Coupler door push button release for agricultural vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11927293-B2
Application number	US-202117554613-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2021
Priority date	Dec 17, 2021
Publication date	Mar 12, 2024
Grant date	Mar 12, 2024

Abstract

A locking assembly for a door assembly of an agricultural vehicle includes: an actuator that defines an actuator axis and is linearly movable between a first position and a second position and rotatable about the actuator axis between a first locking orientation and a second locking orientation and includes a pair of locking features; a biaser configured to bias the actuator toward the first position; an energizer configured to bias the actuator toward the first locking orientation when the actuator is in the second locking orientation; and a lock configured to engage a second locking feature when the actuator is in the second locking orientation. Linear movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position while the actuator is in the second locking orientation causes the lock to disengage from the second locking feature so the energizer rotates the actuator towards the first locking orientation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A door assembly for an agricultural vehicle, the door assembly comprising:
a mounting plate comprising a door opening and an actuator opening;
a door rotatably coupled to the mounting plate and movable between a covering position where the door covers the door opening and an open position where the door opening is uncovered; and
a locking assembly associated with the door, the locking assembly comprising:
an actuator that defines an actuator axis, the actuator being linearly movable in the actuator opening between a first position and a second position and rotatable about the actuator axis between a first locking orientation and a second locking orientation, the actuator comprising a first locking feature and a second locking feature;
a biaser associated with the actuator and configured to bias the actuator toward the first position;
an energizer associated with the actuator and configured to bias the actuator toward the first locking orientation when the actuator is in the second locking orientation; and
a lock configured to engage the first locking feature when the actuator is in the first locking orientation and engage the second locking feature when the actuator is in the second locking orientation, wherein linear movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position while the actuator is in the second locking orientation causes the lock to disengage from the second locking feature so the energizer rotates the actuator towards the first locking orientation.

2. The door assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a brake associated with the actuator and configured to impede rotation of the actuator toward the first locking orientation from the second locking orientation when the lock is disengaged from the second locking feature.

3. The door assembly of claim 2 , wherein the brake comprises a ring of material configured to impede rotation of the actuator due to friction.

4. The door assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is coupled to the door such that the door is in the covering position when the actuator is in the first locking orientation and the door is in the open position when the actuator is in the second locking orientation.

5. The door assembly of claim 4 , wherein the door comprises a door actuator opening that is aligned with the actuator opening of the mounting plate, wherein the actuator is linearly movable in the door actuator opening.

6. The door assembly of claim 5 , wherein the biaser is disposed in the door actuator opening.

7. The door assembly of claim 5 , wherein the door comprises a protrusion slot and the actuator comprises a protrusion disposed in the protrusion slot that extends radially relative to the actuator axis.

8. The door assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lock comprises a ball plunger, the first locking feature comprises a first locking opening, and the second locking feature comprises a second locking opening.

9. The door assembly of claim 1 , wherein the energizer comprises a torsion spring that is coupled to the actuator so the torsion spring is energized by the actuator rotating from the first locking orientation to the second locking orientation.

10. An agricultural vehicle, comprising:
a chassis;
a hydraulic system carried by the chassis and configured to output pressurized hydraulic fluid; and
a remote coupler fluidly coupled to the hydraulic system, the remote coupler comprising a door assembly comprising:
a mounting plate comprising a door opening and an actuator opening;
a door rotatably coupled to the mounting plate and movable between a covering position where the door covers the door opening and an open position where the door opening is uncovered; and
a locking assembly associated with the door, the locking assembly comprising:
an actuator that defines an actuator axis, the actuator being linearly movable in the actuator opening between a first position and a second position and rotatable about the actuator axis between a first locking orientation and a second locking orientation, the actuator comprising a first locking feature and a second locking feature;
a biaser associated with the actuator and configured to bias the actuator toward the first position;
an energizer associated with the actuator and configured to bias the actuator toward the first locking orientation when the actuator is in the second locking orientation; and
a lock configured to engage the first locking feature when the actuator is in the first locking orientation and engage the second locking feature when the actuator is in the second locking orientation, wherein linear movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position while the actuator is in the second locking orientation causes the lock to disengage from the second locking feature so the energizer rotates the actuator towards the first locking orientation.

11. The agricultural vehicle of claim 10 , further comprising a brake associated with the actuator and configured to impede rotation of the actuator toward the first locking orientation from the second locking orientation when the lock is disengaged from the second locking feature.

12. The agricultural vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the brake comprises a ring of material configured to impede rotation of the actuator due to friction.

13. The agricultural vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the actuator is coupled to the door such that the door is in the covering position when the actuator is in the first locking orientation and the door is in the open position when the actuator is in the second locking orientation.

14. The agricultural vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the door comprises a door actuator opening that is aligned with the actuator opening of the mounting plate, wherein the actuator is linearly movable in the door actuator opening.

15. The agricultural vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the biaser is disposed in the door actuator opening.

16. The agricultural vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the door comprises a protrusion slot and the actuator comprises a protrusion disposed in the protrusion slot that extends radially relative to the actuator axis.

17. The agricultural vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the lock comprises a ball plunger, the first locking feature comprises a first locking opening, and the second locking feature comprises a second locking opening.

18. The agricultural vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the energizer comprises a torsion spring that is coupled to the actuator so the torsion spring is energized by the actuator rotating from the first locking orientation to the second locking orientation.

19. The agricultural vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the door opening is configured to accept a hose when the door is in the open position.

20. A locking assembly for a door assembly of an agricultural vehicle, the locking assembly comprising:
an actuator that defines an actuator axis, the actuator being linearly movable between a first position and a second position and rotatable about the actuator axis between a first locking orientation and a second locking orientation, the actuator comprising a first locking feature and a second locking feature;
a biaser associated with the actuator and configured to bias the actuator toward the first position;
an energizer associated with the actuator and configured to bias the actuator toward the first locking orientation when the actuator is in the second locking orientation; and
a lock configured to engage the first locking feature when the actuator is in the first locking o

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Payne Brian
• Restaino Iii Gerard
• Brinkley Jerry L

Classifications

• F16L55/24 Primary

  Preventing accumulation of dirt or other matter in pipes, e.g. by traps, by strainers · CPC title

• B62D25/24

  Superstructure sub-units with access {or drainage} openings having movable or removable closures; {Sealing means therefor}(inlet covers for vehicle fuel tanks B60K15/05) · CPC title

• F16L2201/80

  Dust covers · CPC title

• F16L35/00

  Special arrangements used in connection with end fittings of hoses, e.g. safety or protecting devices · CPC title

• F16L39/00

  Joints or fittings for double-walled or multi-channel pipes or pipe assemblies {(quick-acting joints for double-walled or multi-channel pipes or pipe assemblies F16L37/56)} · CPC title