AU8953998A - Towbar assembly - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.1

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

FOR A STANDARD

PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

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41

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Name of Applicant: TriMas Corporation Pty. Ltd., A.C.N. 004 546 543, of Waterview Close, Hampton Park, Victoria 3976, Australia ~ljt "i Actual Inventor: Stephen Kerry STEELE Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, of 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia Invention Title: "Towbar Assembly" Details of Associated Provisional Application No: PP0011/97 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: -1n

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I~i:ii~ ii~rW -e r :i i" OPJR.(iC'P l I CAP 271109 -9- TOWBAR

ASSEMBLY

This invention relates to a towbar assembly.

Normally, a towbar assembly includes a bar together with mounting brackets which in use extend beneath the rear part of a vehicle and are firmly affixed to the chassis and/or body of the vehicle.

In some vehicles, it is difficult to have suitably shaped brackets which enable a Sconvenient and secure mounting of the bar.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a towbar assembly which includes components which are located within and beneath a spare wheel well of the vehicle for -forming at least part of the mounting of the towbar assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a towbar assembly which includes a torsion bar and an outer bar which are connected together.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a towbar assembly which includes components which will absorb torsional loads normally transferred to the vehicle chassis.

According to the present invention there is provided a towbar assembly for a vehicle 25 having a chassis, body and spare wheel well, said towbar assembly including first bracket means for fixing to the vehicle body or chassis and being located at least partially within the wheel well. second bracket means for fixing to the first-bracket means and/or the vehicle body or chassis and being located at least partially beneath the wheel well, and coupling means S mounted on the second bracket means for coupling to a tow ball or to another element which 1 30 carries or can be connected to a tow ball.

g i.F.-r;K'G<OI)I I.CA'-27; -3- The invention also provides a towbar assembly including an outer bar to which in use I- a tow ball is coupled, a torsion bar including mounting means for mounting theorsion bar Sto the chassis or body of a vehicle and interconnecting means for coupling the outebar to the torsion bar.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the major components of the towbar assembly; S 10 Figure 2 is a perspective view of an outer bar which forms part of the assembly; Figure 3 is a plan view of the outer bar; Figure 4 is an end view of the outer.bar; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the torsion bar which forms part of the assembly; ;Figure 6.is a plan view of the torsion bar; Figure 7 is an end view of the torsion bar; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a pair of mounting brackets which forms part of the t assembly; Figure 9 is a plan view of the mounting brackets;.

SFigure 10 is an end view of the mounting brackets; d .20 Figure 11 shows the towbar assembly fitted to a vehicle; Figure 12 is a schematic section through the assembly; and Figure 13 is a schematic end view through part of the assembly.

Figure 1 diagrammaticiily illustrates the major components of a towbar assembly 2 of the invention. These components include an outer bar 4, torsion bar 6 and left and right mounting brackets 8 and .1 Figures 2, 3 and 4 show the outer bar 4 in more detail. It includes a bar 12 which is bent so as to include a lower-central portion 14. A hitch box 16 projects rearwardly from the 30 central portion 14, a gusset plate 18 being provided to strengthen the connection of the box 5" r. }pERGC oI11 ICAP- 7Zio;3 4- 16 to the bar. The hitch box 16 includes a lower plate20 having holes thereir. for connection of safety chains (not shown). Extending forwardly. from the box 16 is a pair of connecting plates 22 to which is an inclined mounting plate 23 prdyided with bolt holes 25. The bar 4 ip.ludes end mounting brackets 24 and 26 and intermdivtiitimounting plates 28 and 30 which extend upwardly and downwardly from the bar, as shown.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show the torsion bar 6 in more detail. The torsion bar 6 includes -a straight bar 32 having mounting brackets 34 and 36 extending upwardly at either end thereof. The upper ends of the brackets 34 and 36 are bent outwardly so as to form mounting portions 38 and 40 i .ich are generally coplinar. A pair of mounting plates 42 and 43 project forwardly from the straight bar 32and at inclined angles thereto, the forward edges thereof 4: being welded together. I .'ates 42 and 43 are provided with bolt holes 44 and ;respectively, the bolt holes b, 'g in aligned pairs.

Figures 8, 9and 10 illustrate in more detail the left and right mounting brackets 8 and r 10. The left mounting bracket includes a beam 46 which is curved. At the rear end of the

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beam 46 is an inclined mounting plate 48, the upper and lower portions 50 and 52 of which: are bent so as to lie in generally horizontal planes but in opposite senses relative to the mounting plate 48. A strengthening gusset plate 54 is connected to the lower part of the plate 20 48 for additional strength. At the forward end of the beam 46 is a forward mounting plate 56 which extends upwardly and terminates in an outwardly projecting mounting portion 58.

The right hand mounting bracket 10 is essentially a mirror image of the mounting r bracket 8. The bracket 10 includes a beam 47, inclined mounting plate 49, upper and lower portions 51 and 53, gusset plate 55, forward mounting plate 57 and mounting portion 59.

In the completed assembly, the mounting plate 23 of thebar 4 abuts the mounting plate 42 of the torsion bar 6, the inclinations of the mounting plates 23 and 42 being /1 complementary. The bolt holes 25, 44 and 45 provided in these plates enable them to be i S: 30 bolted together by a pair of bolts (not shown). The brackets 34 and 36 include bolt holes 60 .7 J 'OPF.KG(;CPtnl: CAP 27,10.9 and the mounting portions 38 and 40 include bolt holes 62. The mounting plates 48 and 49 include upper and lower bolt holes 64 and 66. The position of these is such that the left and right mounting plates 48 and 49 can be bolted to the brackets 36 and 34 respectively, the bolt holes 60 and 66 being aligned and the bolt holes 62 and 64 also being aligned so that bolts 5 (not shown) can pass therethrough and through holes drilled in the body of the vehicle as will be described below.

4: -;r i Figures 11, 12 and 13 diagrammatically illustrate the manner in which the towbar assembly is fitted to a vehicle 70. The vehicle includes a spare tyre well 72 and a rear body portion 74 which in use lies beneath the bumper bar 75 of the vehicle. In Figure 1 the bumper bar has been removed for clarity of illustration Typically, the bumper bar 75 is held in place by means of bumper bar mounting brackets 76 which are connected to bolts 78 which project rearwardly from the body portion 74, as shown in Figure 11. In the towbar assembly of the invention, the bolt 78 pass through slots 80 provided in the mounting brackets 24 and 26 of the outer bar 4. The centre of the portion 14 of the outer bar 4 would be located just inside and beneath the rear face of the bumper bar 75 when fitted.;The hitch box 16 projects rearwardly from just below the bumper bar 75. The mounting brackets 28 and 30 also include bolt holes 82 for further fixing points to the body;portion 74. The body portion 74 is not -normally strong enough to withstand forces which vbuld be applied through the hitch box 16 when the vehicle is towing. Accordingly, in the assembly of the invention, the torsion bar 6 is provided to first of all strengthen the bar 4 and to improve the mechanical coupling of the Sbar 4 to the body and/or chassis of the vehicle. As mentioned above, the connecting plates 22 Sand 42 are bolted together. The bar 32 is thus located somewhat forwardly and beneath the central portion 14 of the outer bar 4, as shown in Figure 12. The brackets 34 and 36 extend upwardly about the sides of the spare wheel well 72,.as digrammatically shown in Figure 13.

Located within the spare wheel well. 72 are the left and right mounting brackets 8 and 10. As best shown in Figure 13, the left and right mounting plates 48 and 49 overlie the brackets 36 and 34 but with the sidewall of the well 72 located therebetween. The plates 48 and 49 can then be bolted through the well 72 to the brackets 34 and 36. Finally, the forward mounting brackets 56 and 57 can be bolted to a forward par of the body work and/or well 72. Finally.

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?:OPER'GCP. I.CAP. 271i.M -6bolt holes car. be provided in the beams 46 and 47 for additional fixing to the well 72. Heavy washers are preferably provided on the outside of the well 72 so as to provide for better load distribution.

It will be appreciated from Figures 12 and 13 that the components of the assembly, particularly the torsion bar 6 and the mounting brackets 8 and 10, are shaped so as to generally conform to the shape of the well 72. Also, the left and right mounting plates 48 and 49 are generally complementary to the brackets 36 and 34. Additionally the mounting portions 51, 58 and 59 are shaped so as to embrace the upper periphery of the well 72. The mounting portions 58 and 59 can be bolted to the upper periphery of the well 72. The upper portions 50 and 51 can be bolted through the upper periphery of the well to the mounting portions 40 and 38 respectively. The lower portions 52 and 53 of the plates 48 and 49 are supported on the bottom of the well. Similarly, the mounting portions 52 aid 53 are shaped so as to embrace the floor of the well. Also, the mounting portions 38 and 40 underlie the right and left mounting portions 50 and 51 respectively so that these components can be bolted together for extra strength. The gusset plates 53 and 54 are connected to the well and through bolt holes 71.

The towbar assembly of the invention has many advantages. For instance, the provision of a separate torsion bar enables the towbar assembly to absorb torsional loads which might otherwise be transferred to the chassis of the vehicle. Also, the configuration of the mounting components are such that they can generally fit around and embrace the well'72 thereby enabling secure mounting of the towbar assembly in circumstances where it is not possible or practicable to have direct and secure.connections to the vehicle chassis.

Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

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Claims (17)

1. A towbar assembly for a vehicle having a chassis, body and spare wheel well, said towbar assembly including first bracket means for fixing to the vehicle body or chassis and being located at least partially within the wheel well, second bracket means for fixing to the first bracket means andlor the vehicle body or chassis and being located at least partially beneath the wheel well, and coupling means mounted on the second bracket means for coupling to a tow ball or to another element which carries or can be connected to a tow ball.

2. A lowbar assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coupling means includes an outer bar which includes a hitch box.

3. A towbar assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the second bracket means includes a torsion bar.

4. A towbar assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein a first mounting plate is mounted on the torsion bar and wherein a second mounting plate' is mounted on the outer bar said plates, in use, being bolted together in abutting relationship to one another.

5. A towbar assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the first bracket means includes first and second brackets each of which is shaped as to lie, in use, adjacent to opposed inner sides of said spare wheel well.

6. A towbar assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein the first and second brackets each include curved beams having forward and rearward mounting brackets which overlie, in use, parts, of the well.

7. A towbar assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the torsion bar includes upstanding brackets at ends thereof, the brackets including mounting portions which, in use, lie beneath the rearward mounting brackets whereby the mounting portions can be bolted to said rearward I k -I ci' 1 r. ~ii. -1- 5 i i; p-Oi.EGCrC(fI CA-P 1!IoM .I-4 mounting brackets through said well. rt I t

8. A vehicle having a chassis, and a spare wheel well and a towbar characterised in that the vehicle includes towbar support members which extend within the well and wherein the towbar can be coupled directly or indirectly to said towbar support members through the well.

9. A vehicle as claimed in claim 8 including a torsion bar interposed between the towbar support members and said towbar.

10 10. A vehicle as claimed in claim 9 wherein the torsion bar is located beneath the well.

11. A vehicle as claimed in claim 10 wherein the towbar includes riounting portions for connecting the towbar to said frame.

12. A method of mounting a towbar on a vehicle having a spare-wheel well including the steps of: mounting support members within the well and adjacent to sidewalls thereof; and coupling a.towbar directly or indirectly to said support members through the well.

13. A towbar assembly including an outer bar to which in use a tow ball is coupled, a torsion bar including mounting means for mounting the torsion bar to the chassis or body of a vehicle and interconnecting means for coupling the outer bar to the torsion bar.

14. An assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein said mounting means mounts the torsion bar to the underside of a spare wheel well. An assembly as claimed in claim 14 including first and second brackets extending within the well to which said mounting means is mounted, the sidewall of the well being located between the mounting means and said brackets.

HI_- i P.tOPERkGCP'L)II.CAP- 27:I'S -9-

16 A towbar assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A method of mounting a towbar on a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. q ic. 4~ t x ~I DATED this 27th day of October, 1998 TriMas Corporation Pty- Ltd- By its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE i-