Coupling assembly and method of hydraulically coupling to a tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11053660-B2
Application number	US-201916442916-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2019
Priority date	Jun 17, 2019
Publication date	Jul 6, 2021
Grant date	Jul 6, 2021

Abstract

A method of coupling a tool to a work machine including inserting a front lug of a coupling assembly into a front recess on the tool, inserting a rear lug of the coupling assembly into a rear recess on the tool, moving a retaining member of the coupler assembly to a retaining position relative to the tool to releasably mount the tool to the work machine, while simultaneously preventing movement of a hydraulic coupling manifold on the coupling assembly from moving; and moving the hydraulic coupling manifold to a coupling position with a hydraulic power transmission coupling on the tool to hydraulically couple the tool to the work machine in response to the retaining member reaching the retaining position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A coupling assembly for releasably mounting, and hydraulically coupling, a tool to a work machine, comprising:
a mount attachable to the work machine and configured to receive the tool in a mounted position of the tool;
a rigid retaining body movable in translation relative to the mount along a translation axis between a retaining position for retaining the tool to the mount and a release position for releasing the tool from the mount;
a first and a second actuator operable to move the retaining body between the retaining and release positions;
a hydraulic coupling manifold movable in translation relative to the mount along the translation axis between a coupling position that hydraulically couples the tool to the machine and a decoupling position, wherein the tool is hydraulically decoupled from the machine, wherein the hydraulic coupling manifold uses the first and second actuators as guides for moving along the translation axis; and
a control valve configured to prevent movement of the retaining body from the retaining position to the release position unless the hydraulic coupling manifold is in the decoupling position.

2. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a control element configured to prevent the hydraulic coupling manifold from moving from the decoupling position to the coupling position unless the retaining member is in the retaining position.

3. The coupling assembly of claim 2 , wherein the control element includes a flow restrictor or a valve configured to actuate in response to hydraulic pressure exceeding a pressure threshold.

4. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the control valve is mounted to move in translation with the hydraulic coupling manifold, and wherein the control valve includes an actuating element that is displaced by contact with a contact surface when the hydraulic coupling manifold reaches the decoupling position.

5. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a third actuator mounted within the hydraulic coupling manifold to move the hydraulic coupling manifold between the coupling position and the decoupling position.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Lauterslager Peter

Classifications

• E02F3/3663

  hydraulically-operated · CPC title

• E02F3/364

  using wedges · CPC title

• E02F3/3654

  with energy coupler, e.g. coupler for hydraulic or electric lines, to provide energy to drive(s) mounted on the tool · CPC title

• E02F3/4133

  grabs carried out as loaders or mounted on a tractor · CPC title

• E02F3/3618 Primary

  with two separating hooks · CPC title