Apparatus and method for coupling work tool to a machine

Abstract

An apparatus to couple a work tool to an arm assembly is disclosed. The arm assembly may have a first arm and a second arm. The work tool may have a first recess and a second recess. The apparatus may have a first pin that may engage with the first arm and the first recess. The apparatus may have a second pin that may engage with the second arm and the second recess. The apparatus may have an actuator coupled to the first pin and second pin. The actuator may move between a retracted position and an extended position. The apparatus may have a locking sleeve mounted at least partially around the actuator. The locking sleeve may be moveable into a locked position to prevent the actuator from moving into the retracted position from the extended position.

1 . An apparatus for coupling a work tool to an arm assembly of a machine, the work tool including a first recess and a second recess, the arm assembly including a first arm and a second arm, the apparatus including:
 a first pin configured to engage with the first arm and the first recess;   a second pin configured to engage with the second arm and the second recess;   an actuator coupled to the first pin and the second pin and arranged to move between a retracted position, in which at least one of the first pin and the second pin is disengaged from at least one of the first recess and the second recess, and an extended position, in which the first pin and the second pin are engaged with the first recess and the second recess; and   a locking sleeve mounted at least partially around the actuator, the locking sleeve being moveable into a locked position to prevent the actuator from moving into the retracted position from the extended position.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first recess includes a first hook and the second recess includes a second hook. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the actuator comprises a first member moveable relative to a second member, the locking sleeve being mounted at least partially around one of the first member and the second member. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the first member comprises a stop against which the locking sleeve abuts when in the locked position. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the second member comprises an abutment portion against which the locking sleeve abuts. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the locking sleeve and the stop are arranged such that, when in the locked position, rotation of the locking sleeve is prevented in at least one direction. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the first member comprises a cylinder and the second member comprises a piston moveable within the cylinder. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the locking sleeve includes:
 a first portion adapted to abut an abutment portion of the actuator; and   a second portion extending from the first portion, wherein the second portion includes one or more protrusions extending along the longitudinal axis of the locking sleeve, and   wherein the locking sleeve is adapted to rotate about the longitudinal axis between a locked position and an unlocked position.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the one or more protrusions of the second portion of the locking sleeve engages with the stop of the actuator when the locking sleeve is in the locked position. 
     
     
         10 . A machine, comprising:
 an arm assembly including a first arm and a second arm;   a work tool including a first recess and a second recess; and   an apparatus configured to couple the work tool to the arm assembly, the apparatus comprising:
 a first pin configured to engage with the first arm and the first recess; 
 a second pin configured to engage with the second arm and the second recess; 
 an actuator coupled to the first pin and second pin and configured to move between a retracted position, in which at least one of the first pin and the second pin is disengaged from at least one of the first recess and the second recess, and an extended position, in which the first pin and the second pin are engaged with the first recess and the second recess; and 
 a locking sleeve mounted at least partially around the actuator, the locking sleeve being moveable into a locked position to prevent the actuator from moving into the retracted position from the extended position. 
   
     
     
         11 . A method of coupling a work tool to an arm assembly of a machine, the work tool having a first recess and a second recess, and the arm assembly having a first arm and a second arm, the method comprising:
 engaging a first pin with the first arm and the first recess;   engaging a second pin with the second arm;   moving an actuator to an extended position to engage the second pin with the second recess; and,   moving a locking sleeve to a locked position to prevent the actuator from moving into the retracted position from the extended position.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of moving the actuator includes moving a first member of the actuator relative to a second member of actuator. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of moving the locking sleeve includes rotating the locking sleeve around the actuator to abut against the abutment portion of the second member. 
     
     
         14 . The machine of  claim 10 , wherein the actuator comprises a first member moveable relative to a second member, the locking sleeve being mounted at least partially around one of the first member and the second member. 
     
     
         15 . The machine of  claim 14  wherein the first member comprises a stop against which the locking sleeve abuts when in the locked position. 
     
     
         16 . The machine of  claim 14 , wherein the second member comprises an abutment portion against which the locking sleeve abuts. 
     
     
         17 . The machine of  claim 14 , wherein the locking sleeve and the stop are arranged such that, when in the locked position, rotation of the locking sleeve is prevented in at least one direction. 
     
     
         18 . The machine of  claim 14 , wherein the first member comprises a cylinder and the second member comprises a piston moveable within the cylinder. 
     
     
         19 . The machine of  claim 10 , wherein the locking sleeve includes:
 a first portion adapted to abut an abutment portion of the actuator; and   a second portion extending from the first portion, wherein the second portion includes one or more protrusions extending along the longitudinal axis of the locking sleeve, and   wherein the locking sleeve is adapted to rotate about the longitudinal axis between a locked position and an unlocked position.   
     
     
         20 . The machine of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more protrusions of the second portion of the locking sleeve engages with the stop of the actuator when the locking sleeve is in the locked position.