EP2995725A1

EP2995725A1 - Quick coupler for coupling a hydraulically operated tool/implement onto an excavator and a mechanical coupling member

Info

Publication number: EP2995725A1
Application number: EP15183694.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tomas Johansson
Original assignee: Ytf Sweden AB
Current assignee: Ytf Sweden AB
Priority date: 2014-09-03
Filing date: 2015-09-03
Publication date: 2016-03-16
Also published as: SE539425C2; SE1451030A1

Abstract

A quick coupler (20) for coupling a hydraulically operated tool/implement (10) onto an excavator boom provided with a tilt rotator (1) and a bucket latch (5), comprising a mechanical coupling member (21) adapted to be fixedly mounted onto the tool/implement and designed to be secured to the tilt rotator by means of the bucket latch, a first valve block (27) for hydraulics, the valve block being adapted to be fixedly mounted onto the tilt rotator, and a second valve block (28) movably mounted onto the mechanical coupling member, and arranged to be displaced by the bucket latch when the bucket latch secures the tool/implement to the tilt rotator, into contact with the first valve block, such that the two valve blocks are interconnected to allow the flow of hydraulic fluid therethrough, and a mechanical coupling member (21) adapted to be fixedly mounted onto the tool/implement.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a quick coupler for coupling a hydraulically operated tool/implement onto a boom provided with a tilt rotator and a bucket latch of an excavator, and a mechanical coupling member adapted to be fixedly mounted onto the tool/implement.

BACKGROUND ART

There currently exist several quick couplers and other connections between machines and tools/implements for construction work within various construction operations. Most common are simple couplers, requiring the operator to exit from the machine to manually connect the tool/implement, but there are also quick couplers allowing for the operator to attach the tool/implement without having to exit from the machine; see, for example, SE 524 668 , SE 535 681 , SE 1150837 A1 , DE 101 59 417 A1 , US 6,385,872 B1 , US 6,813,851 B2 , US 7,464,967 B2 and US 2014/0030005 A1 . Where there are quick couplers, the buyer is usually forced to choose coupler and tool/implement from the manufacturer producing the machine. Thereby, the buyer is secured into buying the coupler and tool/implement from the manufacturer of the machine, which could be a very costly investment for the purchasing company.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a quick coupler which allows the coupling of hydraulically operated products from different manufacturers.
This main object is achieved in that the quick coupler according to the present invention, as specified in the first paragraph above, comprises:

a mechanical coupling member adapted to be fixedly mounted onto the tool/implement and designed to be secured to the tilt rotator by means of the bucket latch;
a first valve block for hydraulics, the valve block being adapted to be fixedly mounted onto the tilt rotator; and
a second valve block movably mounted onto the mechanical coupling member, and arranged to be displaced by the bucket latch when the bucket latch secures the tool/implement to the tilt rotator, into contact with the first valve block, such that the two valve blocks are interconnected to allow the flow of hydraulic fluid therethrough.

Such a quick coupler fits several different models/types of machines and is a universal coupler of the quick-coupler type, with which the operator does not need to exit from the cab to connect the hydraulics manually. If the tool/implement is already provided with a quick-connect coupling or similar, it can be dismounted and replaced by the quick coupler according to the invention. Furthermore, such a quick coupler offers great opportunities to fulfil an additional object of the invention, namely the possibility to manufacture the quick coupler at a low cost.
In a first embodiment, the mechanical coupling member is U-shaped in cross-section and comprises a rectangular, planar bottom plate and two side walls protruding perpendicularly from the long sides of the bottom plate, between which side walls two through-pins extend, one at each short side of the bottom plate, one of which pins being located at a greater distance from the bottom plate than the other. Thereby, a conventional bucket latch can grasp and hold the mechanical coupling member.
It is preferable for the bottom plate to be provided with a plurality of through-holes for facilitating the mounting onto the tool/implement. However, in a variant, the bottom plate can be omitted and the two side walls can be fixed to the tool/implement by means of e.g. welding.
Said second valve block is preferably divided into two valve block parts, located on the outside of a respective one of the two side walls and adjacent to the pin with which a locking tab of the bucket latch interacts, the valve block parts being interconnected by a transverse bar extending through an opening in each of the side walls and having an abutment for the bucket latch, the opening being slot-shaped to allow movement of said second valve block towards said first valve block when the tool/implement is being secured. Hereby, a hydraulic interconnection of the two valve blocks is automatically achieved when the bucket latch secures the mechanical coupling member mounted onto the tool/implement to the tilt rotator.
In order to facilitate for the bucket latch to move the second valve block towards the first valve block, the bar's vertical position is preferably located underneath the pin with which the locking tab interacts.
Furthermore, cooperating guide means are preferably arranged on each of the two valve block parts and the outside of the side walls in order to guide the movement of the second valve block towards and away from an active position where the second valve block is hydraulically interconnected with the first valve block, and an idle position where the second valve block is hydraulically disconnected from and spaced from the first valve block. Hereby, the two valve blocks are oriented against each other in such a way that interconnection can take place.
In order to ensure careful alignment, it is then preferable for said guide means to comprise a guide rail or a guide carrier arranged on the outside of each of the side walls, adjacent to the opening in each of the side walls, and for every valve block part, a guide follower carried by the valve block part and grasping the guide rail, or, a through channel for a guide rod carried by the valve block part and running in the through channel.
Preferably, a spring mechanism is arranged to move the second valve block towards its idle position. Thereby, there is no risk of damaging any of the valve blocks during disconnection or connection.
In order to eliminate or at least greatly reduce the risk of tilting the second valve block in relation to the mechanical coupling member during movement, it is preferable for the spring mechanism to comprise a spring for each valve block part.
These springs are then preferably located on the outside of the respective side walls, thus not risking to be damaged by the bucket latch during coupling or decoupling of the tool/implement from the tilt rotator.
To easily dimension the spring force and the working length, the springs are preferably tension springs of the helical spring type.
Preferably, one of the valve blocks comprises at least one female fluid-coupling member and the other one of the valve blocks a male fluid-coupling member matching said at least one female member, the fluid-coupling members allowing fluid flow through the valve blocks when connected, but preventing escape of hydraulic fluid when separated. Such fluid-coupling members are well-known and of conventional design, and provide the intended function at a reasonable cost.
It is preferable for said first valve block mounted onto the tilt rotator to comprise at least two male fluid-coupling members, and for said second valve block the same number of female fluid-coupling members. As a result of the protruding male members thus being carried by the tilt rotator, the risk of them being damaged over time is less than if they had been carried by the tool/implement.
It is also preferable for the two fluid-coupling members of the first valve block to be mounted in a carrier with internal channels for in- and outflow of hydraulic fluid. Thereby, a design which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture as well as easy to mount onto the tilt rotator is achieved.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The invention will be described below, with reference to preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1: is a perspective view of a tilt rotator, onto which can be mounted a first valve block of the quick coupler according to the invention.
Figure 2: is a perspective view of a sample tool/implement, here a surface grinder, onto which can be mounted a mechanical coupling member with a movable second valve block in the quick coupler according to the invention.
Figure 3: is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the quick coupler according to the invention, with the first valve block to the right and the mechanical coupling member with the movable second valve block to the left.
Figure 4: is a side elevational view of the mechanical coupling member with the movable second valve block in the quick coupler according to Figure 3.
Figure 5: is a cross-sectional view along the line V-V in Figure 4.
Figures 6a and 6b: are an end view and a side elevational view, respectively, of a transverse bar in the mechanical coupling member, connecting two mirror-inverted valve block parts contained in the movable second valve block, and having an abutment for the bucket latch.
Figure 7: is a plan view of the mechanical coupling member.
Figures 8a and 8b: are an end view and a side elevational view, respectively, of the first valve block.
Figure 9: is a perspective view of the mechanical coupling member mounted onto a tool/implement, here a surface grinder.
Figure 10: is a perspective view of the lower part of a tilt rotator provided with the first valve block and having engaged the mechanical coupling member (here not mounted onto a tool/implement).
Figure 11: is a perspective view similar to Figure 8, but with the mechanical coupling member secured to the tilt rotator and the two valve blocks connected to each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In many types of work in the construction industry, it is necessary to be able to hydraulically operate, from an excavator cab, a tool/implement which is mounted on the excavator's boom and adjustable into many positions and angles. For the rotation and tilting of the tool in various directions, the boom, at its free end, carries a tilt rotator, which in turn carries the tool/implement. A tilt rotator makes it possible to dig, rotate and tilt the backhoe (or other tools intended for excavators) in one movement.
Many different tilt rotators are available on the market, Figure 1 showing one of them, a Rototilt RT20, marketed by Indexator Rototilt Systems AB, in Vindeln, Sweden. The bottom part 2 of the tilt rotator 1 can be rotated 360° and is provided with a so-called bucket latch 5 in the form of a hydraulic reciprocable tab, for securing the tool/implement to the tilt rotator 1.
An example of a tool/implement 10 which can be coupled to the tilt rotator 1 by means of the bucket latch 5 is shown in Figure 2. Neither the tilt rotator 1 nor the tool/implement 10 is part of the present invention, but they are shown only as preferred examples. The tool/implement 10 shown in Figure 2 is a hydraulically driven surface grinder, YTF-420, marketed by YTF Sweden AB, in Falun, Sweden. The illustrated surface grinder 10 has a rotatable grinding disc 11 driven by a hydraulic motor 13 and with interchangeable rotatable slitting knives 12 of hard metal, its applications including the removal of tar from the outside of exterior basement walls. The surface grinder 10 is provided with a quick-connect coupling 15, which can be grasped by the tilt rotator 1 and secured by means of the bucket latch 5 for quick securing of the surface grinder 10 to the tilt rotator 1, but to connect the hydraulics for driving the grinding disc 11, the excavator operator must exit his cab and connect the hydraulic hoses manually. In a first embodiment the quick-connect coupling 15 consists of a generally U-beam-shaped undercarriage 16 with a transverse rear pin 17 and a transverse front pin 18. The tilt rotator 1 is provided with, firstly, two rearward oriented recesses 3 for initial engagement of the rear pin 17 at its rear ends, and, secondly, two downward oriented recesses 4 for subsequent engagement of the front pin 18 at its forward ends. During securing with the bucket latch, the locking tab 6 is inserted under the front pin 18, pressing it up against the upper edge of the downward oriented recess 4.
The main object of the present invention is to achieve a quick coupler 20 enabling the interconnection of hydraulically operated products (tools/implements 10 for tilt rotators 1 with bucket latches 5) from different manufacturers.
This main object is accomplished by the quick coupler 20 in accordance with the present invention comprising, as shown in the accompanying drawings, maybe best in Figure 3:

a mechanical coupling member 21 adapted to be fixedly mounted onto the tool/implement 10 and designed to be secured to the tilt rotator 1 by means of the bucket latch 5,
a first valve block 27 for hydraulics, the valve block being adapted to be fixedly mounted onto the tilt rotator 1, and
a second valve block 28 movably mounted onto the mechanical coupling member 21, and arranged to be displaced by the bucket latch 5 when the bucket latch 5 secures the tool/implement 10 to the tilt rotator 1, into contact with the first valve block 27, such that the two valve blocks 27, 28 are interconnected to allow the flow of hydraulic fluid therethrough.

Such a quick coupler 20 fits several different models/types of machines and is a universal coupler of the quick-coupler type, with which the operator does not need to exit from the cab to connect the hydraulics manually. If the tool/implement 10 is already provided with a quick-connect coupling 15 or similar, it can be dismounted and replaced by the quick coupler 20 according to the invention. Furthermore, such a quick coupler offers great opportunities to fulfil an additional object of the invention, namely the possibility to manufacture the quick coupler 20 at a low cost.
As is best illustrated in Figure 5, the mechanical coupling member 21 has a substantially U-shaped cross-section and comprises a rectangular, planar bottom plate 22 and two side walls 23 protruding perpendicularly from the long sides of the bottom plate 22. Between the side walls 23 two through-pins extends, namely a rear through-pin 24 at the rear short side of the bottom plate 22, and a front through-pin 25 at the front short side of the bottom plate 22, said rear pin 24 being located at a greater distance from the bottom plate 22 than the other 25. Thereby, a conventional bucket latch 5 can grasp and hold the mechanical coupling member 21, and the engagement of the rear pin 24 in the rearward oriented recesses 3 of the tilt rotator 1 is facilitated.
As shown in Figure 3, it is preferable for the bottom plate 22 to be provided with a plurality of through-holes 26 for facilitating the mounting of the mechanical coupling member 21 onto the tool/implement 10. The hole pattern must of course be adapted to the make of the tool/implement 10 to which the mechanical coupling member 21 is to be attached.
In the first embodiment said second valve block 28 is, as best shown in Figure 5, preferably divided into two mirror-inverted valve block parts 29, located on the outside of a respective one of the two side walls 23 and adjacent to the transverse front pin 25, which is closest to the bottom plate 22. These valve block parts 29 are rigidly interconnected by a transverse bar 30 extending through an opening 34 in each of the side walls 23. Each valve block part 29 also comprises a screwed-on arm 43, shown in Figures 3-5, extending substantially parallel to the bottom plate 22 and along the adjacent side wall 23, connecting the transverse bar 30 transmitting the force with the valve block part 29.
As best shown in Figures 6a and 6b, the bar 30 is preferably composed of two flat bars screwed together, one 31 with its greatest width in the horizontal plane to resist deformation in that plane, and one 32 with its greatest width in the vertical plane to provide an abutment 33 for locking tabs 6 of different designs. The bar 30 is preferably located vertically between the bottom plate 22 and the bottom of the front pin 25, and the abutment 33 preferably has a height such that it extends from the lower edge of the front pin 25 down to the bottom plate 22. The opening 34 in every side wall 23 is slot-shaped to allow movement of said second valve block 28 towards said first valve block 27, when, as the tool/implement 10 is secured to the tilt rotator 1, the locking tab 6 is inserted under the front pin 25, pressing it up against the upper edge of the downward oriented recess 4 in the lower part 2 of the tilt rotator 1. When the locking tab 6 secures the mechanical coupler member 21 mounted onto the tool/implement 10 to the tilt rotator 1, at the same time and automatically a hydraulic interconnection of the two valve blocks 27 and 28 is accomplished, as shown in Figure 11.
Furthermore, as best shown in Figures 4 and 5, cooperating guide means 35, 36 are preferably arranged on each of the two valve block parts 29 and the outside of the side walls 23 in order to guide the movement of the second valve block 28 towards and away from an active position, where the second valve block 28 is hydraulically interconnected with the first valve block 27, and an idle position, where the second valve block 28 is hydraulically disconnected and spaced from the first valve block 27. Hereby, the two valve blocks 27, 28 are oriented against each other in such a way that interconnection can take place.
In order to ensure precise alignment, it is then preferable for said guide means, as shown in Figures 3-5, to comprise a guide rail 35 arranged on the outside of each of the side walls 23, the guide rail 35 being parallel to the bottom plate 22 and located adjacent to the opening 34 in each of the side walls 23, and for every valve block part 29, a guide follower 36 mounted in a recess of the valve block part, for example, and grasping the guide rail 35, which is likewise preferably screwed-on. The guide follower 36 may be comprised of, for example, a saddle, slide or carriage with wheels, and if desired, the guide rail 35 may be provided with longitudinal grooves, not shown, for the guide follower 36.
Preferably, a spring mechanism 37, shown in Figures 3, 4 and 7, is arranged to move the second valve block 28 towards its idle position. Thereby, there is no risk of damaging any of the valve blocks 27, 28 during disconnection or connection. In order to eliminate or at least greatly reduce the risk of tilting the second valve block 28 in relation to the mechanical coupling member 21 during movement, it is preferable for the spring mechanism to comprise a spring 37 for each valve block part 29. These springs 37 are then preferably located on the outside of the respective side walls 23, thus not risking to be damaged by the reciprocable locking tab 6 during coupling or decoupling of the tool/implement 10 from the tilt rotator 1. To easily dimension the spring force and the working length, the springs are preferably tension springs 37 of the helical spring type.
Preferably, one of the valve blocks 27, 28 comprises at least one female fluid-coupling member 38 and the other one of the valve blocks a male fluid-coupling member 39 matching said at least one female member 38, the fluid- coupling members 38, 39 allowing fluid flow through the valve blocks 27, 28 when connected, but preventing escape of hydraulic fluid when separated. Such fluid- coupling members 38, 39 are well-known and of conventional design, and provide the intended function at a reasonable cost.
As shown in Figures 3-8b, it is preferable for said first valve block 27 mounted onto the tilt rotator 1 to comprise at least two male fluid-coupling members 39, and for said second valve block 28 the same number of female fluid-coupling members 38. As a result of the protruding male members 39 thus being carried by the tilt rotator 1, the risk of them being damaged over time is less than if they had been carried by the tool/implement 10.
It is also preferable for the two fluid-coupling members 39 of the first valve block 27, as shown in Figures 8a and 8b, to be mounted in a carrier 40 with internal channels 41 with connections 42 for in- and outflow of hydraulic fluid. The connections 42 are coupled to the corresponding connections on the tilt rotator 1 with hoses or pipes. Thereby, a design which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture as well as easy to mount onto the tilt rotator 1 is achieved.
Each one of the two mirror-inverted valve block parts 29 comprises a continuous channel 44, best shown in Figure 4, into one end of which a female fluid-coupling member 38 is screwed in, and the other end of which is designed to receive a male fluid-coupling member 39.
Figure 9 shows the mechanical coupling member 21 mounted onto a tool/implement, here a surface grinder 10. From the female fluid-coupling members 38, hydraulic hoses 14 (one shown) lead to the hydraulic motor 13 of the surface grinder for driving the rotatable grinding disc.
Figure 10 shows the lower part of a tilt rotator 1, which is provided with the first valve block 27 with the male fluid-coupling members 39 and has engaged the transverse rear pin 24 on the mechanical coupling member 21 (here not yet mounted onto a tool/implement 10). During further rearward tilt of the tilt rotator 1, the lower end of the mechanical coupling member 21 will, by means of the gravity acting on the tool/implement 10, pivot the first valve block 27, such that the transverse rear pin 24 is inserted into the downward oriented recesses 4 of the tilt rotator 1. Thereafter, the tool/implement 10 can be secured by the bucket latch 5, which then also protrudes the movable second valve block 28 for interconnection with the first valve block 27, and consequently, hydraulic interconnection of the tilt rotator 1 with the tool/implement 10. Figure 11 shows the state when the mechanical coupling member 21 is secured to the tilt rotator 1 and the two valve blocks 27 and 28 are connected to each other.
A preferred embodiment shall now be described. In the preferred embodiment it is mainly the construction of the two valve parts and the cooperating guide means which are arranged outside the side walls that are different from the embodiment already described. As far as other parts of the quick-coupler 20 are arranged as described in connection with the first embodiment, it will not be repeated here. In the following description, only one set of cooperating guide means are described unless otherwise required in order to understand the invention. A side view of the preferred embodiment is shown in Figure 12.
In the preferred embodiment, the cooperating guide means comprise two opposite guide bearing blocks 35' fixed, preferably by screws at its' lower part, on the outside of the side walls 23. The guide bearing blocks 35' comprise a through hole in their upper ends for a respective guide pipe 36' which are movable in the axial direction of the through hole. The through hole has a diameter that is somewhat wider than the diameter of the guide pipe 36' in order to allow the guide pipe 36' to run through the hole with minimal resistance. In order to keep the guide pipe 36' aligned in the hole and to prevent particles from entering the space between the guide pipe 36' and the inner wall of the through hole, a bushing is preferably arranged in the forward and rearward opening. Hereby it is also possible in a manner known per se to inject fluid of suitable type to lubricate the passage and to increase the dirt protection.
The respective guide pipe 36' has an extension in axial direction that is longer than the extension in the same direction of the guide bearing block 35', and has a rearward portion 50 which extends outside a rearward face 52 of the guide bearing block 35' and a forward portion 51 that extends outside a forward face 53 of the guide bearing block 35'. A compression spring 37' of helical spring type is arranged around the rearward portion 50 and is further arranged to act against the rearward face 52 of the guide bearing block 35' in order to move the second valve block 28 towards its idle position. A spring stop for the spring to act upon, e.g. a nut, is arranged at the guide pipe's end. A gaiter is preferably arranged around the spring and rearward portion of the guide pipe 36'.
In order to move the second valve block 28 towards its active position, the forward portion 51 of the guide pipe 36' is attached to the valve block part 29. In the preferred embodiment the screwed-on arm 43 is not required in order to attach the bar 30 to the valve block part 29. Instead, the valve block part 29 is directly interconnected with the transverse bar 30, e.g. fixed by screws, against the transverse bar's end outside the side walls 23. The valve block part 29 comprise a carrier 29' that extend upwards, in parallel with the side wall 23. The carrier's upper end is provided with attachment means for the forward end of a guide pipe 36'. The attachment means comprises a portion extending perpendicularly against the side wall 23 and having a through hole 60 for the guide pipe 36'. The forward end of the guide pipe 36' further comprises a threaded nipple which extends outside the forward face 54 of the attachment means. Fixing means 61, here a nut, is arranged on the threaded nipple to secure the guide pipe 36' against the carrier 29'. A male fluid-coupling member 39 is arranged inside the guide pipe 36', at its forward end. Through a centre hole in the nipple and the nut 61, the male fluid-coupling member 39 protrudes. Thus, in this preferred embodiment, the female and male fluid- coupling members 38, 39 are reverse from the first embodiment described above but the male fluid-coupling member 39 is hydraulically interconnected and disconnected with a corresponding female fluid-coupling member 38 in the first valve block 27 in the active position according to the same principle as described above. In the guide pipe's 36' rearward end means are arranged for attachment of hydraulic tubes.
During manoeuvring of the second valve block 29 towards and away from an active position, a rearward side 62 of the nut 61 and the forward face 54 of the carrier 29' is arranged to interact via pushing forces in opposite directions. For this reason, the nut 61 has a relatively wide extension in transversal direction such that the rearward side 62 provides a press surface 62 which is approximately as wide as the opposing forward face 54 of the carrier 29'. When the locking tab 6 pushes the bar 30 forward, the force is transmitted to the carrier 29' and a pushing force in the forward direction is exerted by the carrier 29' on the locking nut 61. Upon retraction of the locking tab 6, the spring 37' will move the guide pipe 36' rearwards and the locking nut 61 will act upon the forward face 54 of the carrier 29' and pull the carrier 29' and the bar 30 rearwards at the same time as the fluid coupling members 38, 39 are hydraulically disconnected and spaced apart.

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The invention is not limited to the embodiments of the quick coupler as described and shown in the drawings, but can be varied within the scope of the appended claims. The design may need slight modification for adaptation to different tilt rotators. If desired, as shown in Figures 3 and 10, the top surface of the transverse front pin 25 may be provided with a pair of recesses, which are transverse in relation to the pin and the surface of which forms part of a substantially cylindrical interior surface.
In a variant, the bottom plate can be omitted and the two side walls can be fixed to the tool/implement by means of e.g. welding. In this variant is shall be understood that the bar's vertical position is located closely underneath the pin 25 with which the locking tab 6 interacts, in the space between the pin and the upper side of the tool/implement.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

The invention should find use primarily with contractors owning excavators, and with companies offering construction equipment for rent, in order to enable them to connect hydraulically operated products such as various tools/implements for tilt rotators provided with bucket latches from different manufacturers. It shall be understood that it may be sufficient to obtain several extra coupling members 21 to be mounted on different tools/implements but to obtain only one set of the first valve block 27 as the same excavator may be used with various tools/implements. It shall therefor be understood that these parts may be sold separately.

Claims

A quick coupler (20) for connection of a hydraulically operated tool/implement (10) onto an excavator boom provided with a tilt rotator (1) and a bucket latch (5), the quick coupler (20) comprising
- a mechanical coupling member (21) adapted to be fixedly mounted onto the tool/implement (10) and designed to be secured to the tilt rotator (1) by means of the bucket latch (5);

- a first valve block (27) for hydraulics, the valve block (27) being adapted to be fixedly mounted onto the tilt rotator (1); and

- a second valve block (28) movably mounted onto the mechanical coupling member (21), and arranged to be displaced by the bucket latch (5) when the bucket latch (5) secures the tool/implement (10) to the tilt rotator 1, into contact with the first valve block (27), such that the two valve blocks (27, 28) are interconnected to allow the flow of hydraulic fluid therethrough.
characterised in that

- the mechanical coupling member (21) comprising two opposite side walls (23) between which side walls (23) two through-pins (24, 25) extend, one at each end of the side walls (23),

- the movable second valve block (28) being divided into two valve block parts (29), located on the outside of a respective one of the two side walls (23) and adjacent to the pin (25) with which a locking tab (6) of the bucket latch (5) interacts, the valve block parts (29) comprising manoeuvring means (30) having an abutment (33) for the locking tab (6).
The quick coupler according to claim 1, characterised in that the valve block parts (29) is interconnected by the manoeuvring means (30) which comprises a transverse bar (30), said bar's (30) vertical position being located underneath the pin (25) with which the locking tab (6) interacts.
The quick coupler according to claim 2, characterised in that the transverse bar (30) extends through an opening (34) in each of the side walls (23), the opening (34) being slot-shaped to allow movement of the second valve block (28) towards the first valve block (27) when the tool/implement (10) is being secured.
The quick coupler according to claim 1, characterised in that cooperating guide means (35, 36) are arranged outside the side walls (23) in order to guide the movement of the second valve block (28) towards and away from an active position, where the second valve block (28) is hydraulically interconnected with the first valve block (27), and an idle position, where the second valve block (28) is hydraulically disconnected and spaced from the first valve block (27).
The quick coupler according to claim 4, characterised in that said guide means (35, 35', 36, 36') comprise any of a guide rail (35) and a guide bearing block (35') arranged on the outside of each of the side walls adjacent to the opening (34) in each of the side walls (23),
The quick coupler according to claim 5, characterised in that said guide rail (35) is located adjacent to the opening (34) in each of the side walls (23) and comprises a guide follower (36) carried by the valve block part (29) and grasping the guide rail (35).
The quick coupler according to claim 6, characterised in that said guide bearing block (35') is located adjacent to the opening (34) in each of the side walls (23), and comprises a through channel (60) for a guide pipe (36').
The quick coupler according to claim 7, characterised in that said guide pipe (36') has a forward end extending outside a forward face (54) of the carrier (29'), said forward end comprising a threaded nipple for a locking nut (61), a rearward side (62) of said locking nut (62) and said forward face (54) of said carrier (29') being arranged to interact via pushing forces in opposite directions during movement of the second valve block (28) towards and away from an active position.
The quick coupler according to any of claim 4 - 7, characterised in that a spring mechanism (37) is arranged to move the second valve block (28) towards its idle position.
The quick coupler according to claim 9, characterised in that the spring mechanism comprises a spring (37, 37') for every valve block part (29), said springs (37, 37') being any of tension springs (37) or compression springs (37') of the helical spring type.
The quick coupler according to claim 9, characterised in that said guide pipe (36') has a rearward portion (50) which extends outside a rearward face (52) of said guide bearing block (35'), said spring (37') being arranged around said rearward portion (50) and further arranged to act against the guide bearing block (35').
The quick coupler according to any one of claims 1-1, characterised in that one of the valve blocks (27, 28) comprises at least one female fluid-coupling member (38) and the other one of the valve blocks (27, 28) a male fluid-coupling member (39) matching the female member (38), the fluid-coupling members (38, 39) allowing fluid flow through the valve blocks (27, 28) when connected, but preventing escape of hydraulic fluid when separated.
The quick coupler according to claim 12, characterised in that the male fluid-coupling member (39) is arranged inside the forward end of the guide pipe (36) and extend outside the locking nut (61).
The quick coupler according to claim 1, characterised in that the mechanical coupling member (21) has a substantially U-shaped cross-section and comprises a rectangular, planar bottom plate (22), said side walls (23) protruding perpendicularly from the long sides of the bottom plate (22).
A mechanical coupling member (21) adapted to be fixedly mounted onto the tool/implement (10) and designed to be secured to an excavator boom provided with a tilt rotator (1) and a bucket latch (5), by means of said bucket latch (5), said mechanical coupling member (21) comprising
- a second valve block (28) movably mounted onto the mechanical coupling member (21), and arranged to be displaced by the bucket latch (5) when the bucket latch (5) secures the tool/implement (10) to the tilt rotator (1), characterised in that

- the mechanical coupling member (21) comprising two opposite side walls (23) between which side walls (23) two through-pins (24, 25) extend, one at each end of the side walls (23),

- the movable second valve block (28) being divided into two valve block parts (29), located on the outside of a respective one of the two side walls (23) and adjacent to the pin (25) with which a locking tab (6) of the bucket latch (5) interacts, the valve block parts (29) comprising manoeuvring means (30) having an abutment (33) for the locking tab (6).