DE102017126503A1 - Ball head device with rotation angle sensor device - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the invention, a ball head device with a rotation angle sensor device is provided. The device comprises a ball head receiving device, a ball head of a ball head device pivotally mounted in the ball head receiving device in a predetermined solid angle range, wherein the ball of the ball head device has a Drehwinkelgeberaufnahmeausnehmung, a arranged in the Drehwinkelgeberaufnahmeausnehmung rotary encoder, having a coupled to the rotary encoder rotary angle taker.

Description

According to the invention, a ball head device with a rotation angle sensor device is provided.

From the US 2007/0216134 A1 is a fifth wheel with an angle measuring device is known which measures the angle of rotation between a fifth wheel and a kingpin. In this case, in one embodiment, a Hall sensor is integrated in the kingpin, a magnet arranged around the kingpin being arranged in the fixing device of the saddle plate surrounding the kingpin.

In the US 2013/0082453 A1 discloses a fifth wheel with an angle measuring device that measures the angle of rotation between a fifth wheel and a kingpin. The angle measuring device may have a relative to the kingpin rotatably mounted ring, which ring is held in a fixed bearing to the fifth wheel plate. The position of the ring relative to the kingpin can then be read out by means of an optical or magnetic sensor.

From the US 2006/0145450 A1 goes out a fifth wheel with an angle measuring device based on Hall sensors.

From the WO 2009/019444 A1 is a semitrailer with a forced steering known, the semitrailer in unspecified manner, the acceleration, the angle of rotation between semi-trailer and trailer and the yaw rate measures.

In the EP 2 815 950 B1 is a fifth wheel for coupling a tractor to a semi-trailer, described with a fifth wheel plate for mounting on the tractor and an engagement member for mounting on the semi-trailer. The fifth wheel has an angle measuring device. the angle measuring device comprises a Drehwinkelaufnehmer for measuring the angle of rotation between the engaging member and the fifth wheel plate, wherein the angle measuring device comprises a ring member, that the ring member at least partially surrounds the engaging member and is rotatably mounted with respect to the rotational angle relative to the engaging member, wherein the ring member with respect to the rotational angle fixed to position the saddle plate is held, and wherein a support rod is pivotally supported at a first end to the ring member and at a second end a Nebenkuppelvorrichtung for pivotally coupling the support rod to the tractor.

A universal joint is a angularly movable coupling for transmitting motion between shafts that intersect. The cutting angle may be changed during a torque transmission. The combination of universal joints with a shaft is often referred to as a propshaft.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device with which an angle of rotation, preferably in the region of a coupling device between a vehicle and an attachment, can be measured and which is easy to deliver and safe and reliable in operation.

This object is solved by the features of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

According to the invention, a ball head device with a rotation angle sensor device is provided. The device comprises a ball head receiving device, a ball head of a ball head device pivotally mounted in the ball head receiving device in a predetermined solid angle range, wherein the ball of the ball head device has a Drehwinkelgeberaufnahmeausnehmung, a arranged in the Drehwinkelgeberaufnahmeausnehmung rotary encoder, having a coupled to the rotary encoder rotary angle taker.

The ball-and-socket device is preferably connectable to a vehicle or an attachment.

This results in the advantage that a rotation angle between a vehicle and an attachment can be determined. The measured angle of rotation can be used for a positive steering of the attachment or a trailer, whereby a more precise control of the team is possible and also a wear of the tires of the attachment can be kept low. In addition, this can improve the maneuverability, and in particular the off-road capability of the team. Due to the increased off-road capability, the field of application of the team can be significantly increased. For example, the trailer may be designed for off-highway use. In this case, it may be provided, in particular, that the trailer is intended for use in agriculture or mining. Furthermore, this can increase the load to be carried.

The rotary encoder may include a universal joint having a pivot point connected to a rotation angle transmission pin, wherein the rotation angle transmission pin is coupled to the rotation angle sensor.

The Drehwinkelgeberaufnahmeausnehmung may be formed approximately conical.

It is preferably provided that the conical recess tapers upwards in the vertical direction. For special applications, it may also be expedient that the conical recess tapers in other directions, for example in the vertical direction downwards.

The ball-head receiving device may comprise a plate-shaped ball-head base and an annular ball-head fixing connectable therewith.

In the ball head base may be formed a semi-circular Kugelkopfaufnahmeausnehmung.

In the Kugelkopfaufnahmeausnehmung the ball is mounted without play.

The ball-head base and the ball-head fixing can be connected to one another by means of, preferably spring-loaded, prestressed screw connections such that the ball-head device is mounted in the ball-head receiving recess so as to be free of play and pivotable in a predetermined solid angle range.

By providing a spring-loaded bias the play-free mounting of the ball or the ball head is made possible in the Kugelkopfaufnahmeausnehmung.

In this state, a relative movement between the ball head receiving device and the ball head device in a predetermined solid angle range is possible.

The ball-and-socket device may have a bellows between a fitting molded to the ball-and-socket member for connection to a connection means such as a drawbar or gooseneck and a connection portion of the ball-head base for coupling to a coupling device such as a docking drawer.

The provision of a bellows prevents the ingress of dirt and moisture into the ball head device, which could hinder the operation.

The ball head device may have a radially circumferential first stop surface and the ball head receiving device may have a second radially encircling stop surface in order to predetermine or limit the specific solid angle range.

By means of these abutment surfaces comprising the two abutment surfaces, tilting of an attachment can be prevented to some extent and, if necessary, tearing off of the rotary encoder can be avoided.

• 1 eine seitlich geschnittene Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Kugelkopfvorrichtung mit Drehwinkelsensoreinrichtung,
• 2 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Anbaugerätes mit einem Schwanenhals, einem Dockingeischub und der Kugelkopfvorrichtung mit Drehwinkelsensoreinrichtung,
• 3 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Dockingeinschubes,
• 4 eine Draufsicht von vorne auf den Dockingeinschub,
• 5 eine seitliche Draufsicht auf den Dockingeinschub, und
• 6 eine Draufsicht von oben auf den Dockingeinschub.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. These show in:

• 1 a side-sectional view of a ball head device according to the invention with rotation angle sensor device,
• 2 a perspective view of an attachment with a gooseneck, a Dockingeischub and the ball head device with rotation angle sensor device,
• 3 a perspective view of a docking drawer,
• 4 a top view from the front on the docking drawer,
• 5 a side view of the docking drawer, and
• 6 a top view from above of the docking drawer.

The following is an inventive ball head device with rotation angle sensor device 1 described.

The device 1 In particular, it is designed to connect a connection, which can be pivoted in a solid angle range, between a gooseneck of an attachment and a docking insert. Such a docking drawer will be described below.

The ball head device with rotation angle sensor device 1 comprises an approximately plate-shaped ball receiving device 101 and one in the ball head receiving device 101 , in a predetermined solid angle range, pivotally mounted ball head 102 a ball head device 103 ,

Another coupling of the ball head device 103 with the ball receiving device via the rotation angle sensor device 120 ,

The approximately plate-shaped ball head receiving device 101 includes a vertically upwardly disposed surface, which serves as a receiving surface 121 is referred to and a vertically downwardly disposed surface, as the rotation angle sensor surface 122 referred to as.

In the reception area 121 is approximately centrally or centrally a hemispherical Kugelkopfaufnahmeausnehmung 113 educated.

In approximately centrally in the ball-receiving recess is extending in the vertical direction Drehwinkelgeberaufnahme 123 educated.

The ball head device 103 includes the ball head 102 , an approximately conical section 124 over which the ball head 102 with a connection section 125 the ball head device 103 connected is.

About the connection section 125 is the ball end device 103 For example, connectable to a gooseneck of an attachment.

The ball head receiving device 101 comprises a plate-shaped ball head base 111 and an annular ball-shaped coupling which can be connected therewith 112 includes.

In the ball head base 111 is a hemispherical Kugelkopfaufnahmeausnehmung 113 educated.

The ball head base 111 and the ball-head fixation 112 the ball head receiving device 101 are by means of, preferably spring-loaded prestressed, screw connections 114 are connected to each other in such a way that the ball head 102 the ball head device 103 almost free of play and in a predetermined solid angle range, pivotable in the ball head receiving device 101 is stored.

Additionally and or alternatively, a lash adjuster for adjusting a clearance of the ball head with respect to the predetermined solid angle range in the ball head receiving device 101 be provided. This has a similar effect as the spring-loaded screws and is pneumatically actuated to exert a bias on the screws.

The ball head 102 has a Drehwinkelgeberaufnahmeausnehmung conically widening in the vertical direction downwards 104 on, extending vertically upward in the direction of a cylindrical recess 127 rejuvenated.

In the Drehwinkelgeberaufnahmeausnehmung 104 is a rotary encoder 106 arranged.

The rotary encoder 106 includes a universal joint 108 with a pivot point 109 , where the pivot point 109 is located at the center of the ball head, and the universal joint 108 with a rotation angle transmission pin 110 is connected, wherein the rotation angle transmission pin with a Drehwinkelnehmer 107 is coupled. The gimbal or universal joint 108 is such in the cylindrical recess 127 arranged that the pivot point 109 of gimbal 109 is located at the center of the sphere.

Thus, a changed angular position of the ball head 102 and thus, for example, an attachment via the rotary encoder 106 including the universal joint 108 and rotation angle transmission pin 110 on the Drehwinkelnehmer 107 be transmitted and recorded.

In order to protect the ball head device as well as the ball receiving device or its sensitive points, in particular in the connection region between ball head and ball receiving recess, as well as the Drehwinkelgebereinrichtung from impurities, is a bellows 117 provided with the ball head receiving device 107 as well as with the connecting section 125 the ball head device 103 connected is.

Furthermore, the ball head device 103 a radially circumferential first stop surface 118 on, with the Kugelkopfffxierung 112 a second stop surface so that the predetermined solid angle range is predetermined or limited.

By providing a ball head device according to the invention with a rotation angle sensor device, a precise control of axes of at least one or more axles of an attachment is possible when it is connected or coupled to a vehicle.

In this way, the corresponding axes can be synchronized with each other as needed.

The ball head device 100 with rotation angle sensor device 120 For example, it can be arranged in a docking drawer, a coupling device for connecting a vehicle to an attachment, a fifth wheel or a trailer hitch to determine a rotational angle between the vehicle and the implement.

The following is a docking drawer 32 described by way of example. The docking drawer 32 is corresponding to the docking recording 31 educated ( 3 to 6 ).

The docking drawer 32 points in the insertion direction 34 first a first docking wall 70 on. The first docking wall 70 extends substantially in the vertical direction and has a bottom to the insertion tray 35 the docking reception 31 correspondingly formed sub-wall 89 on.

Furthermore, on the first docking wall 70 Provided approximately in the center of a drive shaft connecting device.

Corresponding to the centering pin holders 47 the first centering device 36 the docking reception 31 are on the first docking wall 70 of the docking drawer 31 in the insertion direction 34 extending first centering pins 71 a first centering device 72 of the docking drawer 32 educated.

The first centering pins 71 pointing in the insertion direction 34 a cylindrical centering section 73 and an adjoining cone-shaped insertion section 74 on.

Furthermore, the first centering pins 71 against the insertion direction annular first stop surfaces 93 on, which is a first stop device 94 the first centering device 72 form.

In the cylindrical centering section 73 are extending in the vertical direction and convex and correspond to the wedge forks 59 trained Keilgabelaufnahmenuten 74 intended.

At the first docking wall is an insertion body extending in the insertion direction 75 to arrange in the reception room 43 the docking reception 31 intended.

In the insertion direction at the front, the introducer 75 an approximately vertically extending second docking wall 76 on.

In the second Dockingwandung are corresponding to the second centering pin 61 the second centering device 37 the docking reception 31 corresponding Zentrierzapfenaufnahmen 77 a second centering device 78 of the docking drawer 32 educated.

The second docking wall 76 has two holes 80 for receiving the bush-shaped Zentrierzapfenaufnahmen 77 ,

In the holes 80 are the bush-shaped centering pin holders 77 arranged.

The bush-shaped centering pin holders 77 include in the insertion direction 34 a centering section 82 and an introduction section 81 ,

The tubular insertion section 81 has a conically tapered insertion recess 83 on, one opposite to the direction of insertion 34 arranged end face of the second docking wall 76 protrudes and a second axial abutment surface 84 a second stop device 85 formed. In this annular second stop surface 85 are radially encircling and equally spaced from each other Schmutzabführnuten 86 designed for receiving and removing contaminants.

The tubular centering section 82 has a counter to the insertion direction 34 to the insertion recess 83 subsequent cylindrical Zentrierausnehmung 87 on.

In the area between these Zentrierzapfenausnehmungen 77 a PTO connection device is arranged.

In the area in the vertical direction above the second centering device 78 a clutch plate receptacle is formed.

Furthermore, at the introducer 75 a transverse to the insertion direction 34 extending catch shaft 88 arranged. The ends of the shaft form catch pins 89 out. This catch 89 when inserting the docking tray 32 in the docking seat 31 from the fishing hooks 44 the docking reception 31 recorded and then by means of hydraulically actuated fishing hook 44 the docking drawer 32 in the docking seat 32 pulled, with a sub-wall 90 of the introducer 75 of the docking drawer 32 according to the introduction tray 35 the docking reception 31 slides.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

31

docking slot

70

first docking wall

71

first centering pin

72

first centering device

73

cylindrical centering section

74

Keilgabelaufnahmenut

75

insertion body

76

second docking wall

77

Zentrierzapfenaufnahme

78

second centering device

79

Clutch disc holder

80

drilling

81

safety section

82

centering

83

insertion recess

84

second stop surface

85

second stop device

86

Schmutzabführnut

87

centering

88

Fang PTO

89

catching pin

90

Unterwandung

100

Ball head device

101

Ball head receptacle

102

ball head

103

Ball head means

104

Drehwinkelgeberaufnahmeausnehmung

105

attachment

106

Rotary encoder

107

Rotation angle takers

108

universal joint

109

pivot point

110

Angle of rotation transmission pin

111

Ball head base

112

Ball head fixation

113

Kugelkopfaufnahmeausnehmung

114

spring-loaded screw connection

115

gooseneck

116

connecting area

117

bellow

118

stop surface

119

stop surface

120

Rotation angle sensor device

121

receiving surface

122

Rotation angle sensor area

123

124

cone-shaped section

125

connecting portion

126

127

cylindrical recess

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 2007/0216134 A1 [0002]
• US 2013/0082453 A1 [0003]
• US 2006/0145450 A1 [0004]
• WO 2009/019444 A1 [0005]
• EP 2815950 B1 [0006]

Claims (9)

Comprising ball head device with rotation angle sensor device a ball head receiving device, a ball head pivotally mounted in the ball head receiving device, in a predetermined solid angle range, of a ball head device, the ball head of the ball head device having a rotational encoder receiving recess; a rotary encoder arranged in the rotary encoder receiving recess, a coupled with the rotary encoder rotary angle taker. Ball head device according to Claim 1 characterized in that the rotary encoder comprises a universal joint having a pivot point, wherein the pivot point is located at the center of the ball, and the universal joint is connected to a rotation angle transmission pin, wherein the rotation angle transmission pin is coupled to the rotation angle taker. Ball head device according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the Drehwinkelgeberaufnahmeausnehmung is approximately conical. Ball head device according to one of Claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that the ball-head receiving device comprises a plate-shaped ball-head base and an annular ball-head fixing connectable therewith. Ball head device according to Claim 4 , characterized in that in the ball head base, a semi-circular Kugelkopfaufnahmeausnehmung is formed. Ball head device according to Claim 4 or 5 , characterized in that the ball head base and the ball head fixing means, preferably spring-loaded prestressed, screw connections are connected to each other such that the ball head device is mounted almost free of play and in a predetermined solid angle range, pivotally mounted in the Kugelkopfaufnahmeausnehmung. Ball head device according to Claim 6 , characterized in that a Spieleinstelleinrichtung is provided for adjusting a game of the ball with respect. The predetermined solid angle range in the ball head receiving device. Ball head device one of Claims 1 to 7 characterized in that the ball-and-socket device comprises a bellows between a fitting molded to the ball-and-socket member for connection to a connection means such as a drawbar or gooseneck and a connection portion of the ball-head base for connection to a coupling device such as a docking drawer. Ball head device according to one of Claims 1 to 8th , characterized in that the ball head device has a radially circumferential first stop surface and the ball head receiving device has a second stop surface so that the predetermined solid angle range is predetermined or limited.

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