Tool-free coupling structure in agricultural machines
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsElijah B. Garner, Dnyanesh Dhobale
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An agricultural vehicle includes a coupling structure for making a tool-less attachment between a first connector piece and a second connector piece. The first connector piece has at least one pin, and the second connector piece has at least one slot adapted to receive the pin in a receiving pocket that is circumferentially spaced from an axially-open inlet portion of the slot. The slot includes an inlet ramp between the slot inlet portion and the receiving pocket, and the inlet ramp is less steeply angled than a second ramp surface that forms a portion of the receiving pocket adjacent the first ramp.
Claims21
A connector piece forming one half of a coupling structure for making a tool-less attachment in an agricultural vehicle, the connector piece comprising:
- a first distal end forming either a hose connector or a plug;
- a second distal end opposite the first distal end, the second distal end forming an opening, wherein a wall adjacent the second distal end includes at least one slot configured to receive a pin of a coupled ancillary connector piece, wherein the at least one slot includes a receiving pocket that is circumferentially spaced from an axially-open inlet portion of the at least one slot,
- wherein the at least one slot includes an inlet ramp between the slot inlet portion and the receiving pocket, and the inlet ramp is less steeply angled than a second ramp surface that forms a portion of the receiving pocket adjacent the inlet ramp, wherein an oblique angle is formed between the second ramp surface and a reference plane defined by the second distal end and/or between an inlet ramp surface and the reference plane.
A connector piece forming one half of a coupling structure for making a tool-less attachment in an agricultural vehicle, the connector piece comprising:
- a first distal end forming either a hose connector or a plug;
- a second distal end opposite the first distal end, the second distal end forming an opening, wherein a wall adjacent the second distal end includes at least one slot configured to receive a pin of a coupled ancillary connector piece, wherein the at least one slot includes a receiving pocket that is circumferentially spaced from an axially-open inlet portion of the at least one slot,
- wherein the at least one slot includes an inlet ramp between the slot inlet portion and the receiving pocket, and the inlet ramp is less steeply angled than a second ramp surface that forms a portion of the receiving pocket adjacent the inlet ramp, wherein an axial compressive force between the connector piece and the coupled ancillary connector piece effects disengagement of the pin from the receiving pocket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.