Any tool, coupler, hitch, grab, spade, blade, ripper or bucket attached to the end of the dipper arm of an excavator. Attachments are removeable and interchangeable.
A coupler that uses the machine's primary hydraulic circuit to facilitate the attach and detach operation for attachments. An operator can change attachments from within the cab in 20 seconds.
Mechanical Coupler / Draw Pin Coupler
A coupler that does not require hydraulic lines to install or operate, but which is fixed to the attachment by manual input, either by a ratchet or by pulling a draw pin.
Bucket pins are medium tensile steel and are used to fix attachments to the excavator. Pins used for the boom and dipper arm operation are OEM pins and have different strength and wear requirements. Bucket pins are designed to take the wear upon themselves and thus protect the coupler and attachments.
Sometimes confusing, the FRONT of the attachment is the end facing the excavator cab, and the BACK or REAR of the attachment is the end furthest away. The Front of the tenX Coupler contains the Safety Knuckle and is the first to engage the (front) pin of the bucket.
On the tenX Coupler the Safety Knuckle (or sometimes just Knuckle) is the spring-loaded locking feature on the FRONT (closest to the cab) that first engages the attachment pin. The Safety Knuckle is easily visible and engages without any hydraulic or electrical action necessary.
The Primary Wedge (or sometimes just the Wedge), is the hydraulically powered sliding component that engages the REAR pin and LOCKS the attachment to the coupler. The Primary Wedge is controlled by the operator during the attachment operation.
The Safety Arm (or sometimes just the Arm) is the mechanical device that maintains the pin-to-wedge relationship in the event of loss of engagement force. The Safety Arm engages the pin automatically when the Primary Wedge extends.
The Reset Trigger (or sometimes just the Trigger) sits alongside the Safety Knuckle on tenX Couplers and automatically releases the Safety Knuckle when the pin leaves the 'C' cavity. This means the tenX Coupler is instantly ready to engage the next attachment.
A purpose-designed ring on a coupler or hitch for the attachment of a chain or D-ring, to use the excavator arm as lifting device. All Wedgelock couplers have a weight lifting limit stamped on them.
An extra blade or edge bolted to the cutting or leading edge of a cleaning or wide bucket. Also known as a BOE.
Additional cutting blades bolted to the side edges of digging buckets.
