CA1299529C - Towing device - Google Patents
Towing deviceInfo
- Publication number
- CA1299529C CA1299529C CA000573271A CA573271A CA1299529C CA 1299529 C CA1299529 C CA 1299529C CA 000573271 A CA000573271 A CA 000573271A CA 573271 A CA573271 A CA 573271A CA 1299529 C CA1299529 C CA 1299529C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- vehicle
- mounting element
- towing device
- transverse bar
- wheel
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
- B60P3/00—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects
- B60P3/12—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects for salvaging damaged vehicles
- B60P3/125—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects for salvaging damaged vehicles by supporting only part of the vehicle, e.g. front- or rear-axle
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Bridges Or Land Bridges (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A vehicle towing device has an elongate stinger adapted for pivotal attachment at one end to a towing vehicle and a rigid transverse bar that is fixed to extend horizontally at the rear end of the stinger. At each end of this bar is a rearwardly directed wedge shaped scuff plate. A mounting element at each end of the transverse bar is pivotable about a first axis parallel to the bar and located in front thereof, and about a second axis at right angles to the first axis. The mounting element extends rearwardly in bearing engagement with the upper side of the transverse bar. An elongate retaining arm has an elongate shank passing through a tubular socket formed in the mounting element to extend rearwardly therefrom, and terminates in a wheel-engaging portion. The arrangement is such that in use the stinger can be lowered into engagement with the ground and then moved rear-wardly to bring the scuff plates into engagement with the wheels of a vehicle to be towed, whereupon each mounting element can be pivoted to swing the wheel engaging portion of the associated retaining arm into engagement behind the corresponding vehicle wheel such that the latter is cradled between such wheel engaging portion and the opposed scuff plate, whereupon the towing device can be raised to lift the wheels and thus the end of the vehicle to be towed, the weight of the vehicle thus supported acting to urge the mounting element into engagement with the upper surface of the transverse bar.
A vehicle towing device has an elongate stinger adapted for pivotal attachment at one end to a towing vehicle and a rigid transverse bar that is fixed to extend horizontally at the rear end of the stinger. At each end of this bar is a rearwardly directed wedge shaped scuff plate. A mounting element at each end of the transverse bar is pivotable about a first axis parallel to the bar and located in front thereof, and about a second axis at right angles to the first axis. The mounting element extends rearwardly in bearing engagement with the upper side of the transverse bar. An elongate retaining arm has an elongate shank passing through a tubular socket formed in the mounting element to extend rearwardly therefrom, and terminates in a wheel-engaging portion. The arrangement is such that in use the stinger can be lowered into engagement with the ground and then moved rear-wardly to bring the scuff plates into engagement with the wheels of a vehicle to be towed, whereupon each mounting element can be pivoted to swing the wheel engaging portion of the associated retaining arm into engagement behind the corresponding vehicle wheel such that the latter is cradled between such wheel engaging portion and the opposed scuff plate, whereupon the towing device can be raised to lift the wheels and thus the end of the vehicle to be towed, the weight of the vehicle thus supported acting to urge the mounting element into engagement with the upper surface of the transverse bar.
Description
70766-~
This invention relates to equipment for towing automobiles and the like.
Various devices are known for use on a tow truck for towing a vehicle raised by its front or rear end. In particular, devices are known wherein a palr of L-shaped arms extend from a transverse boom mounted to a longitudinal boom or "stinger"
extending from the back of a tow truck, the whole of which may be elevated to lift the towed vehicle. The L.-shaped arms provide cradles for the front or rear wheels of a disabled vehicle. A
device such as this may be adaptable to a range of vehicle track widths and wheel sizes, and desirably should be capable of rapid engagement with the vehicle to be towed and be of a sufficiently low profile so as to enable its use even with vehicles having low ground clearance.
It is an objec-t of this invention to provide an improved device that affords efficient and secure towing.
The present invention is a vehicle towing device comprising: an elongate stinger adapted for pivotal attachment at one end to a towing vehicle to extend generally rearwardly of the towing vehicle; a rigid transverse bar that is fixed to extend horizontally at the other end of the stinger, said transverse bar carrying at each end a rearwardly directed wedge shaped scuff plate extending along the rear lower edge of the transverse bar;
a respective mounting element being associated with each end of the transverse bar, each mounting element being pivotable: about a first axis that is parallel to the length of the transverse bar and is located in front of the bar; and about a second axis at ;, 52~
rlght ang]es to said first axis, the mounting element extending rearwardly from said first axis to be supported in bearing engagement with the upper side of said transverse bar; a pair of elongate retaining arms each carried by one said mounting element and comprising an elongate shank extending generally perpendicular to said second axis, said shank terminating in a wheel-engaging portion extending laterally of the shank; the arrangement being such that in use the stinger can be lowered to position said scuff plates close to the ground, and then moved rearwardly to bring said scuff plates into engagement with the wheels of a vehicle to be towed, whereupon each said mounting element can be pivoted about its second axis to swing the wheel engaging portion of the associated retaining arm into engagement behind the corresponding vehicle wheel such that the latter is cradled between such wheel engaging portion and the opposed scuff plate whereupon the -towing device can be raised to lift the wheels and thus the end of the vehicle to be towed, the weight of the vehicle thus supported acting to urge the mounting element into engagement with the upper surface of the transverse bar. In use, each retaining arm grips the wheel of the towed vehicle in co-operation with the scuff plate mounted on the rear of the associated end of the transverse bar. Undesired movement of the retaining arms is prevented by the weight of the vehicle causing each mounting element to bear down on the corresponding top surface portion of the transverse bar.
Preferably each of said mounting elements is arranged to be slidable lengthwlse of the transverse so as to enable adjustment of the device to vehicles of different track widths.
Desirably each of the retaining arms can slide longitudinally within each of t~e mounting elements to adjust to different wheel sizes. The retaining arm can be fixed in any of a multiplicity of positions within said moun-ting element by a cotter pin arrangement.
The present invention will be more fully understood from the drawings and the following description in which speci:Eic embodiments are illustrated by way of example and in which:
Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a vehicle towing device according to the present invention a-ttached to a towing truck;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the towing device of Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one side of the towing device;
Figure 4 is a rear perspective view of the towing device, certain parts being omitted for reasons of clarity;
Figure 5 is a somewhat schematic longitudinal section showing the towing device in operation; and Figure 6 is an end view of a portion of the towing device shown to enlarge the scale.
A tow truck 1 includes a flat bed 2 and a crane 3 projecting therefrom. A projecting stinger 4 is pivotally mounted to the rear of the truck and is adapted to be moved in a vertical plane. The stinger 4 is comprised of a forward portion 5 and a rear portion 6. Forward portion 5 comprises two laterally spaced beams having a pair of spaced horizontal rigid plates 7 extending rearwardly therefrom. Rear portion 6 is pivotally mounted on a ii A~ ~
vertically arranged pin 7a carried between the plates 7 and is adapted to pivot in a horizontal plane in relation thereto. As is best shown in Figure 4, the square beams of the forward portion 5 are slidable longitudinally within a corresponding pair of square section sleeves 5a which are carried on a bracke-t 5b attached to the lower end of a generally vertically arranged beam 5c~
Movement of the bea~s 5 within the sleeves 5a is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder assembly 5d connected between the bracket 5b and the rigid plates 7. It will be appreciated that by appropriate extension or retraction movement of the hydraulic cylinder assembly 5d, the rear portion 6 of the stinger can be moved horizontally relative to the lower end of the ver-tical beam 5c. The upper end o the beam 5c is attached to a pivotal mounting 5e on the rear portion of the boom of the crane 3 so that the towing device extends generally downwardly from this pivotal mounting.
The vertical beam 5c extends within a large notched cut-out 38 formed in the rear portion of the tow truck 1 as is best seen in ~igures 1 and 5. The frame structure of the tow truck is modified to enable the vertical beam 5c to be positioned relatively close to the axi~ 34 of the rear truck wheels. The forwardly facing side of the vertical beam 5c is in sliding engagement with a roller slide plate 35 carried in a pivotal mounting 36 in the frame of the truck to pivot about a transverse horizontal axis. A hydraulic ram 3a mounted on the rear of the truck has a pivotal connection to a rear portion of the crane boom 3 and can be extended or retracted to raise or lower the vehicle 707~6-4 towing device as required. It will be appreciated that during such raising and lowering movement, the vertical beam 5c will slide in contact with the roller slide plate 35, being held against this by the weight of the towing dev:ice and of any load supported thereon.
A cross member is fixedly attached to the rear portion 6 of the stinger 4 and is mounted transverse thereto by a rigid support plate 9 of generally triangular shape. A -transverse bar 10 extends over the entire length of the cross member. Outwardly of each lateral side of the support plate 9 the transverse bar 10 has a scuff plate 11 fixedly attached to its rear margin and pro~ecting rearwardly therefrom. The scuff plate 11 is oriented parallel to the transverse bar 10 and includes a wedge shaped portion 12 adapted to engage beneath the wheel of a -towed vehicle.
The scuff plate 11 also includes a flat top surface that is aligned with -the top surface 13 of the transverse bar 10.
An end plate 14 is fixedly mounted to the outboard end of the transverse bar 10 in a vertical plane and transverse thereto. The end plate 14 extends beyond the front and rear margins of the transverse bar 10.
A pivot bar 15 co-extensive with the scuff plate 11 is in spaced apart and parallel relationship on the front side of the transverse bar 10. The pivot bar 15 is mounted by attachment of its opposite ends one in end plate 14 and the other in a mounting plate 16 carried on the bar 10. A sleeve 17 encloses the pivot bar 15 and is angularly and axially movable wi-th respect thereto. A tubular mount 18 is pivotally attached to the sleeve ~l2~
17 by means of an attachment pin l9 carried on -the sleeve 17 with its axis at right angles to the pivot bar 150 The mount 18 is thus adapted to pivot about two mutually perpendicular axes and, as will be explained later, is adapted to rest upon the top surface 13 of cross member and of the scuff plate when the devlce is in use.
A s~uare-sec-tion wheel retaining arm 20 passes through a similarly shaped socket 21 in the mount 18 and is slidable longitudinally therein. The wheel retaining arm 20 can be fixedly positioned within the socket 21 by means of a pin 22 that engages aligned holes extending through the socket 21 and a selected one of a series of corresponding holes 24 through the wheel retaining arm 20. The arm 20 comprises a shank 25 the distal end of which is angled downwardly and carries and a wheel retainer 26 mounted at right angles thereto. The wheel retainer 26 is adaptea to engage the wheel of a towed vehicle and comprises a rigid bracket having a transversely extending wedge-shaped portion 27 which in the operative position confronts the scuff plate ll as seen in Figure 2.
In use, the wheel retaining arms 20 are adjusted in position laterally of the bar lO to match the track width of the vehicle to be towed by sliding the sleeve 17 carrying the mount 18 to an appropriate location along the pivot bar 15. The crane 3 then lowers the device to position the scuff plates ll on the ground. The wheel retaining arms are swung outwardly to the position shown in Figure 3 to clear the wheel 30 of the vehicle and the towing device is pushed backward by the tow truck and/or by extension of the cylinder assembly 5d until the scuff plates 11 contact -the front surface of the respective wheel 30 of the towed vehicle. The wheel retaining arms 20 are then pivoted inwardly about the pins 19 so as to bring their wedge-shaped portions 27 behind the w~eels of the towed vehicle. The extension of each wheel retaining arm 20 is then adjusted ~by withdrawing the pin 22 and retracting the wheel retaining arm 20) until the wheel retainer wedge shaped portion 27 contacts or at least is closely adjacent the rear surface of the wheel 30 of the towed vehicle, cupping the wheel 30 between the retainer portion 27 and the scuff plate 11. The pins 22 are then replaced 80 as to prevent further longitudinal movement of the arms and lock -them in posit iOIl, The crane 3 can now be lifted to elevate the device, so that the end of the towed vehicle is lifted by its wheels. The weight of the towed vehicle bears down on the wheel retaining arms 20, which in turn causes the mounts 18 to bear down on the top surface of transverse bar 10 and thereby prevents unwanted pivotal movement of the retainer arms 20. It will be seen that such unwanted movement of the wheel retaining arms 20 is prevented by a combination of downward pressure of the mounting elements on the transverse bar 18 and upward pressure of the sleeves 17 on the pivot bars 15.
An additional feature of the preferred embodiment is a stop means 31, illustrated in Figure 1. The stop means 31 com-prises a rigid bracket of inverted L-shape having a horizontal limb 33 fixedly a-ttached to the top of a vertically-positioned limb 32. The bracket 3l is removably engaged in a socket 34 fixed to the mount 15. In use, the stop means bracket 31 may be removed when the towing device is being positioned under a towed vehicle and may be replaced when the vehicle has been engaged by the towing device. The horizontaL limb 33 rests against the front surface of the wheel 30 of a towed vehicle and prevents sudden forward movement of the towed vehicle relative to the towing device during emergency stops.
The construction of the stinger 4 utilizing dual beams sliding in the square sleeves under the control of the cylinder ,.`~ .` ,~cl is of particular importance since this arrangement enables the overall height of the stinger assembly (and hence of the towing device) to be reduced. This is of importance in view of the minimal ground clearance afforded in some models of automobiles.
With this construction the height of the stinger 4 amounts to approximately 4.5 inches, whereas in conventional towing devices the singer height is of the order of 6 inches or more.
The location of the pivot pin 7a between the stinger 4 and the transverse bar 10 is also important. This spacing in the embodiment shown is approximately 12 inches which enables the transverse bar to pivot through substantially 90 to either side without interfering with the stinger.
Various other modifications and arrangements of the present invention may occur to those skilled in the art.
Therefore, it is not desired that the invention be limited to the -specific details illustrated and described above, and it is intended that the appended claims cover all modifications and applications which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
This invention relates to equipment for towing automobiles and the like.
Various devices are known for use on a tow truck for towing a vehicle raised by its front or rear end. In particular, devices are known wherein a palr of L-shaped arms extend from a transverse boom mounted to a longitudinal boom or "stinger"
extending from the back of a tow truck, the whole of which may be elevated to lift the towed vehicle. The L.-shaped arms provide cradles for the front or rear wheels of a disabled vehicle. A
device such as this may be adaptable to a range of vehicle track widths and wheel sizes, and desirably should be capable of rapid engagement with the vehicle to be towed and be of a sufficiently low profile so as to enable its use even with vehicles having low ground clearance.
It is an objec-t of this invention to provide an improved device that affords efficient and secure towing.
The present invention is a vehicle towing device comprising: an elongate stinger adapted for pivotal attachment at one end to a towing vehicle to extend generally rearwardly of the towing vehicle; a rigid transverse bar that is fixed to extend horizontally at the other end of the stinger, said transverse bar carrying at each end a rearwardly directed wedge shaped scuff plate extending along the rear lower edge of the transverse bar;
a respective mounting element being associated with each end of the transverse bar, each mounting element being pivotable: about a first axis that is parallel to the length of the transverse bar and is located in front of the bar; and about a second axis at ;, 52~
rlght ang]es to said first axis, the mounting element extending rearwardly from said first axis to be supported in bearing engagement with the upper side of said transverse bar; a pair of elongate retaining arms each carried by one said mounting element and comprising an elongate shank extending generally perpendicular to said second axis, said shank terminating in a wheel-engaging portion extending laterally of the shank; the arrangement being such that in use the stinger can be lowered to position said scuff plates close to the ground, and then moved rearwardly to bring said scuff plates into engagement with the wheels of a vehicle to be towed, whereupon each said mounting element can be pivoted about its second axis to swing the wheel engaging portion of the associated retaining arm into engagement behind the corresponding vehicle wheel such that the latter is cradled between such wheel engaging portion and the opposed scuff plate whereupon the -towing device can be raised to lift the wheels and thus the end of the vehicle to be towed, the weight of the vehicle thus supported acting to urge the mounting element into engagement with the upper surface of the transverse bar. In use, each retaining arm grips the wheel of the towed vehicle in co-operation with the scuff plate mounted on the rear of the associated end of the transverse bar. Undesired movement of the retaining arms is prevented by the weight of the vehicle causing each mounting element to bear down on the corresponding top surface portion of the transverse bar.
Preferably each of said mounting elements is arranged to be slidable lengthwlse of the transverse so as to enable adjustment of the device to vehicles of different track widths.
Desirably each of the retaining arms can slide longitudinally within each of t~e mounting elements to adjust to different wheel sizes. The retaining arm can be fixed in any of a multiplicity of positions within said moun-ting element by a cotter pin arrangement.
The present invention will be more fully understood from the drawings and the following description in which speci:Eic embodiments are illustrated by way of example and in which:
Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a vehicle towing device according to the present invention a-ttached to a towing truck;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the towing device of Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one side of the towing device;
Figure 4 is a rear perspective view of the towing device, certain parts being omitted for reasons of clarity;
Figure 5 is a somewhat schematic longitudinal section showing the towing device in operation; and Figure 6 is an end view of a portion of the towing device shown to enlarge the scale.
A tow truck 1 includes a flat bed 2 and a crane 3 projecting therefrom. A projecting stinger 4 is pivotally mounted to the rear of the truck and is adapted to be moved in a vertical plane. The stinger 4 is comprised of a forward portion 5 and a rear portion 6. Forward portion 5 comprises two laterally spaced beams having a pair of spaced horizontal rigid plates 7 extending rearwardly therefrom. Rear portion 6 is pivotally mounted on a ii A~ ~
vertically arranged pin 7a carried between the plates 7 and is adapted to pivot in a horizontal plane in relation thereto. As is best shown in Figure 4, the square beams of the forward portion 5 are slidable longitudinally within a corresponding pair of square section sleeves 5a which are carried on a bracke-t 5b attached to the lower end of a generally vertically arranged beam 5c~
Movement of the bea~s 5 within the sleeves 5a is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder assembly 5d connected between the bracket 5b and the rigid plates 7. It will be appreciated that by appropriate extension or retraction movement of the hydraulic cylinder assembly 5d, the rear portion 6 of the stinger can be moved horizontally relative to the lower end of the ver-tical beam 5c. The upper end o the beam 5c is attached to a pivotal mounting 5e on the rear portion of the boom of the crane 3 so that the towing device extends generally downwardly from this pivotal mounting.
The vertical beam 5c extends within a large notched cut-out 38 formed in the rear portion of the tow truck 1 as is best seen in ~igures 1 and 5. The frame structure of the tow truck is modified to enable the vertical beam 5c to be positioned relatively close to the axi~ 34 of the rear truck wheels. The forwardly facing side of the vertical beam 5c is in sliding engagement with a roller slide plate 35 carried in a pivotal mounting 36 in the frame of the truck to pivot about a transverse horizontal axis. A hydraulic ram 3a mounted on the rear of the truck has a pivotal connection to a rear portion of the crane boom 3 and can be extended or retracted to raise or lower the vehicle 707~6-4 towing device as required. It will be appreciated that during such raising and lowering movement, the vertical beam 5c will slide in contact with the roller slide plate 35, being held against this by the weight of the towing dev:ice and of any load supported thereon.
A cross member is fixedly attached to the rear portion 6 of the stinger 4 and is mounted transverse thereto by a rigid support plate 9 of generally triangular shape. A -transverse bar 10 extends over the entire length of the cross member. Outwardly of each lateral side of the support plate 9 the transverse bar 10 has a scuff plate 11 fixedly attached to its rear margin and pro~ecting rearwardly therefrom. The scuff plate 11 is oriented parallel to the transverse bar 10 and includes a wedge shaped portion 12 adapted to engage beneath the wheel of a -towed vehicle.
The scuff plate 11 also includes a flat top surface that is aligned with -the top surface 13 of the transverse bar 10.
An end plate 14 is fixedly mounted to the outboard end of the transverse bar 10 in a vertical plane and transverse thereto. The end plate 14 extends beyond the front and rear margins of the transverse bar 10.
A pivot bar 15 co-extensive with the scuff plate 11 is in spaced apart and parallel relationship on the front side of the transverse bar 10. The pivot bar 15 is mounted by attachment of its opposite ends one in end plate 14 and the other in a mounting plate 16 carried on the bar 10. A sleeve 17 encloses the pivot bar 15 and is angularly and axially movable wi-th respect thereto. A tubular mount 18 is pivotally attached to the sleeve ~l2~
17 by means of an attachment pin l9 carried on -the sleeve 17 with its axis at right angles to the pivot bar 150 The mount 18 is thus adapted to pivot about two mutually perpendicular axes and, as will be explained later, is adapted to rest upon the top surface 13 of cross member and of the scuff plate when the devlce is in use.
A s~uare-sec-tion wheel retaining arm 20 passes through a similarly shaped socket 21 in the mount 18 and is slidable longitudinally therein. The wheel retaining arm 20 can be fixedly positioned within the socket 21 by means of a pin 22 that engages aligned holes extending through the socket 21 and a selected one of a series of corresponding holes 24 through the wheel retaining arm 20. The arm 20 comprises a shank 25 the distal end of which is angled downwardly and carries and a wheel retainer 26 mounted at right angles thereto. The wheel retainer 26 is adaptea to engage the wheel of a towed vehicle and comprises a rigid bracket having a transversely extending wedge-shaped portion 27 which in the operative position confronts the scuff plate ll as seen in Figure 2.
In use, the wheel retaining arms 20 are adjusted in position laterally of the bar lO to match the track width of the vehicle to be towed by sliding the sleeve 17 carrying the mount 18 to an appropriate location along the pivot bar 15. The crane 3 then lowers the device to position the scuff plates ll on the ground. The wheel retaining arms are swung outwardly to the position shown in Figure 3 to clear the wheel 30 of the vehicle and the towing device is pushed backward by the tow truck and/or by extension of the cylinder assembly 5d until the scuff plates 11 contact -the front surface of the respective wheel 30 of the towed vehicle. The wheel retaining arms 20 are then pivoted inwardly about the pins 19 so as to bring their wedge-shaped portions 27 behind the w~eels of the towed vehicle. The extension of each wheel retaining arm 20 is then adjusted ~by withdrawing the pin 22 and retracting the wheel retaining arm 20) until the wheel retainer wedge shaped portion 27 contacts or at least is closely adjacent the rear surface of the wheel 30 of the towed vehicle, cupping the wheel 30 between the retainer portion 27 and the scuff plate 11. The pins 22 are then replaced 80 as to prevent further longitudinal movement of the arms and lock -them in posit iOIl, The crane 3 can now be lifted to elevate the device, so that the end of the towed vehicle is lifted by its wheels. The weight of the towed vehicle bears down on the wheel retaining arms 20, which in turn causes the mounts 18 to bear down on the top surface of transverse bar 10 and thereby prevents unwanted pivotal movement of the retainer arms 20. It will be seen that such unwanted movement of the wheel retaining arms 20 is prevented by a combination of downward pressure of the mounting elements on the transverse bar 18 and upward pressure of the sleeves 17 on the pivot bars 15.
An additional feature of the preferred embodiment is a stop means 31, illustrated in Figure 1. The stop means 31 com-prises a rigid bracket of inverted L-shape having a horizontal limb 33 fixedly a-ttached to the top of a vertically-positioned limb 32. The bracket 3l is removably engaged in a socket 34 fixed to the mount 15. In use, the stop means bracket 31 may be removed when the towing device is being positioned under a towed vehicle and may be replaced when the vehicle has been engaged by the towing device. The horizontaL limb 33 rests against the front surface of the wheel 30 of a towed vehicle and prevents sudden forward movement of the towed vehicle relative to the towing device during emergency stops.
The construction of the stinger 4 utilizing dual beams sliding in the square sleeves under the control of the cylinder ,.`~ .` ,~cl is of particular importance since this arrangement enables the overall height of the stinger assembly (and hence of the towing device) to be reduced. This is of importance in view of the minimal ground clearance afforded in some models of automobiles.
With this construction the height of the stinger 4 amounts to approximately 4.5 inches, whereas in conventional towing devices the singer height is of the order of 6 inches or more.
The location of the pivot pin 7a between the stinger 4 and the transverse bar 10 is also important. This spacing in the embodiment shown is approximately 12 inches which enables the transverse bar to pivot through substantially 90 to either side without interfering with the stinger.
Various other modifications and arrangements of the present invention may occur to those skilled in the art.
Therefore, it is not desired that the invention be limited to the -specific details illustrated and described above, and it is intended that the appended claims cover all modifications and applications which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims (6)
1. A vehicle towing device comprising:
an elongate stinger adapted for pivotal attachment at one end to a towing vehicle to extend generally rearwardly of the towing vehicle;
a rigid transverse bar that is fixed to extend horizontally at the other end of the stinger, said transverse bar carrying at each end a rearwardly directed wedge shaped scuff plate extending along the rear lower edge of the transverse bar;
a respective mounting element being associated with each end of the transverse bar, each mounting element being pivotable:
about a first axis that is parallel to the length of the transverse bar and is located in front of the bar; and about a second axis at right angles to said first axis, the mounting element extending rearwardly from said first axis to be supported in bearing engagement with the upper side of said transverse bar;
a pair of elongate retaining arms each carried by one said mounting element and comprising an elongate shank extending generally perpendicular to said second axis, said shank terminating in a wheel-engaging portion extending laterally of the shank;
the arrangement being such that in use the stinger can be lowered to position said scuff plates close to the ground, and then moved rearwardly to bring said scuff plates into engagement with the wheels of a vehicle to be towed, whereupon each said mounting element can be pivoted about its second axis to swing the wheel engaging portion of the associated retaining arm into engagement behind the corresponding vehicle wheel such that the latter is cradled between such wheel engaging portion and the opposed scuff plate whereupon the towing device can be raised to lift the wheels and thus the end of the vehicle to be towed, the weight of the vehicle thus supported acting to urge the mounting element into engagement with the upper surface of the transverse bar.
an elongate stinger adapted for pivotal attachment at one end to a towing vehicle to extend generally rearwardly of the towing vehicle;
a rigid transverse bar that is fixed to extend horizontally at the other end of the stinger, said transverse bar carrying at each end a rearwardly directed wedge shaped scuff plate extending along the rear lower edge of the transverse bar;
a respective mounting element being associated with each end of the transverse bar, each mounting element being pivotable:
about a first axis that is parallel to the length of the transverse bar and is located in front of the bar; and about a second axis at right angles to said first axis, the mounting element extending rearwardly from said first axis to be supported in bearing engagement with the upper side of said transverse bar;
a pair of elongate retaining arms each carried by one said mounting element and comprising an elongate shank extending generally perpendicular to said second axis, said shank terminating in a wheel-engaging portion extending laterally of the shank;
the arrangement being such that in use the stinger can be lowered to position said scuff plates close to the ground, and then moved rearwardly to bring said scuff plates into engagement with the wheels of a vehicle to be towed, whereupon each said mounting element can be pivoted about its second axis to swing the wheel engaging portion of the associated retaining arm into engagement behind the corresponding vehicle wheel such that the latter is cradled between such wheel engaging portion and the opposed scuff plate whereupon the towing device can be raised to lift the wheels and thus the end of the vehicle to be towed, the weight of the vehicle thus supported acting to urge the mounting element into engagement with the upper surface of the transverse bar.
2. A towing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said mounting element defines a socket in which the associated elongate retaining arm shank is adjustable longitudinally and can be secured in different positions of adjustment to adapt said towing device to different wheel sizes.
3. A towing device as claimed in claim 2 wherein each said mounting element is adjustably positioned longitudinally of said transverse bar so that the towing device can be adjusted to engage vehicles of different track widths.
4. A towing device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first pivot axis is defined by the axis of a pivot bar that is fixedly mounted to the front of the corresponding end of the transverse bar, said mounting element including thereon a sleeve that encloses and is movable angularly and longitudinally of the pivot bar.
5. A towing device as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4 including stop means that is detachably engagable with each said mounting element and is positioned to prevent sudden forward movement of the wheels of a towed vehicle relative to said towing device.
6. A towing device as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4 including stop means that is detachably engagable with each said mounting element and is positioned to prevent sudden forward movement of the wheels of a towed vehicle relative to said towing device, and wherein said stop means comprises a bracket that is detachably connectable to said mounting bracket and includes a horizontal bar element positioned in use in front of the wheel of a towed vehicle supported by said towing device.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000573271A CA1299529C (en) | 1988-07-28 | 1988-07-28 | Towing device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000573271A CA1299529C (en) | 1988-07-28 | 1988-07-28 | Towing device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1299529C true CA1299529C (en) | 1992-04-28 |
Family
ID=4138457
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000573271A Expired - Fee Related CA1299529C (en) | 1988-07-28 | 1988-07-28 | Towing device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1299529C (en) |
-
1988
- 1988-07-28 CA CA000573271A patent/CA1299529C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |