Tool carrier for setting up and placing a tool for a loader, and method for setting up and placing a tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9342093-B2
Application number	US-201514735427-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 10, 2015
Priority date	Aug 4, 2014
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

Abstract

The tool carrier disclosed herein has a locking device with a low degree of complexity, a low diversity of parts, and a high degree of reliability. By the completely automated locking process, the setting up of the tool on the tool carrier is considerably simplified for the operator or the driver, since neither has to leave the cabin any longer in order to lock the tool. The actuation of the setting up and holding devices by the tool during the setting up of the tool ensures that the locking device is used only if a tool is also set up. An erroneous movement of the lock into its locking position due to vibrations or by a movement of the tool carrier or the front loader without a set-up tool is effectively avoided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tool lock comprising:
a tool carrier comprising an upper cross brace and a lower cross brace connected by at least one profile plate and at least one support plate, wherein the area between the at least one profile plate and the at least one support plate define a tool holding area for engaging and locking a tool comprising a fastening lug;
a lock comprising a handle for the manual movement of the lock from the locked position to the unlocked position and a first guiding and locking section connected to a second guiding and locking section, wherein the second guiding and locking section comprises a spring connected to a disk for engaging the tool carrier and a heel; and
a setting up and holding device supported on the tool carrier comprising a first rotary lever connected to a second rotary lever about a rotation axle and a spring coupled to the tool carrier and to the first rotary lever, wherein the first rotary lever further comprises an end configured to engage the fastening lug of the tool and the second rotary lever further comprises an end configured to engage the heel so as to maintain the lock in an unlocked position.

2. The tool lock of claim 1 , wherein the second rotary lever further comprises an end configured to engage the heel so as to maintain the lock in an unlocked position.

3. The tool lock of claim 1 , wherein the at least one profile plate and the at least one support plate each further comprise a borehole for guiding the lock.

4. The tool lock of claim 1 , wherein the area between the at least one profile plate and the at least one support plate define a tool holding area for engaging and locking a tool.

5. The tool lock of claim 1 , wherein the handle further comprises two legs connected to a crosslink on one end and connected to a connecting plate on the other end.

6. The tool lock of claim 5 , wherein the second guiding and locking section extends through a borehole in a connecting plate to form one of the two legs.

7. The tool lock of claim 6 , wherein the first guiding and locking section is connected on the opposite side of the connecting plate from the two legs.

8. The tool lock of claim 1 , wherein the first rotary lever further comprises an end activated by the tool to move lock into the locked position.

9. A method for automatically locking a tool to a loader comprising:
pulling a handle of a lock to place a setting up and holding device supported on a tool carrier in an unlocked position;
maneuvering the tool carrier to engage a suspension hook of a tool comprising a fastening lug;
further maneuvering the tool carrier so that the fastening lug interacts with the setting up and holding device such that the lock secures the tool to the tool carrier in a locked position;
wherein the lock comprises a first guiding and locking section connected to a second guiding and locking section, wherein the second guiding and locking section comprises a spring connected to a disk for engaging the tool carrier and a heel to maintain the lock in a locked position;
wherein the setting up and holding device comprises a first rotary lever connected to a second rotary lever about a rotation axle and a spring coupled to the tool carrier frame and to the first rotary lever;
wherein the fastening lug interacts with an end of the first rotary lever to rotate the first rotary lever about the rotation axle thereby rotating the second rotary lever and in turn releasing the heel to secure the tool to the tool carrier.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the tool carrier comprises a tool carrier frame including an upper cross brace and a lower cross brace connected by at least one profile plate and at least one support plate.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Villarreal Diego Adrian
• Faivre Damien

Classifications

• E02F3/3636

  using two or four movable transversal pins · CPC title

• E02F3/3672

  where disengagement is effected by a mechanical lever or handle · CPC title

• G05G5/08 Primary

  Interlocking of members, e.g. locking member in a particular position before or during the movement of another member · CPC title

• E02F3/3631

  with a hook and a transversal locking element · CPC title

• E02F3/3645 Primary

  with auto-engagement means for automatic snap-on of the tool coupler part · CPC title