Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-06
2002-11-19
Hurley, Kevin (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
C280S420000, C280S511000, C439S008000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06481738
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a connecting device suitable for connecting two vehicles in a towing relationship to each other. More particularly it relates to such a device which includes an electrical coupling arrangement.
BACKGROUND ART
Many different tow hitches for connecting a towing vehicle to a towed vehicle are known. One known tow hitch comprises a mating ball and socket arrangement, the ball formation being secured to the rear end of the towing vehicle and the socket formation being secured to the front end of the towed vehicle. In use the vehicles are connected to each other by inserting the ball formation in the socket formation and locking them in a sliding engagement. Another known tow hitch comprises a so-called fifth wheel arrangement.
It is also well known that with road going vehicles, the towed vehicle (for example a caravan or trailer) is required to have lights, such as tail lights, stop lights, indicator lights and the like. These lights are connected to the towing vehicle's electrical system. When known tow hitches as described above are employed, a separate plug and socket arrangement with a plurality of contacts is provided for connecting the lights of the towed vehicle to the lights of the towing vehicle. A disadvantage of this system is that the user often forgets to connect the electrical system of the towed vehicle to that of the towing vehicle. These electrical connections are also prone to damage.
South African patent 96/1682 discloses a tow-hitch arrangement having two anchor arrangements one to be mounted to the towing vehicle and the other to the towed vehicle. The anchor arrangement includes complementary sliding contacts, which come into electrical contact with one another when the anchor arrangements are connected to each other. One disadvantage of this arrangement is that the anchor arrangements include a large number of parts to ensure that the contacts remain in contact with each other. Another disadvantage is that direct contact is established between the lights of the two vehicles, for example, the brake lights of the one vehicle is connected directly to the brake lights of the other vehicle etc. which may result in power drain which in turn may prevent the lights of the towed vehicle from being sufficiently illuminated. A further disadvantage is that many pairs of contacts have to be provided.
U.K. patent 789,655 discloses a coupling wherein a ball member of the coupling has a holding bolt through it, and insulated therefrom. The head of the bolt forms a portion of the periphery of the ball with a wide insulation between such head and ball.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,521,466 discloses an apparatus for actuating a plurality of operating lamps of a towed vehicle according to the operating fights of a towing vehicle. The apparatus includes an encoder and decoder arrangement for actuating the lights of the towed vehicle. This apparatus again has the disadvantage that a separate electrical coupling and tow hitch needs to be provided. Another disadvantage is that a number of electrical couplings need to be provided between the vehicles, at least one for the power line and at least one for the signals from the encoder to the decoder.
EP-A-0 692 396 discloses an electrical trailer connection device which includes one or more data network connections for connection to the data network of the tow vehicle. A control unit is provided which is capable of controlling a semiconductor power switch group in dependence on control information received via the data network connections. In this way only a few connections, e.g. three of four, to the tow vehicle are required which simplifies fitting and reduces the amount of cabling. Multiple connections between the tow vehicle and trailer is provided via the connection contact unit.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative connecting device which overcomes or reduces at least some of the above disadvantages.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a connecting device suitable for connecting a towing vehicle with rear lights in a towing relationship to a towed vehicle with rear lights and for actuating the rear lights of the towed vehicle in accordance with the rear lights of the towing vehicle, the connecting device comprising a first coupling member connected or connectable to the towing vehicle; a second coupling member connected or connectable to the towed vehicle, which coupling members are lockingly engageable for connecting the vehicles in a towing relationship; a power supplyconductor for supplying power to the rear lights of the towed vehicle from a power supply on the towing vehicle; a pair of interengageable electrical contacts provided in the power supply conductor, the pair including a first contact provided on the first coupling member and a second contact provided on the second coupling member, the first and second contacts engaging each other when the first and second coupling members lockingly engage each other to allow power to flow through the pair of contacts; a signal transmitter arrangement for transmitting at least one control signal when power is supplied to at least one rear light of the towing vehicle to activate it; and a signal receiver arrangement for receiving the at least one control signal from the transmitter arrangement and activating at least one rear light of the towed vehicle in accordance with the at least one control signal received.
In this specification the terms “tow” or “towing” relate to both pull and push arrangements.
The towing vehicle may be a vehicle which in turn is towed by another vehicle. Alternatively it may comprise a vehicle which includes a propelling means for propelling the vehicle. Preferably the vehicle comprises a road-going vehicle, for example a motor car, truck, light delivery vehicle or the like. The towed vehicle may comprise any suitable towed vehicle and may include a trailer, caravan or the like.
The rear lights on the towing and towed vehicle may include a number of lights selected from the group comprising one or more tail lights; one or more brake lights; one or more indicator lights; one or more reverse lights and a number plate light. Usually at least two tail lights, two brake lights and two indicator lights are provided at the rear ends of the vehicles.
The first and second coupling members may comprise a fifth wheel and pin arrangement, for example a conventional fifth wheel and pin arrangement. Alternatively the first and second coupling members may comprise a ball and socket arrangement, for example a conventional ball and socket arrangement.
The power supply conductor may comprise an electrical wire having a conductive core in an insulating cover. The power supply conductor may also provide power to other equipment on the towed vehicle such as a refrigerator.
A switch may be provided in the power supply conductor to regulate current flow through the power supply conductor, preferably regulating power supply to the first contact.
Preferably the pair of interengageable electrical contacts slidingly engage each other. Preferably at least one of the contacts include a biasing means for biasing the one contact onto the other. The biasing means may comprise a spring.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the device includes only one pair of electrical contacts between the first and second coupling members through which the control and power signals pass. Additional earth contacts may be provided.
The signal transmitter arrangement may include an encoder receiving information of the status of the power supplied to the rear lights of the towing vehicle and the encoder in response thereto generating a signal carrying information corresponding to the status of the rear lights. The encoder may include as inputs lines connected to the power lines supplying power to the rear lights of the towing vehicle.
The encoder may comprise a microprocessor.
The signal generated by the encoder may carry information corresponding to the specific combination of the status of power
Duncan Malcolm
Laatz Alan Edgar
Steel Kenneth John
Excalibur Vehicle Accessories (Proprietary) Limited
Hurley Kevin
Merchant & Gould P.C.
Yeagley Daniel
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