Packer

Abstract

Quick couplers release one attachment and quickly attach another attachment to the end of the arm. Different attachments are available with differing widths. The attachments comprise of a front and a back pin that are able to engage with the quick coupler. The front pin and/or the back pin are preferably presented mounted to side plates that are secured to the bucket of the attachment. The spacing between the side plates may vary from attachment to attachment. The present invention is a packer that is able to engage with a quick coupler so as to prevent slop when attachments narrower than the quick coupler are used.

1 . A packer for engagement to a coupler of a kind secured or to be secured to the end of an arm of an earth working machine to allow an attachment to be releasably held to the coupler at a mounting portion of the coupler by releasable locking of an elongate pin of the attachment at the mounting portion, said pin supported at its ends by and spanning between pin mounts, the mounting portion comprises of two spaced apart side members that are spaced apart a distance less than the span of the pin to be located at that mounting portion so that the pin can project beyond both side members, the packer comprising at least one body able to secure to the coupler and having at least one packing region to locate in use between a said pin mount and an adjacent side member to reduce the play in the elongate direction of the pin between the attachment and the coupler. 
     
     
         2 . A packer for engagement to a coupler of a kind secured or to be secured to the end of an arm of an earth working machine to allow an attachment to be releasably held to the coupler at a mounting portion of the coupler by releasable locking of an elongate pin of the attachment at the mounting portion, said pin supported at its ends by and spanning between pin mounts, the mounting portion comprises of two spaced apart side members that are spaced apart a distance less than the span of the pin to be located at that mounting portion so that the pin can project beyond both side members, the packer comprising at least one body able to secure to the coupler and having at least one packing region to locate in use between a said pin mount and an adjacent side member to reduce the gap in the elongate direction of the pin between the pin mount and side member. 
     
     
         3 . A packer for engagement to a coupler of a kind secured or to be secured to the end of an arm of an earth working machine to allow an attachment to be releasably held to the coupler at a mounting portion of the coupler by releasable locking of an elongate pin of the attachment at the mounting portion, said pin supported at its ends by and spanning between pin mounts, the mounting portion comprises of two spaced apart side members that are spaced apart a distance less than the span of the pin to be located at that mounting portion so that the pin can project beyond both side members, the packer comprising at least one body able to secure to the coupler and having at least one packing region to locate in use in the gap between a said pin mount and an adjacent side member. 
     
     
         4 . A packer as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the coupler can releasably engage to the attachment. 
     
     
         5 . A packer as claimed in  claim 1  or  2  wherein the coupler is a quick coupler. 
     
     
         6 . A packer as claimed in claim in anyone of  claims 1  to  5  wherein there are of two parallel spaced apart elongate pins of the attachment each mounted at its end by a pin mount, each pin to releasably lock at a respective mounting portion of the coupler. 
     
     
         7 . A packer as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the packer is able to be located at one or each said mounting portions. 
     
     
         8 . A packer as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the packer is able to be located at only one or said mounting portions. 
     
     
         9 . A packer as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  8  wherein the body comprises a mount region of a shape that is complimentary to the shape of the coupler at where it is to be secured. 
     
     
         10 . A packer as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  9  wherein the body comprises a mount region that includes at least one dowel pin that is able to project into a hole of the coupler to register the packer to the coupler. 
     
     
         11 . A packer as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  10  wherein the body comprises a mount region that includes a hole via which a threaded fastener secure the packer to the coupler. 
     
     
         12 . A packer as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  11  wherein the body comprises of two packing regions each to locate in use between a respective pin mount and an adjacent side member to reduce the play in the elongate direction of the pin between the attachment and the coupler. 
     
     
         13 . A packer as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  11  wherein the body comprises of two packing regions each to locate in use between a respective pin mount and an adjacent side member to reduce the gap in the elongate direction of the pin between the pin mount and side member. 
     
     
         14 . A packer as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  11  wherein the body comprises of two packing regions each to locate in use between a respective pin mount and an adjacent side member to locate in use in the gap between a respective said pin mount and adjacent side member. 
     
     
         15 . A packer as claimed in anyone of  claims 1  to  14  wherein the body is a unitary body. 
     
     
         16 . A packer as claimed in anyone of  claims 1  to  14  wherein the body is a unitary cast or moulded body. 
     
     
         17 . A packer as claimed in anyone of  claims 1  to  14  wherein the body is an assembly or a fabrication of parts. 
     
     
         18 . A packer as claimed in anyone of  claims 1  to  17  wherein the body is substantially U shaped with flanks of the U defining the packing regions. 
     
     
         19 . A packer as claimed in anyone of  claim 1  wherein the packing region is or are of a combined width to reduce the play by at least 50% and preferably 60% and preferably 70% and preferably 80% and preferably 90%. 
     
     
         20 . A packer as claimed in anyone of  claim 2  or  3  wherein the packing region is or are of a combined width to reduce the gap by at least 50% and preferably 60% and preferably 70% and preferably 80% and preferably 90%. 
     
     
         21 . A coupler of a kind secured or to be secured to the end of an arm of an earth working machine to allow an attachment to be releasably held to the coupler at a mounting portion of the coupler by releasable locking of an elongate pin of the attachment at the mounting portion, said pin supported at its ends by and spanning between pin mounts, the mounting portion comprises of two spaced apart side members that are spaced apart a distance less than the span of the pin to be located at that mounting portion so that the pin can project beyond both side members, the coupler having engaged thereto (preferably in a releasable manner) a packer comprising of at least one body having at least one packing region to locate in use between a said pin mount and an adjacent side member to reduce the play in the elongate direction of the pin between the attachment and the coupler. 
     
     
         22 . A coupler of a kind secured or to be secured to the end of an arm of an earth working machine to allow an attachment to be releasably held to the coupler at a mounting portion of the coupler by releasable locking of an elongate pin of the attachment at the mounting portion, said pin supported at its ends by and spanning between pin mounts, the mounting portion comprises of two spaced apart side members that are spaced apart a distance less than the span of the pin to be located at that mounting portion so that the pin can project beyond both side members, the coupler having engaged thereto (preferably in a releasable manner) a packer comprising at least one body and having at least one packing region to locate in use between a said pin mount and an adjacent side member to reduce the gap in the elongate direction of the pin between the pin mount and side member. 
     
     
         23 . A coupler of a kind secured or to be secured to the end of an arm of an earth working machine to allow an attachment to be releasably held to the coupler at a mounting portion of the coupler by releasable locking of an elongate pin of the attachment at the mounting portion, said pin supported at its ends by and spanning between pin mounts, the mounting portion comprises of two spaced apart side members that are spaced apart a distance less than the span of the pin to be located at that mounting portion so that the pin can project beyond both side members, the coupler having engaged thereto (preferably in a releasable manner) a packer comprising the packer comprising at least one body able to secure to the coupler and having at least one packing region to locate in use in the gap between a said pin mount and an adjacent side member. 
     
     
         24 . A packer to reduce sliding movement between a coupler of a kind secured or to be secured to the end of an arm of an earth working machine and an attachment that comprises of two end mounted elongate pins to pass through the coupler the packer comprising a packing region to locate between the coupler and at least one end of at least one pin. 
     
     
         25 . A packer to reduce sliding movement between a coupler of a kind secured or to be secured to the end of an arm of an earth working machine and an attachment that comprises of two elongate pins each mounted at their ends by pin mounts of the attachment and each to pass through the coupler, the packer comprising a packing region to locate between the coupler and at least one of the end mounts of at least one pin.