JP2002302073A - Slide type connection traction device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a connection position to be changed easily and safely by a driver under a condition connected to a trailer without requiring any assistance by an assistant, in a slide type connection drawgear capable of moving a position of the rotation center in connection by moving a position of a coupler member. SOLUTION: This traction device is provided with a measuring means for detecting a mechanical change of the position of the coupler member as an electric signal, and a locking means is change-controlled automatically to an effective condition by a program control circuit, when the position of the coupler member gets consistent with a position set preliminarily by an operation of the driver.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a connecting device provided on a tractor side for towing a trailer.
The present invention relates to an improvement in a slide-type connecting and pulling device that can move a position of a coupler member of a connecting device in a front-rear direction of a tractor. The present invention relates to an improvement for easily positioning a connected traction device in the front-rear direction while a trailer is connected to a tractor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is known a slide-type connecting and pulling device capable of moving the position of a coupler member in the front-rear direction of a tractor. For example, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-1626663 (applicant: Holland Hitch). This device includes a base rail fixedly attached to the tractor side, and a coupler member coupled to a kingpin on the trailer side, and the coupler member is configured to be movable in the front-rear direction of the tractor with respect to the base rail. I have. Then, after the coupler member is set at a desired position with respect to the base rail, the locking means is operated to fix the coupler member to the base rail from a movable state. This device is an excellent device that reduces the weight of the connecting traction device and simplifies its handling.

[0003] The use of such a slide-type connected traction device increases the degree of freedom with respect to the restriction on the structure of the trailer that can be tracted by one tractor,
Many types of trailers can be connected and towed by one tractor. This is to reduce restrictions on tractor dispatch arrangements for users,
There is a great economical advantage that the mobility of the tractor is improved.

The present applicant has filed a patent application for an improved invention with respect to the prior art disclosed in the above publication (Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-37).
No. 6391, unpublished at the time of filing the present application, hereinafter referred to as “prior application”. ). This prior invention allows the position of the coupler member of the slide-type connecting and pulling device to be changed even after the trailer is connected to the tractor.

That is, in the above-mentioned prior art (Holland hitch), the position change of the coupler member is performed before connecting the trailer, but the locking means for immovably fixing the coupler member to the base rail is used. In a state where safety is confirmed by a certain procedure using a program control circuit for control of the tractor, the parking brake of the tractor can be released and the tractor can run slightly forward and backward in the connected state It is configured as follows. With this improvement, it is possible to perform an operation of changing the axial load sharing on the tractor side even after loading a load on the trailer. This makes it possible to properly change the axle load distribution of the tractor without changing the loading position of the loaded luggage and improve the safety of towing vehicle travel. .

[0006]

In order to change the position of the coupler of the connecting tractor with the trailer connected to the tractor, the landing gear of the trailer is lowered and the load of the trailer applied to the connecting tractor is reduced. After reducing the size, the slide locking means of the connecting traction device is released and the tractor is moved slightly back and forth.
The movable range of the coupler member is several tens of cm (62 cm in the example of a practical device), and moving the tractor back and forth within that range and stopping at the optimum position is a delicate driving operation.
In particular, since the towing device is not in a position directly visible from the driver's seat, in order for the driver to perform this operation alone, the driver must repeatedly enter and exit the cab and check the state of the towing device. Have to go to. If there is an assistant, the assistant can stand outside the cabin to monitor the condition of the connecting traction device, move the tractor little by little according to the instructions, and stop at the correct position,
In reality, such assistants are often not available. When assistance is not available, for example, after loading, the driver should change the coupler position and adjust the axle load appropriately before traveling. A situation in which the vehicle starts and runs with an incorrect position may occur.

[0007] The present invention has been made in such a background, and the present invention provides a slide type connection which can simplify the operation for changing the position of the coupler after connecting the trailer to the tractor. It is intended to provide a traction device. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a slide-type connected traction device that allows a driver to independently change the position of a coupler without placing a supervisor or an assistant at the position of the connected traction device. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a slide-type connected traction apparatus that can safely change the position of a coupler without the assistance of an assistant.

[0008]

The most significant feature of the present invention is that the position of the coupler member is electrically detected and displayed on the driver's seat.

That is, according to the present invention, the base rail (1) fixedly attached to the chassis of the tractor (21), and the base rail (1) is movably attached to the base rail (1) in the front-rear direction of the tractor (21). In the sliding type traction apparatus having a coupler member (2) and a locking means (3) for setting the coupler member (2) to a locked state with respect to the base rail (1), the base rail (1) Measuring means (11, 12) for measuring the relative position of the coupler member (2) with respect to the display, and display means (10) for displaying the output of the measuring means at a position recognizable by the driver in the driver's seat.
And characterized in that: An operating means (10a) for setting a target position to be locked when the locking means (3) is in the released state on the display means (10); and an operating means (10a) for setting the relative position to the set target position. And a control circuit (4) for automatically controlling the locking means to the locked state.

The numerals in the parentheses are reference numerals for the drawings of the embodiments described later. This is provided so that the configuration of the present invention can be easily understood, and is not intended to limit the present invention to the embodiments. The same applies to the following description.

With the above arrangement, after the locking means is released, the driver can set a desired target position by operating the operating member in the driver's seat, and slowly move the tractor forward or backward while watching the display means. When the set target position is reached, the locking means is automatically activated to lock the coupler member to the base rail. This operation can be easily performed by the driver alone.

It is preferable that the means for measuring includes an ultrasonic distance measuring means. The display means may include a means for blinking the optical display of the display means until an appropriate end operation is performed after the means for automatically controlling the lock state is operated.

[0013]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of an electric circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the mechanical structure of the device according to the embodiment of the present invention and the arrangement of each device. FIG. 3 is an external view of a tractor and a trailer on which the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the driver operating the embodiment device of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the logical operation of the control circuit of the device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is a connecting traction apparatus provided on a tractor 21 for towing a trailer 22 as shown in FIG. 3, and the connecting position of the connecting traction apparatus is indicated by an arrow in FIG. The tractor 21 can be effectively moved in the front-back direction. This specific structure is equivalent to that disclosed in detail in the official gazette (JP-A-5-162663) described in the above-mentioned prior art.

Although this structure is well known, the outline thereof will be described with reference to FIG. 2. The base plate 17 is fixedly mounted on a chassis frame of the tractor 21.
The base plate 17 is provided with a pair of base rails 1 fixedly. This pair of base rails 1
And a coupler member 2 coupled to the kingpin on the trailer side.
Is movably mounted. FIG. 2 shows the structure of the base plate 17 expanded by 90 degrees for convenience of explanation. When the base plate 17 is attached to the chassis of the tractor, the side surface of the coupler member 2 is indicated by a broken line in FIG. It looks like the shape shown by. This coupler member is configured to be able to move in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle along the base rail 1.

The movable width of the coupler member 2 in the front-rear direction is several tens of cm, particularly 62 cm in this embodiment. By moving the coupler member 2 back and forth with respect to the base rail 1, the position of the rotation center of the front and rear center axis of the trailer 22 with respect to the front and rear center axis of the tractor 21 can be effectively changed. Accordingly, different types of tractors can be towed by one tractor, and the load sharing between the rear shaft and the front shaft of the tractor can be changed by changing the position of the coupler member.

As shown in FIG. 2, a pneumatic cylinder 6 is attached to the coupler member 2. At both ends of the pneumatic cylinder 6, locking means 3 is mounted at the tip of the piston rod. When air pressure is sent to the pneumatic cylinder 6, the locking means 3 is disengaged from the unevenness formed inside the base rail 1, and the coupler member 2 is movable along the base rail 1. When the air pressure of the pneumatic cylinder 6 is lost, the locking means 3 bites into the unevenness formed inside the pair of parallel base rails 1 by the spring action, and the coupler member 2 is fixed to the base rail 1. In this case as well, the pneumatic cylinder 6 is drawn so as to be visible on the front surface of the coupler member 2 in FIG. 2, but is actually invisible from the front surface since the pneumatic cylinder 6 is arranged on the back surface of the coupler member 2. The inside of the pneumatic cylinder 6 is loaded with a spring acting to push the locking means 3 outward when there is no air pressure. This spring is not depicted in FIG. Reference numeral 18 in FIG. 2 denotes a brake air pressure joint of the trailer.

As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the air pressure sent to the pneumatic cylinder 6 via the control valve 5 is controlled by a control circuit 4. The control circuit 4 is a program control circuit (CPU / computer unit). Further, the present invention is provided with measuring means (11, 12, 13) for measuring the relative position between the base rail 1 and the coupler member 2 described above, and using the measurement output of the measuring means as an input signal of the control circuit 4. There is a special feature in taking in.

Describing the measuring means, this embodiment is an ultrasonic distance measuring apparatus. The measuring means includes a distance measuring sensor 11 attached to the base plate 17, a reflecting mirror 12 attached to an end of the coupler member 2 so as to face the distance measuring sensor 11, and a distance measuring sensor 11 connected to the distance measuring sensor 11. And a distance circuit 13. When the coupler member 2 moves, the reflecting mirror 12 moves together with the coupler member 2 and the distance measuring sensor 1
The distance between 1 and the reflector 12 changes. Distance measuring circuit 13
Generates a pulse current of an ultrasonic frequency and supplies it to the distance measuring sensor 11 via a cable. Distance sensor 11
Converts this pulse current into an ultrasonic pulse signal and sends it to the reflector 12 into space. The reflecting mirror 12 reflects the ultrasonic pulse signal, and the reflected ultrasonic pulse signal is received by the distance measuring sensor 11. The received ultrasonic pulse signal is converted into a received electric signal and transmitted to the distance measuring circuit 13 via a cable. The distance measuring circuit 13 calculates and measures the relative distance between the distance measuring sensor 11 and the reflecting mirror 12 from the time difference between the timing at which the ultrasonic pulse current is transmitted and the timing at which the received electric signal arrives.

In the apparatus of this embodiment, a commercially available apparatus was used and modified so that it could be mounted on a slide-type connecting and pulling apparatus. As described above, the measurement output of the distance measurement circuit 13 is transmitted to the control circuit 4 via the input / output interface.
And the position display 10 is displayed on the display operation panel 10.
Optically displayed as b.

As shown in FIG. 1, the display operation panel 10 has a rotary dial 10a disposed at the center, and its setting scale is set to -300 according to the rotation angle of the dial 10a.
mm to +300 mm. The value calculated and measured by the distance measuring circuit 13 is optically displayed as a position display 10b along the display scale. The display operation panel 10 is illuminated by an illumination lamp 10c that is turned on during operation. The blinking of the illumination lamp 10c is controlled by the control circuit 4 via an input / output interface. The dial 10a rotates as shown by an arrow, and the dial switch is turned on / off by pressing the dial 10a. The on / off information of the dial switch is also taken into the control circuit 4 via the input / output interface.

As shown in FIG. 1, the input information of the control circuit 4 includes a slide lock release switch 9 operated by the driver, on / off information of the dial switch, and the operation of the parking brake by the parking brake detector 8. The state and the coincidence signal of the dial 10a of the display operation panel 10 and the position display 10b. The control circuit 4
The output information includes the blinking signal of the illuminating lamp 10c of the display operation panel 10, the control signal of the control valve 5 for controlling the opening and closing of the air pressure supplied to the pneumatic cylinder 6 of the connected traction device, and the air pressure to the emergency brake of the trailer. A control signal for the emergency brake control valve 14, a flashing control signal for the alarm lamp 15, and an on / off signal for the alarm buzzer 16.

Next, the equipment around the driver's seat equipped with the display operation panel 10 and others will be described. Referring to FIG. 2, slide lock release switch 9 and display operation panel 10 are arranged beside the upper rearview mirror in the driver's seat. The driver can operate the slide lock release switch 9 and the display operation panel 10 with the left hand, and can simultaneously view the display operation panel 10 while watching the state of the trailer connected through the rearview mirror.
The driver's seat includes a parking brake 7, a parking brake detector 8 for detecting the operating state of the parking brake 7, an alarm lamp 1
5 and an alarm buzzer 16 are arranged. The control circuit 4 is arranged as a unit in a space behind the driver's seat.

First, a description will be given of how a driver operates the thus configured device. Referring to FIG. 4, the left column in FIG. 4 shows an operation procedure in which the driver operates in the cab (driver's seat), and the right column shows an operation procedure in which the driver goes out of the cab. Now, it is assumed that the driver temporarily stops the vehicle with the trailer connected, and intends to change the position of the coupler member 2 of the connected traction device. Stop the vehicle and apply the parking brake.
Go out of the vehicle, lower the trailer landing gear, and release the load on the trailer from the trailer. The landing gear has a jack structure, and the load on the trailer moves to the landing gear by moving the jack lever up and down. Here, the driver returns to the driver's seat and turns on the slide lock release switch 9 provided next to the rearview mirror in the room. As a result, the illumination lamp 10c of the display operation panel 10 is turned on, and the position of the connected traction device can be changed.

Next, the driver operates the dial 10a of the display operation panel 10 to designate and set a new position of the coupler member 2. For example, it is moved further forward than the current position displayed by the position display 10b to -120 mm
If it is desired to change the position to (absolute value display), the dial 10a is set to a position of -120 mm.
When the position is determined, the dial 10a is pushed down. By depressing the dial 10a, the internal dial switch is turned on, and this value is taken into the control circuit 4. By releasing the dial 10a, the dial 10a returns from the depressed state and the dial switch is turned off.

Here, the driver goes out of the cab and visually recognizes that the slide lock state has been released. The driver returns to the driver's seat, releases the parking brake, engages the gear,
Gently retract (or advance) the tractor. Accordingly, the position display 10b moves slowly. This driving operation is performed while viewing the rearview mirror and the display operation panel 10 at the same time. When the position display 10b is exactly at the position set on the dial 10a, the device automatically detects a match, and the illumination lamp 10c flashes. At the same time, the air pressure of the pneumatic cylinder 6 is automatically discharged, the locking means 3 is locked, and the position of the coupler member 2 is fixed.

At this point, the driver applies the parking brake, goes out of the vehicle, and checks whether the state of the connecting traction device is as desired. When the confirmation is completed, the operator returns to the driver's seat and turns off the slide lock release switch 9. Then go out of the car again and raise the landing gear of the trailer. This completes all operations for changing the connection position, and the driver returns to the driver's seat and is ready to start running the vehicle.

Next, with reference to Table 1, how the input information and the output information of the control circuit 4 change according to such driver's operation will be described.

[0029]

[Table 1]

The mode () in Table 1 is a state before the driver stops the vehicle, applies the parking brake, and starts the operation of changing the position of the connecting traction device. At this time, the slide lock means 3 is in a locked state.

The mode () is a state after the driver operates the slide lock release switch 9 to the ON state.
The illumination lamp 10c of the display operation panel 10 is turned on, and the position display 10b is also in the display state. At this time, air pressure is also sent to the emergency brake of the trailer, and the trailer cannot move.

In the mode (), the driver operates the dial 10
By operating a, a desired slide position is set. When the dial 10a of the display operation panel 10 is pressed when the setting is completed, the set value is taken into the control circuit 4. As a result, the slide lock release control valve 5 is turned on, air pressure is sent to the pneumatic cylinder 6, and the lock means 3 is released, so that the position of the coupler member 2 can be changed. Here, the driver releases the parking brake and moves the tractor slowly.

In the mode (), the tractor moves slowly, and the position display 10 b of the display operation panel 10 changes to the dial 1.
0a, the distance measuring circuit 13
Sends a coincidence signal to the control circuit 4. Thereby, the control circuit 4 controls the control valve 5 for releasing the slide lock to the off state. At the same time, the illuminating lamp 10c of the display operation panel 10 is turned on and off to indicate to the driver that the locking means 3 is in the locked state.

In the mode (), the driver turns off the slide lock release switch 9 to end this series of operations. When the driver applies the parking brake,
The emergency brake control valve 14 of the trailer returns to the state of the first mode () in which the state is changed from the on state to the off state.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the logical operation of the control circuit 4 at this time. The correspondence with the above mode is displayed in the right column of FIG. That is, by configuring the control logic of the control circuit 4 in this way, it is possible to change the position of the coupler member of the connected traction device in accordance with the operation of the driver while the trailer is connected.

The above description has been made on the case where the distance measuring sensor using ultrasonic waves is used to measure the position of the coupler member. However, this may be achieved by using other means for measuring mechanical displacement as an electric signal. It can be realized similarly. As means for this, a device for detecting a mechanical position by a change in resistance, a device for detecting a mechanical position by a change in electromagnetic induction, a device for detecting a mechanical position by a change in capacitance, a mechanical device The present invention can be similarly implemented by using a device that detects a proper position by an optical signal or the like.

In the above description, the operation procedure has been divided into five modes. However, this is not limited to this mode, and various variations can be considered. The design should be as simple as possible to be as safe as possible and not to make the wrong steps.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, the operation for changing the position of the coupler performed after the trailer is connected to the tractor can be simplified. By using the device of the present invention, the driver can independently and safely change the position of the coupler without requiring a supervisor or an assistant at the position of the connecting traction device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of an electric circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the mechanical structure of the device according to the embodiment of the present invention and the arrangement of each device.

FIG. 3 is an external view of a tractor and a trailer on which the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a driver operating the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a logical operation of a control circuit of the device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Base rail 2 Coupler member 3 Lock means 4 Control circuit 5 Control valve 6 Pneumatic cylinder 7 Parking brake 8 Parking brake detector 9 Slide lock release switch 10 Display operation panel 10a Dial 10b Position display 10c Illumination light 11 Distance measuring sensor 12 Reflecting mirror Reference Signs List 13 Distance measuring circuit 14 Trailer emergency brake control valve 15 Warning lamp 16 Warning buzzer 17 Base plate 18 Pneumatic coupling for trailer brake 21 Tractor 22 Trailer

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A base rail fixedly attached to a chassis of a tractor, a coupler member movably attached to the tractor in the front-rear direction with respect to the base rail, and locking the coupler member to the base rail. A slide-type connecting and retracting device having a lock means for setting a state; a measuring means for measuring a relative position of the coupler member with respect to the base rail; And a display means for displaying on the slide. 2. An operating means for setting a target position to be locked when the lock means is in a released state on the display means, and automatically operating the lock means when the relative position reaches the set target position. 2. The slide-type connected traction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a control circuit for controlling the lock state. 3. The slide-type connected traction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said measuring means includes an ultrasonic distance measuring means. 4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said display means includes means for blinking an optical display of said display means until an appropriate end operation is performed after said means for automatically controlling said locked state is operated. Slide-type connecting traction device.