Quick coupler
![Automatic Quickhitch in the closed position. Note the large spring on the ram, this helps to prevent accidental release of the attachment. Additional safety is available by way of a large pin manually inserted through the hole on the bottom left preventing any movement by the hitch.](/Images/godic/202502/05/Excavator_Quickhitch_extended0520.jpg")
![Automatic Quickhitch in the open position, allowing the required attachment to be picked up or released.](/Images/godic/202502/05/Excavator_Quickhitch_retracted0520.jpg")
![Quick Hitch before being attached for operation](/Images/godic/202502/05/QUICK-HITCH0520.jpg")
Quick couplers (also called quick hitches) are used with construction machines to allow the rapid change of buckets and attachments on the machine. They remove the need to use hammers to manually drive out and insert the mounting pins for attachments. They also bring with them additional safety risks that must be overcome by careful design and manufacture, and proper use.