Automatic coupling device to connect tractor and tractor-drawn means hydraulic systems

Claim 2

An automatic coupling device for connecting a hydraulic system of a tractor and a hydraulic system of a tractor-drawn device comprising: a panel secured on said tractor-drawn device; receiving unions accommodated in said panel and connected with said hydraulic system of said tractor-drawn device; first shut-off valves built into said receiving unions for controlling fluid flow through said receiving unions; a body secured on said tractor; hollow plungers movably mounted in blind bores in said body, the number of said plungers being equal to that of said receiving unions and said plungers having first end faces movable into positions operatively engaging said receiving unions; second shut-off valves disposed in the plungers at the first end faces operatively engaging said unions; bottom chambers defined by said hollow plungers in each of said bores, said bottom chambers intercommunicating with each other; a pressure port provided in the body for connection to the tractor hydraulic system; a branch provided in said body and extending from said pressure port to said bottom chambers for furnishing fluid under pressure to said bottom chambers, such fluid moving said hollow plungers with respect to said body so that said first end faces enter said receiving unions and said second shut-off valves engage said first shut-off valves whereby said shut-off valves are moved to establish fluid communication between said receiving unions and said plungers; a drain port provided in said body for connection to said hydraulic system of said tractor; and apertures provided in the side wall of each of said plungers at the end faces opposite to those operatively engaging said unions for communicating the hollows of said plungers with respective ones of said pressure and said drain ports.

Claim 3

An automatic coupling device as defined in claim 1, having a branch provided in said body from said drain port to said bottom chambers; an intermediate chamber provided in said body and communicated with said branches and said bottom chambers; and a member housed in said intermediate chamber for alternately blocking the branches.

Claim 4

An automatic coupling device as defined in claim 1, having a spring-loaded valve disposed in said body between said pressure port and its branch; a spring-loaded rod built into said body so that it is disposed parallel to the axes of said plungers, passes through said pressure port, and partly extends out of said body; a spring-loaded thrust member disposed in said pressure port on said rod and periodically interacting with said spring-loaded valve, the force of the valve spring being less than that of the thrust member spring.

Claim 5

An automatic coupling device for connecting a first hydraulic system to a second hydraulic system, said coupling device comprising: a panel connectable in a fixed position to structure supporting the second hydraulic system; receiving unions accommodated in said panel in fluid communication with said second hydraulic system; first shut-off valve means accommodated in said receiving means for controlling fluid flow through said receiving units, said first shut-off valve means being movable between blocking positions blocking fluid flow through said receiving unions and non-blocking positions permitting fluid flow; means for urging said first shut-off valve means into said blocking positions; a body connectable in a fixed position to structure supporting the first hydraulic system and having blind bores; hollow plungers movably mounted in said blind bores, said hollow plungers being movable into extended positions in which first end faces thereof are received in said receiving unions; second shut-off valve means accommodated in said first end faces for controlling fluid flow through said first end faces, said first and second shut-off valve means being movable by each other so as to permit fluid flow between said hollow plungers and said receiving unions; interconnected bottom chambers defined in said body between second end faces of said hollow chambers and bottoms of said blind bores; a pressure port provided in said body connectable to said first hydraulic system for establishing communication between one of said blind bores and said first hydraulic system, the plunger disposed in said one blind bore having an aperture in a side wall thereof for communicating the interior of said plunger with said first hydraulic system; a passage formed in said body for establishing fluid communication between said bottom chambers and said pressure port so that pressure from said first hydraulic system is fed into said bottom chambers to move said hollow plungers into said extended positions; and a drain port provided in said body connectable to said first hydraulic system for establishing fluid communication between a second of said blind bores and said first hydraulic system, the plunger disposed in said second blind bore having an aperture in a side wall thereof for communicating the interior thereof with said first hydraulic system.

Claim 6

An automatic coupling device for connecting a first hydraulic system to a second hydraulic system, said coupling device comprising: a panel connectable in a fixed position to structure supporting the second hydraulic system; receiving unions accommodated in said panel in fluid communication with said second hydraulic system; first shut-off valve means accommodated in said receiving means for controlling fluid flow through said receiving units, said first shut-off valve means being movable between blocking positions blocking fluid flow through said receiving unions and non-blocking positions permitting fluid flow; means for urging said first shut-off valve means into said blocking positions; a body connectable in a fixed position to structure supporting the first hydraulic system and having blind bores; hollow plungers movably mounted in said blind bores, said hollow plungers being movable into extended positions in which first end faces thereof are received in said receiving unions; second shut-off valve means accommodated in said first end faces for controlling fluid flow through said first end faces, said first and second shut-off valve means being movable by each other so as to permit fluid flow between said hollow plungers and said receiving unions; interconnected bottom chambers defined in said body between second end faces of said hollow chambers and bottoms of said blind bores; a pressure port provided in said body connectable to said first hydraulic system for establishing communication between one of said blind bores and said first hydraulic system, the plunger disposed in said one blind bore having an aperture in a side wall thereof for communicating the interior of said plunger with said first hydraulic system; a passage formed in said body for establishing fluid communication between said bottom chambers and said pressure port so that pressure from said first hydraulic system is fed into said bottom chambers to move said hollow plungers into said extended positions; and a drain port provided in said body connectable to said first hydraulic system for establishing fluid communication between a second of said blind bores and said first hydraulic system, the plunger disposed in said second blind bore having an aperture in a side wall thereof for communicating the interior thereof with said first hydraulic system.