Work tool coupler for a work vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9624641-B2
Application number	US-201514601950-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 21, 2015
Priority date	Jan 21, 2015
Publication date	Apr 18, 2017
Grant date	Apr 18, 2017

Abstract

A work tool coupler for a work vehicle may include a rigid body, a retention pin, a four-bar linkage, and a lever. The retention pin may be configured to engage a work tool when the coupler is in an engaged position. The four-bar linkage may include a first member pivotally connected to the retention pin and at least one of a second member and a third member, the second member pivotally connected to at least one of the first member and the third member, the third member pivotally connected to at least one of the first member and the second member and a fourth member, and the fourth member pivotally connected to the third member. The lever may be attached to the fourth member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A work tool coupler for a work vehicle comprising:
a rigid body;
a retention pin configured to engage a work tool when the coupler is in an engaged position;
a four-bar linkage, comprising:
a first member, the first member pivotally connected to the retention pin, the first member pivotally connected to at least one of a second member and a third member;
the second member pivotally connected to the body and pivotally connected to at least one of the first member and the third member;
the third member pivotally connected to at least one of the first member and the second member;
a fourth member pivotally connected to the body and pivotally connected to the third member; and
a pivot pin, the first member, second member, and third member pivotally interconnected via the pivot pin; and

a lever attached to the fourth member;
wherein the pivotal connection between the second member and the body is located at a distance from the pivotal connection between the fourth member and the body.

2. The coupler of claim 1 , wherein the pivotal connection between the first member and the retention pin is at a first distance from the pivotal connection between the first member and the second member, the pivotal connection between the first member and the second member is at a second distance from the pivotal connection of the second member and the body, the pivotal connection between the second member and the third member is at a third distance from the pivotal connection of the third member and the fourth member, the pivotal connection between the third member and the fourth member is at a fourth distance from the pivotal connection between the fourth member and the body, and each of the first distance, the second distance, the third distance, and the fourth distance are greater than 0inches.

3. The coupler of claim 1 , wherein the four-bar linkage is configured such that a line of action formed by the pivotal connection of the third member to at least one of the first member and the second member and the pivotal connection of the third member to the fourth member does not cross an axis about which the fourth member is pivotally connected to the body.

4. The coupler of claim 1 , wherein the four-bar linkage is configured such that when the coupler is in the engaged position, a line of action formed by the pivotal connection of the first member to the retention pin and the pivotal connection of the first member to the second member is on the opposite side of an axis about which the second member is pivotally connected to the body as the lever.

5. The coupler of claim 4 , wherein the cam is located on at least one of the second member and the third member and the spring extends between the cam and at least one of the first member and the retention pin.

6. The coupler of claim 5 , wherein the spring is a coil spring and the first member is located within the spring.

7. The coupler of claim 1 , further comprising a spring and a cam, wherein the spring is connected to the linkage via the cam.

8. The coupler of claim 7 , wherein the cam and the spring are configured and positioned so that the length of the spring when the coupler is in an intermediate position between the engaged position and a disengaged position is shorter than the length of the spring when the coupler is in the engaged position or the disengaged position.

9. The coupler of claim 1 , wherein the lever comprises a means for actuation by hand and a means for actuation by foot.

10. The coupler of claim 9 , wherein the retention pin is in a first position when the coupler is in an engaged position, the retention pin is in a second position when the coupler is in a disengaged position, and the retention pin protrudes further below the rigid body in the first position than in the second position.

11. The coupler of claim 10 , wherein the first member is positioned within the coil spring.

12. The coupler of claim 10 , wherein the cam is shaped such that the compression of the coil spring is greater when the coupler is in an intermediate position between the engaged position and the disengaged position than when the coupler is in the engaged position.

13. The coupler of claim 12 , wherein the third surface is closer to the second point than the second surface.

14. The coupler of claim 10 , further comprising:
a first surface of the cam positioned between the first point and the second point and in contact with the follower plate when the coupler is in the engaged position;
a second surface of the cam positioned between the first point and the second point and in contact with the follower plate when the coupler is in an intermediate position between the engaged position and the disengaged position;
a third surface of the cam positioned between the first point and the second point and in contact with the follower plate when the coupler is in the disengaged position; and
wherein, the first surface is closer to the second point than the second surface.

15. A work tool coupler for a work vehicle comprising:
a rigid body comprising:
a ridge positioned on an upper surface of the body and shaped to mate with a depression on a work tool so as to resist forward and rearward movement of the work tool relative to the coupler;
a slot positioned on a lower surface of the body;

a retention pin positioned within the slot, the retention pin shaped to mate with a hole on a work tool so as to resist movement of the work tool relative to the coupler;
a four-bar linkage, comprising:
a first member pivotally connected to the retention pin about a first point and pivotally connected to a second member and a third member about a second point;
the second member pivotally connected to the body about a third point;
the third member pivotally connected to a fourth member about a fourth point; and
the fourth member pivotally connected to the body about a fifth point; and

a lever attached to the fourth member.

16. The coupler of claim 15 , further comprising:
a cam defined by an outer surface of the second member;
a follower plate in contact with the cam; and
a coil spring held in compression by the follower plate.

17. The coupler of claim 15 , wherein the four-bar linkage is configured such that when the coupler is in the engaged position, a line of action formed by the first point and the second point is on the opposite side of the second third point as the lever.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Martin Kyle T
• Wentzloff James

Classifications

• E02F3/3668

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

• E02F3/364

  using wedges · CPC title

• Y10T403/595

  Lever · CPC title

• E02F3/3627 Primary

  with a hook and a longitudinal locking element · CPC title

• E02F3/3672

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