60 instructional screen shots.
The screen shots can be adaptable to suit different OEMs, for example by having interchangeable logos thereon. Then, an instructional device installed in a Volvo excavator could be adapted to have a Volvo symbol inserted on the screen instead of the Miller symbol as shown.
Likewise, the illustrated coupler can be interchanged with differently shaped couplers or differently configured couplers, or different coupler colours e. Such changes can be customised, for example, depending upon the coupler actually in use. With reference to at least Figures 9, 11 and 12, different accessories can be preprogrammed into the memory so as to present different accessories on the coupler, rather than just the illustrated bucket.
The instructional device is therefore adapted to be used by an operator of an excavator for instructing that operator in relation to the correct use of the coupler. Figures 8 to 12 illustrate a first potential use of the coupler for which instructions would be useful. This use is a decoupling procedure. As shown in Figure 8, a starting screen here different to that of Figure 7 is shown. These starting screens can be customisable as to user preference.
From that opening "home" screen, an operator of the excavator will press a button for selecting the release function - see the bottom left of Figure 8. That then commences the release mode of the instructional device.
The screen therefore changes first to that of Figure 9, whereby the operator can confirm the desire to release the accessory off the coupler, while also providing an instruction to curl the attachment safely to a release position close to the ground. Once the operator has achieved this position, he presses the confirm button , either by pressing the appropriate button , or where there is a touch screen, the appropriate screen button A further warning screen then appears for the operator to confirm that the operator is intending to release the accessory, and to request the operator to ensure that the area is clear of personnel.
Upon providing the confirmation again by pressing the relevant button - in this embodiment a yes, the audible alert warning will start to sound since the coupler is now in a disengagement mode. The screen then switches to a further screen instructing the user how to perform the release procedure, which involves powering the ram of the coupler for releasing the two latches from the two attachment pins of the accessory one in each jaw of the coupler.
In this embodiment this is simply a matter of powering the ram, since inverting the coupler into the crowd position will have released the blocking members and any other safety mechanisms for the latches.
However, other couplers may have different procedures for achieving this, or may require one latch to be powered at a time. Therefore, for that purpose a specific instruction may be provided relevant to the coupler in question. The screen also can provide a coupler status indication - in this embodiment two latches need to be released and they can only be released when freed to do so i. Since the inversion achieved that, upon the ram being powered to release the latches, this embodiment achieves an unlatched condition after the bucket crowd lever has been pushed forwards for a period of 8 seconds.
This is symbolised by two padlock icons B and F , , located in the top right corner, showing themselves to be "unlocked". The period of 8 seconds is the period required to ensure that all latches are released from the pins of the accessory. When that unlatch procedure has been completed, the operator can again press the confirm button and the screen moves on to the next screen - see Figure During this screen, the alert warning is still sounding to ensure bystanders are clear of the area.
Further, the condition of the latches is still indicated by the relevant icons. Once the user has completed that detachment procedure, he can confirm the accessory is fully released, again by pressing the relevant button.
The detachment procedure is thus then completed, and the instructional device might revert to its home page. Figure 13 then shows a screen for selecting a coupling procedure. However, this is jet another screen format. As can be seen, on this screen there are five options and the screen is a touch screen. There is an "accept" button, signified by a tick, a "go back a step" button or a "go-to-home" , signified by a return arrow, "up" and "down" buttons for scrolling the screen up and down, or for moving from one step to the next, and a "written instructions" button for obtaining additional written instructions for a particular process step, or for reviewing the user manual.
Referring next to Figures 14 to 19, a further screen for a coupling procedure instruction is shown. This Figure 14 corresponds with Figure 8 above. It offers four options: a release instruction button, as previously described, an instruction booklet button, for accessing an instruction booklet, a hook button, for selecting a lift mode, and a connect button, for instigating the attachment mode of the coupler, as will now be described.
The user therefore presses the connect button for selecting the connect procedure, whereupon the screen changes to that shown in Figure 15 and the alert sound starts to sound.
Again padlock symbols , are shown and since the latches are currently open, the icons show the back B and front F padlocks to be unlocked. However, they might have been closed, in which case they will be signified as such by closed padlocks - the user would then have to power the latches into an open condition which might require the coupler to be curled into the crowd position first.
By making the instructional device an essential component of the coupler control circuit - i. Activation of the controls could therefore be made dependent upon the use of the instructional device, whereby only instructed actions can be carried out. As shown in Figure 15, the padlocks show the rear hook of the coupler and the ABS or front latch of the coupler to be open and fully retracted see the picture of the coupler.
This can be verified by the user since both latches will be visible from the cab of the excavator, in which the user will be sitting. That is the case when the coupler is in the crowd position shown since the operator will be able to see directly into the rear jaw and will be able to see the absence of the visible part of the latch in the front jaw.
The operator can then confirm that he has done a visual check, whereupon the screen then switches to the next screen - Figure Figure 16 instructs the operator to engage the front pin and then to fully curl the coupler to engage the rear pin. When done, the operator can confirm that he has done this whereupon the screen then switches to the next screen - Figure Here the operator is instructed to perform a full curl of the coupler, with the accessory thereon, into the crowd position - by pushing the bucket crowd lever fully forwards for a period of 8 seconds.
This additionally closes the latches - and the padlock icons B and F signify this when completed. Upon completion of that step, the operator then presses the confirm button again and the screen switches to that of Figure 18, which requests the operator to uncurl the attachment and place it on the ground and then visually check the ABS is in place.
The ABS is visible through the mouth of the front jaw as shown in the drawing. This uncurling action can also serve to reinstate any blocking members into their blocking positions relative to their respective latch components, where provided. Until confirmed, the padlock icons may revert to an unlocked condition, as shown. Upon confirming the ABS is in place, the operator can then press the confirm button to move to the screen of Figure 19 which requests the operator to perform a bump test on the accessory.
The bump test is to rotate the attachment against the ground to ensure that it does not come loose of the coupler. Meanwhile the alert sound is still sounding and the symbols for the locks B and F , now show the coupler to be attached since they are both confirmed by the user as being locked. Upon completion of the bump test, the operator presses the confirm button and the screen changes to that of Figure 20 - an optional screen to signify caution to the operator - operating the excavator arm such that the bucket hits the cab might be possible now that the length of the accessory is added to the length of the coupler.
At this point the alert sound will have stopped since the attachment process has been completed. Referring next to Figures 21 to 24, a third process of use of the coupler is described and instructed, and this comprises the lifting function.
For this the hook button is pressed. The fact that they are closed can be important since it serves to prevent an operator from using the jaws of the coupler as the means for lifting things - an improper use of the coupler since the coupler is not designed for that purpose. Upon confirming that and pressing the relevant button, the next screen requires the operator to confirm that they are using the correctly rated shackle and lifting equipment.
Again this is an important safety check. Upon confirming that, the screen changes to that of Figure 24 which reminds the operator not to exceed the safe working load of the coupler or excavator arm. This screen also offers a back button and a home button since upon completion of the lifting, the operator is likely to want to revert to the home screen of Figure 21 , or may want to re-read the earlier warnings. Finally, Figures 25 to 31 then disclose various additional screens that may optionally be provided.
Figure 25 is again the home screen showing the access button for the additional information - see the book button That book button opens the coupler information page of Figure 26, which provides four options, namely a contact information page, a servicing information page and an identification information page.
The contact information page opens a further page - that of Figure 27, which provides information for example of the manufacturer, although it could be the owner or the service company, or options therefor may be provided on an intermediate page. The service button pulls up instructions on for example greasing procedures for greasing all points every week, or access to additional instructional pages such as that of Figure 30, or further pages actually physically providing the operator manual in electronic form.
The ID button accesses images of the coupler for showing where to find identification information for the particular coupler in use, and that can include safe working load information, copies of identification plates, and serial number data. The instructional device has been described above as a relatively passive instructional device.
However, it could alternatively be an active instructional device by providing it with connections to sensor data from the coupler or from the excavator itself, or by linking it to the control system as suggested briefly above. Then, in place of just requiring the operator to press confirmation buttons when he has performed an instructed step, the intelligence of the coupler or the intelligence of the instructional device, or the intelligence of the control circuits, or a combination of these three features, may be sufficient to allow pages to switch from one page to the next without user input, or even to provide video based instructions that can move on as the coupling, decoupling, lifting or other procedures are undertaken and the steps thereof are completed, which video based instructions can replicate the condition of the coupler, and the operator's actions as taken.
Interaction with the buttons would nevertheless still be preferred at least for the steps where the operator has to confirm that he has performed the visual or mechanical tests requested.
After all, not all of the steps would be readily detectable by sensors on the coupler, on the control circuits or on the excavator. The present invention, therefore, in this second aspect, provides in addition to the safety warnings of the first aspect of the invention, additionally an instructional device for further enhancing the safety of use of couplers.
The present invention therefore can be an excavator 10 that has a quick coupler 24 coupled to the distal end 22 of its excavator arm The quick coupler 24 can be operated from the cab 14 of the excavator 10 , and can be connected to a warning control system 48 or an instructional device Comes with installation instructions and a short pigtail harness. Operates on 12 or 24 volt systems.
Imagine lifting a hundred-kilogram box with your arms fully extended. Now, imagine lifting that same load close. National Attachments, Inc. The ESCO PosiGrab hydraulic quick coupler was designed and developed to provide simplified use for the machine operator and to optimize site safety. ESCO attachments are known for productivity and safety, and the PosiGrab coupler continues that tradition. An excavator 10 has a quick coupler 24 coupled to the distal end 22 of its excavator arm The quick coupler 24 can be operated from the cab 14 of the excavator 10 , and is connected to a warning control system 48 or an instructional device JRB, a brand company of Paladin Attachments, offers couplers, heavy-duty attachments, and buckets for wheel loaders, excavators and backhoe loaders.
Paladin Attachments is an independent manufacturer of coupler systems and attachment tools for carriers, from small compact tool carriers to large excavators, wheel loaders, tractors, and truck chassis. JRB Quick Couplers add versatility to your wheel loader in any application. About Patriot Couplers Patriot Attachments are our newest line of loader tools designed to give you the best price and fastest turnaround.
Easily exchange attachments among all major OEM brands of 3-arm and 4-arm loaders. Features Back to Top. Current OEM Availability. Specifications Back to Top. Female Adapters The Female Adapter allows you to retrofit any of your existing non-compatible attachments to be fully compatible with the your new coupler. Quotes Back to Top. Get a Quote for this Attachment Attachments available as direct-pin or quick coupler adapted.
Describe any other attachment needs.
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