ecs (Easy Coupler System)

Changing attachments made easy with the auxiliary function!

Agricultural farm and wheel loaders are mobile working machines with which the changeover of attachments normally occurs from the operator’s seat via a hydraulic lock between the coupler frame and the attachment. For attachments that contain a hydraulic auxiliary function, a hydraulic oil supply is necessary via the 3rd control circuit. To do this, the machine operator must leave their working platform and manually or semi-automatically execute the coupling procedure. There are already fully-automatic system on the market with which the operator need not leave the machine. However, these are frequently very complex in design and in terms of price are not interesting for the final user.

In light of this, Weidemann decided to develop the fully-automatic changeover system for the third control circuit, known as ecs (Easy Coupler System). According to our research, up to 75 % of all attachments with an auxiliary function are only operated with a third control circuit. Therefore, during development of the ecs, the focal point was consciously a simply, robust, and cost-optimized design with the aim to extensively enable the user access to this appropriate solution. Furthermore, comfort and work safety are substantially improved with the ecs.

Reliable operating principle

The technical implementation of the ecs is simple and reliable:

Through the auxiliary hydraulic branch in the hydraulic couplings area, which are positioned on the towing bar, the hydraulic oil runs directly into the tool holder.

Reliable operating principle

The oil flows into the locking pins and connects automatically via the “Flat Face Hydraulic Coupling” with the attachment.

Reliable operating principle

The hydraulic oil is hereby also guided directly into both the locking pins and to the unit via an axial bore.
With this the connection of the oil circuit occurs automatically and cleanly in an environmentally-friendly and safe manner - and this is even under pressure.

Reliable operating principle

The return occurs accordingly via the second locking pin. The original hydraulic couplings on the towing bar of the machine remain present; with this there is always the option to operate an attachment alternatively, which is not yet available via the ecs.

Reliable operating principle

When discarding the attachment, the locking pins are normally driven in and the hydraulic connection is automatically separated.
Herein lies another benefit for safety: The accidental tearing off of hydraulic hoses, which have been forgotten before removing the attachment, is excluded. Even for hoses to be stretched or bent when moving the attachment is a thing of the past with the ecs.

Safety and comfort.

According to statistics, most accidents are caused by getting in and out of the farm and wheel loaders. With the ecs by Weidemann, this process is reduced by up to 10 times and more per day, therefore the risk of an accident is clearly reduced. It is in particular when temperatures are below zero that more accidents will be prevented during the manual coupling procedure through our quickhitch system. The efficiency of the applied machine in the daily work flow can likewise be increased with the ecs.

ecs (Easy Coupler System)

Weidemann Hoftrac 1390 with sweeping machine and grab bucket

Efficient and self-explanatory.

Another advantage of this system is that the unit change can occur with almost no loss in time. The downtimes of the loader are reduced, productivity is increased, and the operator can completely concentrate on their own work because the change between hydraulically-driven attachments takes just a short while, like changing the usual attachments, for example earth buckets or pallet forks.

The operating philosophy of the Easy Coupler System is likewise conceivably simple and self-explanatory: No additional button or lever needs to be operated for the connection of the hydraulic control circuit. The hydraulic system of the working machine connects full-automatically with the attachment when driving out the locking pin and is immediately ready for use. It is a very comfortable and safe application, which makes the daily tool change en passant and joyful. The forceful and “nervy” coupling procedure of the socket connection is done away with, as is the cleaning of oily hands.