Excavator arm assembly with integral quick coupler

An arm assembly comprising:

• an arm member comprising:
• (i) a proximal end adapted for connection to an associated boom for pivoting movement about a transverse pivot axis;
• (ii) a distal end, spaced from said proximal end along a first longitudinal axis;
• and, (iii) a first recess defined in said distal end, said first recess defined about a first transverse axis that lies parallel to said transverse pivot axis and including an open mouth and a closed inner end;
• an implement link member comprising:
• (i) a first end;
• and, (ii) a second end spaced from said first end along a second longitudinal axis and defining a second recess about a second transverse axis parallel to said first transverse axis, said second recess having an open mouth and a closed inner end, said first and second recesses adapted for respective receipt of first and second associated pins of an associated implement;
• and,
• at least one dude link member having a first end pivotably connected to said distal end of said arm member adjacent said first recess and a second end pivotably connected to said distal end of said implement link member adjacent said second recess, said first end of said dude link member defining a third recess having a mouth that opens in a first direction and said second end of said dude link member defining a fourth recess having a mouth that opens in a second direction that is generally opposite said first direction, said at least one dude link member movable between first and second operative positions, wherein in said first operative position, said dude link at least partially blocks only a first one of said first and second recesses and in said second operative position said dude link at least partially blocks only a second one of said first and second recesses.

An arm assembly for an excavation apparatus, said arm assembly comprising:

• an arm member comprising:
• (i) a proximal end adapted for operative connection to an associated boom for pivoting movement about a transverse pivot axis;
• (ii) a distal end, spaced from said proximal end along a first longitudinal axis;
• and, (iii) a first recess defined in said distal end, said first recess defined about a first transverse axis that lies parallel to said transverse pivot axis and including an open mouth and a closed inner end;
• an implement link member comprising:
• (i) a first end adapted for operative connection to an associated fluid cylinder;
• and, (ii) a second end spaced from said first end along a second longitudinal axis and defining a second recess about a second transverse axis parallel to said first transverse axis, said second recess having an open mouth and a closed inner end, said first and second recesses adapted for respective receipt of first and second associated pins of an associated implement;
• and,
• at least one pin capturing link member including a first end pivotably connected to said distal end of said arm member adjacent said first recess, and a second end pivotably connected to said second end of said implement link member adjacent said second recess, said at least one pin capturing link member at all times, depending upon the relative location of said implement link member to said arm member, at least partially blocking said open mouth of at least one of said first recess and said open mouth of said second recess.