Arrangement and Method for Confirming Tool Alignment
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsSteven F. Rodgers, Joseph J. Cai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for indicating angular alignment between tool and machine coupling elements includes a mechanically actuable flag indicator associated with the tool coupling element, and including a pivotably mounted flag mechanically coupled with an actuable element including a tab. Pivoting movement of an actuating surface of the machine coupling element relative to the tool coupling element pivotably moves the actuating surface to result in corresponding pivoting movement of the tab to pivot the mechanically coupled pivotably mounted flag to a visible position when the machine and tool coupling elements are disposed in the desired angular alignment.
Claims20
A system for indicating to an operator of a work machine a desired angular alignment between a tool coupling element associated with the tool and a machine coupling element associated with the work machine, the system comprising:
- a mechanically actuable flag indicator associated with the tool coupling element, the flag indicator including
- a pivotably mounted flag, and
- an actuable element including a tab, the tab being pivotably coupled with the tool coupling element, the pivotably mounted flag being mechanically coupled with the tab;
- and
- an actuating structure associated with the machine coupling element, the actuating structure including an actuating surface disposed to selectively contact the tab of the actuable element such that pivoting movement of the machine coupling element relative to the tool coupling element pivotably moves the actuating surface;
- wherein pivoting movement of the actuating surface results in corresponding pivoting movement of the tab of the actuable element, pivoting movement of the tab correspondingly pivoting the pivotably mounted flag, the flag being pivoted to a position visible to the operator of the machine when the machine coupling element and the tool coupling element are disposed in the desired angular alignment.
A system for coupling a tool with a work machine, the system comprising:
- a tool coupling element associated with the tool, the tool coupling element including
- a first tool coupling structure, and
- a secondary tool engagement structure;
- a machine coupling element associated with the work machine, the machine coupling element including
- a first machine coupling structure, and
- a secondary machine engagement structure;
- wherein the first tool coupling structure and the first machine coupling structure are adapted to pivotably couple the tool coupling element and the machine coupling element, and the secondary tool engagement structure and the secondary machine engagement structure are adapted to secure together the tool coupling element and the machine coupling element;
- a mechanically actuable flag indicator associated with the tool coupling element;
- and
- an actuating structure associated with the machine coupling element, the actuating structure including an actuating surface;
- wherein pivoting movement of the actuating surface results in corresponding movement of the flag indicator to a position visible to the operator of the machine when the machine coupling element and the tool coupling element are disposed in the desired angular alignment for engagement of the secondary tool engagement structure and the secondary machine engagement structure.
A method for mechanically detecting a correct angular alignment between a machine coupling element associated with a work machine and a tool coupling element associated with a tool, the tool coupling element including a first tool coupling structure and a secondary tool engagement structure, the machine coupling element including a first machine coupling structure and a secondary machine engagement structure, the first tool coupling structure and the first machine coupling structure being adapted to pivotably couple the tool coupling element and the machine coupling element, and the secondary tool engagement structure and the secondary machine engagement structure are adapted to secure together the tool coupling element and the machine coupling element, the method comprising:
- engaging the first machine coupling element with the first tool coupling element;
- pivoting the machine coupling element and tool coupling element relatively;
- and
- engaging an actuating surface of an actuable structure associated with the first machine coupling element with a tab of an actuable element pivotably coupled to the first tool coupling element and mechanically coupled with a pivotably mounted flag that is pivotably mounted to the first tool coupling element;
- whereby continued pivoting of the machine coupling element and the tool coupling element relatively pivots the actuable element and mechanically coupled pivotably mounted flag such that the pivotably mounted flag is pivoted to a position visible to an operator of the machine when the machine coupling element and the tool coupling element are disposed in the desired angular alignment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.