Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-29
2004-09-07
Morris, Lesley D. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
active
06786500
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a trailer coupling for motor vehicles, comprising a bearing part arranged so as to be fixed on the vehicle, a ball neck which can be moved in relation to the bearing part between an operative position and a rest position and which is mounted on the bearing part by means of a bearing head so as to be at least rotatable, a ball neck fixing means with form locking elements which can be transferred due to relative movement from a fixing position, in which the bearing head is secured relative to the bearing part in a form locking manner, into a release position, in which the bearing head can be moved in relation to the bearing part, and vice versa and a mechanical positioning device, with which the relative movement of the form locking elements can be brought about in order to reach the fixing position and the release position.
The solutions known thus far are either mechanically complicated or not the best in all the possible operating states with respect to being able to achieve a secure locking.
The object underlying the invention is, therefore, to achieve as reliable a safety functioning as possible with a simple mechanical construction, in particular, of the ball neck fixing means.
This object is accomplished in accordance with the invention, in a trailer coupling of the type described at the outset, in that form locking elements are arranged on the bearing part and form locking elements are arranged on the bearing head, that the bearing head can be moved relative to the bearing part in a direction transverse to a pivoting direction in order to move the form locking elements between the fixing position and the release position, that the positioning device can be brought into a fixing position, in which it positions the bearing head in such a manner that the form locking elements are in the fixing position, and can be brought into a release position, in which it positions the bearing head in such a manner that the form locking elements are in the release position, that the positioning device can be brought from the fixing position into the release position by means of an actuation and that the positioning device has a force storing means which generates in the release position a restoring force which acts in the non-actuated state of the positioning device in the direction of a transfer into the fixing position so that the positioning device transfers the form locking elements in the operative position and the rest position automatically from the release position into the fixing position.
The advantage of the inventive solution is to be seen in the fact that due to the displacement of the bearing head a simple possibility exists of moving the form locking elements back and forth between the release position and the fixing position and that, on the other hand, it is possible via the positioning device with the force storing means for the positioning device to transfer the form locking elements automatically from the release position into the fixing position so that the trailer coupling, in the operative position and in the rest position, always transfers automatically from the release position into the fixing position.
In principle, it would be conceivable to allow the restoring force of the force storing means to be constantly active.
One particularly advantageous solution provides, however, for the restoring force of the force storing means to be activatable due to transfer of the positioning device from the fixing position into the release position.
In principle, it would be possible to realize the interaction between the positioning device and the bearing head in such a manner that the positioning device acts on the bearing head merely in the direction of the fixing position and releases it for the transfer into the release position.
For reasons of as reliable a functioning as possible with as little error susceptibility as possible it is, however, advantageous when the positioning device moves the bearing head back and forth between the fixing position and the release position in an automatically controlled manner.
In order for the positioning device not to leave the fixing position when this has been reached, it is preferably provided for the positioning device to have a mechanism which automatically maintains a stable position in the fixing position. As a result of a positioning device of such a design, it is possible to reach the fixing position reliably, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, to prevent the positioning device from leaving the fixing position again.
In this respect, it is even better when the mechanism is self locking in the fixing position against any movement in the direction of the release position so that an even greater functional reliability is ensured.
With respect to the design of the mechanism, the most varied of solutions are conceivable.
It would, for example, be conceivable to design the mechanism as a wheel gear.
A particularly simple solution from a constructional point of view provides, however, for the mechanism to be a lever mechanism.
With respect to the design of the force storing means, no further details have been given in conjunction with the preceding explanations concerning the individual embodiments.
It would, for example, be conceivable to design the force storing means as an electrically acting force storing means, for example, as a magnet or also as a pneumatic force storing means.
A particularly robust and simple solution does, however, provide for the force storing means to be a mechanical force storing means.
The force storing means may be realized in a particularly simple manner from a constructional point of view as a spring force storing means.
With respect to the design of the force storing means in conjunction with the fixing position and the release position, the most varied of possibilities are conceivable.
It would, for example, be conceivable to use the force storing means such that this does not generate any more force in the fixing position.
It is, however, particularly favorable when the force storing means is in a first tensioned state in the fixing position and in a second tensioned state in the release position so that the force storing means is still effective with a force even in the fixing position.
Such a force is of advantage in many cases. For example, it is of advantage so that it can be ensured that the positioning device transfers into the fixing position with the greatest possible functional reliability and does not not reach the fixing position on account of mechanical restraints.
In this respect, it is particularly advantageous when the mechanism, in the non-actuated state of the positioning device, transfers automatically into the stable position due to the action of the force storing means so that the tensioned state of the force storing means in the fixing position can be utilized to maintain the stable position of the mechanism.
With respect to the design of the mechanism, the most varied of possibilities are conceivable. For example, the mechanism could act completely independently of the force storing means and serve merely to achieve the stable position and, where applicable, the self-locking.
It is even more advantageous when the mechanism is a force transfer mechanism for the force storing means so that the force storing means is integrated into the mechanism which thus also serves at the same time to transfer the forces of the force storing means in addition to achieving the stable position.
In order to obtain as advantageous an effect as possible of the forces of the force storing means, it is preferably provided for the force transfer mechanism to be designed as a force transmission mechanism and thus not to transfer the force generated by the force storing means in the same ratio but rather to effect a force amplification at least in some of the possible positions.
A particularly favorable type of force transmission provides for the force transmission mechanism to amplify the force generated in the respective position by the force storing means to a lesser
Dreher Martin
Fischer Michael
Kleb Emmerich
Riehle Hans
Lipsitz Barry R.
McAllister Douglas M.
Morris Lesley D.
ORIS Fahrzeugteile Hans Riehle GmbH
Royal, Jr. Paul
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