Motor vehicles – With means for promoting safety of vehicle – its occupant or... – By preventing unauthorized or unintended access or use
Patent
1998-04-13
2000-06-06
DePumpo, Daniel G.
Motor vehicles
With means for promoting safety of vehicle, its occupant or...
By preventing unauthorized or unintended access or use
280507, 70232, B60R 2500
Patent
active
060706880
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a semitrailer with anti-theft protection, which prevents the parked semitrailer from being hitched to a tractor-trailer by unauthorized persons.
It is known for semitrailers to be equipped with an anti-theft protection, which prevents the temporarily parked semitrailer from being stolen by unauthorized persons whose have a tractor-trailer. Semitrailers, also known as container chassis, are provided, in the front area of the chassis, with a fifth wheel coupling pin also known as a kingpin, particularly in accordance with DIN Standard 74080 or ISO Standard 337. With such an arrangement, via a tractor-trailer equipped with a fifth wheel, in particular in accordance with DIN Standard 74081, the semitrailer easily be picked up and transported on public roads. Anti-theft protection arrangements of known design cylindrically encompass the fifth wheel coupling pin and are secured against being stolen with a cylinder lock. The encompassed fifth wheel coupling pin can not longer be introduced into the fifth wheel.
The known anti-theft protection arrangements have the disadvantage that the driver must manually secure and lock the securing unit to the fifth wheel coupling pin. The attachment is done from below in an inconvenient posture, and the securing unit as well as hands or gloves become soiled with grease and road dirt. This is true particularly when the securing unit is attached during darkness. Moreover, the securing unit soils the place where it is stored when not in use. After use, the soil can be removed only at considerable effort. This process is so burdensome to the driver that in many cases he will not bother to attach the securing unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to disclose a semitrailer with an anti-theft protection that is simple and convenient to actuate.
The object is attained according to the invention in that the semitrailer has a latching device with a securing element, which element is movable by an actuating means into the region of a fifth wheel coupling pin and which, in a latching position, prevents the fifth wheel coupling pin from sliding into a fifth wheel. The subject of the invention has the advantage that the latching device is permanently installed on the semitrailer and need merely be actuated by the driver. The actuating means for the securing element makes the actuation of the latching device by the driver convenient and simple, and the driver need not crawl under the semitrailer. Because it is easy to operate, the driver will effortlessly actuate the latching device when needed at all times, so that the semitrailer will never be parked unsecured when not in use.
In a preferred embodiment it is provided that the actuating means is automatically activated each time the trailer is uncoupled from the tractor-trailer and immediately puts the securing element into the latching position. This has the advantage that the driver need not first actively actuate the latching device for locking up. As a result, locking up becomes still more convenient and can no longer be forgotten.
In a simple embodiment it is provided that the securing element is pivotably secured and can be pivoted by the actuating means into a latching position in the region of the fifth wheel coupling pin. This arrangement requires only slight engineering expense, particularly in view of the actuating means.
A further embodiment provides that the securing element is disposed behind a fifth wheel carrying the coupling pin and can be pivoted downward out into the latching position through an opening of the fifth wheel cradle. In the latching position, the securing element plunges into the region of the coupling pin below the fifth wheel cradle, where it effectively prevents coupling of a fifth wheel to the coupling pin. In the release position, the securing element is pivoted upward and disappears behind the fifth wheel cradle into the interior of the semitrailer, where on the one hand it is no hindrance and on the other it is protected
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DePumpo Daniel G.
Fischer Andrew J.
Striker Michael J.
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