Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Patent
1985-02-15
1987-05-12
Love, John J.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
280460R, B60D 114, B60D 106
Patent
active
046644024
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a National Phase application corresponding to PCT/EP84/00212 based, in turn, upon German National application P No. 33 26 333.7 filed July 21, 1983 and P No. 34 18 927.0 filed May 21, 1984 under 35 USC 119 and the International Convention.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a coupling link between a towing vehicle and a trailer, preferably a two-wheeled trailer, having an arrangement for transferring the effective point of attachment in the direction of the center of gravity of the towing vehicle. The coupling link consists of two curved or angular steering arms, which are arranged on both sides of the longitudinal axis of the trailer, and link the towing vehicle with the trailer, and also form a four-bar linkage whose joints, which are allocated to the towing vehicle, are arranged at a shorter distance from one another than those allocated to the trailer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This type of coupling link is described in German patent document No. 31 49 700.
According to this document, it is known that the effective point of attachment of a coupling link between towing vehicle and trailer can be transferred from the normal flank position at the towing vehicle in the direction of the center of gravity of said towing vehicle. This can be achieved by means of angular steering arms, which, on the one hand, are pivoted at the towing vehicle and, on the other hand, at the trailer, with varying distances from one another, thus replacing the generally used towing fork. The fulcrum points at the towing vehicle lie in closer proximity to one another than those at the trailer. In theory, this permits the possibility of steering the towing vehicle opposite the longitudinal axis of the trailer up to a 60.degree. angle, and the pitching motion occurring with the towing vehicle and trailer can, therefore, be reduced considerably.
There are, nevertheless, a number of problems with this design, especially with respect to the strength requirements, which have proved to be necessary for standard tests, vehicle registration inspections and road behavior when the vehicle is in turning position.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, the object of the invention to further develop the above-mentioned coupling link to the extent that the coupling link can also be used practically for turns in excess of 60.degree. without impairing the road behavior and independent of the rear design of the vehicles with which it may be used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, the joints allocated to the trailer are arranged at a lower level than the ball head of the trailer coupling located at the towing vehicle.
The joints in accordance with the invention have the advantage that the towing vehicle along the longitudinal axis of the trailer can actually be turned by 90.degree.. Here, the invention takes advantage of the fact that the rear section of the towing vehicle is developed diagonally to the center of gravity of said towing vehicle. Thus, by transferring the joints attached to the trailer to a considerably lower level opposite the ball head of the trailer coupling, one succeeds in effectively increasing the degree of steering between towing vehicle and trailer, without risking that the joints of the coupling link knock against the rear of the towing vehicle.
The theory of the principal claim is feasible with a variety of methods. In a construction in which the steering arms in the vertical plane are swan neck-shaped and have, at the trailer, angular lugs that run in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the trailer so as to form the joints allocated to the trailer. The steering arms are so curved that only the joints at the trailer are arranged at a lower level. When the joints allocated to the towing vehicle are also arranged at a lower level than the ball head, all steering arms are arranged at a lower level opposite the ball head of the towing vehicle, the advantage is given of a simplified design of the steering arms.
Acc
REFERENCES:
patent: 1636295 (1927-07-01), Dempsey
patent: 1785124 (1930-12-01), Jett
patent: 2125479 (1938-08-01), Zagelmeyer
patent: 2444944 (1948-07-01), Minter
patent: 3787068 (1974-01-01), Miller
patent: 4019754 (1977-04-01), Hinkley
patent: 4076264 (1978-02-01), Chatterley
patent: 4106794 (1978-08-01), Sallis
patent: 4248451 (1981-02-01), Usinger
patent: 4305602 (1981-12-01), Ungvari
patent: 4502561 (1985-03-01), Kober
Kober Kurt
Kohler Robert
Wohrle Rudolf
Alois Kober KG
Dubno Herbert
Love John J.
Ross Karl F.
Watts Charles R.
LandOfFree
Coupling link between a towing vehicle and a trailer, preferably does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Coupling link between a towing vehicle and a trailer, preferably, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Coupling link between a towing vehicle and a trailer, preferably will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1796990