Quick Coupler Latch

The present invention relates to a quick coupler for coupling an implement to a tractor, and more particularly relates to an improved latching mechanism therefor.

Commercially available quick couplers, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,544,133, have a pair of laterally spaced-apart hooks, each with a latching mechanism for releasably holding an implement hitch pin in the hook. The latching mechanism typically includes a latch coupled to an operating bar by one or more pivotal links.

If the operator moves such a quick coupler backwards against an implement while inadvertently leaving the latch in the locked position, then a large force may be applied laterally in the forward direction to the latch due to engagement of the hitch pin with the exposed and locked latch. In some known quick coupler latch mechanisms, this loading force could cause a bending deformation of the control bar or of the links and pivot pins which connect the latch to the control bar.

Such bending failures are undesirable because they may not be noticeable upon an inspection of the exterior of the device. Then, if such a damaged device is put in service, it may fail to latch properly at one side of the quick coupler. If this happens, then the hitch pin can be forced out of the damaged side and the resulting twisting load on the other (undamaged) coupler side can create costly damage to the structural parts on the undamaged side of the coupler frame. One response to this problem has been the introduction of self-opening latch mechanisms, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,807,769 and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,531,140. However, such self-opening latch mechanisms are more complicated and costly than the simpler, non-self-opening types. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a simple, quick coupler latch mechanism which is resistant to bending failures.

An object of the present invention is to provide a quick coupler latch mechanism which resists part bending failures.

This and other objects are achieved by the present invention which consists of a latch mechanism for a quick coupler having an inverted U-shaped frame with a pair of downward, depending legs. Each leg has a rearward extending hook with an upward opening recess therein and a latch mechanism for releasably holding an implement hitch pin in the recess. Each latch mechanism has a latch pivoted about a pivot pin fixed with respect to the leg above the hook. A guide pin extends laterally through the leg. A control bar is movable up and down by means of a known lever mechanism. A guide member is rigidly fixed to a lower end of the control bar and has a slot which slidably receives the guide pin. The guide member engages the latch so that vertical movement of the control bar and guide member causes the latch to pivot about the pivot pin in and out of its locked position. The guide pin is positioned below and forward of the pivot pin so that forward directed loads on the locked latch are primarily absorbed by the guide pin, rather than transmitted to the pivot pin and the control bar. The guide pin is supported by thickened wall portions of the quick coupler leg and the guide member and guide pin are sized so as to resist bending deformation.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the rear portion of a tractor with a quick coupler attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of a quick coupler, including the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of an end portion of the quick coupler showing the present latch mechanism invention; and

FIG. 4 is a view along lines 4--4 of FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, a tractor 10 includes a known hitch assembly 12 which supports the quick coupler 14 of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the quick coupler 14 includes an inverted, generally U-shaped member which has a transverse bight portion 16 and a pair of depending legs 18. The legs 18 depend from the outer ends of bight 16, are formed integrally therewith and have side walls 17 and 19 (best seen in FIG. 4). The lower portions of legs 18 have rearwardly extending and upwardly opening hooks 20 which are adapted to receive the lower hitch pins 22 of an associated implement (not shown). The hitch pins 22 are releasably held in the hook recesses 24 by the applicants' latching mechanism 26, operated by a known lever mechanism 28 positioned at the top of each leg 18. A suitable lever mechanism is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,544,133.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the latching mechanism 26 includes a control bar 30 with an upper end threadably coupled to the known lever mechanism 28. The lower end of the bar 30 is rigidly fixed, such as by welding, to a guide member 32. Guide member 32 has oppositely facing sides 31 and 33 and a guide slot 34 which extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of bar 30. Slot 34 receives guide pin 36 so that the guide member 32 can slide vertically with respect thereto. The guide pin 36 extends transversely through bores in opposite sidewall portions 38, 40 of the leg 18. Snap rings preferably hold guide pin 36 in place. The guide member 32 is disposed between wall portions 38 and 40 and has a thickness which makes it resistant to bending deformation. The guide member 32 further includes generally rearwardly extending latch engaging surfaces 42 and 44.

Latch 50 is pivotally supported near its upper end on the frame 18 by pivot pin 52. The pivot pin 52 is positioned to the rear and above guide pin 36. The lower end of latch 50 is adapted to engage and releasably hold the hitch pin 22 in the hook recess 24. Latch 50 has guide engagement arms 54 and 56. Arm 54 forms a pair of engagement or cam surfaces 58, 60 which are joined together to form an obtuse angle, preferably of 145 degrees, interior to the latch 50. Surfaces 58 and 60, therefore, also form a reflex angle of 215 degrees therebetween, exterior to the latch 50. Arm 56 forms a pair of engagement or cam surfaces 62 and 64 which are also joined together to form an obtuse angle, preferably of 130 degrees, exterior to latch 50. A set screw 66 is threadably received in a bore 68 in guide member 32 to provide an adjustable stop which can control the locked position of latch 50.

The mechanism 26 shown in FIG. 3 is in its locked position wherein the lower end of latch 50 in the conventional manner prevents removal of hitch pin 22 from hook recess 24. Latch 50 is maintained in this position by the engagement of latch surface 58 with guide member surface 42.

To release pin 22 from the hook 20, the control bar 30 is moved upwardly by lifting the known lever mechanism 28. This moves guide member 32 upward so that guide member surface 42 slides along latch surfaces 58 and 60 and so that guide member surface 44 engages latch surface 64, thus pivoting latch 50 clockwise, viewing FIG. 3. This moves the lower end of latch 50 to the left and permits pin 22 to be removed from hook recess 24.

To lock pin 22 in the hook recess 24, the control bar 30 is moved downward by lowering the known lever mechanism 28. This lowers guide member 32 so that surface 42 engages latch surface 60 and pivots latch 50 counterclockwise back to the locked position on surface 58 shown in FIG. 3, wherein the lower end of latch 50 again prevents removal of pin 22 from recess 24.

When in the locked position, this latch mechanism is resistant to bending deformation. One reason is that the latch 50 and the guide member 32 are relatively thick and are more resistant to bending than are the relatively thin connecting links used in the latch mechanism described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,544,133. Furthermore, as best seen in FIG. 4, the guide pin 36 in the present invention is supported by wall portions 38 and 40 which are substantially thicker in the vicinity of the guide pin 36 than in other areas of the sidewalls 17 and 19 of the leg 18. Note that the separation between wall portions 38 and 40 is only slightly larger than the thickness of guide member 32. Thus, the spaces between the opposite sides 31 and 33 of guide member 32 and the corresponding adjacent wall portions 38 and 40 are substantially smaller than the diameter of guide pin 36. Also, the thickness of wall portions 38 and 40 is larger than the diameter of guide pin 36. These dimensional relationships all contribute to preventing bending of the guide pin 36. Furthermore, the load is transmitted from latch 50 to guide pin 36 by guide member 32, thus reducing loading of the pivot pin 52 and of the control bar 30.

While the invention has been described in conjuction with a specific embodiment, it is to be understood that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the aforegoing description. Accordingly, this invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations which fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.