Coupler control system

Abstract

A coupler control system ( 10 ) for coupler on an excavator arm ( 14 ) of an excavator ( 12 ), the coupler comprising a hydraulic actuator ( 60 ), the excavator comprising a solenoid valve ( 20 ) for controlling operation of the coupler's hydraulic actuator ( 60 ), the excavator arm ( 14 ) comprising a boom arm ( 36 ) and a stick ( 40 ), both operated by separate hydraulic actuators, and a bucket actuator ( 44 ) for rotating an accessory relative to the stick ( 40 ), the coupler control system ( 10 ) comprising a controller linked to the solenoid valve ( 20 ) for controlling operation of the coupler's hydraulic actuator ( 60 ), a status indicator ( 22 ), a coupler control switch ( 24 ) for locating in the cab of the excavator and a pressure sensor ( 28 ) for connecting to the hydraulic system for at least one of the hydraulic actuators for the boom arm, the stick or the bucket actuator, wherein the coupler control switch and the status indicator are connected to the controller, the pressure sensor is arranged to sense when the hydraulic fluid of the hydraulic system is at a pressure less than a predetermined pressure signifying a grounding of the coupler, the controller is connected to the pressure sensor to detect that sensed state of the pressure and the controller is arranged, in response to that detection, to provide an indication to the operator via the status indicator.

1 . A coupler control system for coupler on an excavator arm of an excavator, the coupler comprising a hydraulic actuator, the excavator comprising a solenoid valve for controlling operation of the coupler's hydraulic actuator, the excavator arm comprising a boom arm and a stick, both operated by separate hydraulic actuators, and a bucket actuator for rotating an accessory relative to the stick, the coupler control system comprising:
 a controller linked to the solenoid valve for controlling operation of the coupler's hydraulic actuator;   a status indicator;   a coupler control switch for locating in the cab of the excavator; and   a pressure sensor for connecting to the hydraulic system for at least one of the hydraulic actuators for the boom arm, the stick or the bucket actuator;   wherein:   the coupler control switch and the status indicator are connected to the controller;   the pressure sensor is arranged to sense when the hydraulic fluid of the hydraulic system is at a pressure less than a predetermined pressure signifying a grounding of the coupler;   the controller is connected to the pressure sensor to detect that sensed state of the pressure; and   the controller is arranged, in response to that detection, to provide an indication to the operator via the status indicator.   
     
     
         2 . The coupler control system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined pressure is a set pressure between 0 and 60 barg. 
     
     
         3 . The coupler control system of  claim 1 , wherein the status indicator is a visual indicator. 
     
     
         4 . The coupler control system of  claim 1 , wherein the connection to the solenoid valve is via a connection to a solenoid valve manifold assembly comprising the solenoid valve for controlling operation of the coupler's hydraulic actuator and solenoid valves for the boom arm's actuator. 
     
     
         5 . The coupler control system of  claim 4 , wherein the pressure sensor is part of the manifold assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The coupler control system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensor is remote from the controller, it being connected to the hydraulics for the boom arm's actuator. 
     
     
         7 . The coupler control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller has a plug socket to fit in a control socket on the solenoid valve for controlling operation of the coupler's hydraulic actuator or a manifold assembly comprising the solenoid valve for controlling operation of the coupler's hydraulic actuator, and a second control socket to receive an OEM plug socket connected to the cab control cables, the controller thus then being connectable to the excavator between the OEM plug socket and the solenoid valve for controlling operation of the coupler's hydraulic actuator or the manifold assembly comprising the solenoid valve for controlling operation of the coupler's hydraulic actuator. 
     
     
         8 . The coupler control system of  claim 1 , wherein the status indicator comprises a visual indicator provided on the excavator arm, which visual indicator is within the line of sight of an operator sitting in a cab of the excavator. 
     
     
         9 . The coupler control system of  claim 1 , wherein the status indicator comprises a visual indicator in a cab of the excavator, which visual indicator is within the line of sight of an operator sitting in a cab of the excavator. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The coupler control system of any preceding claim, wherein the status indicator is a visual indicator that can display more than one colour, a first colour signifying the detection of the pressure below the predetermined pressure for the boom cylinder hydraulics, and
 the second colour signifies operation of the coupler's actuator by the coupler control switch.   
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The coupler control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a counter for counting a period of detection of the pressure below the predetermined pressure wherein the coupler control system disables operation of the coupler control switch until a predetermined time period of the pressure below the predetermined pressure has passed. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The coupler control system of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined time period is at least 3 seconds. 
     
     
         16 . An excavator comprising an excavator arm with a coupler on an end thereof, the coupler comprising a hydraulic actuator for opening and closing a latch of the coupler, the excavator comprising a solenoid valve for controlling operation of the coupler's hydraulic actuator, the excavator arm comprising a boom arm and a stick, both operated by separate hydraulic actuators, wherein the excavator comprises a coupler control system for the coupler, the excavator comprising a solenoid valve for controlling operation of the coupler's hydraulic actuator, and a bucket actuator for rotating an accessory relative to the stick, the coupler control system comprising:
 a controller linked to the solenoid valve for controlling operation of the coupler's hydraulic actuator;   a status indicator;   a coupler control switch for locating in the cab of the excavator; and   a pressure sensor for connecting to the hydraulic system for at least one of the hydraulic actuators for the boom arm, the stick or the bucket actuator;   wherein:   the coupler control switch and the status indicator are connected to the controller;   the pressure sensor is arranged to sense when the hydraulic fluid of the hydraulic system is at a pressure less than a predetermined pressure signifying a grounding of the coupler;   the controller is connected to the pressure sensor to detect that sensed state of the pressure; and   the controller is arranged, in response to that detection, to provide an indication to the operator via the status indicator.   
     
     
         17 . The excavator of  claim 16 , wherein the coupler controlled by the coupler control system comprises a front jaw for receiving a first attachment pin of an accessory, a rear jaw for receiving a second pin of the accessory, the latch being associated with the rear jaw and the hydraulic actuator being associated with the latch. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The excavator of  claim 17 , wherein the coupler comprises a latching member for the front jaw in addition to the latch for the rear jaw. 
     
     
         20 . The excavator of  claim 19 , wherein the latching member for the front jaw is operated also by operation of the hydraulic actuator of the coupler either directly or via a release mechanism. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of controlling decoupling an accessory from a coupler on an excavator arm of an excavator, the excavator being as defined in  claim 16 , wherein if the excavator arm, coupler and accessory are maintained not in contact with the ground, with the boom arm actuator carrying the boom arm, the stick, the coupler and the accessory, the decoupling procedure cannot commence, whereas upon contacting the ground with the accessory for a predetermined period of time not less than two seconds, whereby the coupler control system detects a pressure in the hydraulics for the boom arm actuator of less than a predetermined pressure not more than 60 barg for that predetermined period, the status indicator will then provide an indication of readiness to decouple whereafter the coupler control switch can be switched to cause the decoupling process to occur. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said switching of the coupler control switch is from a first state to a different, accessory decouple, state. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein if the coupler control switch is in an accessory decouple state when the accessory is first touched to the ground to commence the determination of the predetermined time period, the decoupling procedure cannot commence until the switch is switched into a non-decouple state, and the time period determination recommenced. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the decoupling procedure, when commenced will additionally control the excavator arm to raise the coupler off the accessory after completion of the decoupling procedure. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled)