Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Patent
1992-04-20
1994-09-20
Focarino, Margaret A.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
2804781, 280496, 280477, B60D 1173, B60D 136
Patent
active
053483294
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns a trailer equipped with a main towing device, vertically movable with respect to the axle(s) of the trailer, and a centering device fastened underneath the front part of the trailer which projects over the roof of the motor vehicle.
A trailer of this type is already known under WIPO Patent Number WO 86/01780. It has in common with the present invention the fact that by means of an integral and vertically movable towing head, the trailer is connected to a hook device with a round head which constitutes a ball-type joint mounted at the back of a motor vehicle, and the fact that the front part of the trailer projects over the roof of the motor vehicle and is fastened to it at one point.
All currently known motor vehicle/trailer combinations have the disadvantage that hitching the trailer to the back of the motor vehicle is difficult. Fastening the trailer to the roof of the vehicle is also difficult, especially because of the lack of transverse and longitudinal clearance of the main towing head and because of the slide system used to fasten the trailer to the roof of the motor vehicle, which makes it necessary to couple the trailer to the roof of the motor vehicle first.
The present invention overcomes these disadvantages by using an articulated main towing device, fitted on the trailer, which is hooked to a conventional ball-type hitch situated at the back of the motor vehicle which can be used for all other conventional trailers, in conformity with international road regulations. This articulated main towing device and ball-type hitch allows rapid coupling and uncoupling of the trailer and motor vehicle in spite of the combined use of a flexible coupling device to fasten the front part of the trailer to the roof of the vehicle by means of a transverse and vertical centering device which slides from front to rear and is fitted on the trailer. Thus, it is possible to couple the centering device either before or after coupling the main towing device of the trailer to the back of the vehicle.
The main towing device is preferably situated in the vertical and longitudinal midplane of the trailer to which it is coupled, and its head is situated in front of its axle(s), and hooked to one of the conventional ball-type hitch devices that are commonly mounted on the back of motor vehicles.
The main towing device of a trailer embodying the present invention may include of the following elements:
1. A towing head in which the tow-ball of the motor vehicle is lodged, equipped with a handle system which allows coupling and uncoupling as the handle is pushed down or raised up respectively;
2. A body in which the piston fixed to the towing head can be lodged and which drives the overrunning brake system of the two or four wheels of the trailer;
3. One or two articulated arms that connect the body of the main towing device to a transverse rotating shaft, in one or two elements, situated rearward of the body, and enable the towing head to follow the upward or downward movement of the tow-ball mounted on the motor vehicle, which moves with the wheels of the axle(s) of the vehicle when they pass over relief variations with respect to the ground level supporting the wheels of the axle(s) of the trailer whose center of gravity is approximately situated in the transverse axis of the axles;
4. One or several compression and/or tension springs fastened at one end to the main towing device body or arms by means of bearing plates and at the other end to the chassis or body of the trailer, the possible action of the springs being intended to support and dampen the upward and downward movements of the towing head depending on the movements of the motor vehicle with respect to the trailer in the case of relief variations that place the wheels of the vehicle and trailer at a different ground level;
5. A sliding device for the pivoting shaft on which hinges the arm(s) of the main towing device body. The sliding device includes one or two elongated holes, or as an alter
REFERENCES:
patent: 3169028 (1965-02-01), Scrivner
patent: 4893829 (1990-01-01), Davis
Loizeau Nathalie
Morin Andre
Morin Christophe
Morin Nicole
Morin Patricia
Clipcar Industrie
Focarino Margaret A.
Hurley Kevin
Roche David I.
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