Tool coupler system having multiple pressure sources

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9217235-B2
Application number	US-201213483875-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2012
Priority date	May 30, 2012
Publication date	Dec 22, 2015
Grant date	Dec 22, 2015

Abstract

A tool coupler system is disclosed for use with a machine. The tool coupler system may have a tool coupler with a hydraulic actuator configured to selectively lock a tool to a machine. The tool coupler system may also have a first hydraulic pump configured to generate a first flow of pressurized fluid, and a second hydraulic pump configured to generate a second flow of pressurized fluid. The tool coupler system may further have a valve configured to selectively direct the first or second flows of pressurized fluid to the hydraulic actuator of the tool coupler.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool coupler system for a machine, comprising:
a tool coupler having a hydraulic actuator configured to selectively lock a tool to the machine;
a first hydraulic pump configured to selectively generate a first flow of fluid pressurized to a first pressure and supply the fluid pressurized to the first pressure to the hydraulic actuator of the tool coupler and at least one other hydraulic actuator, wherein the first hydraulic pump is configured to supply the first flow of fluid pressurized to the first pressure to the hydraulic actuator of the tool coupler to lock the tool to the machine;
a second hydraulic pump configured to selectively generate a second flow of fluid pressurized to a second pressure and supply the fluid pressurized to the second pressure to the hydraulic actuator of the tool coupler, wherein the second hydraulic pump is configured to supply the second flow of fluid pressurized to the second pressure to the hydraulic actuator of the tool coupler to maintain the tool coupler in the locked position, wherein the second flow of fluid pressurized to the second pressure is less than an amount required to move the hydraulic actuator of the tool coupler to either lock or unlock the tool from the machine; and
a shuttle valve configured to selectively move to a first position when the first pressure is greater than the second pressure to allow the first flow of fluid pressurized to the first pressure to flow through the shuttle valve in a first direction to supply pressurized fluid from the first hydraulic pump to the hydraulic actuator of the tool coupler, or to a second position when the second pressure is greater than the first pressure to allow the second flow of fluid pressurized to the second pressure to flow through the shuttle valve in a second direction opposite the first direction to supply pressurized fluid from the second hydraulic pump to the hydraulic actuator of the tool coupler.

2. The tool coupler system of claim 1 , wherein both the first and second pumps are variable displacement pumps.

3. The tool coupler system of claim 2 , wherein both the first and second pumps are driven by an engine of the machine.

4. The tool coupler system of claim 1 , wherein the first hydraulic pump is an implement pump of the machine.

5. The tool coupler system of claim 4 , wherein the first pressure of the first flow of pressurized fluid is driven by a demand for pressurized fluid from the at least one other hydraulic actuator.

6. The tool coupler system of claim 5 , wherein the shuttle valve directs the second flow of fluid pressurized to the second pressure to the hydraulic actuator of the tool coupler only when the at least one other hydraulic actuator is idle.

7. The tool coupler system of claim 6 , wherein the first hydraulic pump is destroked to a neutral position when the at least one other hydraulic actuator is idle.

8. The tool coupler system of claim 1 , wherein the second hydraulic pump is a pilot pump configured to supply pilot fluid to move at least one valve of the machine.

9. The tool coupler system of claim 8 , wherein the first pressure is about 10 times the second pressure when both the first and second pumps are pressurizing fluid.

10. The tool coupler system of claim 1 , wherein:
the tool coupler system further includes a second valve configured to control a flow direction of pressurized fluid through the hydraulic actuator of the tool coupler.

11. The tool coupler system of claim 1 , wherein:
the tool coupler further includes:
a coupler frame;
a hook configured to receive a first pin of the tool; and
a wedge;
the first hydraulic pump is configured to direct the first flow of pressurized fluid to the hydraulic actuator of the tool coupler to move the wedge away from the hook and bias a second pin of the tool against the coupler frame; and
the second hydraulic pump is configured to direct the second flow of pressurized fluid to the hydraulic actuator of the tool coupler to maintain the wedge away from the hook.

12. The tool coupler of claim 11 , further including a check valve configured to maintain fluid having a pressure about the same as the first flow of pressurized fluid within a head-end chamber of the hydraulic actuator of the tool coupler even when the second flow of pressurized fluid is being directed to the hydraulic actuator of the tool coupler.

Assignees

• Robl Troy Curtis
• Vering Andy Lee
• Stefek Trent Randall
• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Robl Troy Curtis
• Vering Andy Lee
• Stefek Trent Randall

Classifications

• E02F9/226

  Safety arrangements, e.g. hydraulic driven fans, preventing cavitation, leakage, overheating · CPC title

• E02F3/3663

  hydraulically-operated · CPC title

• E02F3/3618

  with two separating hooks · CPC title

• E02F9/2296

  Systems with a variable displacement pump · CPC title

• E02F9/2285

  Pilot-operated systems · CPC title