DE8532035U1 - Toboggan steering device - Google Patents

Description

- 1 Description

The invention relates to a toboggan steering device and to a toboggan with such a steering device. The toboggan of the type in question has two unsteerable skids below its seat part and the steering device - located between the skids - has a pivotably mounted steering element that is coupled/can be coupled to an operating device.

Toboggans of the aforementioned Baxi type are known in a wide variety of designs - also with steering devices. The seat is located at a greater distance (at least 20 cm) above the sliding surface and a steering device can be accommodated between the sliding and sitting surfaces. Although such toboggans are equipped with

§ 15 Skids, which are bent upwards at the front end, supported by a bench seat (so-called skid or horn sledges, in particular "Davos sledges") are preferred, the axle can also be provided for plastic shell sledges, provided that there is a corresponding accommodation space for the steering device in the front area of the sledge.

The toboggans with runners or horns that are actually used in practice, with unsteerable runners, do not have a steering mechanism. Steering is therefore carried out by shifting the weight of the body and/or with the feet. Both are cumbersome and unsatisfactory, especially on hard and very smooth (e.g. icy) slopes, since when driving through sharp (narrow) curves there is a risk that the toboggan will not follow the curve properly despite steering at high speeds and the tobogganer will therefore easily be thrown out of the track or have to brake the toboggan very hard with their feet. Using your feet when steering in curves that bend sharply is also dangerous due to the great amount of force required at high speeds, as it can

lead to injuries (e.g. sprained feet, possibly even fractures) for the sledder. The disadvantage of steering the sled by shifting your weight is that it requires practice and a lot of strength (see the "Sled System Comparison" in the test issue 11/1983, p. 47 of the Stiftung Warentest magazine). Insofar as steering devices are known in practice for plastic sledges and have been tested by the "Stiftung Warentest", there is the defect that in the models with a steering device mounted inside the sliding support, the "steering with the steering device" is either "... only effective when driving slowly" in one model (namely model "b") or "... only effective to a limited extent" in another model (namely model "c") (see "System comparison of sledges" in the test issue 11/1983, p. 46 of the Stiftung Warentest magazine). The sledge shown in the above-mentioned report in the "test" magazine on p. 46 under "Steerable plastic sledges" at "a" has a steering runner in front of the sliding runners, which extends the sledge length beyond what is necessary in an extremely disadvantageous way - i.e. the sledge is significantly longer than is necessary for the sledge to puncture. When driving over heavily On uneven (bumpy) slopes, a strong impact load or even "jumping" of the toboggan cannot be ruled out.

In the patent literature, it is already known from DE-PS 211 289 from 1909 that a steerable shoe is arranged between the two runners in the front area, which consists of two parallel auxiliary runners made of springy material - preferably flat ^steel - arranged within the length of the runners, which are intended to absorb the weight of the sled - and the driver (sledder) - when it jumps. Such a sledge guide has not proven itself in practice - at least such a model is not on the market. Due to the flexibility of these flat steel auxiliary runners, there is probably no sufficient grip on the ground.

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to ensure safe control when driving through narrow and icy curves - a high tobogganing speed is probably not possible without danger.

A skid sledge is also known from DE-OS 32 03 941, in which a single long steering skid is arranged between the rigid running skids (sliding skids) protruding forwards relative to these and is pivoted by means of a bearing tube on an at least approximately vertical steering pin and is spring-mounted in the axial direction of the steering pin. Here too, the steering skid has the disadvantage of increasing the overall length of the sledge. Furthermore, this retrofittable steering device is able to keep the sledge sufficiently on track on an icy toboggan run, even at low toboggan speeds and/or only in gentle curves. When tobogganing on a snow-covered (deep in the snow) toboggan run, the long steering skid also has the disadvantage that it acts like a snow plow when the steering is turned sharply and causes severe braking.

The invention is based on the task of creating an improved steering or steering device for toboggans and/or a toboggan with an improved steering device, which allows a relatively short sled length with a large usable length and ensures easy-to-use and safe steering both in deep snow and on icy toboggan runs, with good contact with the ground when required on the one hand and low braking effect on the other.

According to the invention, this is achieved by the steering device disclosed in the characterizing part of claim 1. The same also has the advantage that it can be easily (simply and quickly) retrofitted to existing skid or horn sledges (preferably in the "Davos" type _).

The design features of the invention can be found in the subclaims. The person skilled in the art will easily recognize their advantages. Also, the most varied sub-combinations of the individual disclosed features are the subject of the protection sought/scope of protection.

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An exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and is explained in more detail below. Bs show:

Fig. 1 a top view of the front area of a sled with between the runners on

ordered steering device

Fig. 2 a vertical section through the same arrangement

along the toboggan sledge symmetry plane. 10

The invention relates both to a toboggan steering device and to a toboggan with such a steering device*. A toboggan of the type in question is equipped with a frame 1 which has two unsteerable lateral runners 2. Such sledges are known as "runner sledges" (especially Davos sledges) or "horn sledges" - however, a plastic shell sledge with lateral runners can also be used, provided that it has sufficient space in the front area of the sledge for a steering device 3 according to the invention.

The steering device according to the invention is numbered 3 as a complete assembly _or assembly unit.

In the preferred sled design as a runner or horn sled - with sled runners/sliding runners 2 that are bent up at the front and carry a bench for 1, 2 or 3 people - the steering device 3 extends in the front sled area and within the normal (i.e. steering device-free) sled length and preferably approximately in the area of the runner curvature (see Fig. 2). Despite the presence of a steering device 3 that makes sled control much easier, the length of the sled is not increased, which means that the sled groove length and handling when sledding as well as the required storage space during transport and storage are not impaired.

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The toboggan steering device 3 according to the invention has a steering wheel 4 which can be turned by hand or by means of the feet and is preferably designed as a trailing wheel, the part of which which supports the wheel axle/running axle 5, preferably a wheel fork 6, in a universal joint (head) 7, preferably in a direction around a horizontal axis running transversely to the tobogganing direction.

8 height-adjustable swing arm 7, pivotably mounted on a substantially upright (i.e. vertical or slightly inclined from the vertical) axis/control axis 9 and with at least one hand-operated control part 10 xuid/or

Foot control part 11 is coupled or can be coupled. The axis serving for the swing arm bearing is connected with the interposition of at least one fastening and/or connecting device.

tung 12, v/ie bearing block, bearing shields (bearing plates) or the like, removably attached/fixed to the slide body - either to the slide bench supported by the skids 2 or to the skids 2 - in the area of the skid arches/skid horns or (especially in the case of so-called plastic shell slides)

embedded in the carriage body during manufacture. 20

As can be seen from the drawing, it is particularly preferred to have the steering device 3 according to the invention in a detachable connection between the two bent-up front end parts

the skids 2. The horizontal axis (vertical pivot axis) 8 can extend over the entire width of the carriage or the free space between its skids 2. It is mounted or fastened at the end in/on two bearing parts, which are designed as screw and/or clamp holders and numbered 12. These bearing parts, preferably bearing plates, are preferably fastened to the skids by means of screws. The axis 8 can replace a cross brace of the carriage body, which is often present, or can be arranged at a close distance from such a cross brace _. In order to be usable for 35 different carriage widths when retrofitting, either the axis 8 is designed to be variable in length (e.g. telescopic) or the axis 8 and the same

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The bearing parts (item 12) holding the bearings are designed in such a way that they can be moved against each other in the longitudinal direction of the axis 8 for the purpose of width adjustment.

5 It is also within the scope of the invention to position the horizontal axis

8 Arrange in/on a single bearing part (bearing block) attached/fixable to the slide bench.

.; The swing arm 7, which is adjustable in height on the axle 8, is at the front

\ 16 have a horizontal bearing sleeve 71 and at the rear an approximately vertical bearing sleeve 72, between which a swing arm 73 extends. The horizontal bearing sleeve 71 is preferably longer than the vertical bearing sleeve 72. As can be seen from the drawing, the swing arm 7> has a tapering towards the rear in plan view.

. and in the side view a rear-widening

(increasing) profile, whereby the arm cross-section is designed as an inverted U-profile (possibly axially: V-profile)

, can. Such a swing arm design enables easy

te and yet extremely stable construction - and is particularly preferred.

In order to keep the steering wheel 4 constantly towards the ground, it is advantageous and preferred to assign a corresponding holding-down device to the swing arm 7. This holding-down device has at least one spring 13 _or

In the embodiment shown, two tension springs 13 are suspended in the swing arm 7, particularly in the side webs of the arm profile, the other end of which is attached to the carriage body by means of a fastening part (hook and/or nozzle part) 14 that can be fixed or is fixed to the adjacent skid 2. The tension springs run in an inclined position to the ground and diverge from the swing arm 7.

It is advantageous to design the spring arrangement in such a way that the spring force changes - doh«, according to the requirements

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In a particularly preferred embodiment, the swing arm 7 has on each side (right and left) several spring receptacles, e.g., spring hanging holes, 15, provided at a distance from one another, so that the springs 13 can be easily and quickly hung in and out.

Instead of the tension springs 13, compression springs or torsion springs can also be used. If torsion springs are provided, they are arranged in the area of the horizontal axis 8 and the swing arm bearing sleeve 71 resting on it. The torsion spring(s) can be designed and/or arranged so that their spring force is adjustable.

Due to the spring force adjustment, the steering device can be adjusted in its holding-down moment in such a way that the toboggan sled - regardless of how large (1-, 2- or 3-seater) the toboggan sled is - is raised with its front area when pulled over a firm surface and the toboggan sled is only supported on the surface in a three-point support (with the steering wheel 4 and the rear ends of the runners forming the support points). Such a three-point support makes it easier to pull the sled on snow-cleared paths and protects the sliding surfaces of the runners. The ability to change the holding-down force of the steering device 3 can also be advantageous when tobogganing on slopes of varying firmness and/or smoothness, as the most advantageous contact pressure can be set in each case.

The lowering movement of the steering device 3, in particular its rocker arm 7 and the steering wheel 4 carried thereby, can be limited by at least one stop 16, which is/are then assigned to the slide bench 1 or the runners 2.

The swiveling ability of the wheel fork 6 can be unlimited or limited - a design with swivel angle limitation is preferred. Such a swivel angle limitation is possible in various ways. It can be always ready for use

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or be provided so that it can be switched on when necessary (ie if desired ). Preferably, the steering angle is limited to the stop and is always effective.

The wheel fork 6, which supports the steering wheel 4, preferably a track disc, extends centrally between the skids 2. The wheel fork 6 is positioned along the length of the sled so that the track disc rests on the ground (on the piste) approximately in the area of the curvature of the piste. The steering is operated via a steering lever 10 pointing towards the seat in a comfortable sitting position - without foot support on the piste and without the "need" of throwing the sled around. If the wheel fork 6 or the steering wheel axle is assigned lateral foot control means 11, the sled can also be steered by foot by a person sitting axially. The steering lever 10, which is pointing towards the sledder and is located just above the sled bench in the middle of the sled (width bisector), also enables the sledder to hold the sled diagonally (i.e. operate the steering with one hand and hold the sled bench on the rear side bar with the other hand) and can therefore give additional steering impulses by shifting his weight. It is not possible to over-steer the steering device 3 (provided the sledder does not intentionally shift his weight).

takes) because the steering wheel 4 is offset to the rear relative to the almost vertical wheel fork pivot axis and is adjusted to straight-ahead travel.

If a stronger steering effect is desired, additional pressure can be exerted on the track disc wheel (steering wheel) 4 via the steering lever 10. The preferred rubber race can deform and, when steering on smooth surfaces, ensure greater safety when cornering due to the larger contact area and higher static friction (this is particularly because the tobogganer is not "carried" out of a corner as easily). The spring force acting vertically on the steering wheel 4 only works up to the depth limit stop.

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The steering lever preferred as a hand-operated part 10 is, as can be seen from Fig. 2, mounted below the swivel bearing of the wheel fork 6, preferably detachably attached, extends in the direction of the tobogganer xvad and projects upwards with its free end above the seat surface level. The end of the steering lever functioning as a handle can be provided with a non-slip and/or shock-absorbing cover, preferably with an elastic grommet.

The steering lever 10 is also connected to the wheel fork 6 with the interposition of at least one elastic buffer (in particular rubber plate) 17 in order to absorb the wheel shocks.

As already mentioned, a track disc wheel design is preferred as the steering wheel 4. A disc wheel 41 made of rubber-elastic material can be attached, e.g. held clamped, to at least one support disc 42. Preferably, a rubber disc is arranged between two smaller diameter support discs 42. The disc diameter of the race ring is at least 15 cm, preferably about 20-25 cm. The free (uncovered) disc edge of the steering wheel track disc 41 is designed to be larger in the radial direction than the thickness of the track disc.

The support disc(s) laterally adjacent to the elastic track disc 41 have fine sideways bent support discs in the edge area, whereby the track disc 41 is protected from damage in the event of lateral deformation and a favorable use of force is possible. Preferably, the/each support disc 42 has a plate-like cross-section,

To increase the grip, the steering wheel track disc can be designed with an uneven surface and/or side flank(s). A track disc or race design with a cam ring (provided on the casing and/or front side) is particularly preferred. However, crossbars or casing surface recesses ₍ frames) can also be provided. These increase the grip.

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The raised profiles do not need to cover the entire width of the raceway, but can also extend over just a part of the raceway width. Furthermore, it is advantageous to offset the projections and/or depressions against each other so that there is a ground contact surface alternately on the right and left in the rolling pattern.

It is also possible to equip or retrofit the track disc steering system according to the invention with a disc wheel brake (not shown). This braking device is preferably actuated in the handle area of the steering lever 10.

To simplify production and/or assembly, as many individual functional parts as possible are combined into one component and this part is made as a molded part (e.g. plastic injection molded part). Preferably, the swing arm 7 and steering wheel fork 6 (possibly with molded steering lever 10) can each be made as injection molded parts. The use of plastic injection molding also has the advantage that the steering device 3 is lightweight.

The statements in the "Summary" are part of this description - in order to avoid repetition, however, an additional reproduction in this description section is initially omitted.

Furthermore, it is pointed out that the horizontal swing arm sleeve 71 and the axis 8 coinciding with it can be one component (see Fig. 1).

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Claims (30)

Ir I &igr;&igr;&igr; r t &igr; .j1'-. m Gerda G-ramse Lichtenberger Str, 3 3320 Salzgitter 1 " Rödelsohlitten steering device " Claims j 1. Toboggan steering device on or for a toboggan which has two unsteerable runners below a seat part, whereby the steering device - lying between the runners - has a pivotable steering element coupled to an operating device, characterized in that the steering device (3) is designed as a unit which is housed/removable in the front carriage area, preferably approximately in the area of the runner curvature, within the length of the runner and which is fixed or can be fixed via at least one fastening device (12), and has a steering wheel (C4) mounted on/in a bearing part (7) which allows a height and steering movement, the wheel body of which is designed as a trailing wheel in relation to the control axis (9) and has a grippy and/or deformable race. 2. Toboggan steering device according to claim 1, characterized in that the steering wheel (4) is provided with an elastic track disk (41). 3. Toboggan steering device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the steering wheel (4) as a race/track disc (41) is a wheel between dimensionally stable discs —2— (Support discs) (42) has a clamped, radially compressible (compressible) and/or laterally bendable (kinkable) rubber disc. 5 4. Toboggan steering device according to at least one of the Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the elastic track disc (41) a diameter of at least 15 cm, preferably approx. 20 cm.
10 5. Toboggan steering device according to at least one of the Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the free (uncovered) The edge of the steering wheel tracking disc (41) in the radial direction is larger than the disc thickness. . 6. Toboggan steering device according to at least one of the Claims 1 to 5, I characterized in that the elastic track I 20 disc (41) laterally adjacent disc(s) (42) in the edge area a support shoulder for the laterally bent i have a bent track disc (41). 7. Toboggan steering device according to at least one of the j 25 claims 1 to 6, \ characterized in that the pulley (41) of the I Steering wheel (42) laterally supporting clamping and/or I Support disc (42) in cross section with a plate-like I has a bent/kinked edge. y 30 I 8. Toboggan steering device according to at least one of the I Claims 1 to 7, I characterized in that the track disc (41) of the I steering wheel (4) has an uneven running surface and/or side I 35 flank. 9. Toboggan steering device according to at least one of the · · t Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that * the track disc (41) is provided with a cam ring _t 10. Toboggan steering device according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the track disc (41) is provided with lateral webs. 11. Toboggan steering device according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the track disc (41) is provided with recesses in its running surface. 12. Toboggan heel steering device according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the track disc running surface in the rolling pattern is alternately equipped with a profile that increases grip on the left and right. 13. Toboggan sled steering device in particular according to claim 1, characterized in that the steering wheel (4) is mounted with an approximately vertical control axis (9) on/in a swing arm (7) which can be pivoted vertically about a pivot axis (8) in the front sled area which is axial to the sled longitudinal axis (sled length) and parallel to the ground. 14. Toboggan steering device according to claim 13, characterized in that the rocker (7) is held down by spring force. 15. Toboggan steering device according to claim 13, characterized in that the track disc running surface is located on the ground side under the grip skid contact surface when the toboggan is under load. 16. Toboggan steering device according to claim 13, characterized in that the rocker (7) is mounted in a stop-limited free space so as to be vertically pivotable on an axis (pivot axis) (8) connected to the device's own fastening device(s) (12). 17. Toboggan steering device according to claim 13, characterized in that the swing arm (7) is designed as a universal joint head which has a rigid swing arm (73) between the two bearing axes. 18. Toboggan steering device according to claim 17, characterized in that the rocker (7) has a horizontal long bearing sleeve (71) at the front and an approximately vertical short bearing sleeve (72) at the rear, between which a rocker arm (73) extends which tapers towards the rear in the three-dimensional view and widens towards the rear in the side view. 19. Toboggan steering device according to claim 18, characterized in that the swing arm (73) has a U-shaped cross section, with the cross-section being provided at the top. 20. Toboggan steering device according to at least one of claims 13 to 19, characterized in that at least one, preferably two tension springs (13) each connected to a slide side/sliding pin (2) are suspended in the swing arm (73). 21. Toboggan steering device according to at least one of claims 13 to 19, characterized in that the horizontal swing arm pivot axis is assigned to at least one torsion spring which presses the swing arm (7) towards the ground, 22. Toboggan steering device according to at least one of the Claims 1 to 21, characterized in that the rocker arm (7) carrying the steering wheel (4) is formed from a molded part, preferably a molded plastic part.
5 23. Toboggan steering device according to at least one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that a steering fork/wheel fork (6) designed as a trailing wheel fork is mounted in the swing arm (7), which is coupled to an operating handle (10), preferably connected in a rotationally fixed (movement-rigid) manner. 24. Toboggan steering device according to at least one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that the trailing wheel fork (6) is connected to a steering lever (10) which extends from the steering axle (steering axle) (9) to the rear - i.e. towards the sledder - and at least with its free end (grip handle) protrudes above the seat level. 25. Toboggan steering device according to at least one of claims 1 to 24, characterized in that the steering lever (10) is attached below the swing arm to the steering axis of the steering wheel (4), preferably to the fork head of the wheel fork (6). 26. Toboggan steering device according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that the steering wheel fork (6) and the steering lever (10) form a single component (assembly part). 27. Toboggan steering device according to at least one of claims 1 to 26, characterized in that the height between the swing arm (7) and the steering fork carried by it (6) a buffer (17), preferably a rubber plate, is arranged. a it The to
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I 1 - i II III 28. Toboggan steering device according to at least one of claims 1 to 27, characterized in that the steering wheel (4), in particular its steering wheel fork (6), is assigned lateral footrests (11). 29. Toboggan steering device according to at least one of claims 1 to 28, characterized in that the steering wheel (4) is limited in its pivoting movement - i.e. in the steering deflection - (stop). 30. Toboggan steering device according to at least one of claims 1 to 29, characterized in that a braking device is arranged on the steering wheel (4).