DE102022122865A1 - Trailer hitch - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to reduce, preferably minimize, noise generation during the transition from the release position to the rotation-blocking position, it is proposed that the rotation-blocking device is assigned at least one locking unit, which, at least when the working position and/or the rest position is reached, initiates a transition thereof caused by an action on the rotation-blocking device into the rotation blocking position with a time delay.

Description

The invention relates to a trailer coupling, comprising a ball neck movable between a working position and a rest position with a pivot bearing body arranged at a first end and a coupling ball arranged at a second end, a pivot bearing unit arranged fixed to the vehicle, by means of which the pivot bearing body is used to carry out a pivoting movement about a pivot axis between the working position and the rest position is pivotally accommodated, and a rotation blocking device acting between the pivot bearing unit and the pivot bearing body with, on the one hand, at least one rotation blocking unit, which has a rotation blocking body which is movably guided in a guide direction by means of a guide receptacle of a guide body and which is guided in the guide direction by a transverse a pressure surface extending in the direction of the guide and provided on an actuating body is movable, and on the other hand with at least one working position receptacle and/or at least one rest position receptacle, wherein by moving the actuating body in the actuating direction, the rotation blocking body of the rotation blocking unit can be moved and acted upon in the guide direction and wherein the rotation blocking body of the Rotation blocking unit in the working position and/or the rest position can be moved into a rotation blocking position by moving in the guide direction and in this the rotation blocking body engages with a respective working position holder or rest position holder in order to block a pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body about the pivot axis relative to the guide body and whereby the rotation blocking body can be brought into a release position and in this position is disengaged from the working position recording and/or the rest position recording and releases the pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body.

Such trailer couplings are known from the prior art, but with these there is the problem of noise generation when the rotation blocking unit transitions into the rotation blocking position.

The invention is therefore based on the object of reducing, preferably minimizing, noise generation during the transition from the release position to the rotation-blocking position.

This object is achieved according to the invention in a trailer coupling of the type described at the outset in that at least one locking unit is assigned to the rotation blocking device, which at least when the working position and / or the rest position is reached, delays a transition of the rotation blocking device into the rotation blocking position caused by the action on the rotation blocking device.

The advantage of this solution is that it can reduce the noise generated during the transition to the rotation-blocking position.

The invention thus relates to trailer couplings in which the rotation blocking device should only be effective in the working position, as well as trailer couplings in which the rotation blocking device should be effective in the working position and the rest position, as well as trailer couplings in which the rotation blocking device should only be effective in the rest position should.

In principle, the delay unit could be designed in such a way that it temporally delays the effect on the rotation blocking device when it transitions into the rotation blocking position.

However, it is particularly favorable if the at least one delay unit acts on the rotation blocking device itself.

It is particularly advantageous if the at least one delay unit delays the transition of the rotation blocking unit into the rotation blocking position, since this results in a very strong reduction in noise generation.

The at least one delay unit can be designed so that it acts on one or more elements of the rotation blocking device.

A particularly favorable solution provides that the at least one delay unit acts directly on one of the elements of the rotation blocking device, that is to say a movement of this element is delayed by the direct effect on this element.

An advantageous possibility for designing the at least one delay unit provides that it delays movement of the rotation-blocking body into the rotation-blocking position.

Another possibility provides that the at least one delay unit temporally delays the movement of the actuating body into the rotation-blocking position.

In an advantageous embodiment of at least one delay unit, this can be achieved in that the delay unit is effective between the guide body and the actuating body.

For this purpose, for example, the at least one delay unit can be arranged on the actuating body.

Alternatively or additionally, there is also the possibility that the at least one deceleration unit is arranged on the guide body.

A particularly simple design of a delay unit provides that the at least one delay unit has a resilient element.

For example, it is conceivable that the resilient element forms at least one friction surface or acts on a friction body.

A simple solution provides that the at least one deceleration unit comprises a movement deceleration body which is effective between a surface of the actuating body and a surface of the guide body facing it.

In the simplest case, the movement delay body is designed as a rotation delay ring, which is effective between an annular surface of the actuating body and an annular surface of the guide body facing it.

It is particularly advantageous if the movement delay body has a different friction effect depending on the direction of movement.

This allows, for example, the interaction between the actuating body and the guide body to be designed in such a way that a strong deceleration effect occurs in a direction of movement, in particular a direction of movement in the direction of the rotation-blocking position, and a smaller delay occurs when moving out of the rotation-blocking position.

A further advantageous solution that can be used in addition to or as an alternative to one of the above delay units provides that the at least one delay unit is arranged in a defined position on the guide body and, starting from this, has a decelerating effect on the actuating body moving relative to it.

Preferably, it is also provided in this case that the deceleration unit is provided with a friction body acted upon by a resilient body, which acts on the actuating body.

The friction body could act on the actuating body in a variety of ways.

An advantageous solution provides that the friction body acts on the circumference of the actuating body in order to delay its movement in the direction of the rotation-blocking position.

Preferably, the at least one deceleration unit is arranged such that the friction body acts on a pressure surface acting on a rotational blocking body in order to act on the rotational blocking body.

Alternatively or in addition to this, it is particularly advantageous if the friction body acts on a peripheral region of the actuating body that adjoins a pressure surface for acting on the rotation blocking body.

In this case, the peripheral area is preferably provided with a friction-promoting surface in such a way that greater friction occurs between it and the friction body than can be achieved when interacting with the pressure surface, since this should have an optimal effect on the rotation-blocking body.

A further advantageous embodiment of at least one delay unit that can be used in addition to or as an alternative to one or more of the above solutions provides that the at least one delay unit acts on a rotation blocking body when the working position and/or the rest position is reached, in particular acts directly on it, and its movement in the entry into the working position or the rest position is delayed.

No further details have yet been provided regarding the arrangement of such a delay unit.

An advantageous solution provides that the delay unit is assigned to at least the working position recording and/or the rest position recording.

Such a delay unit works particularly advantageously if it counteracts the impact of the rotation blocking body on a recording base of the working position recording and / or the rest position recording.

Such a delay unit can be designed particularly advantageously if it comprises a resilient element which corresponds to the movement of the rotation blocking body in the direction of the counteracts the delay in the respective reason for admission.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that this at least one delay unit is held and supported on a component of the pivot bearing unit that supports the receptacle.

Such a component of the pivot bearing unit is, for example, the pivot bearing body.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the spring-elastic element has a decelerating effect on the rotation-blocking body entering the receptacle via a delay body, so that the rotation-blocking body does not act directly on the spring-elastic element, but rather the spring-elastic element receives additional protection from the delay body.

Furthermore, such a deceleration unit can be designed particularly advantageously if it has a guide body which accommodates the resilient element and, if necessary, the deceleration body.

In this case, it is particularly advantageous if the guide body is held in an adjustable position on the component carrying the receptacle, for example the pivot bearing body.

In the case of a deceleration unit, which acts on a rotation blocking body in the working position and/or the rest position and delays its entry into the working position recording or rest position recording, it is preferably provided that in the case of several working position recordings and/or several rest position recordings, the delay unit is only responsible for one working position recording or one Rest position recording is assigned, since in this case the deceleration unit can act on the rotation blocking body impinging on it in such a way that the rotation blocking body again acts on the actuating body and in turn the reaction on the actuating body also leads to the remaining rotation blocking bodies being delayed into the intended working position recordings or . Rest position recordings occur.

In general, in the solution according to the invention it is advantageously provided that the rotation blocking device has at least two rotation blocking units, and thus at least two working position recordings are assigned to the working position and/or at least two rest position recordings are assigned to the rest position.

In this case too, the present invention described below relates to trailer hitches with only at least two working position mounts as well as trailer hitches with at least two working position mounts and at least two rest position mounts as well as trailer hitches with only two rest position mounts

In order to achieve the simplest possible fixation of the rotation blocking device in the release position in such a case, it is advantageously provided that blocking surfaces run between the working position recordings and / or the rest position recordings, against which the rotation blocking bodies can be placed and from which the working position recordings and / or the Rest position recordings extend that the rotation blocking units and the working position recordings and / or the rest position recordings are arranged around the pivot axis at angular distances from one another in such a way that in all intended pivot positions of the pivot bearing body, with the exception of the working position and / or the rest position, the rotation blocking body of at least one of the rotation blocking units one of the Blocking surfaces are opposite and thus this blocking surface, in particular when force is applied to the actuating body, blocks a movement of the actuating body in the actuating direction and consequently also a force-applied engagement of the rotary blocking bodies of each of the rotary blocking units in one of the working position recordings or rest position recordings.

The advantage of the solution according to the invention can therefore be seen in the fact that the fixation of the actuating body in the release position can be realized in a simple and reliable manner by means of the already existing rotation blocking bodies and that there is also a significant reduction in noise when this trailer coupling moves from the release position into the rotation blocking position of the rotation blocking bodies takes place because the rotation blocking bodies can easily slide from the blocking surfaces into the receptacles.

This solution also provides for a trailer coupling according to the invention, as an alternative or in addition to the solution described above, that the rotation blocking units are arranged at angular distances around the pivot axis to form a rotation blocking configuration, that the working position recordings and / or the rest position recordings each form a recording configuration for the working position and / or the rest position is arranged at the same angular distances around the pivot axis as the rotation blocking units, that the rotation blocking configuration and the recording configuration relate to working position recordings in the working position Hung the rest position recordings are congruent to one another in the rest position, so that the rotation blocking bodies can engage in the working position recordings or rest position recordings, and that the angular distances between the rotation blocking units of the rotation blocking configuration and the angular distances between the working position recordings or rest position recordings of the recording configurations are selected so that the rotation blocking configuration and the Recording configurations are only congruent to one another in the working position and/or the rest position and thus only allow a transition of the actuating body from the release position to the rotation-blocking position in one or both of these, while in the other pivot positions of the pivot bearing body a transition of the actuating body from the release position to the rotation blocking position is not possible.

Alternatively or additionally, a further advantageous solution provides that the angular distances of at least one of the rotation blocking units from the rotation blocking units arranged adjacent in a direction of rotation around the pivot axis and from the rotation blocking units arranged opposite to this direction of rotation are unequal and that in the working position the working position recordings are arranged in such a way that the The rotation blocking body of each of the rotation blocking units can be brought into engagement with one of the working position receptacles, and/or that in the rest position the rest position receptacles are arranged in such a way that the rotation blocking body of each of the rotation blocking units can be brought into engagement with one of the rest position receptacles and that in all intended for operation Pivot positions of the pivot bearing body, which are outside the working position and / or the rest position, the rotation blocking body of at least one of the rotation blocking units is opposite a blocking surface lying between the working position receptacles and / or the rest position receptacles and the blocking surface, in particular when force is applied to the actuating body, a movement of the actuating body from the release position to the rotation blocking position.

The inequality of the angular distances, starting from equal angular distances, is, for example, at least a deviation from equal angular distances in the order of half of the angular range over which each of the recordings extends, preferably up to the angular range over which each of the recordings extends.

The advantage of all of the above-mentioned solutions according to the invention is that a structurally simple solution is available for holding the actuating body in the release position and only allowing it to change into the rotation-blocking position in the working position and/or the rest position, which is particularly advantageous the rotation blocking bodies already present for the rotation blocking device can be used.

In the context of the solution according to the invention, it has proven to be particularly advantageous if the number of rotation blocking units corresponds to the number of working position recordings and/or the number of rest position recordings.

Furthermore, in order to obtain a spatially compact solution, particularly in the direction of the pivot axis, it is advantageous if the rotation blocking bodies of all rotation blocking units are designed and arranged symmetrically to a geometric plane that runs perpendicular to the pivot axis and intersects it.

A particularly advantageous solution provides that the blocking surfaces face the rotation blocking bodies of the rotation blocking units, in particular transversely, preferably perpendicular to the guide direction, so that the rotation blocking bodies can be moved over the blocking surfaces with little or almost no movement resistance when in contact with them.

It is particularly advantageous if the blocking surfaces extend in a defined radius around the pivot axis, so that during the pivoting movement the rotation blocking bodies resting on these blocking surfaces do not carry out any additional radial movement to the pivot axis.

Furthermore, it is advantageously provided that the blocking surfaces extend up to the opening edges of the working position receptacles and/or the rest position receptacles and merge into them.

In particular, it is preferably provided that the opening edges of the working position receptacles and/or the rest position receptacles are at the same radial distance from the pivot axis as the blocking surfaces, so that the rotation blocking bodies resting on the blocking surfaces can move beyond the opening edges into the receptacles without additional movement resistance can, as would occur, for example, with different distances of the opening edges from the pivot axis in relation to the distance of the blocking surfaces from the pivot axis.

In particular, this solution also has the advantage that it is a simple and flexible solution There is a resistance-free transition of the swivel bearing body from the working position to a swivel position, since in this case too the rotation blocking bodies leave the working position receptacles and/or the rest position receptacles essentially without movement resistance via the opening edges and can move in the direction of the blocking surfaces.

It is particularly advantageous if at least one of the rotation blocking bodies of the rotation blocking units rests against one of the blocking surfaces during a pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body in the direction of the working position, in particular during the pivoting movement extending from the rest position to the working position, in particular under force by the action of the actuating body, whereby the Force is applied, for example, by retraction receptacles in the actuating body provided for the release position of the rotation blocking bodies, which act on the rotation blocking bodies with surfaces running transversely to the guide direction.

In particular, it is advantageous if the rotational blocking bodies rest against the blocking surfaces under force before reaching the working position and then enter the receptacles under force on the opening edges of the receptacles, so that the noise level during the transition of the rotational blocking bodies from the release position to the rotational blocking position can be kept as low as possible , in contrast to a case in which the rotational blocking bodies initially rest against the blocking surfaces with play, are then applied to the blocking surfaces under force and then enter the working position receptacles from the blocking surfaces or the case in which the rotational blocking bodies lie with play against the blocking surfaces move the working position and experience the application of force in the working position in order to enter the working position recordings.

With regard to the design of the working position receptacles, it is particularly advantageous if the working position receptacles extend from the blocking surfaces in the guide direction, in particular with at least one component in the radial direction to the pivot axis, so that the rotation blocking bodies do not have any additional deflection upon entry when moving in the guide direction in the work position recordings.

It is particularly advantageous if at least one of the rotation blocking bodies of the rotation blocking units rests against one of the blocking surfaces during a pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body in the direction of the rest position, in particular during the pivoting movement extending from the working position to the rest position, in particular under force by the action of the actuating body, whereby the Force is applied, for example, by retraction receptacles in the actuating body provided for the release position of the rotation blocking bodies, which act on the rotation blocking bodies with surfaces running transversely to the guide direction.

In particular, it is advantageous if the rotational blocking bodies rest against the blocking surfaces under force before reaching the rest position and then enter the resting position receptacles with force on the opening edges of the rest position receptacles, so that the noise level during the transition of the rotational blocking bodies from the release position to the rotational blocking position can be kept as low as possible , in contrast to a case in which the rotational blocking bodies initially rest against the blocking surfaces with play, are then applied to the blocking surfaces under force and then enter the rest position receptacles from the blocking surfaces or the case in which the rotational blocking bodies lie with play against the blocking surfaces move the working position and experience the application of force in the working position in order to enter the rest position recordings.

With regard to the design of the rest position receptacles, it is particularly advantageous if the rest position receptacles extend from the blocking surfaces in the guide direction, in particular with at least one component in the radial direction to the pivot axis, so that the rotation blocking bodies do not have any additional deflection upon entry when moving in the guide direction in the resting position recordings.

Furthermore, no further information was provided regarding the alignment of the working position holders and the rest position holders and the blocking surfaces relative to the guide sleeve.

An advantageous solution provides that the working position receptacles and the rest position receptacles and the blocking surfaces are arranged facing the guide sleeve, so that a deflection-free movement of the rotary blocking bodies in the direction of the blocking surfaces or in the direction of the working position receptacles and the rest position receptacles can take place.

In principle, the guide body could be pivotable about the pivot axis together with the pivot bearing body.

However, a structurally particularly favorable solution provides that the guide body is part of the pivot bearing unit that is fixed to the vehicle.

Furthermore, with regard to the design of the guide body, it is provided that all guide receptacles for the rotation blocking bodies of the rotation blocking units are arranged in the guide body.

In addition, it is expedient if the guide direction runs with at least one component in the radial direction to the pivot axis, so that the rotation blocking bodies are moved at least with one component in the radial direction to the pivot axis between the rotation blocking position and the release position and thus no exclusive movement of the rotation blocking bodies in Direction of the pivot axis takes place in order to move it between the rotation blocking position and the release position.

A structurally particularly favorable solution provides that the guide body has a guide sleeve with guide receptacles for the rotation blocking bodies of the rotation blocking units and that in particular the rotation blocking bodies are guided by the guide body adjoining the pivot bearing body in the radial direction.

In connection with the explanation of the above exemplary embodiments, how the pivot bearing body should be pivotably mounted on the pivot bearing unit was not discussed in more detail.

For this purpose, for example, a bearing intended for this purpose could be provided on the pivot bearing unit, which is independent of the guide body.

However, it is structurally particularly simple if the guide body has a pivot bearing for the pivot bearing body, that is, either carries a pivot bearing for the pivot bearing body or itself forms a pivot bearing for the pivot bearing body with an outer surface.

No further information was provided regarding the movement of the actuating body in relation to the guide body.

An advantageous solution provides that the actuating body is guided so that it can move relative to the guide body.

The actuating body could be movable relative to the guide body in the direction of the pivot axis between the rotation blocking position and the release position in order to move the rotation blocking bodies in the corresponding positions.

A solution that is particularly optimized in terms of space requirements provides that the actuating body is arranged to be rotatable about the pivot axis and in particular has wedge surfaces which extend over an angular range around the pivot axis and vary in the direction parallel to the guide direction, preferably combined with retraction receptacles.

Furthermore, no further information was provided regarding the arrangement of the recordings and the blocking surfaces.

An advantageous solution provides that the receptacles and the blocking surfaces are arranged on the pivot bearing body.

Furthermore, a constructive solution with regard to the absorption of the acting forces is particularly favorable when the actuating body is enclosed by the guide body and in particular when the pivot bearing body engages around the guide body.

No further information was provided regarding the arrangement of the rotation blocking bodies relative to the actuating body.

In principle, the rotation blocking bodies could be arranged so that they are encompassed by the actuating body.

For the spatial structure of the trailer coupling according to the invention, it has also proven to be advantageous if the rotation blocking bodies are arranged around the actuating body.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous in terms of construction if the pivot bearing body forms an outer body which encloses the pivot bearing unit on the outside and which is arranged in a non-displaceable manner relative to the pivot bearing unit in the direction of the pivot axis, and in particular if the pivot bearing body forms an outer body which encloses at least a portion of the rotation blocking unit on the outside is arranged immovably relative to the guide body in the direction of the pivot axis, so that the pivot bearing body does not carry out any movement in the direction of the pivot axis when the rotation blocking body transitions from the rotation blocking position to the release position and vice versa, but can be arranged immovably in the direction of the pivot axis.

Such an arrangement of the pivot bearing body has, on the one hand, the advantage of a favorable spatial structure of the pivot bearing unit itself and the advantage of a relatively simple sealing of the pivot bearing unit, since the pivot bearing body does not carry out any movements in the axial direction of the pivot axis.

Preferably, a seal running around the pivot axis is provided between a housing of the pivot bearing unit and at least one end side of the outer body, which seals against ingress of dirt and moisture.

In such a solution, the swivel bearing body simultaneously represents the outer body that protects and encloses the swivel bearing unit and the fact that the outer body is arranged non-displaceably relative to the swivel bearing unit in the direction of the swivel axis ensures in particular that a simple seal between the outer body and the swivel bearing unit can be achieved.

Particularly structurally favorable is a solution in which the pivot bearing body forms at least one outer body which externally encloses a portion of the rotation blocking device and which is arranged non-displaceably relative to the guide body in the direction of the pivot axis.

In particular, it is provided that the rotation blocking bodies can be moved by the actuating body from the release position into the rotation blocking position.

The actuating body is preferably designed in such a way that it allows the rotation blocking body to be released in the release position.

In particular, a further design of the rotation blocking body provides that it holds the rotation blocking bodies in their rotation blocking position in the rotation blocking position.

In order to ensure that the rotation blocking bodies always move into their rotation blocking position, especially when there is no active actuation of the actuation body, it is preferably provided that the actuation body is acted upon by an elastic force accumulator in the direction of its rotation blocking position.

In order to be able to move the actuating body from the rotation-blocking position into the release position, it is preferably provided that the actuation body can be moved from the rotation-blocking position into the release position by an actuating device.

In particular, such a movement of the actuating body takes place by the actuating device against the action by the energy accumulator, that is to say that the actuating device counteracts the action by the energy accumulator and thus has to overcome the forces applied by the energy accumulator.

Particularly in the case of a rotatable actuating body, it is preferably provided that the actuating body is rotated with the actuating device in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation caused by the elastic force accumulator.

Such an elastic energy storage device can in principle be arranged in several locations.

Structurally, it is particularly favorable if the elastic force storage is arranged within the pivot bearing unit.

Another structurally favorable solution provides that the elastic energy storage is arranged on one side of the actuating body.

In this case, the elastic force storage can be advantageously coupled to the actuating element.

With regard to the effect on the actuating body, a wide variety of solutions are conceivable.

An advantageous solution provides that the actuating device has an output element which is coupled to the actuating body.

In principle, it would be possible to rigidly couple the output element and the actuating body to one another.

However, it is particularly favorable if the output element and the actuating body are coupled to one another via a driving coupling device, which allows a relative movement by a limited angle of rotation depending on the position of the output element and the position of the actuating body, in particular the rotational position thereof.

The driving coupling device could be an elastic connecting member.

However, it is particularly simple if the driving coupling device has a driving-free release state and a driving state, that is to say that either the release state or the driving state is present.

In connection with the previous solutions, only the drive of the rotation blocking device was explained in general, which is allows the rotation blocking device to transition from at least one rotation blocking position to a release position and vice versa.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the actuating device for the rotation blocking device comprises a motor drive unit.

A motor drive unit exclusively assigned to the actuating device for the rotation blocking device could be provided.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the reduction gear is arranged on a side of the actuating element of the rotation blocking device that faces the motor drive.

For the compact structure, it is particularly beneficial if, viewed in the direction of the pivot axis, the reduction gear is driven by the motor drive unit on one side and has an output for the actuating element on the opposite side.

Thus, the reduction gear is preferably arranged between the motor drive unit and the actuating element, viewed in the direction of the pivot axis.

Furthermore, the reduction gear, the elastic energy storage and the actuating element are preferably arranged one after the other in the direction of the pivot axis, in particular within the pivot bearing unit.

In order to further ensure that the actuating body does not leave its rotation-blocking position despite being acted upon by the elastic energy storage, it is preferably provided that the actuation body can be blocked in its rotation position by a safety device.

In particular, it is provided that the actuating body can be blocked by the safety device against reaching its release position in order to ensure that the actuating body never independently allows the release position of the rotation blocking body, for example in the event of a break in the elastic force storage acting on it in the direction of its active position.

Such a safety device is designed in such a way that it requires an action in order to remove the blocking of the actuating body.

For this reason, it is expediently provided that the actuating device for the rotation blocking device is coupled to the securing device, so that the blocking of the actuating body can also be released by the securing device via the actuating device.

Preferably, the safety device is coupled to the actuating device in such a way that the safety device blocks a movement of the actuating body that is not triggered by an actuation.

In particular, the safety device is designed so that it blocks movement of the actuating body into its release position when the actuating device is not actuated.

An expedient solution provides that the drive element of the actuating device, for example the output element of the reduction gear, is coupled to the safety device.

The output element, for example the output element of the reduction gear, can expediently be designed in such a way that the action on the actuating body and the action on the safety device are coordinated with one another via the output element, so that actuation of the actuating device on the one hand leads to the blocking of the actuating body is canceled and on the other hand leads to the actuating body being moved from the active position to the inactive position.

For example, it is provided for this that the output element transfers the securing device from the securing position to the unlocking position in the course of its movement from the starting position to an intermediate position.

A wide variety of possibilities are conceivable with regard to the coupling between the output element and the safety device.

For example, any type of coupling, for example via an electrical control, would be conceivable.

A particularly useful solution due to its simplicity provides that the output element and the safety device are coupled to one another via a mechanical coupling device.

The mechanical coupling device is advantageously designed in such a way that it controls the effect on the safety device by means of a sliding track.

With regard to the design of the safety device, a wide variety of solutions are conceivable.

The securing device works particularly reliably if it has an elastic energy storage device, which always acts on the securing device in the direction of its position securing or blocking the actuating body in the rotation-blocking position.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the safety device can be moved from its safety position into an unlocked position.

Preferably, the safety device is also moved into the unlocked position by the output unit for the actuation unit.

As part of the solution according to the invention, it is provided that by energizing a drive, it acts on the actuating body from a starting position in the opposite direction to a force applied to it, in particular caused by a spring element, so that it is moved from the rotation-blocking position into the release position.

As soon as the release position of the rotation blocking device is reached, the pivot bearing body leaves the position, that is, the working position or the rest position in which it was locked against rotation, and moves, in particular due to the action of gravity, into an intermediate position, already after leaving the working position or In the rest position, the movement of the actuating body into the rotation blocking position is blocked by the blocking surfaces.

After leaving the working position or rest position, the drive is energized in such a way that it moves back into the starting position and the actuating body thus has the possibility of reaching the working position or rest position, in particular through manual action, due to the application of force to move from the release position to the rotation-blocking position and to lock the pivot bearing body again.

1. 1. Anhängekupplung, umfassend einen zwischen einer Arbeitsstellung (A) und einer Ruhestellung (R) bewegbaren Kugelhals (10) mit einem an einem ersten Ende angeordneten Schwenklagerkörper (14) und einer an einem zweiten Ende angeordneten Kupplungskugel (18), eine fahrzeugfest angeordnete Schwenklagereinheit (20), mittels welcher der Schwenklagerkörper (14) zur Ausführung einer Schwenkbewegung um eine Schwenkachse (22) zwischen der Arbeitsstellung (A) und der Ruhestellung (R) verschwenkbar aufgenommen ist, und eine zwischen der Schwenklagereinheit (20) und dem Schwenklagerkörper (14) wirkende Drehblockiereinrichtung (50) mit einerseits mindestens einer Drehblockiereinheit (80), welche einen Drehblockierkörper (54) aufweist, der mittels einer Führungsaufnahme (56) eines Führungskörpers (40) in einer Führungsrichtung (58) bewegbar geführt ist und der in der Führungsrichtung (58) durch eine quer zur Führungsrichtung (58) verlaufende, an einem Betätigungskörper (52) vorgesehene Druckfläche (66) bewegbar ist, und mit andererseits mindestens einer Arbeitsstellungsaufnahme (60A) und/oder mindestens einer Ruhestellungsaufnahme (60R), wobei durch ein Bewegen des Betätigungskörpers (52) in einer Betätigungsrichtung (72) der Drehblockierkörper (54) der Drehblockiereinheiten (80) in der Führungsrichtung (58) bewegbar und beaufschlagbar ist und wobei der Drehblockierkörper (54) der Drehblockiereinheiten (80) in der Arbeitsstellung (A) und/oder der Ruhestellung (R) durch ein Bewegen in der Führungsrichtung (58) in eine Drehblockierstellung bringbar ist und in dieser der Drehblockierkörper (54) mit jeweils einer Arbeitsstellungsaufnahme (60A) oder Ruhestellungsaufnahme (60R) in Eingriff kommt, um eine Schwenkbewegung des Schwenklagerkörpers (14) um die Schwenkachse (22) relativ zum Führungskörper (40) zu blockieren, und wobei der Drehblockierkörper (54) in eine Lösestellung bringbar ist und in dieser mit der Arbeitsstellungsaufnahme (60) und/oder der Ruhestellungsaufnahme (60R) außer Eingriff steht und die Schwenkbewegung des Schwenklagerkörpers (14) freigibt, wobei der Drehblockierkörpereinrichtung (50) mindestens eine Verzögerungseinheit (300, 400, 500) zugeordnet ist, welche zumindest bei Erreichen der Arbeitsstellung (A) und/oder der Ruhestellung (R) einen durch Einwirken auf die Drehblockiereinrichtung (50) veranlassten Übergang derselben in die Drehblockierstellung zeitlich verzögert.
2. 2. Anhängekupplung nach Ausführungsform 1, wobei die mindestens eine Verzögerungseinheit (300, 400, 500) auf die Drehblockiereinrichtung (50) einwirkt.
3. 3. Anhängekupplung nach Ausführungsform 1 oder 2, wobei die mindestens eine Verzögerungseinheit (300, 400, 500) den Übergang der Drehblockiereinheit (80) in die Drehblockierstellung zeitlich verzögert.
4. 4. Anhängekupplung nach einer der voranstehenden Ausführungsformen, wobei die mindestens eine Verzögerungseinheit (300, 400, 500) auf eines oder mehrere Elemente der Drehblockiereinrichtung (50) einwirkt.
5. 5. Anhängekupplung nach einer der Ausführungsformen 2 bis 4, wobei die mindestens eine Verzögerungseinheit (300, 400, 500) auf eines der Elemente der Drehblockiereinrichtung (50) unmittelbar einwirkt.
6. 6. Anhängekupplung nach einer der voranstehenden Ausführungsformen, wobei die mindestens eine Verzögerungseinheit (300, 400, 500) ein Bewegen des Drehblockierkörpers (54) in die Drehblockierstellung zeitlich verzögert.
7. 7. Anhängekupplung nach einer der voranstehenden Ausführungsformen, wobei die mindestens eine Verzögerungseinheit (300, 400, 500) die Bewegung des Betätigungskörpers (52) in die Drehblockierstellung zeitlich verzögert.
8. 8. Anhängekupplung nach Ausführungsform 7, wobei die mindestens eine Verzögerungseinheit (300, 400) zwischen dem Führungskörper (44) und dem Betätigungskörper (52) wirksam ist.
9. 9. Anhängekupplung nach Ausführungsform 7 oder 8, wobei die mindestens eine Verzögerungseinheit (300) am Betätigungskörper (52) angeordnet ist.
10. 10. Anhängekupplung nach einer der Ausführungsformen 7 bis 9, wobei die mindestens eine Verzögerungseinheit (300, 400) am Führungskörper (44) angeordnet ist.
11. 11. Anhängekupplung nach einer der voranstehenden Ausführungsformen, wobei die mindestens eine Verzögerungseinheit (300, 400, 500) ein federelastisches Element (312, 314, 322, 336, 406, 504) aufweist.
12. 12. Anhängekupplung nach einer der Ausführungsformen 7 bis 11, wobei das federelastische Element (312, 314, 322, 336, 406) mindestens eine Reibfläche (316, 318, 342) bildet oder einen Reibkörper (326, 328, 338, 402) beaufschlagt.
13. 13. Anhängekupplung nach einer der Ausführungsformen 7 bis 12, wobei die mindestens eine Verzögerungseinheit (300) einen Bewegungsverzögerungskörper (310) umfasst, welcher zwischen einer Fläche (302) des Betätigungskörpers (52) und einer dieser zugewandten Fläche des Führungskörpers (40) wirksam ist.
14. 14. Anhängekupplung nach Ausführungsform 13, wobei der Bewegungsverzögerungskörper (310) bewegungsrichtungsabhängig eine unterschiedliche Reibwirkung aufweist.
15. 15. Anhängekupplung nach einer der Ausführungsformen 7 bis 12, wobei die mindestens eine Verzögerungseinheit (400) in einer definierten Position an dem Führungskörper (40) angeordnet ist und von dieser ausgehend verzögernd auf den Betätigungskörper (52) wirkt.
16. 16. Anhängekupplung nach Ausführungsform 15, wobei die Verzögerungseinheit (400) mit einem durch einen federelastischen Körper (406) beaufschlagten Reibkörper (402) versehen ist, welcher auf den Betätigungskörper (52) wirkt.
17. 17. Anhängekupplung nach Ausführungsform 16, wobei der Reibkörper (402) umfangsseitig auf den Betätigungskörper (52) wirkt.
18. 18. Anhängekupplung nach Ausführungsform 17, wobei der Reibkörper (402) auf eine einen Drehblockierkörper (54) beaufschlagende Druckfläche (66) zur Beaufschlagung des Drehblockierkörpers (54) wirkt.
19. 19. Anhängekupplung nach Ausführungsform 17 oder 18, wobei der Reibkörper (402) auf einen sich an eine Druckfläche (66) zur Beaufschlagung eines Drehblockierkörpers (54) anschließenden Umfangsbereich (71) des Betätigungskörpers (52) wirkt.
20. 20. Anhängekupplung nach einer der voranstehenden Ausführungsformen, wobei die mindestens eine Verzögerungseinheit (500) bei Erreichen der Arbeitsstellung (A) und/oder der Ruhestellung (R) auf einen Drehblockierkörper (54) wirkt und dessen Bewegung in der Arbeitsstellungsaufnahme (60A) bzw. Ruhestellungsaufnahme (60R) verzögert.
21. 21. Anhängekupplung nach Ausführungsform 20, wobei die Verzögerungseinheit (500) mindestens der Arbeitsstellungsaufnahme (60A) und/oder der Ruhestellungsaufnahme (60R) zugeordnet ist.
22. 22. Anhängekupplung nach Ausführungsform 21, wobei die Verzögerungseinheit (500) einem Auftreffen des Drehblockierkörpers (54) auf einen Aufnahmegrund (61A, 61R) der Arbeitsstellungsaufnahme (60A) und/oder der Ruhestellungsaufnahme (60R) verzögernd entgegenwirkt.
23. 23. Anhängekupplung nach Ausführungsform 22, wobei die Verzögerungseinheit (500) ein federelastisches Element (504) umfasst, welches der Bewegung des Drehblockierkörpers (54) in Richtung des jeweiligen Aufnahmegrunds (61) verzögernd entgegenwirkt.
24. 24. Anhängekupplung nach Ausführungsform 23, wobei die Verzögerungseinheit (500) an einem die Aufnahme (60A, 60R) tragenden Bauteil (14) der Schwenklagereinheit (20) gehalten und abgestützt ist.
25. 25. Anhängekupplung nach einer der Ausführungsformen 20 bis 24, wobei das federelastische Element (504) über einen Verzögerungskörper (502) auf den in die Aufnahme (60A, 60R) eintretenden Drehblockierkörper (54) verzögernd einwirkt.
26. 26. Anhängekupplung nach einer der Ausführungsformen 20 bis 25, wobei die Verzögerungseinheit (500) relativ zu der Aufnahme (60A, 60R) einstellbar positionierbar ist.
27. 27. Anhängekupplung nach Ausführungsform 26, wobei die Verzögerungseinheit (500) einen Führungskörper (506) aufweist, welcher das federelastische Element (504) und gegebenenfalls den Verzögerungskörper (502) aufnimmt.
28. 28. Anhängekupplung nach Ausführungsform 27, wobei der Führungskörper (506) einstellbar positionierbar an dem die Aufnahme (60A, 60R) tragenden Bauteil (14) gehalten ist.
29. 29. Anhängekupplung nach einer der voranstehenden Ausführungsformen, wobei zwischen den Arbeitsstellungsaufnahmen (60A) und/oder den Ruhestellungsaufnahmen (60R) Blockierflächen (90) verlaufen, gegen welche die Drehblockierkörper (54) anlegbar sind und von welchen ausgehend sich die Arbeitsstellungsaufnahmen (60A) und/oder die Ruhestellungsaufnahmen (60R) erstrecken, dass die Drehblockiereinheiten (80) und die Arbeitsstellungsaufnahmen (60A) und/oder die Ruhestellungsaufnahmen (60R) um die Schwenkachse (22) herum derart in Winkelabständen (W) voneinander angeordnet sind, dass in allen vorgesehenen Schwenkstellungen des Schwenklagerkörpers (14), ausgenommen die Arbeitsstellung (A) und/oder die Ruhestellung (R), mindestens einer der Drehblockiereinheiten (80) einer der Blockierflächen (90) gegenüberliegt und somit diese Blockierflächen (90), insbesondere bei einer Kraftbeaufschlagung des Betätigungskörpers (52) in Richtung der Betätigungsrichtung (72), eine Bewegung des Betätigungskörpers (52) in der Betätigungsrichtung (72) und folglich auch ein kraftbeaufschlagtes Eingreifen der Drehblockierkörper (54) jeder der Drehblockiereinheiten (80) in eine der Arbeitsstellungsaufnahmen (60A) oder der Ruhestellungsaufnahmen (60R) blockiert.
30. 30. Anhängekupplung nach einer der voranstehenden Ausführungsformen, wobei die Drehblockiereinheiten (80) zur Bildung einer Drehblockierkonfiguration in Winkelabständen (W) um die Schwenkachse (22) herum angeordnet sind, dass die Arbeitsstellungsaufnahmen (60A) und/oder die Ruhestellungsaufnahmen (60R) zur Bildung jeweils einer Aufnahmenkonfiguration für die Arbeitsstellung (A) und/oder die Ruhestellung (R) in denselben Winkelabständen (W) um die Schwenkachse (22) angeordnet sind wie die Drehblockiereinheiten (80), dass die Drehblockierkonfiguration und die Aufnahmenkonfiguration der Arbeitsstellungsaufnahmen (60A) in der Arbeitsstellung (A) beziehungsweise der Ruhestellungsaufnahmen (60R) in der Ruhestellung (R) deckungsgleich zueinander stehen, so dass die Drehblockierkörper (54) in die Arbeitsstellungsaufnahmen (60A) beziehungsweise Ruhestellungsaufnahmen (60R) eingreifen können, und dass die Winkelabstände (W) zwischen den Drehblockiereinheiten (80) der Drehblockierkonfiguration und die Winkelabstände zwischen den Arbeitsstellungsaufnahmen (60) beziehungsweise den Ruhestellungsaufnahmen (60R) der Aufnahmenkonfigurationen so gewählt sind, dass die Drehblockierkonfiguration und eine der Aufnahmenkonfigurationen nur in der Arbeitsstellung (A) und/oder der Ruhestellung (R) deckungsgleich zueinander stehen.
31. 31. Anhängekupplung nach einer der voranstehenden Ausführungsformen, wobei die Winkelabstände (W) mindestens einer der Drehblockiereinheiten (80) zu den in einer Umlaufrichtung um die Schwenkachse (22) sowie zu den entgegengesetzt zu dieser Umlaufrichtung benachbart angeordneten Drehblockiereinheiten (80) ungleich sind, dass in der Arbeitsstellung (A) die Arbeitsstellungsaufnahmen (60A) derart angeordnet sind, dass der Drehblockierkörper (54) jeder der Drehblockiereinheiten (80) mit jeweils einer der Arbeitsstellungsaufnahmen (60A) in Eingriff bringbar ist, und/oder dass in der Ruhestellung (R) die Ruhestellungsaufnahmen (60R) derart angeordnet sind, dass der Drehblockierkörper (54) jeder der Drehblockiereinheiten (80) mit jeweils einer der Ruhestellungsaufnahmen (60R) in Eingriff bringbar ist, und dass in allen für den Betrieb vorgesehenen Schwenkstellungen des Schwenklagenkörpers (14), die außerhalb der Arbeitsstellung (A) oder der Ruhestellung (R) liegen, der Drehblockierkörper (54) mindestens einer der Drehblockiereinheiten (80) einer zwischen den Arbeitsstellungsaufnahmen (60A) und/oder den Ruhestellungsaufnahmen (60R) verlaufenden Blockierfläche (90) gegenüberliegt, und die Blockierfläche (90), insbesondere bei einer Kraftbeaufschlagung des Betätigungskörpers (52), eine Bewegung des Betätigungskörpers (52) von der Lösestellung in die Drehblockierstellung blockiert.
32. 32. Anhängekupplung nach einer der Ausführungsformen 29 bis 31, wobei die Blockierflächen (90) den Drehblockierkörpern (54) der Drehblockiereinheiten (80) zugewandt verlaufen.
33. 33. Anhängekupplung nach einer der Ausführungsformen 29 bis 32, wobei die Blockierflächen (90) in einem definierten Radius um die Schwenkachse (22) verlaufen.
34. 34. Anhängekupplung nach einer der Ausführungsformen 29 bis 33, wobei die Blockierflächen (90) bis zu Öffnungsrändern (92) der Arbeitsstellungsaufnahmen (60A) und/oder der Ruhestellungsaufnahme (60R) verlaufen und in diese übergehen.
35. 35. Anhängekupplung nach Ausführungsform 34, wobei die Öffnungsränder (92) der Arbeitsstellungsaufnahmen (60A) und/oder der Ruhestellungsaufnahme (60R) in demselben radialen Abstand von der Schwenkachse (22) liegen wie die Blockierflächen (90)
36. 36. Anhängekupplung nach einer der Ausführungsformen 29 bis 35, wobei mindestens einer der Drehblockierkörper (54) der Drehblockiereinheiten (80) bei einer Schwenkbewegung des Schwenklagerkörpers (14) in Richtung der Arbeitsstellung (A) an einer der Blockierflächen (90) anliegt, insbesondere durch die Einwirkung des Betätigungskörpers (52), kraftbeaufschlagt anliegt.
37. 37. Anhängekupplung nach einer der Ausführungsformen 29 bis 36, wobei die Drehblockierkörper (54) vor Erreichen der Arbeitsstellung (A) an den Blockierflächen (90) kraftbeaufschlagt anliegen und anschließend an Öffnungsrändern (92) der Arbeitsstellungsaufnahmen (60A) kraftbeaufschlagt anliegend in die Arbeitsstellungsaufnahmen (60A) eintreten.
38. 38. Anhängekupplung nach einer der Ausführungsformen 29 bis 37, wobei sich die Arbeitsstellungsaufnahmen (60A) ausgehend von den Blockierflächen (90) in der Führungsrichtung (58), insbesondere mit mindestens einer Komponente in radialer Richtung zur Schwenkachse (22), erstrecken.
39. 39. Anhängekupplung nach einer der Ausführungsformen 29 bis 38, wobei mindestens einer der Drehblockierkörper (54) der Drehblockiereinheiten (80) bei einer Schwenkbewegung des Schwenklagerkörpers (14) in Richtung der Ruhestellung (R) an einer der Blockierflächen (90) anliegt, insbesondere durch die Einwirkung des Betätigungskörpers (52), kraftbeaufschlagt anliegt.
40. 40. Anhängekupplung nach einer der Ausführungsformen 29 bis 39, wobei die Drehblockierkörper (54) vor Erreichen der Ruhestellung (R) an den Blockierflächen (90) kraftbeaufschlagt anliegen und anschließend an Öffnungsrändern (92) der Ruhestellungsaufahmen (60R) kraftbeaufschlagt anliegend in die Ruhestellungsaufnahmen (60R) eintreten.
41. 41. Anhängekupplung nach einer der Ausführungsformen 29 bis 40, wobei sich die Ruhestellungsaufnahmen (60R) ausgehend von den Blockierflächen (90) in der Führungsrichtung (58), insbesondere mit mindestens einer Komponente in radialer Richtung zur Schwenkachse (22), erstrecken.
42. 42. Anhängekupplung nach einer der Ausführungsformen 29 bis 41, wobei die Arbeitsstellungsaufnahmen (60A), die Ruhestellungsaufnahmen (60R) und die Blockierflächen (90) der Führungshülse (40) zugewandt angeordnet sind.
43. 43. Anhängekupplung nach einer der voranstehenden Ausführungsformen, wobei der Führungskörper (40) ein Teil der fahrzeugfest angeordneten Schwenklagereinheit (20) ist.
44. 44. Anhängekupplung nach einer der voranstehenden Ausführungsformen, wobei in dem Führungskörper (40) alle Führungsaufnahmen (56) für die Drehblockierkörper (54) der Drehblockiereinheiten (80) angeordnet sind.
45. 45. Anhängekupplung nach einer der voranstehenden Ausführungsformen, wobei die Führungsrichtung (58) mit mindestens einer Komponente in radialer Richtung zur Schwenkachse (22) verläuft.
46. 46. Anhängekupplung nach einer der voranstehenden Ausführungsformen, wobei der Führungskörper (40) eine Führungshülse (44) mit Führungsaufnahmen (56) für die Drehblockierkörper (54) der Drehblockiereinheiten (80) aufweist und dass insbesondere die Drehblockierkörper (54) durch den sich in radialer Richtung an den Schwenklagerkörper (14) anschließenden Führungskörper (40) geführt sind.
47. 47. Anhängekupplung nach einer der voranstehenden Ausführungsformen, wobei der Führungskörper (40) ein Schwenklager für den Schwenklagerkörper (14) aufweist.
48. 48. Anhängekupplung nach einer der voranstehenden Ausführungsformen, wobei der Betätigungskörper (52) relativ zu dem Führungskörper (40) bewegbar geführt ist.
49. 49. Anhängekupplung nach einer der voranstehenden Ausführungsformen, wobei der Betätigungskörper (52) um die Schwenkachse (22) drehbar angeordnet ist und insbesondere sich über einen Winkelbereich um die Schwenkachse (22) erstreckende und in Richtung parallel zur Führungsrichtung (58) variierende Keilflächen (66) vorzugsweise kombiniert mit Rückzugsaufnahmen (62) aufweist.
50. 50. Anhängekupplung nach einer der voranstehenden Ausführungsformen, wobei die Aufnahmen (60) und die Blockierflächen (90) an dem Schwenklagerkörper (14) angeordnet sind.
51. 51. Anhängekupplung nach einer der voranstehenden Ausführungsformen, wobei der Betätigungskörper (52) von dem Führungskörper (40) umschlossen ist und dass insbesondere der Schwenklagerkörper (14) den Führungskörper (40) umgreift.
52. 52. Anhängekupplung nach einer der voranstehenden Ausführungsformen, wobei die Drehblockierkörper (54) um den Betätigungskörper (52) herum angeordnet sind.
53. 53. Anhängekupplung nach einer der voranstehenden Ausführungsformen, wobei der Schwenklagerkörper (14) einen die Schwenklagereinheit (20) außenliegend umschließenden Außenkörper bildet, der relativ zu der Schwenklagereinheit (20) in Richtung der Schwenkachse (22) unverschiebbar angeordnet ist, und dass insbesondere der Schwenklagerkörper (14) einen zumindest einen Teilbereich der Drehblockiereinheit (50) außenliegend umschließenden Außenkörper bildet, der relativ zu dem Führungskörper (40) in Richtung der Schwenkachse (22) unverschiebbar angeordnet ist.
54. 54. Anhängekupplung nach einer der voranstehenden Ausführungsformen, wobei der Betätigungskörper (52) durch einen elastischen Kraftspeicher (114) in Richtung seiner Drehblockierstellung beaufschlagt ist.
55. 55. Anhängekupplung nach einer der voranstehenden Ausführungsformen, wobei der Betätigungskörper (52) durch eine Betätigungseinrichtung (180) von der Drehblockierstellung in die Lösestellung bewegbar ist.
56. 56. Anhängekupplung nach Ausführungsform 54 oder 55, wobei der Betätigungskörper (52) durch die Betätigungseinrichtung (180) entgegen der Beaufschlagung durch den Kraftspeicher (114) bewegbar ist.
57. 57. Anhängekupplung nach einer der Ausführungsformen 54 bis 56, wobei mit der Betätigungseinrichtung (180) der Betätigungskörper (52) entgegengesetzt zur durch den elastischen Kraftspeicher (114) bewirkten Betätigungsrichtung (72) verdrehbar ist.
58. 58. Anhängekupplung nach einer der voranstehenden Ausführungsform, wobei die Betätigungseinrichtung (180) ein Abtriebselement (142) aufweist, welches mit dem Betätigungskörper (52) gekoppelt ist.
59. 59. Anhängekupplung nach Ausführungsform 58, wobei das Abtriebselement (142) und der Betätigungskörper (52) über eine Mitnahmekopplungseinrichtung (156, 158) miteinander gekoppelt sind.
60. 60. Anhängekupplung nach Ausführungsform 59, wobei die Mitnahmekopplungseinrichtung (156, 158) einen mitnahmefreien Freigangzustand und einen Mitnahmezustand aufweist.
61. 61. Anhängekupplung nach einer der voranstehenden Ausführungsformen, wobei die Betätigungseinrichtung (180) für die Drehblockiereinrichtung (50) eine motorische Antriebseinheit umfasst.

The above description of solutions according to the invention therefore includes in particular the various combinations of features defined by the following numbered embodiments:

1. 1. Trailer coupling, comprising a ball neck (10) movable between a working position (A) and a rest position (R) with a pivot bearing body (14) arranged at a first end and a coupling ball (18) arranged at a second end, a pivot bearing unit arranged fixed to the vehicle (20), by means of which the pivot bearing body (14) is pivotably received for carrying out a pivoting movement about a pivot axis (22) between the working position (A) and the rest position (R), and one between the pivot bearing unit (20) and the pivot bearing body (14 ) acting rotation blocking device (50) with, on the one hand, at least one rotation blocking unit (80), which has a rotation blocking body (54), which is movably guided in a guide direction (58) by means of a guide receptacle (56) of a guide body (40) and which is in the guide direction ( 58) can be moved by a pressure surface (66) which runs transversely to the guide direction (58) and is provided on an actuating body (52), and on the other hand with at least one working position holder (60A) and/or at least one rest position holder (60R), by moving the Actuating body (52) can be moved and acted upon in an actuating direction (72) of the rotation blocking body (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) in the guide direction (58) and wherein the rotation blocking body (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) is in the working position (A) and / or the rest position (R) can be brought into a rotation blocking position by moving in the guide direction (58) and in this the rotation blocking body (54) comes into engagement with a working position holder (60A) or rest position holder (60R) in order to enable a pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body ( 14) to block the pivot axis (22) relative to the guide body (40), and wherein the rotation blocking body (54) can be brought into a release position and in this position is disengaged from the working position holder (60) and/or the rest position holder (60R) and the pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body (14), wherein the rotation blocking body device (50) is assigned at least one deceleration unit (300, 400, 500), which at least when the working position (A) and / or the rest position (R) is reached by acting on the The rotation blocking device (50) causes the transition into the rotation blocking position to be delayed in time.
2. 2. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 1, wherein the at least one deceleration unit (300, 400, 500) acts on the rotation blocking device (50).
3. 3. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the at least one delay unit (300, 400, 500) delays the transition of the rotation blocking unit (80) into the rotation blocking position.
4. 4. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one deceleration unit (300, 400, 500) acts on one or more elements of the rotation blocking device (50).
5. 5. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 2 to 4, wherein the at least one deceleration unit (300, 400, 500) acts directly on one of the elements of the rotation blocking device (50).
6. 6. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one delay unit (300, 400, 500) delays movement of the rotation blocking body (54) into the rotation blocking position.
7. 7. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one delay unit (300, 400, 500) delays the movement of the actuating body (52) into the rotation-blocking position.
8. 8. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 7, wherein the at least one deceleration unit (300, 400) is effective between the guide body (44) and the actuating body (52).
9. 9. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 7 or 8, wherein the at least one deceleration unit (300) is arranged on the actuating body (52).
10. 10. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 7 to 9, wherein the at least one deceleration unit (300, 400) is arranged on the guide body (44).
11. 11. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one deceleration unit (300, 400, 500) has a resilient element (312, 314, 322, 336, 406, 504).
12. 12. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 7 to 11, wherein the resilient element (312, 314, 322, 336, 406) forms at least one friction surface (316, 318, 342) or acts on a friction body (326, 328, 338, 402). .
13. 13. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 7 to 12, wherein the at least one deceleration unit (300) comprises a movement deceleration body (310) which is effective between a surface (302) of the actuating body (52) and a surface of the guide body (40) facing this .
14. 14. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 13, wherein the movement delay body (310) has a different friction effect depending on the direction of movement.
15. 15. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 7 to 12, wherein the at least one deceleration unit (400) is arranged in a defined position on the guide body (40) and, starting from this, has a decelerating effect on the actuating body (52).
16. 16. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 15, wherein the deceleration unit (400) is provided with a friction body (402) acted upon by a resilient body (406), which acts on the actuating body (52).
17. 17. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 16, wherein the friction body (402) acts on the circumference of the actuating body (52).
18. 18. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 17, wherein the friction body (402) acts on a pressure surface (66) acting on a rotation blocking body (54) to act on the rotation blocking body (54).
19. 19. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 17 or 18, wherein the friction body (402) acts on a peripheral region (71) of the actuating body (52) adjoining a pressure surface (66) for acting on a rotation blocking body (54).
20. 20. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one deceleration unit (500) acts on a rotation blocking body (54) when the working position (A) and / or the rest position (R) is reached and its movement in the working position recording (60A) or Rest position recording (60R) delayed.
21. 21. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 20, wherein the deceleration unit (500) is assigned to at least the working position recording (60A) and / or the rest position recording (60R).
22. 22. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 21, wherein the deceleration unit (500) counteracts an impact of the rotation blocking body (54) on a recording base (61A, 61R) of the working position recording (60A) and / or the rest position recording (60R).
23. 23. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 22, wherein the deceleration unit (500) comprises a resilient element (504), which Ches counteracts the movement of the rotation blocking body (54) in the direction of the respective receiving base (61).
24. 24. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 23, wherein the deceleration unit (500) is held and supported on a component (14) of the pivot bearing unit (20) which carries the receptacle (60A, 60R).
25. 25. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 20 to 24, wherein the resilient element (504) has a decelerating effect via a delay body (502) on the rotation blocking body (54) entering the receptacle (60A, 60R).
26. 26. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 20 to 25, wherein the deceleration unit (500) can be positioned in an adjustable manner relative to the receptacle (60A, 60R).
27. 27. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 26, wherein the deceleration unit (500) has a guide body (506) which receives the resilient element (504) and optionally the deceleration body (502).
28. 28. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 27, wherein the guide body (506) is held in an adjustable position on the component (14) carrying the receptacle (60A, 60R).
29. 29. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein blocking surfaces (90) run between the working position receptacles (60A) and/or the rest position receptacles (60R), against which the rotation blocking bodies (54) can be placed and from which the working position receptacles (60A) and / or the rest position receptacles (60R) extend so that the rotation blocking units (80) and the working position receptacles (60A) and/or the rest position receptacles (60R) are arranged around the pivot axis (22) at angular distances (W) from one another in such a way that in all provided Pivoting positions of the pivot bearing body (14), with the exception of the working position (A) and/or the rest position (R), at least one of the rotation blocking units (80) is opposite one of the blocking surfaces (90) and thus these blocking surfaces (90), in particular when force is applied to the actuating body (52) in the direction of the actuation direction (72), a movement of the actuation body (52) in the actuation direction (72) and consequently also a force-applied engagement of the rotation blocking bodies (54) of each of the rotation blocking units (80) in one of the working position receptacles (60A) or the Rest position recordings (60R) blocked.
30. 30. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the rotation blocking units (80) are arranged at angular distances (W) around the pivot axis (22) to form a rotation blocking configuration, so that the working position recordings (60A) and / or the rest position recordings (60R) are formed each a recording configuration for the working position (A) and / or the rest position (R) are arranged at the same angular distances (W) around the pivot axis (22) as the rotation blocking units (80), so that the rotation blocking configuration and the recording configuration of the working position recordings (60A) in the working position (A) or the rest position receptacles (60R) are congruent with one another in the rest position (R), so that the rotation blocking bodies (54) can engage in the working position receptacles (60A) or rest position receptacles (60R), and that the angular distances (W) between the rotation blocking units (80) of the rotation blocking configuration and the angular distances between the working position holders (60) and the rest position holders (60R) of the holder configurations are selected so that the rotation blocking configuration and one of the holder configurations only in the working position (A) and/or the rest position (R). are congruent with each other.
31. 31. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the angular distances (W) of at least one of the rotation blocking units (80) to the rotation blocking units (80) arranged adjacent in a direction of rotation around the pivot axis (22) and to the rotation blocking units (80) arranged opposite to this direction of rotation are unequal, that in the working position (A), the working position receptacles (60A) are arranged such that the rotation blocking body (54) of each of the rotation blocking units (80) can be brought into engagement with one of the working position receptacles (60A), and/or that in the rest position (R) the rest position receptacles (60R) are arranged in such a way that the rotation blocking body (54) of each of the rotation blocking units (80) can be brought into engagement with one of the rest position receptacles (60R), and that in all pivot positions of the pivot position body (14) intended for operation, the lie outside the working position (A) or the rest position (R), the rotation blocking body (54) lies opposite at least one of the rotation blocking units (80) to a blocking surface (90) running between the working position receptacles (60A) and/or the rest position receptacles (60R), and the Blocking surface (90), especially when force is applied to the actuation body (52), a movement of the actuating body (52) from the release position into the rotation-blocking position is blocked.
32. 32. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 29 to 31, wherein the blocking surfaces (90) face the rotation blocking bodies (54) of the rotation blocking units (80).
33. 33. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 29 to 32, wherein the blocking surfaces (90) extend in a defined radius around the pivot axis (22).
34. 34. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 29 to 33, wherein the blocking surfaces (90) extend up to the opening edges (92) of the working position receptacles (60A) and / or the rest position receptacle (60R) and merge into them.
35. 35. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 34, wherein the opening edges (92) of the working position receptacles (60A) and/or the rest position receptacle (60R) are at the same radial distance from the pivot axis (22) as the blocking surfaces (90)
36. 36. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 29 to 35, wherein at least one of the rotation blocking bodies (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) rests on one of the blocking surfaces (90) during a pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body (14) in the direction of the working position (A), in particular through the action of the actuating body (52) is subject to force.
37. 37. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 29 to 36, wherein the rotation blocking bodies (54) rest against the blocking surfaces (90) under force before reaching the working position (A) and then rest against the opening edges (92) of the working position receptacles (60A) under force in the working position receptacles ( 60A).
38. 38. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 29 to 37, wherein the working position receptacles (60A) extend from the blocking surfaces (90) in the guide direction (58), in particular with at least one component in the radial direction to the pivot axis (22).
39. 39. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 29 to 38, wherein at least one of the rotation blocking bodies (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) rests on one of the blocking surfaces (90) during a pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body (14) in the direction of the rest position (R), in particular through the action of the actuating body (52) is subject to force.
40. 40. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 29 to 39, wherein the rotation blocking bodies (54) rest against the blocking surfaces (90) under force before reaching the rest position (R) and then rest against the opening edges (92) of the rest position receptacles (60R) under force in the rest position receptacles ( 60R).
41. 41. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 29 to 40, wherein the rest position receptacles (60R) extend from the blocking surfaces (90) in the guide direction (58), in particular with at least one component in the radial direction to the pivot axis (22).
42. 42. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 29 to 41, wherein the working position receptacles (60A), the rest position receptacles (60R) and the blocking surfaces (90) are arranged facing the guide sleeve (40).
43. 43. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the guide body (40) is part of the pivot bearing unit (20) which is fixed to the vehicle.
44. 44. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein all guide receptacles (56) for the rotation blocking bodies (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) are arranged in the guide body (40).
45. 45. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the guide direction (58) runs with at least one component in the radial direction to the pivot axis (22).
46. 46. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the guide body (40) has a guide sleeve (44) with guide receptacles (56) for the rotation blocking bodies (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) and that in particular the rotation blocking bodies (54) are located in a radial direction Direction to the guide body (40) adjoining the pivot bearing body (14).
47. 47. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the guide body (40) has a pivot bearing for the pivot bearing body (14).
48. 48. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the actuating body (52) is movably guided relative to the guide body (40).
49. 49. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the actuating body (52) is arranged rotatably about the pivot axis (22) and in particular wedge surfaces (66) extending over an angular range around the pivot axis (22) and varying in a direction parallel to the guide direction (58). ) preferably combined with retraction recordings (62).
50. 50. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the receptacles (60) and the blocking surfaces (90) are arranged on the pivot bearing body (14).
51. 51. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the actuating body (52) is enclosed by the guide body (40) and in particular the pivot bearing body (14) surrounds the guide body (40).
52. 52. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the rotation blocking bodies (54) are arranged around the actuating body (52).
53. 53. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the pivot bearing body (14) forms an outer body which encloses the pivot bearing unit (20) on the outside and which is arranged immovably relative to the pivot bearing unit (20) in the direction of the pivot axis (22), and in particular the pivot bearing body (14) forms an outer body which externally encloses at least a portion of the rotation blocking unit (50), which is arranged non-displaceably relative to the guide body (40) in the direction of the pivot axis (22).
54. 54. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the actuating body (52) is acted upon by an elastic force accumulator (114) in the direction of its rotation-blocking position.
55. 55. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the actuating body (52) can be moved from the rotation-blocking position into the release position by an actuating device (180).
56. 56. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 54 or 55, wherein the actuating body (52) can be moved by the actuating device (180) against the action by the energy accumulator (114).
57. 57. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 54 to 56, wherein the actuating body (52) can be rotated with the actuating device (180) in the opposite direction to the actuating direction (72) caused by the elastic force accumulator (114).
58. 58. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the actuating device (180) has an output element (142) which is coupled to the actuating body (52).
59. 59. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 58, wherein the output element (142) and the actuating body (52) are coupled to one another via a driving coupling device (156, 158).
60. 60. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 59, wherein the driving coupling device (156, 158) has a driving-free release state and a driving state.
61. 61. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the actuating device (180) for the rotation blocking device (50) comprises a motor drive unit.

Further features and advantages of the solution according to the invention are the subject of the following description and the graphic representation of an exemplary embodiment.

• 1 eine Rückansicht eines Kraftfahrzeugs mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Anhängekupplung;
• 2 eine Draufsicht auf eine erfindungsgemäße Anhängekupplung mit Blick in Fahrtrichtung auf die an einem Fahrzeugheck montierte Anhängekupplung, wobei die Anhängekupplung in ihrer Arbeitsstellung steht;
• 3 eine Draufsicht auf die Anhängekupplung in 2 in Richtung der Schwenkachse;
• 4 eine Ansicht entsprechend 2 der in der Ruhestellung stehenden Anhängekupplung;
• 5 eine Draufsicht auf die Anhängekupplung gemäß die in der Ruhestellung stehende Anhängekupplung gemäß 4 in Richtung der Schwenkachse;
• 6 eine Darstellung eines Schnitts längs Linie 6-6 in 3;
• 7 einen Schnitt längs Linie 7-7 in 6 in der Arbeitsstellung bei Drehblockierung durch in einer Drehblockierstellung stehende Drehblockierkörper;
• 8 eine Darstellung eines Schnitts ähnlich 7 in der Losestellung mit in eine Lösestellung verdrehtem Betätigungskörper und in Lösestellung stehenden Drehblockierkörpern;
• 9 eine Darstellung ähnlich 8 bei geringfügigem Schwenken des Schwenklagerkörpers aus der Arbeitsstellung heraus, mit unter Einwirkung der Drehfeder stehendem blockiertem Betätigungskörper;
• 10 eine Darstellung ähnlich 8 mit in Richtung der Ruhestellung weitergedrehtem Schwenklagerkörper, jedoch in der Lösestellung;
• 11 eine Darstellung ähnlich 10 mit in Richtung der Ruhestellung weitergedrehtem Schwenklagerkörper;
• 12 eine Darstellung ähnlich 11 mit in Richtung der Ruhestellung weitergedrehtem Schwenklagerkörper;
• 13 eine Darstellung ähnlich 7 in der Ruhestellung;
• 14 eine Darstellung ähnlich 8 in der Ruhestellung;
• 15 einen Schnitt längs Linie 15-15 in 6 ohne Tragplatte und Haltering;
• 16 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Hohlrads und einer mit diesem zusammenwirkenden Antriebshülse;
• 17 eine perspektivische Explosionsdarstellung des Schwenklagerkörpers mit der Abdeckung;
• 18 einen vergrößerten Schnitt gemäß 6 in der Arbeitsstellung;
• 19 einen vergrößerten Schnitt ähnlich 18 in der Ruhestellung;
• 20 eine schematische Darstellung ähnlich 6 eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Anhängekupplung mit einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel einer Verzögerungseinheit;
• 21 eine vergrößerte ausschnittsweise Darstellung im Bereich der Verzögerungseinheit des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Anhängekupplung;
• 22 eine vergrößerte Darstellung eines Querschnitts durch einen Verzögerungsring des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Verzögerungseinheit;
• 23 eine vergrößerte Darstellung einer ersten Variante der Verzögerungseinheit gemäß dem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel;
• 24 eine perspektivische Darstellung einer zweiten Variante der Verzögerungseinheit gemäß dem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel;
• 25 eine Darstellung des Betätigungskörpers im Zusammenwirken mit einem Rotationsverzögerungsring der zweiten Variante der Verzögerungseinheit gemäß dem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel;
• 26 eine perspektivische Darstellung des Rotationsverzögerungsrings gemäß 24 und 25;
• 27 eine Darstellung ähnlich 8 eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Anhängekupplung mit einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Verzögerungseinheit bei beginnender Bewegung der Drehblockierkörper in Richtung der Arbeitsstell u ngsaufnah men;
• 28 eine Darstellung des zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Anhängekupplung bei Beaufschlagung der Drehblockierkörper durch einen Anfangsbereich von Druckflächen des Betätigungskörpers;
• 29 eine Darstellung des zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Anhängekupplung gemäß 28 mit vollständig in die Arbeitsstellungsaufnahmen eintauchenden Drehblockierkörpern;
• 30 eine Darstellung ähnlich 8 eines dritten Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Anhängekupplung mit einem dritten Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Verzögerungseinheit bei beginnender Bewegung der Drehblockierkörper in Richtung der Arbeitsstellungsaufnahmen und
• 31 eine Darstellung des dritten Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Anhängekupplung mit dem dritten Ausführungsbeispiel der Verzögerungseinheit bei vollständig in die Arbeitsstellungsaufnahmen eingetauchten Drehblockierkörpern.

Show in the drawing:

• 1 a rear view of a motor vehicle with a trailer coupling according to the invention;
• 2 a top view of a trailer coupling according to the invention, looking in the direction of travel of the trailer coupling mounted on the rear of a vehicle, the trailer coupling being in its working position;
• 3 a top view of the trailer hitch in 2 in the direction of the pivot axis;
• 4 a view accordingly 2 the trailer coupling in the rest position;
• 5 a top view of the trailer coupling according to the trailer coupling in the rest position 4 in the direction of the pivot axis;
• 6 a representation of a cut along line 6-6 in 3 ;
• 7 a cut along line 7-7 in 6 in the working position with rotation blocking by rotation blocking bodies standing in a rotation blocking position;
• 8th a representation of a cut similar 7 in the loose position with the actuating body twisted into a loosening position and the rotation blocking bodies standing in the loosening position;
• 9 a similar representation 8th when the pivot bearing body is pivoted slightly out of the working position, with the actuating body blocked under the action of the torsion spring;
• 10 a similar representation 8th with the pivot bearing body rotated further in the direction of the rest position, but in the release position;
• 11 a similar representation 10 with the pivot bearing body rotated further in the direction of the rest position;
• 12 a similar representation 11 with the pivot bearing body rotated further in the direction of the rest position;
• 13 a similar representation 7 in the rest position;
• 14 a similar representation 8th in the rest position;
• 15 a cut along line 15-15 in 6 without support plate and retaining ring;
• 16 a perspective view of a ring gear and a drive sleeve interacting with it;
• 17 an exploded perspective view of the pivot bearing body with the cover;
• 18 according to an enlarged section 6 in the working position;
• 19 similar to an enlarged section 18 in the rest position;
• 20 a schematic representation similar 6 a first embodiment of a trailer coupling according to the invention with a first embodiment of a deceleration unit;
• 21 an enlarged partial representation in the area of the deceleration unit of the first exemplary embodiment of the trailer coupling according to the invention;
• 22 an enlarged view of a cross section through a delay ring of the first exemplary embodiment of the delay unit according to the invention;
• 23 an enlarged view of a first variant of the delay unit according to the first exemplary embodiment;
• 24 a perspective view of a second variant of the delay unit according to the first exemplary embodiment;
• 25 a representation of the actuating body in cooperation with a rotation delay ring of the second variant of the delay unit according to the first exemplary embodiment;
• 26 a perspective view of the rotation delay ring according to 24 and 25 ;
• 27 a similar representation 8th a second embodiment of a trailer coupling according to the invention with a second embodiment of a deceleration unit according to the invention when the rotation blocking bodies begin to move in the direction of the working position;
• 28 a representation of the second exemplary embodiment of the trailer coupling according to the invention when the rotation blocking body is acted upon by an initial region of pressure surfaces of the actuating body;
• 29 a representation of the second embodiment of the trailer coupling according to the invention 28 with rotation blocking bodies that are completely immersed in the working position holders;
• 30 a similar representation 8th a third embodiment of a trailer coupling according to the invention with a third embodiment of a deceleration unit according to the invention when the rotation blocking bodies begin to move in the direction of the working position recordings and
• 31 a representation of the third exemplary embodiment of the trailer coupling according to the invention with the third exemplary embodiment of the deceleration unit with the rotation blocking bodies completely immersed in the working position recordings.

A trailer coupling AK for a motor vehicle, shown in 1 , 2 and 3 in a working position A and in 4 and 5 in a rest position R, comprises a ball neck, designated as a whole by 10, which is held at a first end 12 on a pivot bearing body 14 and carries at a second end 16 a coupling ball, designated as a whole by 18, to which a coupling ball receptacle of a trailer can be fixed.

The pivot bearing body 14 is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis 22 relative to a carrier 24 fixed to the vehicle by a pivot bearing unit designated as a whole 20, the support 24 preferably having a support plate 26 holding the pivot bearing unit 20, which preferably extends in a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis 22 , and has a vehicle-mounted cross member 28, which is known Way can be attached to a rear area H of a vehicle body F, in such a way that the pivot bearing unit 20 and the carrier 24 lie on a side of a lower edge 30 of a bumper unit 36 facing away from a road surface FO, and are covered by the bumper unit 36 ( 3 ).

In the in 1 and 2 In the working position shown, the ball neck 10 engages under the lower edge 30 of the bumper unit 36 with a section 32 adjoining the first end 12, so that the second end 16 and the coupling ball 18 together with a socket receptacle 34 are on a side of the rear bumper unit 36 facing away from the vehicle body F , while in the rest position both the pivot bearing unit 20 and the entire ball neck 10 together with the coupling ball 18 are covered by the rear bumper unit 36 from view from behind.

The pivot bearing unit 20 includes, as in 6 to 9 shown, a guide body 40, which is firmly connected to the support plate 26 with a flange 42 and a guide sleeve 44 which extends away from the support plate 26 starting from the flange 42 and on which the pivot bearing body 14 is rotatably mounted.

For this purpose, the guide sleeve 44 comprises a cylindrical outer surface 46, on which the pivot bearing body 14 rests with a cylindrical inner surface 48 and thereby undergoes rotational guidance about the axis 22 about the pivot axis 22, so that the pivot bearing body 14 is rotatable relative to the guide body 40 in such a way that the Ball neck 10 can be pivoted from the working position A to the rest position R and vice versa.

The guide body 40 also includes an extension 41 extending through an opening 27 in the support plate 26, which carries a receptacle 43 following the extension 41 on a side opposite the flange 42 for a retaining ring 45 that can be fixed thereon, so that the guide body 40 passes through the extension 41 due to its not rotationally symmetrical but with a radially varying outer contour 47 ( 15 ) sits in the correspondingly shaped opening 27 in a rotationally fixed manner in the support plate 26 by positive locking and is fixed to the support plate 26 by the flange 45 and the retaining ring 43, which rest on opposite sides of the support plate 26.

The guide body 40 thus forms the vehicle-mounted pivot bearing for the pivot bearing body 14 through its firm connection to the support plate 26 and the carrier 24.

To fix the pivot bearing body 14 in the working position A, the pivot bearing unit 20 is equipped with a rotation blocking device designated as a whole by 50 ( 7 to 14 ), which have an actuating body 52, a plurality of rotation blocking bodies 54 which can be acted upon by the actuating body 52, each of which is movably guided in a guide receptacle 56 of the guide sleeve 44 in a guide direction 58 which runs essentially radially to the pivot axis 22.

Preferably, at least the rotation blocking bodies 54 and the guide receptacles 56 are arranged symmetrically to a geometric plane which runs perpendicular to the pivot axis 22 and intersects the rotation blocking bodies 54 and which is in the 7 to 14 corresponds to the drawing plane.

Furthermore, the rotation blocking device 50 includes, starting from the inner surface 48 of the pivot bearing body 14, in particular in the radial direction to the pivot axis 22, working position receptacles 60A, with which the rotation blocking bodies 54 can be brought into engagement in the working position A, the working position receptacles 60A in the radial direction to the pivot axis 22 wall surfaces that are increasingly spaced apart from one another.

In addition, the rotation blocking device 50 includes, in addition to or as an alternative to the working position receptacles 60A, rest position receptacles 60R, which in the simplest case are designed in the same way as the working position receptacles 60A.

For example, includes the rotation locking device 50, as in connection with 7 until 14 shown in the first exemplary embodiment, a set of three rotation blocking bodies 54a, 54b and 54c, the guide sleeve 44 has a corresponding set of three guide receptacles 56a, 56b and 56c, in which the rotation blocking bodies 54a, 54b and 54c are in the essentially radial to the pivot axis 22 extending guide direction 58 are slidably guided, and the pivot bearing body 14 is provided with a set of working position receptacles 60Aa, 60Ab and 60Ac, with which the rotation blocking bodies 54a, 54b and 54c can be brought into engagement in the working position A ( 7 ), and/or provided with a set of rest position receptacles 60Ra, 60Rb, 60Rc, with which the rotation blocking bodies 52 can be brought into engagement in the rest position R ( 13 ).

For suitable movement and positioning of the rotation blocking bodies 54 in the guide direction 58, the actuating body 52 is provided with a set of corresponding to the number of rotation blocking bodies 54 for example, a total of three retraction receptacles 62a, 62b and 62c and pressure surfaces 66a, 66b and 66c which adjoin the respective retraction receptacles 62a, 62b, 62c in a circumferential direction 64 and are designed as wedge surfaces acting radially to the pivot axis 22, the rotation blocking bodies 54 in their release position can immerse themselves in the retraction receptacles 62a, 62b, 62c ( 8th ), that they no longer protrude beyond the outer lateral surface 46 of the guide sleeve 44, and the pressure surfaces 66a, 66b, 66c each extend from a radially inner initial region 68a, 68b and 68c, which immediately adjoins the respective retraction receptacles 62, with increasing extent in the direction of rotation 64 increasingly extend outwards radially to the pivot axis 22, up to a radially outer end region 70a, 70b and 70c and thus act as wedge surfaces on the rotation blocking bodies 54 when the actuating body 52 rotates in order to move them into their rotation blocking position.

The pressure surfaces 66 preferably run as spiral or involute segments relative to the pivot axis 22.

In order to either hold the rotation blocking body 54 in its rotation blocking position by applying the pressure surfaces 66 between the initial region 68 and the end region 70 to it or allow it to be immersed in the retraction receptacles 62 in the release position, the actuating body 52 is also about the pivot axis 22, in particular coaxially this, rotatable, in such a way that either the set of retraction receptacles 62a, 62b and 62c faces the rotation blocking bodies 54 and these, as in 8th shown, in its inactive position or release position there is the possibility of diving into the retraction receptacles 62 in the radial direction towards the pivot axis 22 when transitioning into the release position in order to give the respective rotation blocking bodies 54 the opportunity to leave the working position receptacles 60A or the rest position receptacles 60R and to release the pivot bearing body 14 with respect to rotation about the pivot axis 22 relative to the guide body 40, so that the pivot bearing body 14 with the ball neck 10 is unhindered and freely rotatable relative to the guide sleeve 44, as in 8th and 14 shown, in which case the rotation blocking bodies 54 do not extend beyond the outer surface 46 of the guide sleeve 44.

A rotation of the actuating body 52 with the rotation blocking bodies 54 seated in the retraction receptacles 62 in a direction of rotation 72 opposite to the direction of rotation 64 causes the rotation blocking bodies 54 to be moved out of the retraction receptacles 62 and initially in the active position or rotation blocking position of the actuating body 52 on the initial areas 68 of the Pressure surfaces 66 sit on, but are already immersed in the receptacles 60, for example, and thus prevent the free rotation of the pivot bearing body 14 relative to the guide body 40 in their rotation-blocking position.

If the actuating body 52 is rotated further in the direction of rotation 72 opposite to the direction of rotation 64, areas of the pressure surfaces 66 lying radially opposite the pivot axis 22 continue to act on the rotation blocking bodies 54 and thus increasingly press the rotation blocking bodies 54 in the working position A or the rest position R of the ball neck 10 in the working position recordings 60Aa, 60Ab and 60Ac, 7 , or in the rest position holders 60Ra, 60Rb and 60Rc, 13 , in order to achieve a substantially play-free fixation of the pivot bearing body 14 relative to the guide body 40, in this case to the guide sleeve 44.

In the rotation blocking position of the rotation blocking bodies 54, the actuating body 52 is in its active position so that the rotation blocking bodies 54, as in 7 and 13 shown, approximately on middle areas 76, which lie between the initial areas 68 and the end areas 70, rest on the pressure surfaces 66 and are acted upon by them.

In order to give the actuating body 52 the possibility of optimally acting on each of the three rotation blocking bodies 54, it is provided that in the active position the actuating body 52 is centered in accordance with the position of the rotation blocking bodies 54. In particular, the actuating body 52 is mounted in the guide sleeve 44 in such a way that the actuating body 52 can self-center due to the radial play relative to the position of the rotation blocking bodies 54 within the guide body 40 caused by manufacturing tolerances, the self-centering of the actuating body 52 being slightly different from a coaxial arrangement can deviate from the geometric pivot axis 22.

Due to the self-centering, the rotation blocking bodies 54a, 54b and 54c act in the respective guide direction 58a, 58b and 58c with approximately the same forces on the working position receptacles 60Aa, 60Ab and 60Ac or the rest position receptacles 60Ra, 60Rb and 60Rc, so that they also act on the actuating body 52 acting reaction forces are approximately the same size.

The rotation blocking bodies 54 are preferably designed as balls, which therefore rest against the actuating body 52 on the one hand and also against the receptacles 60 on the other.

Thus, there is only a play-related rotatable mounting of the actuating body 52 relative to the pivot axis 22, which is primarily relevant when the actuating body 52 holds the rotation blocking bodies 54 in a release position in which the rotation blocking bodies 54 dip into the retraction receptacles 62 of the actuating body 52.

In order to cause the actuating body 52 to always move in the direction of rotation 72 without external influence, with the rotation blocking bodies 54 moving in the direction of the rotation blocking position, the actuating body 52 is acted upon by a torsion spring 114 ( 6 ), which on the one hand acts on the actuating body 52 and on the other hand is supported radially on the outside on the guide body 40.

The torsion spring 114 also causes the actuating body 52 to force the rotation blocking bodies 54 into the working position receptacles 60A or the rest position receptacles 60R and thus the pivot bearing body 14 is fixed without play, with the freedom from play even when the geometry of the working position receptacles 60A or the changes due to the loads during operation Rest position recordings 60R are maintained by further rotating the actuating body 52 in the direction of rotation 72.

The three guide receptacles 56, for example, and the rotation blocking bodies 54 arranged in them, as well as the retraction receptacles 62 assigned to these rotation blocking bodies 54 with the pressure surfaces 66 adjoining them in the actuating body 52 each form three rotation blocking units 80 and these are at unequal angular distances Wab around the pivot axis 22 , Wbc, Wca (based on the respective central axes Ma, Mb, Mc) arranged relative to one another, whereby, based on the pivot axis 22 as the axis of rotation, a rotation-blocking configuration of the rotation-blocking units 80 only results in a rotation-blocking configuration of the rotation-blocking units 80 when the rotation-blocking configuration is rotated by 360 ° to a congruent arrangement of the rotation-blocking units 80 leads.

For example, the angular distance Wab = 120°, the angular distance Wbc = 137° and the angular distance Wca = 103°, which means that the deviation from equal angular distances is 17°.

With three rotation blocking units, for example, there are also deviations from equal angular distances of up to 30° or more, so that, for example, angular distances of Wab = 120°, Wbc = 150° and Wca = 90° are possible.

Likewise, the working position receptacles 60A and/or the rest position receptacles 60R are each arranged relative to one another in relation to the pivot axis 22 in a receptacle configuration with the same angular distances as the rotation blocking units 80 relative to one another, which also only become one in relation to the pivot axis 22 when rotated through 360° lead to a congruent arrangement of the respective recording configuration, so that in the working position A or the rest position R it is congruent with the rotation blocking configuration, so that in the working position A or the rest position R, in each case a rotation blocking body 54 of one of the rotation blocking units 80 of one of the working position recordings 60A or one of the Rest position receptacles 60R are opposite and can come into engagement with this in the rotation blocking position, as in 7 and 13 shown, whereby the pivot bearing body 14 is fixed in a rotationally fixed manner relative to the pivot bearing unit 20 ( 7 , 13 ).

However, if the actuating body 52 is moved into the release position in the working position A or the rest position R against the force of the torsion spring 114, as described below, each of the rotation blocking bodies 54 of the respective rotation blocking unit 80 has the opportunity to immerse itself in the retraction receptacle 62 assigned to it, and the to leave the respective working position recording 60A or rest position recording R, so that the pivot bearing body 14 can be pivoted out about the pivot axis 22 to the working position A or the rest position R ( 8th , 14 ).

As soon as the pivot bearing body 14 has left the working position A and/or the rest position R ( 9 ), the entirety of the rotational blocking units 80 arranged in the rotation blocking configuration relative to the pivot axis 22 no longer has the possibility of engaging with the entirety of the working position recordings 60A and/or rest position recordings 60R arranged in the respective recording configuration in all pivoting positions between the working position A and/or the rest position R to come, so that when the actuating body 54 is acted upon in the direction of rotation 72, the entirety of the rotation blocking bodies 54 seated in the retraction receptacles 62 can no longer intervene in the entirety of the working position receptacles 60A and / or the rest position receptacles 60R, since the rotation blocking bodies 54 Although the actuating body 52, which is acted upon by the torsion spring 114 in the direction of rotation 72, can be actuated in the direction of the pivot bearing body 14, in particular by the curved base surfaces of the retraction receptacles 62 which run obliquely to the guide direction 58, but in each of the areas lying outside the working position A Rotary positions of the pivot bearing body 14 are never opposed to the entirety of the rotation blocking bodies 54 by a recording from the entirety of the working position recordings 60A and / or the rest position recordings 60R and thus always at least one of the rotation blocking bodies 54 through one of the working position recordings 60A and / or rest position recordings 60R running, in the simplest way Case is blocked by the cylindrical inner surface 48 of the pivot bearing body 14, blocking surfaces 90 and thereby prevents a rotation of the actuating body 52 in the direction of rotation 72 caused by the torsion spring 114, so that the actuation body 52 is thereby in the direction of rotation 72 even when the torsion spring 114 acts all pivot positions of the pivot bearing body 14 outside the working position A and / or the rest position R is held in the release position and can therefore only go back into the rotation-blocking position when the working position A is reached.

Preferably, the deviation of the rotation blocking configuration of the rotation blocking unit 80 and the receiving configuration of the recordings 60 from a symmetrical design is so large that when one of the rotation blocking units 80 is opposite one of the working position recordings 60A or the rest position recordings 60R, so that the rotation blocking body 54 with this working position recording 60A and / or the rest position receptacle 60R could come into engagement, at least one, even better at least two, rotation blocking units 80 are offset relative to the nearest receptacle of the working position receptacle 60A and/or the rest position receptacle 60R in the direction of rotation to such an extent that a contact point of the rotation blocking body 54 assigned to this rotation blocking unit 80 is already lies on one of the blocking surfaces 90 and cannot come to rest in the area of one of the receptacles 60, so that a reliable blocking of the actuating body 52, especially when the actuating body 52 is acted upon by the torsion spring 114 in the direction of rotation 72, is achieved by the in the Release position effective blocking surfaces 90 is guaranteed.

If the actuating body 52 is acted upon with a direction of rotation 64 opposite to the action of the torsion spring 114 and this is rotated to the maximum, the rotation blocking bodies 54 lie in all pivot positions of the pivot bearing body 14 with play between the respective blocking surface 90 and the retraction receptacles 62.

However, if the effect of the torsion spring 114 dominates in the direction of rotation 72, conditions also exist when pivoting between the working position A and/or the rest position R in the respective pivot positions of the pivot bearing body 14 as shown in 9 to 12 are shown.

The 9 to 12 show that the actuating body 52 is held in the release position in each of the pivot positions of the pivot bearing body 14 by at least one, preferably two, rotation blocking bodies 54, which rest on one of the blocking surfaces 90, and prevent one of the rotation blocking bodies 54, for example the rotation blocking body 54b in 10 or the rotation blocking body 54a in 11 , cannot intervene in the receptacle 60 that is aligned with this.

In any case, the circumstances are appropriate 7 to 14 when pivoting between the rest position R and / or the working position A, the rotation blocking body 54 being in contact with the blocking surfaces 90 according to 9 to 12 When pivoting between the rest position R and the working position A, the rotation blocking bodies 54 slide along the blocking surfaces 90 with little noise and from the blocking surfaces 90 above them directly and in particular continuously to the opening edges 92 of the working position receptacles 60A and / or the rest position receptacles 60R into the working position receptacles 60A and/or the rest position receptacles 60R slide and into the rotation-blocking position according to 7 or 13 pass over.

The guide sleeve 44 preferably extends with a section forming a receptacle 102 for the actuating body 52 between the flange 42 and a flange 104 which closes the guide sleeve 44 and extends radially towards the pivot axis 22, which is preferably integrally formed on the guide sleeve 44 and the receptacle 102 for the actuating body 52, so that the actuating body 52 is guided radially to the pivot axis 22 through the receptacle 102 of the guide sleeve 44 and is guided axially in the direction of the pivot axis 22 by resting on an inside 108 of the flange 104.

The flange 104 also has a receptacle 106 coaxial with the pivot axis 22, in which an insert 110 penetrated by a shaft 100 is inserted, in particular screwed in, which sits in the receptacle 106 and guides the shaft 100 rotatably relative to the guide sleeve 44.

On a side of the receptacle 102 for the actuating body 52 opposite the flange 104, the guide sleeve 44 forms, for example with a section passing through the flange 42, a torsion spring receptacle 112, in which the torsion spring 114 is arranged following the actuation body 52, which on the one hand has a outer end fixed in the torsion spring receptacle 112 is and is connected with an inner end to a drive sleeve 122, which is coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the actuating body 52.

For this purpose, the drive sleeve 122, as in the 6 , 7 and 16 shown, for example provided with extensions 124 which engage in corresponding recesses 126 in the actuating body 52 to produce a positive connection.

Because the torsion spring 114 acts on the drive sleeve 122, which is coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the actuating body 52, the action of the torsion spring 114 on the drive sleeve 122 drives the actuating body 52 in the direction of rotation 72, so that the actuating body 52 is unhindered the torsion spring 114 on the drive sleeve 122 always acts on the actuating body 52 in the direction of rotation 72, so that it has the tendency to move the rotation blocking body 54 in the guide direction 58 radially outwards away from the pivot axis 22, this movement being caused by the blocking surfaces 90 in all intended pivot positions of the pivot bearing body 14, with the exception of the working position A and the rest position R, is prevented and consequently only in the working position A and the rest position R the rotation blocking bodies 54 are pressed into the working position receptacles A and the rest position receptacles R and thus the pivot bearing body 14 relative to the Guide sleeve 44 is fixed in a rotationally fixed manner and in particular without play.

In order to be able to move the rotation blocking body 54 into the release position, an action on the actuating body 52 opposite to the direction of rotation 72 and therefore also opposite to the action of the torsion spring 114 is required.

For this purpose, the drive sleeve 122 can be driven by means of a planetary gear 130, designated as a whole by 130 ( 6 ), which is arranged in a gear receptacle 132 of the guide sleeve 44, in particular coaxially to the pivot axis 22, which is arranged, for example, partially within the opening 27 of the carrier plate 26 and preferably on a side opposite the flange 42 away from the opening 27 of the carrier plate 26 extends.

The planetary gear 130 ( 15 ) in turn includes a ring gear 142, which is guided in the gear holder 132 and is provided with internal teeth 144, with which planet gears 146 engage with their external teeth 148.

The planet gears 146 are rotatably held on a planet gear carrier 152, which in turn is connected to the standing shaft 100 in a rotationally fixed manner.

Furthermore includes - as in 16 shown - the ring gear 142 has a flange body 154 lying between the planet gear carrier 152 and the torsion spring 114, which also extends in the direction of the shaft 100, encloses it, but is rotatable relative to it and forms an output of the planetary gear 130 for actuating the rotation blocking device 50.

As in 16 shown, the flange body 154 has circular arc-shaped drive slots 156a, 156b arranged circumferentially around the pivot axis 22, which cooperate with drive fingers 158a, 158b of the drive sleeve 122 engaging in these, and which, however, are designed in such a way that the difference between the angular range around the pivot axis 22, over which the drive slots 156 extend, and the angular range around the pivot axis 22, over which the drive fingers 158 extend, a clearance of the drive sleeve 122 relative to the ring gear 142 is possible, which will be explained in detail below.

The planet gears 146 are also in engagement with their external teeth 148 with an external toothing 164 of a sun gear 162 of the planetary gear 130, which sits on a drive shaft designated as a whole by 166, which is arranged coaxially to the pivot axis 22 and, for example, by means of an end shaft stub 168, which is in a front bore 172 of the standing shaft 100 engages, is freely rotatable relative to the pivot drive shaft 100, but is mounted coaxially therewith.

The drive shaft 166 carries, at a distance from the planetary gear 130, a drive gear 174, for example a bevel gear, which is driven by an output gear of a motor drive unit 182, which comprises, for example, on the one hand a drive motor, preferably an electric motor, and on the other hand a reduction gear for driving the drive gear.

The drive unit 182 is held, for example, on a cover body 184, which, starting from the carrier plate 126, engages over the drive shaft 166 with the drive gear 174 and the output gear meshing with it and also supports the drive shaft 166 on a side facing away from the shaft stub 168.

The planetary gear 130 and the drive unit 182 thus form, for example, an actuating device 180 for the rotation blocking device 50.

The standing shaft 100, which is coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the planet gear carrier 152, is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the flange 104 of the guide body 40.

An end flange 198 of the pivot bearing body 14 engages over the flange 104 of the guide body 40 in the outer region 200 and extends to a guide shoulder 202 of the flange 104, the end flange 198 having, for example, a radially inner cylinder surface 204, an outer cylinder surface 206 of the guide shoulder 202 encompasses and, for example, rests on it and is therefore also additionally guided on the guide projection 202 coaxially to the pivot axis 22.

In addition, a thread 212 extends in the receptacle 106 of the guide extension 202, in which the insert 110 is fixed, in particular screwed, which partially overlaps the end flange 198 in a radially inner region with an outer flange 214, so that the end flange 198 of the pivot bearing body 14 is guided axially immovably between the flange 104 and the outer flange 214 of the insert 110 and thus axially immovably relative to the guide body 40.

A cover 222 is also mounted in a rotationally fixed manner on the end flange 198, so that the cover 222 forms a unit with the pivot bearing body 14, which is rotatable about the pivot axis 22 ( 17 ).

The cover 222 sits on the end flange 198 and is fixed on it in a rotationally fixed manner.

In the solution described above, a set of working position holders 60A are provided for the rotationally fixed fixing of the pivot bearing body 14 in the working position A, as well as a set of rest position holders 60R for the non-rotatable fixing of the pivot bearing body 14 in the rest position R.

In order to reduce the noise development in the case of a trailer coupling with a rotation blocking device 50, as described above, when the rotation blocking bodies 54 transition from the release position to the rotation blocking position while moving in the guide direction 58, a first exemplary embodiment of a trailer coupling according to the invention, as shown in 20 shown, a first exemplary embodiment of a delay unit 300 according to the invention, which is designed so that it delays a movement of the actuating body 52 in the direction of rotation 72, in particular when the initial regions 68 of the pressure surfaces 66 begin to act on the rotation blocking bodies 54, in order to to reduce the speed at which the rotation blocking bodies 54 are moved in the direction of the working position receptacles 60A or the rest position receptacles 60R.

For this, as in 20 and 21 shown, in the first exemplary embodiment it is provided that the actuating body 52 is provided with an annular extension 302 which extends in the direction of the flange 104 and which engages in an annular groove 304 provided in the flange 104 of the guide body (40), the annular extension 302 and the annular groove 304 has annular surfaces 306 and 308 which face one another and are arranged coaxially with respect to the pivot axis 22, between which a rotation delay ring 310 is arranged, which serves to delay the rotational movement of the actuating body 52 by the speed at which the rotation blocking bodies 54 move in the guide direction 58 move into the working position recordings 60A or the rest position recordings 60R to reduce.

For example, as in 22 shown, the rotation delay ring 310 is designed so that it has two approximately parallel pressure legs 312 and 314, which face the annular surfaces 306 and 308 with their outer sides 316 and 318 and are connected to one another via a central leg 322, the pressure legs 312, 314 and the middle leg 322 are formed from an elastic material, which ensures that the pressure legs 312 and 314 with their outer sides 316 and 318 are subjected to a preload in a spring-elastic manner in the direction of the annular surface 306 and 308, in the simplest case to achieve a sufficiently large friction between the outside 316 and the annular surface 306 or the outside 318 and the annular surface 308, which counteracts the torque exerted by the torsion spring 114 on the rotation blocking body 152 and acting in the direction of rotation 72 and thus the rotational speed of the rotational movement of the Actuating body 52 is delayed in the direction of rotation 72.

Preferably, the outer sides 316 and 318 can be provided with coatings 326 and 328 forming friction surfaces 332, 334, by selecting which the deceleration of the rotational movement in the direction of rotation 72 can be specified.

It is particularly advantageous if the friction surfaces 332, 334 of the coatings 326 and 328 are designed such that they develop an increased frictional effect during a rotational movement in the direction of rotation 72 and a reduced frictional effect in a direction of rotation opposite to the direction of rotation 72, around the transition of the actuating body 52 from the rotation blocking position to the release position.

In a first variant of the first exemplary embodiment of a delay unit according to the invention, shown in 23 , the deceleration unit 300 'is provided with a rotation deceleration ring 310', which has a support body 336 resting on the annular surface 306 and a friction body 338 resting on the annular surface 308, for example the support body 336 is designed to be radially elastic and presses the friction body 338 against the annular surface 308 and also preferably rests on the annular surface 306 with a high frictional force, while the friction body 338 rests on the annular surface 308 and can be moved relative to the annular surface 308 with a predeterminable coefficient of friction.

In a second variant of the exemplary embodiment of the delay unit 300 according to the invention, shown in the 24 to 26 , the rotation delay ring 310", which is effective between the annular surface 306 and the annular surface 308, is formed from a base body 342 made of elastic material with a desired coefficient of friction and has support bodies 344 arranged in the base body 342 in the circumferential direction at a distance from one another, which are obliquely relative to radial directions 346 are aligned with the pivot axis in order to ensure that the base body 342 rests with greater force against the annular surfaces 306 and 308 with its outer sides 316 "or 318" during a rotational movement in the direction of rotation 72 and thus generates a greater frictional force than during a rotational movement opposite to the direction of rotation 72.

Alternatively or additionally, a second exemplary embodiment of a trailer coupling according to the invention provides a second exemplary embodiment of a deceleration unit 400, which is arranged in the section of the guide sleeve 44 of the guide body 40 surrounding the actuating body 52 and with a peripheral side of the actuating body 52, in particular with a pressure surface 66 and / or with a peripheral region 71 adjoining one of the pressure surfaces 66, the deceleration unit 400 comprising a friction body 402, which is arranged in a guide sleeve 404 and by a spring-elastic body 406, which is also seated in the guide sleeve 404, for example formed by a spiral spring or a disc spring package , can be acted upon in the direction of the actuating body 52, the friction body 402 being arranged so that it, as in 28 shown, then becomes effective when the initial area 68 of the respective pressure surface 66 begins to act on the respective rotation blocking body 54 ( 27 until 29 ).

This can be achieved, for example, in that the friction body 402 only protrudes so far from the guide sleeve 44 in the direction of the actuating body 52 that it only becomes effective when the end region 70 of the pressure surface 66 is opposite it or even only becomes effective when this the peripheral area following the pressure surface 66 is opposite.

In particular, if the friction body 402 cooperates with the peripheral region 71, the peripheral region 71 can be provided with a friction-promoting surface structure or surface coating, which cannot be realized in the region of the pressure surface 66.

Only one delay unit 400 can be assigned to the rotation blocking body 52; due to the storage of the rotation blocking body 52 with play relative to the pivot axis 22, it is also possible to provide a delay unit 400 acting for each circumferential region 71 following a pressure surface 66.

These delay units 400 thus make it possible to delay the movement of the respective rotation blocking body 54 in the guide direction 48 for engagement, for example, in the working position recordings 60A or the rest position recordings 60R immediately before hitting a recording base 61A or 61R and thus the impact noise of the respective actuating body 54 on the respective admission reason 61A or 61R.

Alternatively or in addition to the previously described embodiments of a deceleration unit according to the invention, in a third exemplary embodiment of a trailer coupling according to the invention, a third exemplary embodiment of a deceleration unit 500 ( 30 and 31 ) is provided, which is provided in the pivot bearing body 14 and is assigned, for example, to one of the working position receptacles 60A, for example the working position receptacle 60Aa.

The deceleration unit 500 includes a delay body 502 assigned to the working position recording base 61Aa, which in its inactive position projects beyond the working position recording base 61Aa and is acted upon by a resilient element 504.

Both the deceleration body 502 and the resilient element 504 are arranged in a guide body 506, which is arranged in a bore 508 in the pivot bearing body 14 associated with the working position receptacle 60Aa, which is provided, for example, with an internal thread, and thus opens up the possibility, for example a guide body 506 provided with an external thread, thereby the guide body 506 with together with the delay body 502 arranged therein and the associated spring-elastic element 504 can be moved in the direction of the working position receiving base 61Aa and can therefore be adjusted in such a way that the delay body 502 is in its still ineffective starting position, in which no action is yet taken by the associated rotation blocking body 54, via the working position receiving base 61Aa more or less protrudes into the working position 60Aa.

Depending on how far the deceleration body 502 protrudes beyond the working position receiving base 61Aa into the working position receiving base 60Aa, the deceleration effect exerted by the deceleration body 502 on the rotation blocking body 54 when moving in the guide direction 58 in the direction of the working position receiving base 61Aa can be adjusted and thus also the deceleration effect of the deceleration unit 500 adjustable from an outside of the pivot bearing body 14, in particular if the guide body 506 has a guide body head 512, which projects beyond an outer circumference of the pivot bearing body 14 and, for example, has a receptacle 514 for an adjustment tool, for example a screwdriver.

With a delay unit 500 adjusted in this way, the rotation blocking body 54a reaches the delay body 502 before hitting the working position recording base 61Aa, which delays the movement of the rotation blocking body 54a by deforming the resilient element 504 and allows it to hit the working position recording base 61Aa at a reduced speed.

Although the delay unit 500 is only assigned to one working position receptacle 60A, for example the working position receptacle 60Aa, it also has a delaying effect on the remaining rotation blocking bodies 54 entering the respective working position receptacles 60Ab and 60Ac, since the rotation blocking body 54a, which is provided by the delay unit 500 is delayed when it hits the working position recording base 61Aa, at the same time exerting a reaction on the actuating body 52, so that its rotational movement in the direction of rotation 72 is also delayed and thus the remaining rotation blocking bodies 54b and 54c are only delayed in the direction of the respective working position recording base 61Ab and 61Ac moves and thus leads to an overall reduction in noise.

In the same way, one of the rest position receptacles 60R can additionally or alternatively be assigned such a delay unit 500 according to the invention in order to achieve the desired noise attenuation when the rotation blocking bodies 54 enter the respective rest position receptacles 60R.

A further detailed description of the trailer coupling according to the invention, in particular the individual movement sequences, is disclosed in DE 10 2020 11 468, so that full reference is made in this regard to the disclosure in this application.

Claims (61)

Trailer coupling, comprising a ball neck (10) movable between a working position (A) and a rest position (R) with a pivot bearing body (14) arranged at a first end and a coupling ball (18) arranged at a second end, a pivot bearing unit (20) arranged fixed to the vehicle ), by means of which the pivot bearing body (14) is pivotably received to carry out a pivoting movement about a pivot axis (22) between the working position (A) and the rest position (R), and one acting between the pivot bearing unit (20) and the pivot bearing body (14). Rotation blocking device (50) with, on the one hand, at least one rotation blocking unit (80), which has a rotation blocking body (54), which is movably guided in a guide direction (58) by means of a guide receptacle (56) of a guide body (40) and which in the guide direction (58) can be moved by a pressure surface (66) which runs transversely to the guide direction (58) and is provided on an actuating body (52), and on the other hand with at least one working position receptacle (60A) and/or at least one rest position receptacle (60R), wherein by moving the actuating body ( 52) the rotation blocking body (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) can be moved and acted upon in the guide direction (58) in an actuation direction (72) and wherein the rotation blocking body (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) is in the working position (A) and / or the Rest position (R) can be brought into a rotation blocking position by moving in the guide direction (58) and in this the rotation blocking body (54) comes into engagement with a working position holder (60A) or rest position holder (60R) in order to enable a pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body (14). in order to block the pivot axis (22) relative to the guide body (40), and wherein the rotation blocking body (54) can be brought into a release position and in this position is disengaged from the working position holder (60) and/or the rest position holder (60R) and the pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body (14), characterized in that the rotation blocking body device (50) has at least one delay unit (300, 400, 500) is assigned, which at least when the working position (A) and / or the rest position (R) is reached, delays a transition into the rotational blocking position caused by the rotation blocking device (50). trailer coupling Claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one delay unit (300, 400, 500) acts on the rotation blocking device (50). trailer coupling Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the at least one delay unit (300, 400, 500) delays the transition of the rotation blocking unit (80) into the rotation blocking position. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one deceleration unit (300, 400, 500) acts on one or more elements of the rotation blocking device (50). trailer coupling Claim 2 until 4 , characterized in that the at least one delay unit (300, 400, 500) acts directly on one of the elements of the rotation blocking device (50). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one delay unit (300, 400, 500) delays movement of the rotation blocking body (54) into the rotation blocking position. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one delay unit (300, 400, 500) delays the movement of the actuating body (52) into the rotation-blocking position. trailer coupling Claim 7 , characterized in that the at least one delay unit (300, 400) is effective between the guide body (44) and the actuating body (52). trailer coupling Claim 7 or 8th , characterized in that the at least one delay unit (300) is arranged on the actuating body (52). Trailer coupling according to one of the Claims 7 until 9 , characterized in that the at least one delay unit (300, 400) is arranged on the guide body (44). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one deceleration unit (300, 400, 500) has a resilient element (312, 314, 322, 336, 406, 504). Trailer coupling according to one of the Claims 7 until 11 , characterized in that the resilient element (312, 314, 322, 336, 406) forms at least one friction surface (316, 318, 342) or acts on a friction body (326, 328, 338, 402). Trailer coupling according to one of the Claims 7 until 12 , characterized in that the at least one delay unit (300) comprises a movement delay body (310) which is effective between a surface (302) of the actuating body (52) and a surface of the guide body (40) facing it. trailer coupling Claim 13 , characterized in that the movement delay body (310) has a different friction effect depending on the direction of movement. Trailer coupling according to one of the Claims 7 until 12 , characterized in that the at least one delay unit (400) is arranged in a defined position on the guide body (40) and, starting from this, has a decelerating effect on the actuating body (52). trailer coupling Claim 15 , characterized in that the deceleration unit (400) is provided with a friction body (402) acted upon by a resilient body (406), which acts on the actuating body (52). trailer coupling Claim 16 , characterized in that the friction body (402) acts on the circumference of the actuating body (52). trailer coupling Claim 17 , characterized in that the friction body (402) acts on a pressure surface (66) acting on a rotation blocking body (54) to act on the rotation blocking body (54). trailer coupling Claim 17 or 18 , characterized in that the friction body (402) acts on a peripheral region (71) of the actuating body (52) adjoining a pressure surface (66) for acting on a rotation blocking body (54). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one delay unit (500) acts on a rotation blocking body (54) when the working position (A) and/or the rest position (R) is reached and delays its movement in the working position recording (60A) or rest position recording (60R). trailer coupling Claim 20 , characterized in that the delay unit (500) is assigned to at least the working position recording (60A) and/or the rest position recording (60R). trailer coupling Claim 21 , characterized in that the delay unit (500) counteracts the impact of the rotation blocking body (54) on a recording base (61A, 61R) of the working position recording (60A) and / or the rest position recording (60R). trailer coupling Claim 22 , characterized in that the delay unit (500) comprises a resilient element (504) which counteracts the movement of the rotation blocking body (54) in the direction of the respective receiving base (61) in a decelerating manner. trailer coupling Claim 23 , characterized in that the deceleration unit (500) is held and supported on a component (14) of the pivot bearing unit (20) that carries the receptacle (60A, 60R). Trailer coupling according to one of the Claims 20 until 24 , characterized in that spring-elastic element (504) has a decelerating effect via a delay body (502) on the rotation blocking body (54) entering the receptacle (60A, 60R). Trailer coupling according to one of the Claims 20 until 25 , characterized in that the delay unit (500) can be positioned in an adjustable manner relative to the receptacle (60A, 60R). trailer coupling Claim 26 , characterized in that the delay unit (500) has a guide body (506) which receives the resilient element (504) and optionally the delay body (502). trailer coupling Claim 27 characterized in that the guide body (506) is held in an adjustable position on the component (14) carrying the receptacle (60A, 60R). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the working position receptacles (60A) and/or the rest position receptacles (60R) there are blocking surfaces (90) against which the rotation blocking bodies (54) can be placed and from which the working position receptacles (60A) extend. and/or the rest position receptacles (60R) extend so that the rotation blocking units (80) and the working position receptacles (60A) and/or the rest position receptacles (60R) are arranged around the pivot axis (22) at angular distances (W) from one another in such a way that in all provided pivot positions of the pivot bearing body (14), with the exception of the working position (A) and / or the rest position (R), at least one of the rotation blocking units (80) is opposite one of the blocking surfaces (90) and thus these blocking surfaces (90), in particular when force is applied to the Actuating body (52) in the direction of the actuating direction (72), a movement of the actuating body (52) in the actuating direction (72) and consequently also a force-applied engagement of the rotation blocking bodies (54) of each of the rotation blocking units (80) in one of the working position receptacles (60A) or the rest position recordings (60R) are blocked. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotation blocking units (80) are arranged at angular distances (W) around the pivot axis (22) to form a rotation blocking configuration, that the working position recordings (60A) and / or the rest position recordings (60R) for Formation of a recording configuration for the working position (A) and/or the rest position (R) are arranged at the same angular distances (W) around the pivot axis (22) as the rotation blocking units (80), so that the rotation blocking configuration and the recording configuration of the working position recordings (60A) in the working position (A) or the rest position holders (60R) are congruent with one another in the rest position (R), so that the rotation blocking bodies (54) can engage in the working position holders (60A) or rest position holders (60R), and that the angular distances (W) between the rotation blocking units (80) of the rotation blocking configuration and the angular distances between the working position holders (60) and the rest position holders (60R) of the holder configurations are selected so that the rotation blocking configuration and one of the holder configurations only in the working position (A) and/or the rest position (R ) are congruent with each other. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the angular distances (W) of at least one of the rotation blocking units (80) are unequal to the rotation blocking units (80) arranged in a direction of rotation around the pivot axis (22) and to the rotation blocking units (80) arranged opposite to this direction of rotation, that in the working position (A) the working position recordings ( 60A) are arranged in such a way that the rotation blocking body (54) of each of the rotation blocking units (80) can be brought into engagement with one of the working position receptacles (60A), and/or that in the rest position (R) the rest position receptacles (60R) are arranged in such a way, that the rotation blocking body (54) of each of the rotation blocking units (80) can be brought into engagement with one of the rest position receptacles (60R), and that in all pivot positions of the pivot position body (14) intended for operation, which are outside the working position (A) or the rest position (R), the rotation blocking body (54) is opposite at least one of the rotation blocking units (80) to a blocking surface (90) running between the working position receptacles (60A) and/or the rest position receptacles (60R), and the blocking surface (90), in particular when force is applied of the actuating body (52), a movement of the actuating body (52) from the release position into the rotation-blocking position is blocked. Trailer coupling according to one of the Claims 29 until 31 , characterized in that the blocking surfaces (90) face the rotation blocking bodies (54) of the rotation blocking units (80). Trailer coupling according to one of the Claims 29 until 32 , characterized in that the blocking surfaces (90) extend in a defined radius around the pivot axis (22). Trailer coupling according to one of the Claims 29 until 33 , characterized in that the blocking surfaces (90) extend up to the opening edges (92) of the working position holders (60A) and/or the rest position holder (60R) and merge into them. trailer coupling Claim 34 , characterized in that the opening edges (92) of the working position holders (60A) and/or the rest position holder (60R) are at the same radial distance from the pivot axis (22) as the blocking surfaces (90) Trailer coupling according to one of the Claims 29 until 35 , characterized in that at least one of the rotation blocking bodies (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) rests on one of the blocking surfaces (90) during a pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body (14) in the direction of the working position (A), in particular through the action of the actuating body (52) , applied to force. Trailer coupling according to one of the Claims 29 until 36 , characterized in that the rotation blocking bodies (54) rest against the blocking surfaces (90) under force before reaching the working position (A) and then enter the working position receptacles (60A) under force on the opening edges (92) of the working position receptacles (60A). Trailer coupling according to one of the Claims 29 until 37 , characterized in that the working position receptacles (60A) extend from the blocking surfaces (90) in the guide direction (58), in particular with at least one component in the radial direction to the pivot axis (22). Trailer coupling according to one of the Claims 29 until 38 , characterized in that at least one of the rotation blocking bodies (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) rests on one of the blocking surfaces (90) during a pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body (14) in the direction of the rest position (R), in particular through the action of the actuating body (52) , applied to force. Trailer coupling according to one of the Claims 29 until 39 , characterized in that the rotation blocking bodies (54) rest against the blocking surfaces (90) under force before reaching the rest position (R) and then enter the rest position receptacles (60R) under force on the opening edges (92) of the rest position receptacles (60R). Trailer coupling according to one of the Claims 29 until 40 , characterized in that the rest position receptacles (60R) extend from the blocking surfaces (90) in the guide direction (58), in particular with at least one component in the radial direction to the pivot axis (22). Trailer coupling according to one of the Claims 29 until 41 , characterized in that the working position receptacles (60A), the rest position receptacles (60R) and the blocking surfaces (90) are arranged facing the guide sleeve (40). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide body (40) is part of the pivot bearing unit (20) which is fixed to the vehicle. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all guide receptacles (56) for the rotation blocking bodies (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) are arranged in the guide body (40). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide direction (58) runs with at least one component in the radial direction to the pivot axis (22). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide body (40) has a guide sleeve (44) with guide receptacles (56) for the rotation blocking bodies (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) and that in particular the rotation blocking bodies (54) are located through the in Radial direction to the guide body (40) adjoining the pivot bearing body (14). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide body (40) has a pivot bearing for the pivot bearing body (14). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating body (52) is guided movably relative to the guide body (40). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating body (52) is arranged rotatably about the pivot axis (22) and in particular wedge surfaces which extend over an angular range around the pivot axis (22) and vary in a direction parallel to the guide direction (58). 66) preferably combined with retraction receptacles (62). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receptacles (60) and the blocking surfaces (90) are arranged on the pivot bearing body (14). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating body (52) is enclosed by the guide body (40) and in particular the pivot bearing body (14) surrounds the guide body (40). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotation blocking bodies (54) are arranged around the actuating body (52). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivot bearing body (14) forms an outer body which encloses the pivot bearing unit (20) on the outside and which is arranged immovably relative to the pivot bearing unit (20) in the direction of the pivot axis (22), and in particular the Pivot bearing body (14) forms an outer body which externally encloses at least a portion of the rotation blocking unit (50), which is arranged non-displaceably relative to the guide body (40) in the direction of the pivot axis (22). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating body (52) is acted upon by an elastic force accumulator (114) in the direction of its rotation-blocking position. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating body (52) can be moved from the rotation-blocking position into the release position by an actuating device (180). trailer coupling Claim 54 or 55 , characterized in that the actuating body (52) can be moved by the actuating device (180) against the action by the energy storage (114). Trailer coupling according to one of the Claims 54 until 56 , characterized in that the actuating body (52) can be rotated with the actuating device (180) in the opposite direction to the actuating direction (72) caused by the elastic force accumulator (114). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating device (180) has an output element (142) which is coupled to the actuating body (52). trailer coupling Claim 58 , characterized in that the output element (142) and the actuating body (52) are coupled to one another via a driving coupling device (156, 158). trailer coupling Claim 59 , characterized in that the driving coupling device (156, 158) has a driving-free release state and a driving state. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating device (180) for rotation Blocking device (50) comprises a motor drive unit.

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