Coupler with Magnet

Abstract

A coupler includes first and second attachment pin jaws. A first latching mechanism is associated with the first jaw. The first latching mechanism has an arm connected to and extending away from a latching member. A second latching mechanism is associated with the jaw. The first and second latching mechanisms are adapted to latch the first and second attachment pins of an accessory in or on the first jaw and the second jaw, respectively. The second latching mechanism is powered for movement between a latching position and a non-latching position. The first latching mechanism is operatively connected to, or connectable with, the second latching mechanism to allow it to selectively operate the first latching mechanism between latching and non-latching positions by means of a groove or flange or finger on the second latching mechanism. A magnet is provided to ensure a correct disengagement of the first latch latching mechanism.

1 . A coupler having a top half for attaching to an end of an excavator arm of an excavator and a bottom half for attaching to an accessory, the bottom half comprising first, front jaw and a second, rear jaw, at least one of the jaws featuring an associated latching mechanism for retaining an attachment pin of the accessory within the jaw, wherein one of the coupler, one or both of the jaws, and the associated latching mechanism further comprises, or is associated with, a magnet, the magnet configured for releasably engaging or holding a component of the locking mechanism in a predefined positional condition relative to one of the jaws or relative to another component of the latching mechanism. 
     
     
         2 . The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the latching mechanism is associated with the first jaw, and the first latching member comprises an arm operatively connected to and extending away from a latching member thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein at least one latching mechanism of the coupler is powered for movement between a latching position and a non-latching position. 
     
     
         4 . The coupler of  claim 1 , comprising two latching mechanisms, one for each jaw. 
     
     
         5 . The coupler of  claim 4 , wherein a first of the latching mechanisms is operatively connected to, or connectable with, a second of the latching mechanisms to allow operation of the second latching mechanism selectively to operate the first latching mechanism between its own latching and non-latching positions. 
     
     
         6 . The coupler of  claim 5 , wherein the second latching mechanism comprises one of a groove, a flange and a finger for defining a space or surface in or on which a free end of an arm of the first latching mechanism can reside during either or both a coupling and/or a decoupling procedure of the coupler for allowing the movement of the second latching mechanism to operate the first latching mechanism between its latching position and its non-latching position. 
     
     
         7 . The coupler of  claim 6 , wherein movement of the second latching mechanism to operate the first latching mechanism from its non-latching position into its latching position will disengage the magnet from the component. 
     
     
         8 . The coupler of  claim 6 , wherein as the second latching mechanism is powered into a non-latching position, the free end of the arm of the first latching mechanism, upon engagement by the second latching mechanism, is lifted by the movement of the second latching mechanism, so as to lift a latching face of the first latching mechanism into a non-latching position, and as the second latching mechanism is powered into a non-latching position, the free end of the arm of the first latching mechanism, upon engagement by the second latching mechanism, is lifted by the movement of the second latching mechanism, so as to lift the component into interaction with the magnet. 
     
     
         9 . The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the first latching mechanism comprises a rocker latch for partially closing the first jaw when in a “dropped” or jaw closing position. 
     
     
         10 . The coupler of  claim 9 , comprising an arm extending from the rocker latch or a latching plate thereof, and the arm of the first latching mechanism extends within the coupler inside the framework or frame of the coupler towards a second latching mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . The coupler of  claim 10 , wherein the arm is the component that the magnet can releasably engage or hold. 
     
     
         12 . The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the rear jaw has an opening pointing generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the coupler, the opening being at least 1.8 times wider than the opening of the front jaw. 
     
     
         13 . A coupler having a top half for attaching to an end of an excavator arm of an excavator and a bottom half for attaching to an accessory, the bottom half comprising first, front jaw and second, rear jaw, each of the jaws comprising an associated latching mechanism for retaining an attachment pin of the accessory within the associated jaw, wherein the coupler further comprises a safety pin for securing at least one of the latching mechanisms in a latching state with respect to the associated attachment pin. 
     
     
         14 . The coupler of  claim 13 , wherein the safety pin is arranged to pass through either one or both sidewalls of a frame of the coupler. 
     
     
         15 . The coupler of  claim 13 , adapted such that the safety pin can lock the associated latching mechanism in any one of multiple pin locking positions for accommodating and securing accessories having different pin spacings. 
     
     
         16 . The coupler of  claim 15 , wherein the second jaw has an opening pointing generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the coupler, the opening being at least 1.8 times wider than the opening of the first jaw. 
     
     
         17 . The coupler of  claim 15 , wherein multiple holes are provided in the coupler's sidewall, or in the coupler's sidewalls, for receiving the safety pin. 
     
     
         18 . The coupler of  claim 14 , wherein a hole is provided in the associated latching mechanism for receiving the safety pin. 
     
     
         19 . The coupler of  claim 13 , wherein the safety pin has a portion with a non circular cross section, whereby the shape of the safety pin allows it to lock or secure the latching mechanism in a variety of different locking positions dependent upon the orientation of the safety pin within a given hole or pair of holes in the coupler. 
     
     
         20 . The coupler of  claim 13 , wherein a first of the latching mechanisms is operatively connected to, or connectable with, a second of the latching mechanism to allow operation of the second latching mechanism selectively to operate the first latching mechanism between its own latching and non-latching positions.