Device to couple members of a heavy-duty machine

Abstract

A coupler system to facilitate carrying or operating a working tool is provided. For example, a boom frame is rotated about a master pin location to mate with a stick frame at a picker end and coupled to the stick frame with a latching or locking mechanism. The boom frame is further rotated about the master pin location to mate with the stick frame at a grabber end opposite the picker end coupled to the stick frame with an additional latching or locking mechanism. Static stresses are then pre-loaded onto a pulling mechanism which secures the boom frame to the stick frame to prevent failure and dynamic stresses are dispersed onto a compression mechanism to mitigate fatigue. Hydraulic fluid is passed between the boom frame and the stick frame to maintain cleanliness in a hydraulic valve environment while coupling the stick frame to the boom frame.

1 : A coupler system to facilitate carrying or operating a working tool comprising:
 a first heavy equipment frame comprising simulated pins located at corners of the first heavy equipment frame;   a second heavy equipment frame comprising rotational devices at corners of the second heavy equipment frame to mate with the simulated pins; and   a latching or locking mechanism to secure the first heavy equipment frame to the second heavy equipment frame.   
     
     
         2 : The coupler system of  claim 1 , wherein the rotational devices rotate between latched and unlatched states and have approximately 1800 of freedom in rotation. 
     
     
         3 : The coupler system of  claim 1 , wherein the latching or locking mechanism comprises translatable pins in a carrier hollow shaft or pin sleeve associated with the second heavy equipment frame, the pins having one degree of freedom to slide between a disconnect position and a connect position. 
     
     
         4 : The coupler system of  claim 3  wherein translation of the pins is caused by a hydraulic ram. 
     
     
         5 : The coupler system of  claim 1 , wherein the latching or locking mechanism is located at a picker end of the second heavy equipment frame and an additional latching mechanism is located at a grabber end opposite the picker end of the second heavy equipment frame. 
     
     
         6 : The coupler system of  claim 1 , further comprising a rotary cam receiver and a cam lifter mechanism, the cam lifter mechanism capable of rotating to engage the rotary cam receiver and thereby pull the first heavy equipment frame and the second heavy equipment frame together. 
     
     
         7 : The coupler system of  claim 1 , wherein the rotary cam receiver and the cam lifter mechanism are located at an approximate longitudinal middle of the first and second heavy equipment frames. 
     
     
         8 : The coupler system of  claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical mating system such as teeth on the first heavy equipment frame to interlock with a corresponding reciprocal mechanical mating feature such as teeth on the second heavy equipment frame. 
     
     
         9 : The coupler system of  claim 1 , further comprising a power pass-through system comprising:
 hydraulic fluid passing between the first heavy equipment frame and the second heavy equipment frame;   a female hydraulic valve or an actuatable male hydraulic valve associated with the first heavy equipment frame; and   a hydraulic valve complementing the female hydraulic valve or the actuatable male hydraulic valve associated with the second heavy equipment frame.   
     
     
         10 : The coupler system of  claim 9  further comprising a valve actuation that can advance the actuatable male hydraulic valve to the female hydraulic valve for coupling and holding the valves together. 
     
     
         11 : The coupler system  claim 10  wherein the valve actuation mechanism can retract the actuatable male hydraulic valve for the purpose of disconnecting the valves. 
     
     
         12 : The coupler system of  claim 9 , wherein the power-pass through system further comprises a hydraulic valve containment system comprising:
 a first hydraulic valve isolation box containing the female hydraulic valve;   a first hydraulic valve mounting plate attached to the first heavy equipment frame associated with the female hydraulic valve and the first hydraulic valve isolation box, the first hydraulic valve mounting plate including a first box sliding plate within;   a second hydraulic valve isolation box containing the male hydraulic valve; and   a second hydraulic valve mounting plate attached to the second heavy equipment frame opposite the first heavy equipment frame associated with the female hydraulic valve and the second hydraulic valve isolation box, the second hydraulic valve mounting plate including a second box sliding plate within;   wherein the first and second box sliding plates are actuatable between an open and a closed position;   further wherein the first and second box sliding plates include apertures allowing the actuatable male hydraulic valve to pass through when the first and second box sliding plates are in the open position.   
     
     
         13 : A heavy-duty machine comprising:
 a coupler system comprising:
 a first heavy equipment frame comprising simulated pins located at corners of the first heavy equipment frame: 
 a second heavy equipment frame comprising rotational devices at corners of the second heavy equipment frame to mate with the simulated pins; and 
 a latching or locking mechanism to secure the first heavy equipment frame to the second heavy equipment frame; 
   a boom including the first heavy equipment frame;   a stick including the second heavy equipment frame;   a cab for operating the boom and the stick; and   wheels or a track drive for supporting the cab.   
     
     
         14 : The heavy-duty machine of  claim 13 , further comprising a boom cylinder for moving the boom vertically. 
     
     
         15 : The heavy-duty machine of  claim 13 , further comprising a working tool cylinder for moving the working tool in relation to the stick. 
     
     
         16 : The heavy-duty machine of  claim 13 , further comprising a stick cylinder for moving the stick in relation to the boom. 
     
     
         17 : A method of placing two components of a heavy-duty machine under pre-stress loads while negating cyclical workloads, the method comprising:
 pre-loading static stress onto a pulling mechanism which secures a first heavy equipment frame to a second heavy equipment frame to prevent failure; and   dispersing dynamic stresses onto a compression mechanism to mitigate fatigue.   
     
     
         18 : The method  claim 17 , further comprising:
 first rotating the first heavy equipment frame about a master pin location to mate with the second heavy equipment frame at a picker end; and   coupling the first heavy equipment frame to the second heavy equipment frame with a latching or locking mechanism at the picker end.   
     
     
         19 : The method  claim 18 , further comprising:
 further rotating the first heavy equipment frame about the master pin location to mate with the second heavy equipment frame at a grabber end opposite the picker end; and   coupling the first heavy equipment frame to the second heavy equipment frame with an additional latching or locking mechanism at the grabber end.   
     
     
         20 : The method  claim 19 , further comprising passing hydraulic fluid between the first heavy equipment frame and the second heavy equipment frame and maintaining cleanliness in a hydraulic valve environment while coupling the second heavy equipment frame to the first heavy equipment frame. 
     
     
         21 : The method of  claim 17 , wherein the pulling mechanism comprises a rotary cam receiver and a cam lifter mechanism, the cam lifter mechanism capable of rotating to engage the rotary cam receiver and thereby pull the first heavy equipment frame and the second heavy equipment frame together. 
     
     
         22 : The method of  claim 17 , wherein the pushing mechanism comprises a mechanical mating system such as teeth.