Coupler unit for work machine
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorRima Peddi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coupler unit for coupling a work tool with a work machine includes a coupling bracket. The coupler unit includes a pin, at least one side plate, a boss extending from the side plate, and a slider movably coupled with the boss. Based on a contact of the work tool with the slider, the slider is configured to move relative to the boss from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the slider is misaligned relative to the boss and the side plate, and the slider prevents receipt of the pin within the boss and the side plate. In the second position, each of the coupling bracket, the slider, the boss, and the side plate are in alignment with each other, and the pin is receivable within each of the coupling bracket, the slider, the boss, and the side plate.
Claims20
A coupler unit for coupling a work tool with a work machine, the work tool including a coupling bracket, the coupler unit comprising:
- a pin configured to couple with the coupling bracket of the work tool;
- at least one side plate;
- a boss extending from the side plate;
- and
- a slider movably coupled with the boss, the slider including an opening therethrough,
- wherein, based on a contact of the work tool with the slider, the slider is configured to move relative to the boss from a first position to a second position,
- wherein, in the first position, the opening of the slider is misaligned relative to the boss and the side plate, and the slider prevents receipt of the pin within the boss and the side plate, and
- wherein, in the second position, each of the coupling bracket, the opening of the slider, the boss, and the side plate are in alignment with each other, and the pin is receivable within each of the coupling bracket, the opening of the slider, the boss, and the side plate.
A work machine comprising:
- a frame;
- and
- a linkage assembly coupled to the frame, the linkage assembly including:
- a work tool including a coupling bracket;
- and
- a coupler unit configured to couple with the work tool, the coupler unit including:
- a pin configured to couple with the coupling bracket of the work tool;
- at least one side plate;
- a boss extending from the side plate, the boss including a linear slot;
- and
- a slider slidably coupled to the slot of the boss,
- wherein, based on a contact of the work tool with the slider, the slider is configured to slide along the slot of the boss from a first position to a second position,
- wherein, in the first position, the slider is misaligned relative to the boss and the side plate, and the slider prevents receipt of the pin within the boss and the side plate, and
- wherein, in the second position, each of the coupling bracket, the slider, the boss, and the side plate are in alignment with each other, and the pin is receivable within each of the coupling bracket, the slider, the boss, and the side plate.
A method of coupling a work tool with a work machine, the work tool including a coupling bracket, the method comprising:
- moving a coupler unit towards the work tool, the coupler unit including at least one side plate, a boss extending from the side plate, and a slider movably coupled with the boss, the slider including an opening therethrough, wherein, in a first position of the slider, the opening of the slider is misaligned relative to the boss and the side plate;
- contacting the work tool with the slider;
- and
- moving the slider relative to the boss from the first position to a second position based on the contact of the work tool with the slider,
- wherein, in the second position of the slider, each of the coupling bracket, the opening of the slider, the boss, and the side plate are in alignment with each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.