EP1954886B1 - Centring device for quick-change devices - Google Patents

Abstract

The quick change fixing device has centring discs (1) fixed on one part such as a catch bolt (4). The discs have at least in part a curved or polygonal or straight peripheral line (16) which are spaced at different distances from the axis of the bolt. At least one control plate is fixed on a counter member such as the tool holder and engages in the motion area of the centring disc. During the threading-in process the curved peripheral line of the disc moves along the surface of the control plate and the shape and arrangement of the disc is selected in respect of the control plate so that the complete engagement of the quick-change device through rotation about the bolt is only possible when the bolt has reached the lowest position in the catch hook. The hook can be fixed on the support apparatus or excavator and also on the tool. The bolt must then be attached to the counter member.

Description

The invention describes a device for centering, guiding or forced guiding of the tool to be connected during the coupling process with the carrier device.

For both stationary and transient tasks, tools must be changed on devices in order to be able to perform different tasks with the same device. These may be, for example, agricultural implements, such as tractors or machines, to which different tools for tillage or for harvesting purposes must be attached.
The same applies to construction machines, where depending on the nature of the ground or the nature of the task different grave or excavation tools must be attached to the same carrier or excavator to perform the work quickly and economically ..

For this purpose, quick-change devices have been developed, with which tools and attachments without the use of human power and without the operator must leave his machine, can be exchanged quickly and easily against each other.

In construction machines such tools to be exchanged may e.g. different blades, grippers, vibrators for soil compaction, vibratory plates, crane devices and other different tillage equipment.

In the DE 195 07 896 and the DE 103 35 667 Quick change devices are described in which the carrier or Bagerstiel a fastening part is attached, which is connected to a matching counterpart, which is located on the tool to be connected.

These devices have in common that on one part different Fangebolzen are attached and the counterpart corresponding catch hooks.

The changing of the tools is done so that the one tool is released by loosening the Fangebolzen from the catch hook and then with the movable excavator handle, At the end of which are the Fangebolzen, the new tool is brought into the suitable position for threading. For this purpose, the Fangebolzen be introduced into the catch hook of the tools and used the tool to the device, pushed away or possibly twisted. If both Fangebolzen have arrived in the correct end position, ie completely at the lowest point of the catch hooks, around this pivot point, the two parts of the quick-change coupling can be completely merged. Only now can be done by other parts such as bolts or pawls, the frictional connection of the two parts, so that the two parts remain together.

By the quick-change device, on the one hand only frictional connections are made, such. when attaching a backhoe to an excavator. If the attached tools are moving devices or motor driven devices, then hoses or cables must also be connected together to energize the drive or control the device. For reasons of convenience, this should also be done fully automatically.

In this case, it is of particular importance that when hooking the tool, the Fangebolzen not tilt or hook in the catch hooks by tilting. Unfortunately, in the prior art quick-change devices, there is a significant amount of jamming and this can lead to severe wear or damage to the quick-change device.

In particular, there is a high risk of damage when the tool in addition to the non-positive connection even cables or hoses must be connected to each other. For this purpose, a plurality of line couplings are mounted inside or outside of the fastener for the tools on the carrier or excavator handle and also on the tool holder with the tool to be connected.

If the Fangebolzen not completely and evenly introduced at both catch hooks and the two fasteners to the closing process moves towards each other, it may happen that the corresponding coupling elements are not accurate enough and therefore damaged when driving on the line couplings or destroyed.

This is of great importance when not only simple, unprotected couplings are connected to each other, but particularly dirt and dust-proof couplings, as in the EP 0918186 are described. Since here the protective covers already open during the approach of the coupling elements of the lines, a tilting of the Fangebolzen and thus an oblique position of the parts of the quick coupler can cause damage to the couplings.

The publication US-A-6,123,501 discloses a quick-change device for fixing and guiding in the frictional connection of tools to carrier equipment and excavators, wherein the fastener at least one Fangebolzen and two centering parts are fixed, the centering parts at least partially have a curved or straight line and wherein at least one control part is attached to the tool holder.

The invention has the task of preventing the Fangebolzen tilt in the catch hook or tilt, and thus damage to the coupling process can be avoided.

The object is achieved according to the features of claim 1.

• Fig. 1 zeigt beispielhaft die Seitenansicht des Befestigungselements 3 einer Schnellwechselvorrichtung, die am Baggerstiel 2 oder am Trägergerät befestigt ist;
• Fig. 2 zeigt die um 90° verschwenkte Ansicht von Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 zeigt den Werkzeughalter 8 bzw. das Gegenstück zum Befestigungselement 3. welches am auszuwechselnden Werkzeug 9 angeordnet ist;
• Fig. 4 zeigt die um 90° verschwenkte Ansicht von Fig. 3;
• Fig. 5 zeigt die Stellung der erfindungsgemäßen Zentrierscheibe 1 und das zugehörige Steuerblech 10 zu Beginn des Einfädelvorgangs der Fangebolzen 4 in die Fangehaken 6;
• Fig. 6 zeigt die Stellung während des Einfädelns, wobei durch die erfindungsgemäße Zentrierscheibe 1 ein vorzeitiges Verdrehen verhindert wird.
• Fig. 7 zeigt die Stellung der erfindungsgemäßen Zentrierscheibe 1 am Ende des Einfädelvorgangs und den vollständig zusammengeklappten Zustand der Schnellwechselvorrichtung.

The invention is based on the FIGS. 1 to 7 explained in more detail.

• Fig. 1 shows an example of the side view of the fastener 3 a quick-change device, which is attached to the excavator handle 2 or on the carrier device;
• Fig. 2 shows the view rotated by 90 ° from Fig. 1 ;
• Fig. 3 shows the tool holder 8 and the counterpart to the fastener 3. which is arranged on the tool 9 to be replaced;
• Fig. 4 shows the view rotated by 90 ° from Fig. 3 ;
• Fig. 5 shows the position of the centering plate 1 according to the invention and the associated control plate 10 at the beginning of the threading operation of the fange bolts 4 in the catch hooks 6;
• Fig. 6 shows the position during threading, which premature rotation is prevented by the centering plate 1 according to the invention.
• Fig. 7 shows the position of the centering plate 1 according to the invention at the end of the threading process and the fully folded state of the quick-change device.

The tilting of the Fangebolzen 6 during threading into the catch hooks 6 is prevented by arrangement of centering discs 1 according to the invention on the catch bolt 4. Their distance 11 from the side parts 3 'of the fastening element 3 is at least as large as the largest sheet thickness of the catch hook 6 on the tool.

The centering disks 1 are preferably flat or slightly rounded or even concave at least partially in the area of contact with the catch hooks 6, so that the catch hooks 6 can easily reach between the centering disks 1.

The shape of the centering disc 1 is chosen so that the outer boundary line 16 is different far away from the center of the Fangebolzens 4. Preferably, the boundary line 16 is curved, but it can also be square or straight. It is important that it runs at different distances from the axis of the Fangebolzen 4.
Preferred shapes for the centering disk 1 are circular, elliptical or egg-shaped or polygons comparable to these shapes.
If the circular shape is used, the centering disk 1 is attached eccentrically to the fetching bolt 4.
In order to ensure the function of the centering disk 1, however, in principle, only a partial area which has the partial area of the boundary line 16 of the centering disk 1 is sufficient.

In addition to the centering disk 1, at the counterpart to the fastening element 3, i. attached to the tool holder 8 with the catch hook 6 a control plate 10 frictionally, along which moves during centering the centering 1. In this case, the circumferential line region 16 of the centering disk 1 is moved along the catch hook 6 facing surface of the control plate 10 partly rotating, rolling or slipping partly.

The dimensions and the arrangement of the centering disc 1 on the Fangebolzen 4 are chosen so that the fastener 3 can only be completely rotated about the Fangebolzen 4 about the axis of the catch hook 6 of the tool holder 8 when the Fangebolzen 4 in the lowest position 12 of the catch hook 6 lies.

The Fangebolzen 4 is arranged eccentrically in the centering disc 1, wherein the measure 13 is greater than / equal to the hook spacing 15 to the control plate 10 and the dimension 14 to the Fangebolzen 4 is smaller than the measure 13 and in particular as the measure 15.

If the fange bolt 4 has not reached the lowest position 12, then the peripheral line 16 of the centering disk 1 abuts on the control plate 10 and this prevents the fastening part 3 from being able to be further approximated to the tool holder 8 by turning about the axis of the fetching bolt 4. This situation is in Fig. 6 shown. Thus, it is also prevented that hydraulic couplings, which are, for example, in the interior of the fastener 3, can move toward each other in an inclined state. Damage to the associated coupling pieces is thus avoided.

The control plate 10 is preferably made of a protruding steel element, for example with a rectangular steel cross-section, which protrudes beyond the lateral wall surface of the tool holder 8.
The height is chosen so that the centering discs 1 come to lie on the control plate 10 at least with a part of their sheet thickness.
Preferably, the contact surface of the steel sheet 10 is straight and level. However, it may also be advantageous to curve the contact surface concave or convex. The control plates can then also be flame cutting parts.
The attachment of the control plates 10 by welding or screwing. For easy guidance during threading, the arrangement of control plates 10 and centering disks 1 on both sides of the quick-change devices is recommended.

The centering during threading is done once by the fact that the centering 6 are guided in parallel in the space 11 and further characterized in that by the symmetrical arrangement of two centering 1 and two control plates 10 a kind of "rolling" or "slipping" the centering takes place along the control plate 10.

With regard to the tool holder 8, the centering disk 1 makes about a quarter turn along the boundary line 16 of the centering disk 1 until the quick-change device is completely closed.

The catch hooks 6 can be attached to both the carrier or excavator and the tool. The Fangebolzen 4 must then be attached to each counterpart.

Claims (8)

1. Quick-change device for fixing and forced guiding during the automatic frictional connection of tools to carrier implements and excavators,
   characterized in that

   - centring disks (1) are fixed to a part of the quick-change device transverse to the axis thereof, e.g. the fixing element (3), catch bolts (4) or a comparable fulcrum, and

   - the centring disks (1) have at least partly a curved, angular or straight circumferential line (16) which is at a variable distance from the axis of the catch bolt (4) and

   - on the counterpart of the quick-change device, the tool holder (8), is fixed at least one control plate (10), which engages in the movement space of the centring disk (1) and along whose surface moves during the insertion process the curved circumferential line (16) of the centring disk (1) and

   - the shape and arrangement of the centring disk (1) relative to the control plate (10) is so chosen that the complete force or positive closure of the quick-change device during rotation about the catch bolts (4) is only possible when the catch bolts (4) have arrived in their lowest position (12) in the catch hook (6).
2. Quick-change device according to claim 1,
   characterized in that,
   in the area of the curved circumferential line (16), the centring disks (1) have a dimension (13) relative to the catch bolt (4) which is equal to or greater than the dimension (15) assumed by the catch bolt (4) in the lowest point (12) of the catch hook (6) relative to the control plate (10) and the smallest spacing dimension (14) of the circumferential line (16) from the catch bolt (4) is smaller than the dimension (15).
3. Quick-change device according to one of the claims 1 or 2,
   characterized in that
   the centring disks (1) are preferably shaped like ellipses, ovals, polygons or eccentrically fixed circular disks or are formed by parts of these shapes.
4. Quick-change device according to one of the claims 1 to 3,
   characterized in that
   fixing of the centring disks (1) preferably takes place at a distance (11) from the side plate (3') of the fixing element (3), which roughly corresponds to the greatest plate thickness of the catch hook (6).
5. Quick-change device according to one of the claims 1 to 4,
   characterized in that
   the centring disks (1) are preferably connected frictionally to the catch bolt (4) or a comparable fulcrum by welding, pressing on, shrinking on or screwing.
6. Quick-change device according to one of the claims 1 to 5,
   characterized in that
   the control plates (10) are preferably straight or curved sheet metal strips or flame cut parts, which are fixed by welding, screwing or plugging to tool carrier (8) or the control plates (10) are shaped on.
7. Quick-change device according to one of the claims 1 to 6,
   characterized in that
   the catch bolts (4) with the centring disks (1) are either located on excavator handle (2) and its mounted part (3) or on the tool holder (8) and the catch hooks (6) with the control plate (10) in each case on the corresponding counterpart.
8. Quick-change device according to one of the claims 1 to 7,
   characterized in that,
   at least on the surface on which the centring disks (1) come into contact with the catch hooks (6) during insertion, the centring disks (1) are designed partly rounded or concave-extensive.

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