CN100506579C

CN100506579C - Trailer hitch assembly

Info

Publication number: CN100506579C
Application number: CNB2004800147208A
Authority: CN
Inventors: E·M·特普斯马; D·O·罗; R·T·波拉尼克; R·A·巴恩森
Original assignee: Holland USA Inc
Current assignee: SAF Holland Inc
Priority date: 2003-05-28
Filing date: 2004-05-28
Publication date: 2009-07-01
Anticipated expiration: 2024-05-28
Also published as: CN101318453A; CN1802270A; CN101318453B

Abstract

A hitch assembly includes a receiver portion including a cavity, a bushing member received within the cavity, and a hitch member that includes a shaft pivotally received within the bushing member. One of the bushing member and the shaft is constructed of a material that substantially eliminates the need for using a separately applied lubricant. The hitch member also includes a first jaw member, a second jaw member coupled to the first jaw member and operable between open and closed positions, a primary latch coupled with the second jaw member and operable between a locked position preventing opening of the second jaw member, and an unlocked position allowing opening of the second jaw member, and a secondary latch coupled with the primary latch and operable between a locked position preventing unlocking of the primary latch and an unlocked position, wherein the primary latch may be moved to the unlocked position.

Description

Trailer hitch assembly

The cross reference of related application

The title that the application requires on May 28th, 2003 to propose is the U.S.Provisional ApplicationNo.60/473 of " Trailer HitchAssembly " (trailer hitch assembly), 652 preceence, its full content is cited as list of references here.

Technical field

The present invention relates to trailer hitch assembly, more particularly, relate to a kind of unlubricated oily assembly, and further relate to main locking devicen and the secondary locking devicen that is used for hauling hook.

Background technology

Hitch assembly is widely used in the draw operations and the application of vehicle, and has multiple structure and orientation.These hitch assemblies typically comprise the first on the vehicle that is connected to traction, and operationally are attached in the first and are suitable for second portion with the trailed vehicle combination.Before this, be subjected to entering the pollution such as pollutantss such as dust and liquid of the joint portion between them easily, thereby cause the degeneration rapidly of associated components in the joint portion between first and second parts of these hitch assemblies.And then the pollution of the chip in the junction surface also can limit the side-to-side movement of joint portion in its exercisable scope.And by corrosion, erosion etc., the degeneration of relevant parts can cause the entirely ineffective of hitch assembly.

Hitch assembly requires to reduce and/or eliminate the chip that enters in the hitch assembly, reduces the wearing and tearing between the associated components, need not it is carried out great maintenance and long work life is provided.

A kind of structure of hitch assembly is the traditional hauling hook that is used for various towing vehicles, is used for towing vehicle colluded being suspended to trailer, and described towing vehicle for example is truck, ground mobile device, agricultural equipment.An example of traditional pintle hook construction is shown in Fig. 1.As shown in the figure, hauling hook 100 comprises main body 101 and the single-piece lower jaw hook 104 with monolith substrate 102.Upper jaw latch 106 is pivotably mounted on the main body 101 by trunnion 108.As shown in Figure 2, upper jaw latch 106 can upwards be pivoted to open position B from off position A, can admit draw bar hole or other integrated structure that will be installed on the relevant trailer at this place's hauling hook.Upper jaw latch 106 will return to off position A and lockout mechanism 110 will lock onto A place, position to upper jaw then.Lockout mechanism 110 typically comprises the protruding tongue 112 of locking, the protruding tongue of this locking is pivotally mounted on the upper jaw latch 106 via pivoting bolt 114, and can between engage position and disengaging configuration, pivot, wherein, at described engage position, the protruding tongue 112 of locking is engaged to main body 101 and forms on the protruding tongue 116 of one, and at described disengaging configuration, protruding tongue 112 rotates up the top by protruding tongue 116.Before this,, adopt various fasteners for hauling hook is locked in off position, for example, rod pin, positive locking pin, braking nylon and band rope, line lock pin, and protruding tongue lock pin.Verified being difficult to by requiring to use two hands to open these fasteners that are used for hitch assembly that hauling hook is removed, in the middle of installation process, equally also be very difficult with inefficient, and can not satisfy the requirement of the shear load that is applied thereto sometimes, its manufacturing cost height, and mislay easily and lose.

Thereby, need can easily the be correlated with operation of hauling hook of a kind of hitch assembly, this hitch assembly, provide enough anchoring strengths simultaneously, to satisfy the requirement of associated safety.

Summary of the invention

One aspect of the present invention provides a kind of trailer hitch assembly, comprising: accommodation section, this accommodation section are suitable for operationally combining with towing vehicle, and comprise a cylindrical chamber; Cylindrical bush member, this sleeve member are contained in the chamber of accommodation section; Hang part, this hang part is suitable for operationally and is pulled vehicle and combines, and comprise columniform that is contained in pivotly in the sleeve member, it is characterized in that in the middle of described sleeve member and axle, described at least sleeve member is made of self-lubricating material, and wherein, the chamber portion ground of accommodation section is limited by inwall, and wherein, and a material by corrosion stability that chooses from the wall of described chamber and described axle constitutes at least.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a kind of trailer hitch assembly, and this assembly comprises: be suitable for the accommodation section that operationally combines with towing vehicle, and be suitable for operationally the hang part with the described accommodation section combination.This hang part comprises: first claw component, and be attached to second claw component on first claw component pivotly, this second claw component can be operated between off position and open position, wherein, at described off position, second claw component and the first claw component concerted action are so that form closed loop, at described open position, first and second claw components constitute open loop.This hang part also comprises main breech lock, this main breech lock operationally combines with one that chooses from first and second claw components, and can between latched position and lockset position of coupler, operate, wherein, in described latched position, on choose in first and second claw components that main breech lock abuts against not with main breech lock operationally combines one, and prevent that second claw component is pivoted to open position, at described lockset position of coupler, second claw component can be pivoted to open position.Hang part further comprises secondary breech lock, this pair breech lock operationally combines with main breech lock, and can between latched position and lockset position of coupler, operate, wherein, in described latched position, secondary breech lock abuts against on one that chooses from first and second claw components, and prevents that main breech lock is pivoted on the described lockset position of coupler, at described lockset position of coupler, main breech lock can be pivoted on the described lockset position of coupler.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the top view and the rear perspective of the hauling hook of prior art;

Fig. 2 is the lateral plan of the hauling hook of prior art, and this hauling hook has the lock pawl of a hauling hook, represents its off position with solid line, dots its open position, and has the internal part of this lock pawl that dots;

Fig. 3 is top view and a rear perspective of implementing trailer hitch assembly of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is the top view of trailer hitch assembly in the closed position, and has a part that cuts, and is used to represent bushing device;

Fig. 5 is the sectional side view of amplification of the regional V of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is the sectional side view of amplification of the regional VI of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is the lateral plan of trailer hitch assembly in the closed position, has a part that cuts, and is used for the expression secondary blocking device of advocating peace; And

Fig. 8 is the side perspective of the trailer hitch assembly that is shown in an open position, has a part that cuts, and is used for the expression secondary blocking device of advocating peace.

The specific embodiment

Here, in order to be described, term " on ", D score, " right side ", " left side ", " back ", " preceding ", " vertically ", " level " and derivative thereof, will define according to orientation shown in Figure 3 in the present invention.But unless should be appreciated that special provision, the present invention can take various orientation and sequence of steps.Should be appreciated that represented in the accompanying drawings equally and described in the following description certain device and method, is the exemplary embodiment of the principle of the application's invention required for protection.Therefore, unless clearly be illustrated in addition, the specific size relevant with the embodiment that is disclosed here and other physical property should not be counted as limitation of the present invention.

The trailer hitch assembly that the present invention is specialized in the general expression of reference number 10 (Fig. 3).In illustrated embodiment, trailer hitch assembly 10 comprises: accommodation section 12, anterior sleeve member 13 (Fig. 4), rear portion sleeve member 14 and hang part 16.

Accommodation section 12 comprises foursquare basically adapter plate 18, and this adapter plate 18 has a plurality of holes 20 that are provided with near its corner.Hole 20 is suitable for admitting trailer hitch assembly 10 is installed to the installation hardware (not shown) of using on the structure member of relevant towing vehicle.Accommodation section 12 also comprises the cylindrical containing pipe 22 that is integrally formed with adapter plate 18, and this containing pipe has anterior part 19 and extends forward from adapter plate 18, and has one from rear portion 21 that adapter plate 18 extends back.This pipe 22 comprises the cylindrical chamber or the hole 24 of longitudinal extension, and described chamber or hole 24 have first counter bore 25 and second counter bore 27.

Each all is columniform for a front and

rear sleeve member

13,14, and closely is contained in respectively in counter bore 25 and the counter bore 27.Sleeve

member

13,14 is made of the material that highly tolerates skimming wear respectively, for example by the composite material of self-lubricating, be preferably reinforced composite materials and constitute, for example, have

(poly tetrafluoroethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene) additive-treated oil thermosetting resin.And then, hole 24 and axle 28 are handled or are applied, so as to improve corrosion stability and/or reduce they with any parts that contact with it between friction, for example, carry out the nitro cementation process.

Hang part 16 comprises columniform axle 28, and this is accommodated in the chamber 24 of

sleeve member

13,14 and accommodation section 12, makes the outside face 33 of axle 28 abut against on each the sleeve surface 26 of sleeve member 13,14.The flexible seal member 30 of U-shaped cup-shaped centers on and abuts against on the axle 28, and is accommodated in the counter bore 25 of chamber 24, thereby containment member 30 abuts against on anterior sleeve member 13 and the counter bore 25.Ring-shaped felt washer 35 is contained in the counter bore 25 and abuts against on the containment member 30.Ring-shaped flexible seal member 37 is positioned at the groove 31 of containing pipe 22, and comprises the jerk-finger 91 of main part 39 and outward extending softness.Ring-shaped felt washer 43 is contained in the counter bore 27 and abuts against on the rear portion sleeve member 14.Each of

containment member

30,37 all is to have flexible and elastomeric low friction member, permission is moved on all six-freedom degrees, and preferably utilize synthetic wear-resisting material to constitute, but also can utilize other metal, non-metal, pottery and replace such as rubber isocolloid material.

Hang part 16 (Fig. 7 and 8) also comprises first or lower jaw member 32, and this first claw component has the far-end 34 and the near-end 36 of K/UP, and this near-end and board 38 form an integral body, and board 38 then forms an integral body with axle 28.The near-end 36 of first claw component 32 comprises top surface 39, and this top surface 39 has protrusion 40, limits areal of support 41 and interior support face 85.Hang part 16 further comprises second or upper jaw member 42, this second claw component 42 has the solid far-end 44 on the far-end 34 that is adapted to abut first claw component 32 as will be discussed, and the leg 45 of a subtend near-end 46 extensions, and limit gap 47 therebetween.Upper jaw member 42 further comprises hollow inside 49, and this hollow inside 49 is limited by diapire 51, roof 53, rear wall 55 and pair of sidewalls 57.Interior stop wall 85 is extended between sidewall 57 in inner 49.Rear wall 55 comprises the embossed portion 67 that is exposed to the outside.The near-end 46 of second claw component 42 is connected on first claw component 32 at 1: 50 place that is limited by the longitudinal axis of trunnion 48 by trunnion 48.Second claw component 42 can pivot between off position shown in Figure 7 and open position shown in Figure 8.

Hang part 16 further comprises main breech lock 52, and this main breech lock 52 has a far-end 54 and near-end 59, and this near-end 59 is pivotably connected on second claw component 42 at 1: 58 place that is limited by the longitudinal axis of this trunnion 56 via trunnion 56.Main breech lock 52 further comprises: along the groove 60 of its length setting and the leg 61 that extends back from near-end 59.In illustrated embodiment, second pivotal point 58 is provided with backward and upwards from first pivotal point 50.Main breech lock 52 can pivot between latched position shown in Figure 7 and the described lockset position of coupler of Fig. 8.Main breech lock 52 by disc spring 63 positive biases of between the diapire 51 of leg 61 and upper jaw member 42, extending on latched position.Disc spring 63 by from diapire 51 upwardly extending registration mast forwards be positioned in the hollow interior 49 of upper jaw member 42.

Hang part 16 further comprises secondary breech lock 62, and this pair breech lock 62 comprises: main part 64, cross to a pair of subtend the legs 66 that main part 64 extends downwards, and a pair of also subtend cross the handle that can catch 68 of main part 64.Main part 64 comprises forward abutment surface 70.This pair breech lock 62 is pivotably connected on the main breech lock 52 via rivet 74, and can pivot around the 3rd point 76 of the axis limit that is passed through rivet 74.In illustrated embodiment, the 3rd pivotal point 76 is arranged on the place ahead and the top of second pivotal point 58.This pair breech lock 62 can abut against between latched position on the upper jaw member 42 and the lockset position of coupler shown in Figure 8 at shown in Figure 7, areal of support 70 and pivot, and winner's breech lock 52 can be pivoted to lockset position of coupler from latched position.Leaf spring 77 loads secondary breech lock 62 to latched position.Specifically, leaf spring 77 is accommodated in the groove 72 that is provided with near handle 68, and extension and be subjected to bias voltage between the main part 64 of secondary breech lock 62 and main breech lock 52.

In operation process, second claw component 42 is maintained in its closed position by main breech lock 52, and more particularly, the supporting of the far-end 54 of the main breech lock 52 that has areal of support 85 by first claw component 32 remains on latched position with second claw component 42.52 of main breech locks are by the supporting of the secondary breech lock 62 that has second claw component 42 and be maintained at latched position.For second claw component 42 is moved to open position, the operator catches the embossed portion 67 and the handle 68 of second claw component 42, and the biasing force that overcomes leaf spring 77 around pivotal point 76 pivots secondary breech lock 62, thereby, winner's breech lock 52 is pivoted around pivotal point 58, thereby the far-end 54 of main breech lock 52 no longer align with the areal of support 85 of first claw component 32.42 of second claw components center on pivotal point 50 and upwards are pivoted to open position.Second claw component 42 is maintained at open position, and the groove 60 of main breech lock 52 and areal of support 41 engagements that limited by protrusion 40.Second claw component 42 turns back to off position by the rotation of main breech lock 52, thereby the groove 60 of main breech lock 52 no longer meshes with the surface 41 of axial prong member 32.

In order to prevent that hitch assembly 10 from serious accident taking place in use, the trunnion 56 at 1: 58 place is designed, make that trunnion 56 destroyed when the excessive forces that will be scheduled to is applied on second claw component 16 along the direction outside from closed loop before trunnion 48.After trunnion 56 destroyed, main breech lock 52 was pushed rearward, abut on the interior stop wall 85 of second claw component 16 up to main breech lock 52 till, thereby prevent that second claw component 16 from moving on the position of all opening.

By axle 28 is inserted in the hole 24, the packing ring 79 of coating is placed on the axle 28, nut 81 is tightened on the end that is fixed to axle 28, thereby hang part 16 is combined with accommodation section 12, thus, packing ring 79 is fixed between accommodation section 12 and the nut 81.Utilize spring cotter 83 round axle 28 with nut 81 fix in position.

Trailer hitch assembly of the present invention reduces and/or eliminates chip entering in hitch assembly, reduces the wearing and tearing on associated components, and long work life is provided.Trailer hitch assembly and then make relevant hauling hook easy operating provides enough anchoring strengths of the requirement of associated safety simultaneously.

Those skilled in the art are by with reference to specification sheets, claims and accompanying drawing, can further understand and understand these and other advantage of the present invention.

Claims

1. trailer hitch assembly comprises:

Accommodation section, this accommodation section are suitable for operationally combining with towing vehicle, and comprise a cylindrical chamber;

Cylindrical bush member, this sleeve member are contained in the chamber of accommodation section;

Hang part, this hang part are suitable for operationally combining with being pulled vehicle, and comprise the columniform axle that is contained in pivotly in the sleeve member, it is characterized in that, in the middle of described sleeve member and axle, described at least sleeve member is made of self-lubricating material, and

Wherein, the chamber portion ground of accommodation section is limited by inwall, and wherein, and a material by corrosion stability that chooses from the wall of described chamber and described axle constitutes at least.

2. trailer hitch assembly as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, the compound that described sleeve member is strengthened by fiber constitutes.

3. trailer hitch assembly as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that, described sleeve member constitutes by having poly tetrafluoroethylene additive-treated oil thermosetting resin.

4. trailer hitch assembly as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, one that chooses from the wall of described chamber and described axle at least through the nitro cementation process.

5. trailer hitch assembly as claimed in claim 1 further comprises:

First containment member, this first containment member is arranged between accommodation section and the hang part, and is made into to suppress in the chamber that chip enters into the accommodation section.

6. trailer hitch assembly as claimed in claim 5 is characterized in that, described first containment member is contained in the chamber of accommodation section.

7. trailer hitch assembly as claimed in claim 6 is characterized in that, described first containment member is made of the U-shaped cup seal.

8. trailer hitch assembly as claimed in claim 7 further comprises:

Second containment member, this second containment member is arranged between described accommodation section and the described hang part, and is made into to suppress in the chamber that chip enters into the accommodation section.

9. trailer hitch assembly as claimed in claim 8 is characterized in that, described second containment member is arranged between backwards the surface and hang part of accommodation section.

10. trailer hitch assembly as claimed in claim 9 further comprises:

Be close to first containment member and be arranged on first felt packing between accommodation section and the hang part.

11. trailer hitch assembly as claimed in claim 10 further comprises:

Be arranged on second felt packing between accommodation section and the hang part.

12. trailer hitch assembly as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, described hang part comprises the hauling hook assembly.