EP4323210A1 - Accouplement à rotule pour un véhicule tracteur d'une combinaison de véhicules - Google Patents

Accouplement à rotule pour un véhicule tracteur d'une combinaison de véhicules

Info

Publication number
EP4323210A1
EP4323210A1 EP22721665.2A EP22721665A EP4323210A1 EP 4323210 A1 EP4323210 A1 EP 4323210A1 EP 22721665 A EP22721665 A EP 22721665A EP 4323210 A1 EP4323210 A1 EP 4323210A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ball head
wear
detection means
head coupling
coupling
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP22721665.2A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Stefan Rühlicke
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ruehlicke GmbH
Original Assignee
Ruehlicke GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ruehlicke GmbH filed Critical Ruehlicke GmbH
Publication of EP4323210A1 publication Critical patent/EP4323210A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/58—Auxiliary devices
    • B60D1/62—Auxiliary devices involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/01—Traction couplings or hitches characterised by their type
    • B60D1/06—Ball-and-socket hitches, e.g. constructional details, auxiliary devices, their arrangement on the vehicle

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a ball head coupling for a towing vehicle of a vehicle combination according to the preamble of patent claim 1, a towing vehicle with such a ball head coupling according to patent claim 13 and a vehicle combination with such a towing vehicle according to patent claim 14.
  • Such towing vehicles can be, for example, a passenger car, a truck, a bus, a construction machine, a forestry or agricultural vehicle, a military vehicle or another land vehicle, in particular another road vehicle or off-road vehicle.
  • Such towing vehicles can be moved or drive by means of their own drive, i.e. they can be vehicles with their own drive.
  • a towing vehicle can move at least one trailer with it as a vehicle without its own drive or pull it behind it.
  • a trailer is usually used to transport loads and can be, for example, a car trailer, a truck trailer, a caravan, a horse trailer, a boat trailer and the like.
  • Trailers have at least one wheeled axle and often at least two wheeled axles.
  • Trailers can also be designed for private, sporting and commercial use, for example in freight forwarding, in the construction industry, in agriculture and the like.
  • Towing vehicle and trailer can also be referred to together as a vehicle combination.
  • the towing vehicle can also be referred to as the front vehicle in the towing, driving or moving direction and the trailer can also be referred to as the rear vehicle in the towing, driving or moving direction of the vehicle combination.
  • a detachable connection between the towing vehicle and the trailer is usually implemented using a so-called hitch for hitching the trailer to the towing vehicle, which is designed as a system in at least two parts and has a coupling device on the towing vehicle and on the trailer, which are held there and are detachably connected to one another be able.
  • Several trailers can also be detachably connected to one another in this way.
  • trailer couplings such as bolt couplings and jaw couplings or bolt coupling systems and jaw coupling systems, in which a shaft or a drawbar extends from the trailer to the towing vehicle and has an eyelet at the end as a through opening in the vertical direction, which also can be referred to as a towing eyelet or as a coupling eyelet.
  • the shaft is designed, for example, as a flange and is fixedly attached to the frame of the trailer by means of screws.
  • the end of the shaft facing away from the towing eye can alternatively also be designed to be screwed into a towing eye bearing of the frame of the trailer.
  • ball head couplings or ball head coupling systems are known in which the above-described vertical passage opening of the towing eye is closed at the top by a spherical cap, i.e. by a spherical segment.
  • the towing eye of the trailer drawbar can be placed or lowered from above with its spherical cap onto a ball head, which is fixedly arranged on the towing vehicle.
  • a certain amount of play is required in order to be able to place the spherical cap of the trailer drawbar on the ball head of the towing vehicle at all. In this case too, this play leads to abrasion or wear on the inside of the spherical cap of the trailer drawbar and on the outside of the ball head of the towing vehicle, with the effects and disadvantages described above.
  • the disadvantage here is that the assessment of permissible or impermissible wear of the ball head of the ball head coupling is left to the person concerned and there is therefore a certain degree of uncertainty in that the assessment can also depend on the attentiveness and/or experience of the person. This can lead to an impermissibly severely worn ball head of the ball head coupling continuing to be used, which can endanger the traffic safety of the vehicle combination. This can also lead to a ball head of the ball head coupling that can still be used being replaced prematurely, which can cause additional effort, additional costs and/or an unnecessary breakdown of the towing vehicle.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a ball head coupling for a towing vehicle of a vehicle combination of the type described above, so that checking the wear of the ball head of the ball head coupling can be simplified and/or improved.
  • the wear of the ball head of the ball head coupling should be able to be monitored more regularly than before and in particular even continuously. In particular, this should be able to take place as simply, reliably, space-savingly, independently of persons and/or automatically as possible. In any case, this should in particular improve or increase the traffic safety of the vehicle combination.
  • At least an alternative to known options for checking the wear of the ball head of a ball head coupling should be created.
  • the object is achieved according to the invention by a ball head coupling with the features of patent claim 1, by a towing vehicle with the features of patent claim 13 and by a vehicle combination with the features of patent claim 14.
  • Advantageous developments are described in the dependent claims.
  • the present invention thus relates to a ball head coupling for a towing vehicle of a vehicle combination with a ball head which extends along a longitudinal axis.
  • the ball head is a spherical, rotationally symmetrical and usually metallic projection, which extends vertically upwards from the upper end of a corresponding, usually curved or angled bracket in the vertical direction.
  • the holder is permanently attached to the frame of the auxiliary vehicle, for example by screws or by welding.
  • the longitudinal axis of the ball head as its axis of rotational symmetry coincides with the axis of the vertical direction in Cartesian coordinates, ie with the direction of gravity, which extends perpendicularly to the horizontal plane when used on a vehicle.
  • the ball head coupling according to the invention is characterized by at least one wear detection means, which is arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in the ball head such that wear of the ball head perpendicular to the longitudinal axis can be detected optically and/or by sensors.
  • a wear detection means is arranged within the contour or within the material of the ball head in such a way that both the material of the ball head and the material of the wear detection means are affected by the abrasion or wear that occurs on the part of the ball head during operation, as described above , be reduced in their radial extent.
  • the at least one wear detection means can be arranged exactly radially or perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis or at least obliquely to the longitudinal axis in the ball head so that the abrasion or wear can also reduce the wear detection means from the outside.
  • the present invention is based on the finding that by designing part of the ball head as or with a wear detection means, the degree of abrasion or wear of the ball head at this point can be made optically recognizable from the outside and/or can be detected by sensors.
  • the state of the wear detection means can be recognized or monitored in this way more easily than was previously possible through regular manual checks of the ball head itself, as described above. This can reduce the effort and thus also the costs of checking the degree of wear on the ball head.
  • This can also increase the reliability of the result of the check, which on the one hand increases the road safety of the vehicle combination and on the other hand can avoid premature or unnecessary replacement of a ball head or a ball head coupling that can still be used.
  • arranging the wear detection means within the ball head can keep the implementation effort and in particular the installation space required for this low.
  • a continuous or much more regular control or monitoring of the Degree of wear of the ball head than previously known, which can increase the road safety of the vehicle network and the duration of use of a ball head.
  • the wear detection means is preferably arranged in at least one horizontal cavity of the ball head, the wear detection means having at least one first wear element of a first color which is arranged between the outer edge of the horizontal cavity and a wear limit.
  • the first color of the wearing element differs significantly from the color of the material of the ball head itself.
  • at least one colored wearing element in particular made of a colored plastic, can be used as a wear detection means, which can be introduced into a corresponding cavity of the ball head and to the outside ends with the contour or with the surface of the ball head and can be visually recognized by a person. If the colored wearing element has not yet been completely worn down, the person can visually recognize the colored wearing element and from this it can be concluded that the ball head is subject to permissible wear.
  • the person can conclude from this that the colored wearing element has been completely worn down and the limit of permissible wear of the ball head has therefore been reached or exceeded.
  • This can represent a particularly simple implementation of the present invention, which can allow a person to regularly visually check the wear of the ball head.
  • the driver of a strange or unknown towing vehicle who is to couple a trailer to a ball head coupling of the towing vehicle according to the invention can easily and quickly visually check the state of wear of the ball head of the towing vehicle ball head coupling. This can increase the driver's confidence in using the unfamiliar or unfamiliar towing vehicle.
  • the wear detection means can also have at least two differently colored wear elements, which are arranged radially one behind the other in order to increase the informative value, as will be described in more detail below.
  • the wear detection means can enable electronic monitoring of the state of wear or the wear limit of the ball head, as will be described in more detail below.
  • the wear detection means can be arranged in the horizontal plane or viewed in cross section of the ball head at a point at which particularly significant abrasion or wear usually occurs or at which an impermissibly high level of wear is usually expected to be reached first. This can correspondingly increase the informative value of the wear detection means.
  • several identical or different wear detection means can also be used in order to be able to carry out the wear monitoring described above at a correspondingly large number of points on the ball head. In this way, in particular, a number of points, which are usually subject to significant wear, can be monitored for wear at the same time, as described above.
  • At least one sensory wear detection means can be used at a point on the ball head which is difficult or impossible to detect optically for the person or for the driver.
  • At least one optical wear detection means can be used at a point on the ball head which the person or the driver can easily or easily detect optically.
  • the wear detection means is arranged in at least one horizontal cavity of the ball head, the wear detection means having at least one first wear element of a first color, which is arranged between the outer edge of the horizontal cavity and a wear limit, and at least one second wear element of a second, different color has, which is located within the wear limit.
  • the first color of the first wear element can be recognized by the person or the driver and a conclusion can be drawn as to permissible wear of the ball head. If the person or the driver visually recognizes the second color of the second wearing element, this can lead to the conclusion that the ball head is wearing unacceptably.
  • the wear detection means has at least one lamp, which is arranged within the horizontal cavity and/or within a vertical cavity of the ball head and is designed to transilluminate the first wear element through the second wear element.
  • the light source can be implemented in particular as an LED.
  • the lamp can be operated permanently or continuously in order to be able to check the state of wear of the ball head at any time. Furthermore, a corresponding effort to switch the lamp on and off or to have to provide corresponding electrical options such as an externally accessible switch on the ball head coupling or in the immediate vicinity of this on the frame of the towing vehicle can be avoided.
  • the materials of the first and second wearing element can be colored accordingly and translucent, so that the materials of the first and second wearing element can be illuminated radially from the inside or "from behind" and the light in the color of the last X-rayed wear element exits to the outside.
  • the previously described aspect of the two-colored wear detection means can be further improved in terms of its recognisability or its ability to provide information for the person or for the driver, since the color can be visually perceived better due to the glow. It can do this make it easier or possible for the person or the driver, particularly in the dark, in poor visibility conditions and/or when the surface of the ball head is dirty, to visually recognize the wear detection means itself and in particular its color.
  • providing the ball head or the ball head coupling with a vertical cavity can create sufficient installation space within the ball head or within the ball head coupling in order to arrange the at least one lamp and in particular several lamps there.
  • a weakening of the ball head or its holder can be sufficiently avoided by a correspondingly small vertical cavity, so that the ball head coupling can perform its force-transmitting function without restriction.
  • the wear detection means has at least one electrical energy store, preferably within a vertical cavity, which is designed to supply electricity to at least the lighting means, preferably also a detection unit and/or a wireless communication unit.
  • electrical energy can be supplied to the light source and possibly several or all of the light sources directly from the ball head or from the ball head coupling itself, so that an electrically conductive connection to the electrical power supply from outside the ball head or the ball head coupling can be dispensed with. This can eliminate the hassle of using at least one Keep the light source as low as described above.
  • the wear detection means is arranged in at least one horizontal cavity of the ball head, the wear detection means having at least one first wear element, which is arranged between the outer edge of the horizontal cavity and a wear limit, and at least one second wear element, which is arranged within the wear limit at least one electrically conductive element of an electrical circuit is arranged at the wear limit in such a way that the electrically conductive element is severed by the wear of the ball head when the wear reaches the wear limit, wherein the wear detection means, preferably within a vertical cavity, has a detection unit , which is designed to monitor the electrical conductivity of the electrically conductive element and, preferably when cutting through the electrically conductive element to output corresponding information.
  • the two wear elements can be the previously described two single-colored first and second wear elements or two wear elements of any desired same color.
  • This aspect of the invention is based on the finding that, in addition to or as an alternative to the previously described optical options for monitoring wear and tear by the person or by the motorist, a sensory option for monitoring can also be created.
  • an electrically conductive element such as an electrical conductor or an electrical conductor loop can be guided precisely up to the wear limit of a permissible wear of the ball head at this point, which can take place in particular within the second wear element as a plastic part, for example, which at the same time can be first wear element can be covered or protected as a plastic part, for example, to the outside.
  • the first, outer wear element is abraded or worn out together with the ball head until the wear limit is reached.
  • the electrically conductive element is also subject to abrasion or wear, which acts on the ball head from the outside.
  • the electrically conductive element is rubbed off in such a way that it is severed, so that the electrically conductive element no longer transmits an electrical current or does not electrical voltage can be applied more over the electrically conductive element, which can be detected by the detection unit. The detection unit can thus automatically conclude that the wear limit has been reached.
  • Corresponding information can be output from the detection unit to the outside. If several wear detection means are used, the information from the detection unit can also contain information which contains the identification of the respective worn or severed electrically conductive element or its detection unit, so that the location of the permissible wear that has been reached or exceeded can be identified.
  • corresponding information can be output by means of a wireless communication unit, which can transmit at least data or information wirelessly to the outside of the ball head or the ball head coupling and can preferably also receive data and information from the outside. This can be done automatically by the detection unit immediately when the wear limit is reached, so that the person or the driver can react to this immediately.
  • This information can be output by the detection unit continuously or regularly, in order to ensure that this information reaches the person or the motorist.
  • the output of this information by the detection unit can optionally be terminated by an acknowledgment of receipt by the person or the driver in order to save electrical energy by the detection unit.
  • the output of this information on the part of the detection unit can, if necessary, additionally or alternatively only take place in the event of a query or in response to a request from outside, as will be described in more detail below.
  • the detection unit can output this information to the person or the driver in such a way that this information is sent wirelessly to an electronic receiving device such as a mobile terminal device, for example in the form of a smartphone, a tablet or the like of the person or the driver is sent. Additionally or alternatively, this information can also be sent wirelessly by the detection unit to an electronic receiver of the towing vehicle, received and processed there and output or displayed to the driver via an output element such as in particular a display element of the towing vehicle. In this case, this information can optionally be forwarded wirelessly by the towing vehicle or its control unit to a fleet management system in order to be able to take into account and plan the replacement of the worn ball head there.
  • an electronic receiving device such as a mobile terminal device, for example in the form of a smartphone, a tablet or the like of the person or the driver is sent.
  • this information can also be sent wirelessly by the detection unit to an electronic receiver of the towing vehicle, received and processed there and output or displayed to the driver via an output element such as in particular a display
  • the wear detection means preferably within a vertical cavity, has at least one wireless communication unit, preferably a wireless transmission unit, which is designed to transmit at least one piece of information from the Send detection unit wirelessly to the outside of the ball head.
  • the wireless communication unit is designed to be prompted wirelessly from outside the ball head to transmit information from the detection unit.
  • the wirelessly transmitted information from the detection unit contains the state of the electrically conductive element and/or information derived from the state of the electrically conductive element.
  • the state of the electrically conductive element can be distinguished at least as to whether the electrically conductive element is severed or not.
  • Information derived from this on the part of the detection unit can be that the corresponding wear limit is recognized as having been reached or not yet reached.
  • the latter conclusion can also be made where the wirelessly transmitted information from the detection unit is received and further processed, which can simplify the implementation of the detection unit and thus save electrical energy, costs and/or installation space there.
  • the wear detection means preferably at least one first wear element and one second wear element, is arranged at least twice in the ball head, preferably opposite one another diametrically to the longitudinal axis. This can increase the number of locations on the ball head that can be monitored for wear as previously described.
  • the two wear detection means diametrically opposite each other to the longitudinal axis, i. H. 180° offset from one another in the plane of the cross section can make it possible to monitor the wear as evenly distributed as possible.
  • the wear detection means preferably at least a first wear element and a second wear element, is arranged in at least two pairs, preferably as a pair diametrically opposite one another to the longitudinal axis and particularly preferably in pairs offset at right angles to one another, in the ball head.
  • the total of four wearing elements can be arranged in one plane of the cross section, in particular offset by 90° to one another.
  • the uniformity of the monitoring of the ball head of the ball head coupling for wear can be further increased.
  • the detection unit is designed to monitor the electrical conductivity of all electrically conductive elements and, preferably when at least one of the electrically conductive elements is severed, to output corresponding information.
  • the effort involved in using a plurality of detection units can be avoided, with one detection unit being designed to be able to monitor all electrically conductive elements at the same time. At the same time, this can reduce the electrical energy consumption and/or the installation space required.
  • the wirelessly transmitted information from the detection unit also contains an identification of the severed electrically conductive element. This can enable the individual electrically conductive elements to be distinguished even when using a single detection unit.
  • the invention also relates to a towing vehicle with a ball head coupling as described above.
  • a ball head coupling according to the invention can be implemented in a towing vehicle and used there.
  • the invention also relates to a combination of vehicles with a towing vehicle as described above.
  • a combination of vehicles can be created in order to implement and use the previously described aspects of a ball head coupling according to the invention in its towing vehicle.
  • FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view, partly in section, of a ball head coupling according to the invention according to a first embodiment
  • FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view, partly in section, of a ball head coupling according to the invention according to a second embodiment
  • FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view, partly in section, of a ball head coupling according to the invention according to a third exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 4 shows a cross section through the ball head of the ball head coupling according to the first embodiment of FIG.
  • a longitudinal axis X extends.
  • a radial direction R extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis X away from the longitudinal axis X.
  • a circumferential direction U extends perpendicular to the radial direction R and around the longitudinal axis X.
  • the longitudinal axis X runs in a vertical direction Z in Cartesian coordinates, which can also be referred to as the height Z.
  • FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view, partially in section, of a ball head coupling 1 according to the invention according to a first exemplary embodiment.
  • the ball head coupling 1 has a ball head 11 which is metallic in one piece, ie integral, and rotationally symmetrical to the Longitudinal axis X formed.
  • the ball head 11 forms, in the vertical direction Z, the upper end of a holder 10 of the ball head coupling 1, with which the ball head 11 is also designed in one piece of metal.
  • the holder 10, which can also be referred to as the connecting section 10 of the ball head coupling 1, is bent at right angles and is arranged fixedly with the end opposite the ball head 11 on a frame of a towing vehicle (not shown).
  • the ball head 11 is used to connect to a corresponding spherical cap of a trailer (not shown).
  • the ball head 11 When the trailer is coupled to the towing vehicle, the ball head 11 is received by its spherical cap and is completely enclosed both in the circumferential direction U and in the vertical direction Z from above.
  • this can lead to abrasion or wear of the cylindrical outer surface of the ball head 11 and in particular its central area in the vertical direction Z, which over time reduces the cross section or the material thickness of the ball head 11 can weaken in such a way that reliable power transmission between the trailer and the towing vehicle via the ball head 11 of the ball head coupling 1 can no longer be guaranteed.
  • the wear of the ball head coupling 1 in the area of the ball head 11 according to the first exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 4 can be checked or monitored by a person, for example the driver of the towing vehicle, more easily, quickly and/or more frequently than was previously known.
  • a continuous horizontal cavity 13 is present in the ball head 11, which extends from one side of the spherical outer surface radially across the longitudinal axis X to the opposite side of the outer surface.
  • a wear detection means 2 is introduced into the horizontal cavity 13, which is held there in a materially bonded manner, for example by an adhesive between the inner surface of the horizontal cavity 13 and the outer surface of the wear detection means 2, or non-positively, for example by an at least slight oversize of the outer contour of the wear detection means 2 compared to the horizontal cavity 13 becomes.
  • the wear detection means 2 has a first, outer colored wear element 20 at the edge, between which a second, inner colored wear element 21 is arranged.
  • the two first, outer, colored wearing elements 20 are cohesively connected, for example by gluing or by a one-piece, ie integral, manufacture, to the second, inner, colored wearing element 21 lying in between.
  • the two first, outer, colored wear elements 20 have a different color than the second, inner, colored wear element 21 .
  • the two first, outer colored wearing elements 20 are green, in particular neon green, and the second, inner colored wearing element 21 is red. especially neon red.
  • transition or the boundary between a first, outer colored wear element 20 and the corresponding second, inner colored wear element 21 is provided by the dimensioning of the wear elements 20, 21 in such a way that this transition corresponds to the permissible wear limit of the ball head 11 of the ball head coupling 1.
  • the ball head 11 of the ball head coupling 1 is accessible from almost all sides in the horizontal plane and can be accessed by the person, for example the driver, who wants to connect the trailer to his towing vehicle from almost can be viewed from all sides.
  • the person can visually see the wear detection means 2 of the ball head es11 from both sides and determine whether the first, outer colored wear element 20 or the second, inner wear element 21 is visible to the outside.
  • the person recognizes the first, outer, colored wear element 20 it can be concluded from this that at this point on the ball head 11 of the ball head coupling 1 the wear of the material of the ball head 11, which correspondingly also reduces the respective wear detection means 1 in its radial extent, is still in is within a permissible range.
  • the person recognizes the second, inner, colored wear element 21 it can be concluded from this that the first, outer, colored wear element 20 has been completely worn down at this point on the ball head 11 of the ball head coupling 1 and the second, inner, colored wear element 21 lying radially below is therefore visible from the outside is. This means that at this point of the ball head 11 of the ball head coupling 1 the permissible wear has already been reached or exceeded and the towing vehicle can no longer be used in a roadworthy manner. Instead, the ball head coupling 1 must be replaced.
  • FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view, partially in section, of a ball head coupling 1 according to the invention according to a second exemplary embodiment.
  • a vertical cavity 12 in the form of a core bore 12 is also provided along the longitudinal axis X, in which the horizontal cavities 13 described above open out radially.
  • a second, inner, colored wearing element 21 is arranged in each horizontal cavity 13 as described above, which extends radially outwards to the respective first, outer colored wearing element 20 and radially inwards to the end of the respective horizontal cavity 13 .
  • the wearing elements 20, 21 are designed in different colors, with the respective material also being designed to be translucent in each case.
  • a light source 22 in the form of an LED 22 is arranged radially outward in such a way that the Wear elements 20, 21 are illuminated radially outwards by the light of the respective LED 22 when the LED 22 is operated.
  • the LEDs 22 can be supplied with electrical energy for continuous or permanent operation from an electrical energy store 26 in the form of a battery 26 , which is also arranged within the vertical cavity 12 . The operation of the LEDs 22 can be started when the ball head coupling 1 is mounted on the towing vehicle and can stop until the electrical energy of the battery 26 has been used up.
  • the corresponding points of the ball head 11 of the ball head coupling 1 can be optically checked for wear by one person as described above with regard to the first exemplary embodiment of FIGS.
  • a light in the color of the first, outer colored wearing element 20 can be optically perceived by the person in each case as long as the wear limit is observed, as described above. If the wear limit is reached or exceeded at one point on the ball head 11 of the ball head coupling 1, the first, outer colored wear element 20 is worn down at this point and the light from the corresponding LED 22 emerges in the color of the second, inner colored wear element 21 out.
  • the person can make a distinction between permissible and impermissible wear based on the color of the light, which can be visually perceived at the respective location.
  • the inventive wear control of the ball head 11 of the ball head coupling 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment in Figures 1 and 4 can be improved for the person in that the colored wear detection means 2, particularly in the dark or in poor visibility conditions, for example in rain or fog or even if the outer surface of the ball head 11 of the ball head coupling 1 is dirty, it can be perceived better or more reliably than without this backlighting.
  • the person can do without illuminating the ball head 11 of the ball head coupling 1 with a flashlight, for example, in order to be able to visually identify the wear detection means 2 .
  • a flashlight for example
  • the expense of having to clean or wipe a soiled surface of the ball head 11 of the ball head coupling 1 in order to be able to visually identify the wear detection means 2 can be omitted.
  • FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view, partially in section, of a ball head coupling 1 according to the invention according to a third exemplary embodiment.
  • the ball head 11 of the ball head coupling 1 is designed as described in the second embodiment of Figure 2, which also applies to the extent of the wearing elements 20, 21, which are colored as described in the first embodiment of Figures 1 and 4 or with the same indefinite color can be formed.
  • an electrically conductive element 23 in the form of a conductor loop 23 extends through the respective second, inner wear element 21 in such a way that the conductor loops 23 run at the boundary between the first, outer wear element 20 and the second, inner wear element 21 or .reversed.
  • All conductor loops 23 are electrically conductively connected to a detection unit 24 which is arranged inside the vertical cavity 12 and can also be referred to as a control unit 24 .
  • the detection unit 24 is connected in a signal-transmitting manner to a wireless communication unit 25 which is also arranged within the vertical cavity 12 and can emit at least wireless signals, which is why the wireless communication unit 25 can also be referred to as a transmitting unit 25 .
  • Both the detection unit 24 and the transmission unit 25 are electrically conductively connected to the battery 26 and are operated by electrical energy from the battery 26 .
  • the detection unit 24 can determine for each of the conductor loops 23 whether the conductor loops 23 are continuously electrically conductively closed or severed. This can be done, for example, by the application of a measurement voltage by the detection unit 24 . In this way, the detection unit 24 can differentiate for the points of the ball head 11 of the ball head coupling 1 at which the conductor loops 23 are provided, whether the wear there is still to a permissible extent or not. Corresponding information can be transmitted wirelessly from the detection unit 24 to the outside of the ball head coupling 1 by means of the transmission unit 25 .
  • This information can be received, for example, by a hand-held device such as a mobile terminal such as a smartphone of a person or the driver of the towing vehicle and displayed there.
  • This information can be sent continuously, but this can increase the consumption of electrical energy.
  • This information can also only be sent if the person or the driver of the ball head coupling 1 according to the invention requests this by means of corresponding information, which can also be done by the smartphone.
  • the corresponding information can be queried as required, which can reduce the electrical energy consumption of the ball head coupling 1 according to the invention and thus increase the service life of the detection unit 24 and the transmission unit 25 .
  • This information can, for example, also be received by a control unit of the towing vehicle and displayed there to the driver.
  • the ball head coupling 1 according to the invention can transmit the information continuously or only after a request by the control unit of the towing vehicle.
  • the information obtained may Drivers of the towing vehicle are displayed in order to be informed about the roadworthy condition of the ball head coupling 1, particularly during operation of the towing vehicle.
  • the detection unit 24 can distinguish between the different conductor loops 23 so that the information transmitted to the outside can also contain an identification of the respective conductor loops 23 .
  • the detection unit 24 can distinguish between the different conductor loops 23 so that the information transmitted to the outside can also contain an identification of the respective conductor loops 23 .
  • Wear elements 20 its limit and the corresponding conductor loops 23 is severed, the person or the driver can be specifically informed at which point of the ball head 11 of the ball head coupling 1 has reached or fallen below the permissible wear.
  • control unit 24 detection unit; control unit
  • wireless communication unit or wireless transmission unit 26 electrical energy storage; battery

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un accouplement à rotule (1) pour un véhicule tracteur d'une combinaison de véhicules avec une tête sphérique (10), qui s'étend sensiblement le long d'un axe longitudinal (X'). L'accouplement à rotule (1) est caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend au moins un moyen de détection d'usure (6) qui est aligné perpendiculairement à l'axe longitudinal (X) et disposé dans la tête sphérique (10) de telle sorte que l'usure de la tête sphérique (10) perpendiculaire à l'axe longitudinal (X') peut être détectée optiquement et/ou par des capteurs.
EP22721665.2A 2021-04-12 2022-04-07 Accouplement à rotule pour un véhicule tracteur d'une combinaison de véhicules Pending EP4323210A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102021109070.9A DE102021109070A1 (de) 2021-04-12 2021-04-12 Kugelkopfkupplung für ein Zugfahrzeug eines Fahrzeugverbundes
PCT/EP2022/059221 WO2022218803A1 (fr) 2021-04-12 2022-04-07 Accouplement à rotule pour un véhicule tracteur d'une combinaison de véhicules

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4323210A1 true EP4323210A1 (fr) 2024-02-21

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP22721665.2A Pending EP4323210A1 (fr) 2021-04-12 2022-04-07 Accouplement à rotule pour un véhicule tracteur d'une combinaison de véhicules

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Country Link
EP (1) EP4323210A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE102021109070A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2022218803A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3679234A (en) 1969-09-17 1972-07-25 Frank Colliau Reflective plastic coated trailer hitch ball
DE2640650A1 (de) 1976-09-09 1978-03-16 Al Ko France S A Kupplung fuer fahrzeuganhaenger, insbesondere kugelkupplung fuer wohnwagen
DE29624232U1 (de) 1996-04-24 2001-04-19 Mannesmann VDO AG, 60388 Frankfurt Beleuchtung für eine Anzeige
SE527612C2 (sv) 2004-04-23 2006-04-25 Desarollo Ab En anordning med flexibel kropp för sammanhållning av ledningar
EP2650148B1 (fr) * 2012-04-12 2019-03-20 Brink Towing Systems B.V. Partie sphérique d'un agencement de crochet de remorquage d'un véhicule
DE102014101869A1 (de) 2014-02-14 2015-08-20 Scambia Holdings Cyprus Ltd. Kupplungseinheit
DE102016221328A1 (de) 2016-10-28 2018-05-03 Robert Bosch Gmbh Anzeigeeinrichtung und Verfahren zum Betreiben einer Anzeigeeinrichtung
US10059161B1 (en) 2017-08-21 2018-08-28 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Capacitive monitoring of vehicle hitches
CN110588260B (zh) * 2019-08-27 2022-11-18 江苏大学 一种防松拖挂式房车的连接球头及连接系统
DE102019130214A1 (de) * 2019-11-08 2021-05-12 Claas Tractor Sas Verschleißanzeige eines Kugelkopfs einer Anhängerkupplung

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DE102021109070A1 (de) 2022-10-13
WO2022218803A1 (fr) 2022-10-20

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