US-12618500-B2 - Hydraulic coupling

US12618500B2US 12618500 B2US12618500 B2US 12618500B2US-12618500-B2

Abstract

A hydraulic coupling arrangement includes a push-fit, quick-connect hydraulic coupling comprising a male connector and a female connector. The male and female connectors each define a longitudinal axis, with the male connector being insertable into the female connector in an axial direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the connectors. An electromagnetic coil is located external to but associated with one connector. A support member carries the other connector and includes a magnetically attractive material for interaction with the coil. The arrangement is configured such that with male connector positioned for insertion into the female connector, activation of the coil draws the magnetically attractive material, the support member and the other connector in the axial direction to assist in inserting the male connector into the female connector.

Inventors

Nicolas Boulard

Assignees

AGCO INTERNATIONAL GMBH

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20240301
Priority Date: 20230324

Claims (15)

1 . A hydraulic coupling arrangement comprising: at least one push-fit, quick-connect hydraulic coupling comprising a male connector and a female connector each defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the male connector is configured for insertion into the female connector in an axial direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the connectors; and an electromagnetic actuator located externally of the connectors, wherein the electromagnetic actuator comprises an electromagnetic coil external to and associated with one connector, and a support member carrying the other connector, the support member comprising a magnetically attractive material for interaction with the coil, wherein the electromagnetic coil is operative to draw the magnetically attractive material, the support member, and the other connector in the axial direction to assist in the insertion of the male connector into the female connector, wherein the support member is coated with the magnetically attractive material, wherein the electromagnetic actuator is operative to draw the male connector into the female connector when the connectors are positioned for insertion of the male connector into the female connector.
2 . A hydraulic coupling arrangement comprising: at least one push-fit, quick-connect hydraulic coupling comprising a male connector and a female connector each defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the male connector is configured for insertion into the female connector in an axial direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the connectors; and an electromagnetic actuator located externally of the connectors, wherein the electromagnetic actuator is operative to draw the male connector into the female connector when the connectors are positioned for insertion of the male connector into the female connector, wherein the electromagnetic actuator comprising comprises: an electromagnetic coil external to and associated with one connector; and a support member carrying the other connector, the support member comprising a magnetically attractive material for interaction with the coil, wherein the electromagnetic coil is operative to draw the magnetically attractive material, the support member, and the other connector in the axial direction to assist in the insertion of the male connector into the female connector, wherein the magnetically attractive material comprises an elongate projection shaped for insertion into the electromagnetic coil, the projection having a longitudinal axis aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the other connector, the arrangement configured such that the projection is aligned for insertion in the electromagnetic coil when the connectors are positioned for insertion of the male connector into the female connector.
3 . The hydraulic coupling arrangement of claim 2 , wherein support member carries the male connector, the longitudinal axis of the projection being aligned parallel to and offset from the longitudinal axis of the male connector.
4 . The hydraulic coupling arrangement of claim 2 , further comprising at least two push-fit, quick-connect couplings, wherein the support member carries the other connector of each of the couplings, wherein the electromagnetic coil is operative to draw the magnetically attractive material, the support member, and the other connectors in the axial direction to assist in insertion of the male connectors into the female connectors.
5 . The hydraulic coupling arrangement of claim 2 , further comprising an actuator configured to activate the electromagnetic coil, in which the actuator comprises an electrical circuit including a manually operable switch for activating the coil.
6 . The hydraulic coupling arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the support member is coated with the magnetically attractive material.
7 . The hydraulic coupling arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the support member is made of the magnetically attractive material.
8 . A combination of a utility vehicle and an implement attached to the utility vehicle, the combination comprising the hydraulic coupling arrangement of claim 2 , wherein one connector forms part of a hydraulic supply system of the utility vehicle and the other connector forms part of a hydraulic circuit on the implement.
9 . The combination of claim 8 , wherein the hydraulic coupling arrangement comprises two push-fit, quick-connect hydraulic couplings, one coupling forming part of a supply line for supplying hydraulic fluid from the utility vehicle to a hydraulic consumer on the implement, the other coupling forming part of a return line for returning hydraulic fluid from the consumer on the implement to the utility vehicle, wherein the support member carries the other connector of each of the couplings, the arrangement configured such that with the connectors positioned for insertion of the male connectors into their respective female connectors, activation of the electromagnetic coil is operative to draw the magnetically attractive material, the support member, and the other connectors in the axial direction to assist in insertion of the male connectors into the female connectors.
10 . The combination of claim 8 , wherein one connector and the electromagnetic coil are mounted to the utility vehicle.
11 . The combination of claim 10 , wherein the support member is carried by the implement.
12 . The combination of claim 10 , further comprising an actuator configured to activate the electromagnetic coil, the actuator including an electrical circuit with a manually operable switch for activating the coil.
13 . A method of using a coupling arrangement of claim 2 , the method comprising: with the connectors positioned for insertion of the male connector into the female connector, activating the electromagnetic coil to draw the magnetically attractive material, the support member, and the other connector in the axial direction to assist in the insertion of the male connector into the female connector; and deactivating the electromagnetic coil once the male connector is inserted into and coupled with the female connector.
14 . A combination of a utility vehicle and an implement attached to the utility vehicle, the combination comprising: a hydraulic coupling arrangement at least one push-fit, quick-connect hydraulic coupling comprising a male connector and a female connector each defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the male connector is configured for insertion into the female connector in an axial direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the connectors; and an electromagnetic actuator located externally of the connectors, wherein the electromagnetic actuator is operative to draw the male connector into the female connector when the connectors are positioned for insertion of the male connector into the female connector, wherein the electromagnetic actuator comprising comprises: an electromagnetic coil external to and associated with one connector; and a support member carrying the other connector, the support member comprising a magnetically attractive material for interaction with the coil, wherein the electromagnetic coil is operative to draw the magnetically attractive material, the support member, and the other connector in the axial direction to assist in the insertion of the male connector into the female connector; an electrical circuit with a manually operable switch for activating the electromagnetic coil; wherein one connector forms part of a hydraulic supply system of the utility vehicle and the one connector and the electromagnetic coil are mounted to the utility vehicle and the other connector forms part of a hydraulic circuit on the implement; and wherein the electrical circuit is configured to operate using an algorithm such that the electromagnetic coil can only be activated when at least one condition is met.
15 . The combination of claim 14 , wherein the at least one condition is indicative of the utility vehicle being in a park mode.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U. K. Patent Application 2304339.1, “Hydraulic Couplings,” filed Mar. 23, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to push-fit, quick-connect hydraulic couplings having a male connector for insertion into a female connector and which are suitable for use on utility vehicles having a hydraulic supply system, such as tractors and construction vehicles. BACKGROUND Many utility vehicles have a hydraulic supply system which is used to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure to hydraulic consumers on the vehicle. It is also known to use the hydraulic supply system on a utility vehicle to provide hydraulic fluid to consumers on an implement which is temporarily attached to the vehicle. Such implements may be towed by the vehicle or mounted to a hitch on the vehicle, for example. In order to temporarily connect the hydraulic supply system on the vehicle with a hydraulic circuit on the implement, it is known to use push-fit, quick-connect hydraulic couplings having a male connector which is inserted into a female connector. Usually, the female connector of each coupling is provided on the vehicle and the male coupling is attached to an end of a hydraulic pipe on the implement. In some known arrangements, female connecters are integrated into a valve block on the vehicle having a number of hydraulic valves located side-by-side for controlling hydraulic consumers on an attached implement. Two couplings are typically provided for each valve, one coupling forming part of a supply line through which hydraulic fluid is provided from the vehicle to the implement and the other forming part of a return line through which hydraulic fluid is returned from the implement to the vehicle when the valve is open. Push-fit, quick-connect couplings have a mechanical locking arrangement which is engaged once the male connector has been inserted into the female connector to hold the male connector in engagement in the female connector. The mechanical locking arrangement typically has a biasing arrangement which must be overcome to insert the male connector sufficiently to engage the locking arrangement. The force required to insert the male connector into the female connector can be uncomfortably high, thus rendering connection of the coupling problematic. This is a particular issue where a user is required to engage a number of couplings in order to hydraulically connect an implement to the hydraulic supply system on a vehicle. BRIEF SUMMARY In some embodiments, a hydraulic coupling arrangement includes at least one push-fit, quick-connect hydraulic coupling comprising a male connector and a female connector each defining a longitudinal axis, and an electromagnetic actuator located externally of the connectors. The male connector is configured for insertion into the female connector in an axial direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the connectors. The electromagnetic actuator is operative to draw the male connector into the female connector when the connectors are positioned for insertion of the male connector into the female connector. The electromagnetic actuator may comprise an electromagnetic coil external to and associated with one connector and a support member carrying the other connector, the support member comprising a magnetically attractive material for interaction with the coil, wherein the electromagnetic coil is operative to draw the magnetically attractive material, the support member, and the other connector in the axial direction to assist in the insertion of the male connector into the female connector. In another embodiment, a hydraulic coupling arrangement includes at least one push-fit, quick-connect hydraulic coupling comprising a male connector and a female connector each defining a longitudinal axis, an electromagnetic coil external to and associated with one connector, and a support member carrying the other connector. The male connector is configured for insertion into the female connector in an axial direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the connectors. The support member includes a magnetically attractive material for interaction with the coil. The electromagnetic coil is operative to draw the magnetically attractive material, the support member, and the other connector in the axial direction to assist in the insertion of the male connector into the female connector. The magnetically attractive material may be a metallic material and may be a ferromagnetic metallic material. The electromagnetic coil is typically located in a fixed position relative to the one connector and in use is actuated with the male and female connectors aligned for insertion. Once actuated, the electromagnetic coil attracts the magnetically attractive material and helps to draw the male connector into the female connector. This ove