GB2056929A

GB2056929A - A coupling apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2056929A
Application number: GB8022953A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: WINTERHOFF U
Current assignee: WINTERHOFF U
Priority date: 1979-08-21
Filing date: 1980-07-14
Publication date: 1981-03-25
Also published as: FR2463688B1; GB2056929B; SE8005820L; SE433593B; FR2463688A1; NL190060B; NL190060C; NL8004701A; DE2933756A1; DE2933756C2

Abstract

A coupling apparatus suitable for trailers, comprises a socket part (2) which is integral with a housing (1) fixable on a draw bar and a further part (3) pivotable about a horizontal axis. A handle (6) is provided by which the further socket part (3) can be pivoted towards the socket part (2). The handle (6) is pivotable into a position corresponding to a closed position of the further socket part (3) under spring tension and gravity about a horizontal spindle (10) mounted on the housing (1). The spindle (10) is guided for transverse adjustment in elongated holes (11) extending substantially vertically and transversely of the longitudinal direction of the housing. The handle (6) has a shoulder (12) which, during pivoting into the release position of the socket part (3), is supported on a spindle (4) of the socket part (3). Provided on the socket part (3) and disposal above and below the spindle (10) are means for aiding the pivotation of corresponding socket part (3). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A coupling apparatus The present invention relates to a coupling apparatus in particular for motor vehicle trailers.

In known coupling apparatuses for coupling a ball and socket an operating handle must, for uncoupling the ball and socket, firstly be pulled upwardly against the force of a coil spring disposed in the operating handle so that subsequently the part of the operating handle which projects upwardly from the housing can be pivoted towards the socket, a further spring element being thereby pretensioned, whereupon a movable socket part is pivoted into a release position by the force of a third spring element.

Forth is purpose, there is mounted on a housing a pivot spindle which extends through an elongated hole extending in the longitudinal direction of the operating handle. Furthermore, there is in the part of the operating handle which extends into the housing a further elongated hole through which passes a bolt, the ends of which are guided for transverse displacement in elongated holes in the housing being disposed so that they extend parallel with the longitudinal axis ofthe housing.

In the coupled position of the apparatus, this bolt is supported on a finger which is biased away from the back of the movable part of the socket and can, for opening of the coupling, be moved by the operating handle and within the elongated holes in the housing sufficiently far away from the socket to release the finger.

Such a coupling apparatus is however relatively complicated and its operation for opening of the coupling apparatus is difficult and requires effort.

It is an object of the invention to provide a coupling apparatus of the kind referred to above which is simplified without diminishing security against unintentional opening.

According to the present invention there is provided a coupling apparatus comprising an elongate housing suitable for being attached to a draw bar of a trailer and including a socket part integral with the housing and a further socket part pivotable about a spindle, between a release position at which a ball is releasable from the socket and a closed position at which a ball can be held by the socket, by a handle which is pivotable about a further spindle and which is resiliently biased to a position corresponding to the closed position of the further socket part, the housing comprising guide means for guiding dis placement of the further spindle in a direction generally, transversely to the longitudinal axis of the socket, the handle being provided with a shoulder located to be supported by the first mentioned spindle during displacement of the handle to aid the pivotation of the further socket part.

socket part, and the further socket part being provided with means locatable around the further spindle displacement of the handle to aid the pivotation of the further socket part.

For opening the coupling apparatus, the handle only has to be pivoted in the direction towards the socket.

As this happens, the handle first pivots about the further pivot axis and after the handle shoulder is supported on the first mentioned spindle, the handle pivots about this spindle. The further spindle bears on the means located around the further spindle to entrain the further socket part into the open position against the force of the resilient biasing.

The coupling apparatus requires fewer component parts than known apparatus, which results in simplification and reduction in the cost of manufacture and assembly.

The resilient biasing may be provided by spring means mounted on the first mentioned spindle, which spring means comprise limbs which are under resilient stress when the further socket part is at its closed position and which are directed generally towards the further spindle, one limb being braced against the inside of the housing and the other limb so bearing on an element of the handle as to urge the handle towards its position corresponding to the closed position of the further socket part. This has the advantage that now only a single spring element is required.

The resilient biasing may be provided by spring means having at least two coil parts spaced axially thereof from each other, and bridged by a substantially U-shaped part having limbs which each extend substantially tangentially of a respective coil part, which U-shaped part engages an element of the operating handle and the spring means further has free end parts each extending from a respective coil part and braced generally tangentially against the housing. This enables security against unintentional opening of the coupling to be increased without assembly of the coupling being made more difficult.

The handle may be pivotable between the two coil parts and the element comprises two mutually oppositely directed limbs each supporting a respective limb of the U-shaped part of the spring means.

The spring means may be disposed between two side members extending away from the further socket part, the side members being traversed by the first mentioned spindle and each having a recess provided with noses which engage the further spindle.

The handle, on a side thereof remote from the ball cup, may have a projection which, when the handle is at a position corresponding to the closed position of the further socket part is engageable with an inner wall surface of the housing. This further increases security against unintentional opening of the coupling apparatus.

The handle may comprise a gripping portion which extends substantially parallel to a housing wall when the handle is at a position corresponding to the closed position of the further socket part. This further simplifies the operation of the apparatus and facilitates lifting the apparatus from the ball of for example a tractor.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a partly broken away coupling apparatus, Fig. 2 shows the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 in longitudinal section and the further socket part in a closed position, and Fig. 3 shows the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 in longitudinal section and the further socket part in an open position.

A coupling apparatus which is to be mounted on the draw bar of a trailer and which co-operates with a ball head mounted on a tractor vehicle, comprises a sheet metal housing 1 of substantially channel-like cross-section, at one end of which there is an integrally shaped ball socket part 2. In the downwardly open channel ofthe housing 1 there is a movable ball socket part 3 which is mounted to pivot about a spindle 4, the ends of the spindle being fixed in the side walls of the housing 1. This spindle 4 traverses correspondingly dimensioned bores in side members 5 of the socket part 3 which are braced away from the convex side of the ball socket part 3.

Also disposed on the housing 1 is an operating handle 6 having an end part 8 extending through a longitudinal guide slot 7 disposed centrally in the housing cover and protruding into the channel of the housing 1.

The other end part of the upwardly extending operating handle 6 comprises a gripping portion 9 extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal direction of the housing when the coupling is in the closed position.

Traversing the end part 8 of the operating handle 6 is a spindle 10 which extends parallel with the spindle 4 and which is mounted for transverse displacement in substantially vertically extending elongated holes 11, provided in the side walls of the housing 1.

To fix the spindle 10 in an axial direction, rivet heads or the like are disposed on the spindle and bear on the outer faces of the side walls of the housing.

Above the spindle 4, the operating handle 6 comprises a convexly shaped shoulder 12 which is adapted to be supported on the spindle 4. A pretensioned leg spring 13 is fitted onto the spindle 4 which is likewise fixed in an axial direction by means of rivet heads. This leg spring 13 comprises two coil parts 14 and 15 which are spaced axially thereof from each other and bridged by a U-shaped and substantially tangentially directed part 16 which is supported on a pivot arm 17 ofthe operating handle 6.

The coil posts 14 and 15 each have an oppositely directed free end part 18 so applied against the inside of the housing coverthatthe leg spring 13 exerts on the operating handle 6 torque in the direction of an arrow 19.

To this end, two oppositely directed journals 20 extending parallel with the spindle 10 are disposed on the pivot arm 17.

At the rear of each of the side walls 5 of the socket part 3 there is a recess between noses 21 and 22 which extend into the path of movement of the spindle 10 and which can engage against the spindle 10.

At each side the nose 22 is shaped so that in the closed position of the coupling (Fig. 2) it extends at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the elongated holes 11 so that even with relatively coarse manufacturing tolerances, it will apply the socket part 3 positively on the ball head, not shown.

On the side of the operating handle 6 remote from the socket, there is an integrally shaped projection 23 which protrudes substantially at a right-angle and which, in the event of exclusively substantially vertically directed displacement of the operating handle 6, bears on the underside of the housing cover, so limiting such displacement and thus preventing unintended opening of the coupling, and which, by pivoting of the operating handle 6 in the direction towards the socket, can project outwardly through the slot 7 in the housing.

The housing 1 may be constructed as a malleable casting.

Claims

1. A coupling apparatus comprising an elongate housing suitable for being attached to a draw bar of a trailer and including a socket part integral with the housing and a further socket part pivotable about a spindle, between a release position at which a ball is releasable from the socket and a closed position at which a ball can be held by the socket, by a handle which is pivotable about a further spindle and which is resiliently biased to a position corresponding to the closed position of the further socket part, the housing comprising guide means for guiding displacement of the further spindle in a direction generally transversely to the longitudinal axis of the socket, the handle being provided with a shoulder located to be supported by the first mentioned spindle during displacement of the handle to a position corresponding to the release position of the further socket part, and the further socket part being provided with means locatable around the further spindle during displacement of the handle to aid the pivotation ofthe further socket part.

2. A coupling apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the resilient biasing is provided by spring means mounted on the first mentioned spindle, which spring means comprise limbs which are under resilient stress when the further socket part is at its closed position and which are directed generally towards the further spindle, one limb being braced against the inside of the housing and the other limb so bearing on an element of the handle as to urge the handle towards its position corresponding to the closed position ofthe further socket part.

3. A coupling apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the resilient biasing is provided by spring means having at least two coil parts spaced axially thereof from each other, and bridged by a substantially U-shaped part having limbs which each extend substantially tangentially of a respective coil part, which U-shaped part engages an element of the operating handle and the spring means further has free end parts each extending from a respective coil part and braced generally tangentially against the housing.

4. A coupling apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the handle is pivotable between the two coil parts and the element comprises two mutually oppositely directed limbs each supporting a respective limb of the U-shaped part of the spring means.

5. A coupling apparatus according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the spring means is disposed between two side members extending away from the further socket part, the side members being traversed by the first mentioned spindle and each having a recess provided with noses which engage the further spindle.

6. A coupling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle, on a side thereof remote from the ball cup, has a projection which, when the handle is at a position corresponding to the closed position of the further socket part is engageable with an inner wall surface of the housing.

7. A coupling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle comprises a gripping portion which extends substantially parallel to a housing wall when the handle is at a position corresponding to the closed position of the further socket part.

8. A coupling apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.