The present disclosure relates to the field of automotive subassemblies.
BACKGROUND
The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.
In tractors, draft control and position control mechanisms together are utilized to control the operating depth of an implement such as a plough attached to a three-point hitch inside the soil against varying ground contours, softness, and so on. These mechanisms are hydraulically operated and are controlled by the seated vehicle driver using levers to him/her. Each of the draft control and position control mechanisms comprise a coupler subassembly (also referred to as link) - a draft coupler subassembly and a position coupler assembly (also referred to as draft link and position link) respectively. Each of the draft link and the position link comprises two elongate members, one end of a first member inserted into a slot of a second member, and a spring disposed therebetween. One of the two ends of the subassembly thus obtained is coupled to the respective actuator, and the other end is fitted onto a sensor link bracket. The actuators are actuated using the hand-operated levers by the driver.
For such a subassembly comprising a spring, such as a draft coupler subassembly and a position coupler assembly, a spring needs to be manually compressed. Performing such a spring compression or elongation repeatedly for a large number of coupler subassembly jobs in manufacturing units with mass-production requirements results in high fatigue over a period of hours. This process is also an unsafe practice since the coupler subassembly may snap due to spring flyback, due to an occasional error of sight by the operator, resulting in injury to his/her fingers. Moreover, fatigue thus induced increases cycle time resulting in low productivity.

There is, therefore, need for an apparatus which ameliorates the aforementioned issues.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus for forming a coupler subassembly.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus for forming a coupler subassembly, which is ergonomic.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus for forming a coupler subassembly, which is reduces cycle time.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus for forming a coupler subassembly, which is safe.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
A coupler subassembly comprises a spring disposed between a first member and a second member. The present disclosure envisages an apparatus for forming this coupler subassembly. The apparatus comprises a rigid support, a pedal, a connecting member, a pivot plate, a resilient member and a pressing element. The pedal is pivotably supported at a first location on the rigid support and is configured to be displaced by a foot of an operator. One end of the connecting member is coupled with

the pedal at a distance from the pivot point of the pedal. The pivot plate is coupled to the other end of the connecting member and is pivotably supported at a second location on the rigid support separated by a predetermined distance from the first location. The resilient member is attached to at least one of the pedals, the connecting member and the pivot plate. The resilient member is configured to deform as the pedal is actuated. The pressing element is configured on the pivot plate and is configured to press against the second member which thereby deforms the spring as the pivot plate rotates due to actuation of the pedal.
According to an embodiment, the rigid support is configured with at least two pivot rods for pivotably supporting the first member and the second member of the coupler subassembly.
According to another embodiment, the first location is configured with a pedal support plate and the second location is configured with a base plate for pivotably supporting the pedal and the pivot plate respectively.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the configuration of the first member and the second member of the subassembly obtained on deforming the spring is retained using a locking member. According to an embodiment, the locking member is a nut.
The present disclosure also envisages a method of forming a coupler subassembly using an apparatus. The method comprises:
a. fixing a first member and a second member of the coupler
subassembly in respective pivot points provided in a rigid structure of
the apparatus;
b. actuating a pedal of the apparatus which is configured to rotate a pivot
plate which in turn presses on the first member and thereby a spring

interfacing between the first member and the second member is pressed;
c. retaining configuration of the first member and the second member thus obtained using a locking member and removing the subassembly thus formed from the apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
An apparatus for forming a coupler subassembly of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 is an isometric view an apparatus of the present disclosure;
Figure 2 is another isometric view the apparatus of the present disclosure;
Figure 3 is an isometric view of a subassembly of the present disclosure;
Figure 4 is a front view of the apparatus of the present disclosure along with the subassembly in an operational configuration;
Figure 5 is a close-up isometric view of the subassembly with the apparatus of the present disclosure in an operational configuration; and
Figure 6 is a close-up isometric view of the subassembly with the apparatus of the present disclosure in an operational configuration.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
10 Apparatus of the present disclosure
1 Pedal
2 Connecting member

3

Resilient member

4 Pivot plate
5 Pressing element
6 Base plate
6a First pivot point
6b Second pivot point
7 Work bench
8 Pedal support plates
20 Coupler subassembly
11 First member
12 Second member
13 Spring
14 Locking element
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of

embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.
5 The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining
a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “including” and
10 “having” are open ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of
stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, modules, units and/or
components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The particular order of steps disclosed in the method and process of the present disclosure
15 is not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance as described or
illustrated. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
A subassembly such as a hydraulic coupler subassembly requires compression of
spring. When the compression of a spring is performed using hands, high fatigue is
20 induced due to repeated nature of the work in manufacturing units with mass-
production requirements. Moreover, a hazardous situation may arise due to spring flyback due to operator‟s error of sight. Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus which makes the subassembly more ergonomic and safe.
The present disclosure envisages an apparatus 10 for forming a coupler subassembly
25 20. Also known as a „draft coupler subassembly‟, the subassembly as illustrated in
Figure 3 comprises a first member 11 and a second member 12 with a spring 13 lying
therebetween. A locking member 14 such as a locking nut may be inserted over a part
7

of the first member 11 protruding out of a slot in the second member 12 (or vice versa) to lock the subassembly 20 in the desired configuration.
As illustrated in Figures 1, Figure 2, and Figure 4 through 7, the apparatus 10 of the
present disclosure is essentially a foot-operated apparatus which facilitates
5 deformation (in this case, compression) of the spring 13 of the subassembly 20. The
apparatus 10 comprises a rigid support 7 in the form of a workbench, a pedal 1, a connecting member 2, a pivot plate 4, a resilient member 3 and a pressing element 5. The pedal 1 is pivotably supported at a first location on the workbench 7. One end of the connecting member 2 is coupled with the pedal 1 at a distance from the pivot
10 point of the pedal 1. The pivot plate 4 is coupled to the other end of the connecting
member 2 and is pivotably supported at a second location on the rigid support separated by a predetermined distance from the first location. The pedal 1 is supported by a pedal support plate 8 at the first location. The pivot plate is supported by a base plate 6 at the second location. The resilient member 3, which can be a coil
15 spring, is attached to at least one of the pedal 1, the connecting member 1 and the
pivot plate 4. The resilient member 3 is configured to deform as the pedal 1 is actuated. The pressing element 5 is configured on the pivot plate 4 and is configured to press against the second member 12 which thereby deforms the spring 13 as the pivot plate 4 rotates due to actuation of the pedal 1. The pressing member 5 is a rod
20 fitted onto the pivot plate 4, although such a pressing element can be integrally
formed with the pivot plate 4. The base plate 6 is configured with at least two pivot rods 6a and 6b for pivotably supporting the first member 11 and the second member 12 of the coupler subassembly 20.
The subassembly 20 is formed using the apparatus 10 as follows:
25 The first member 11 and the second member 12 of the coupler subassembly 20 are
fixed in respective pivot points 6a and 6b provided in the base plate 6 on the workbench 7. Particularly, an end of the second member 12 is inserted into a slot
8

provided in the first member 11 (or vice versa). Hence, the pedal 1 is actuated, which
rotates the pivot plate 4. The pressing element 5 presses onto the second member 12
thereby compressing spring 13. The subassembly 20 is completed by screwing the
locking nut 14 upto a desired number of threads. Thereafter, the subassembly 20 is
5 removed from apparatus 10 by removing the first and the second members from the
pivot points 6a and 6b. Thereafter, another set of first and second members is mounted into the apparatus for performing a coupler subassembly.
Such an apparatus 10 of the present disclosure is of utility in an automobile manufacturing plant such as a tractor assembly unit. The coupler subassembly 20 as
10 shown in Figure 3 is installed under the hood of a tractor. The apparatus 10 allows a
workman to perform the task of deformation (i.e. compression) of spring 13 while his/her hands remain free for inserting a locking nut 14. Considerably higher force can be applied with a human foot than with a hand, thus eliminating operator fatigue to a large extent. Moreover, since the hands are set free and are not fatigued,
15 likelihood of accidental spring flyback is also considerably eliminated. Since the first
location (i.e., location of the pedal 1) and the second location (i.e., location of the pivot plate 4) is preferably separated by a distance equal to the distance between the feet and the hands rested on a table in a normal seated position, the operation becomes highly ergonomic.
20 When an element is referred to as being “mounted on”, “engaged to”, “connected to”
or “coupled to” another element, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed elements.
The terms first, second, third, etc., should not be construed to limit the scope of the
25 present disclosure as the aforementioned terms may be only used to distinguish one
element, component, region, layer or section from another component, region, layer
9

or section. Terms such as first, second, third etc., when used herein do not imply a specific sequence or order unless clearly suggested by the present disclosure.
Terms such as “inner”, “outer”, “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper” and the like, may be used in the present disclosure to describe relationships between 5 different elements as depicted from the figures.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a 10 departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of an apparatus for forming a coupler 15 subassembly, which:
• is ergonomic;
• leaves hands free for performing other tasks;
• reduces cycle time; and
• is safe. 20
The foregoing disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
10

The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof
are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following
description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are
omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples
5 used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the
embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general
10 nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge,
readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments
without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and
modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and
range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the
15 phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not
of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
20 The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more
elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has
been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for
25 the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters
form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field
11

relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.

WE CLAIM:

An apparatus (10) for forming a coupler subassembly (20), said subassembly (20) comprising a spring (13) disposed between a first member (11) and a second member (12), said apparatus (10) comprising:
a. a rigid support (7);
b. a pedal (1) pivotably supported at a first location on said rigid support
(7) and configured to be displaced by at least a foot of an operator;
c. a connecting member (2), one end of which is coupled with said pedal
(1) at a distance from the pivot point of said pedal (1);
d. a pivot plate (4), coupled to the other end of said connecting member
(2) and pivotably supported at a second location on said rigid support
(7) separated by a predetermined distance from said first location;
e. a resilient member (3) attached to at least one of said pedal (1), said
connecting member (2) and said pivot plate (4), said resilient member
(3) configured to deform as said pedal (1) is actuated; and
f a pressing element (5) configured on said pivot plate (4) and configured to press against said second member (12) which thereby deforms said spring (13) as the pivot plate (1) rotates due to actuation of said pedal (1).
The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rigid support (7) is configured with at least two pivot rods (6a, 6b) for pivotably supporting said first member (11) and a second member (12) of said subassembly (20).
The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first location is configured with a pedal support plate (8) and said second location is

configured with a base plate (6) for pivotably supporting said pedal (1) and said pivot plate (4) respectively.
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the configuration of said first member (11) and said second member (12) of said subassembly (20) obtained on deforming said spring (13) is retained using a locking member (14).
The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said locking member (14) is a nut.
A method of forming a coupler subassembly (20) using an apparatus (10), said method comprising:
a. fixing a first member (11) and a second member (12) of said coupler
subassembly (20) in respective pivot points (6a, 6b) provided in a rigid
structure (7) of said apparatus (10);
b. actuating a pedal (1) of said apparatus (10) which is configured to
rotate a pivot plate (4) which in turn presses on said first member (11)
and thereby a spring (13) interfacing between said first member (11)
and said second member (12) is pressed;
c. retaining configuration of said first member (11) and said second
member (12) thus obtained using a locking member (14) and removing
the subassembly (20) thus formed from the apparatus (10).