GB2100686A - Trailer stabilizers - Google Patents

Abstract

A caravan stabilizer comprises two additional front wheels joined to the caravan by way of a rotary turning plate carrying a coupling ball and sliding bars which allow the working of the inertia-brake of the caravan. With a stabilizer pole pivotally connected to the turning plate, it does not transmit any weight or pitching movement of the caravan to the car. Most of the swinging effect is stopped by the inertia of the stabilizer, by its suspension and by the reaction of its wheels on the ground (wheel axis set behind turning axis of rotary turning plate). The possible remaining swaying is stopped by a device consisting in the reaction of springs against a bar fixed at the rear of the car. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Two-wheeler caravan or trailer-stabilizer Caravan or trailer-stabilizer consisting of an additional front axle remaining attached to the caravan with a system allowing the working of the caravan (trailer) inertia-brake and whose pole is equipped with an original anti-swaying device.

Existing caravan-stabilizers link the caravan (trailer) to the hauling car by way of plate springs and a tension system making thus the two vehicles so dependent of each other that any pitching or swinging movement of the caravan cannot develop. If such systems give more safety they have the following disadvantages: -the car rear suspension is hardened by the stabilizer-springs.

-the car has to bear a part of the caravanweight.

-all the movements of the caravan are transmitted to the car.

Another type of caravan stabilizer consists of an axle drawn by the car, bearing a hooking-ball on which the caravan is fixed. Such a stabilizer is an intermediate vehicle between car and caravan. It does not remain a part of the caravan but has to be disconnected when the caravan is parked.

Disadvantages: -the caravan still needs a jockey wheel.

risk of theft of the stabilizer.

-the stabilizer pole still transmits a small part of the caravan pitching movements to the car.

The proposed caravan-(or trailer) stabilizerconsists of two parts: 1wheels-and turning plate.

2-pole with swinging-absorber-and limitter. Part-one: (Figs. 1-2) Two wheels with independent rubber suspension are joined by two cross-members to the lower disk of a turning plate. On the upper disk of the turning-plate a hooking-ball is welded to receive the-caravan-hook. Two strong bars (f approximately 80/100 inch) are welded on the same plate longitudinally on each side of the ball.

They can slide into two tubes fixed on the caravan pole by way of a plate and bolts. The purpose of the sliding bars is: -to keep the stabilizer in good position.

-to keep the stabilizer fixed to the caravan.

-to allow the caravan inertia-brake to work.

(space between tubes and disks should be at least equal to the bra ke-d isplacement---gener- ally 5/4 inch-) The stabilizer-wheels are mounted so that their axis comes four inches behind the axis of the turning-plate. (Fig. 3). So the wheels have to swing round according to a circle (b) whose center is that of the turning-plate, through their normal swinging movement would be a circle (a) centred on the middle of their axis.

This determines a slight effort for the wheels to swing round, due to their reaction on the ground. An anti-swaying effect is then created. It does not cause any important extra wear of the types as the stabilizer wheels being not far from the rear wheels of the car have to swing round of a few degrees only when the car is turning.

Part two: The pole with swinging-absorber and limitter: A ten inches long plate (Fig. 4) is fixed horizontally (with gudgeons and pins or bolts) to the car under the hooking-ball. It is ended with one vertical cylindric bar, 7 inches high (or two bars joined at their upper ends for more resistance).

A triangular pole is fixed by two axles on the stabilizers front cross-member. Another cross-member joining the two pole-arms bears two plate-rings learning against the cylindric bars (Figs. 5-6). The effect of the springs against the bars will be to keep the whole train (car and caravan) in a straight position after turning or when swaying starts developing.

Most-of the swaying effect is stopped by the inertia-of the stabilizer, by its suspension and by the reaction of its wheels on the ground. Wheel-base should be as wide as possible.

Besides, the horizontal displacement of the pole is limited by two threaded rods across the pole arms. Their extremity will come against the vertical bars when the pole displacement should be at its maximum. This device prevents the pole from going across, when braking hard while turning for instance.

Two longitudinal bars set to the cross-members of the stabilizer limit the vertical displacement of the pole and prevent it from rearing if it ever could happen (rear collision for instance).

Advantages: the car does not bear any weight of the caravan, Its suspension does not suffer from handling. Its comfort remains total as well as its safety. (The weight on front wheels is not diminished as it is when normally hauling a caravan.) The only weight supported by the car hooking-ball is that of half of the pole weight only (approximately Ib 15).

-Anti-swinging springs do not transmit any pitching movements as they lean on vertical bars on a linear contact limited to the width of the plate rings. (Vertical bars must be greased).

-Driving is then easy, relaxed and safe.

-The hauling car does not need any special reinforcement of its suspension.

Once the stabilizer is fixed to the caravan (or trailer) hooking-up is very easy : it just requires to lift up the stabilizer-pole and set the pole on the hooking-ball. It is not necessary to make any new fixactions and adjustments as it is with conventional stabilizers.

-The stabilizer remaining a part of the cara van cannot be stolen.

The caravan is easy to displace by hand and needs no jockey-wheel. Best mode contemplated for carrying out the present two wheeler stabilizer. All following dimensions are approximative.

The exterior diameter of the wheel-tyres should measure 1 6 inches, the wheel-base 5 feet. The wheels should have the same independent rubber-suspension as trailers carrying Ib 300. Turning plate diameter 1 5 inches.

Turning plate thickness . 20/100 inch. Sliding bars welded on turning plate: f 80/100 inch. Sliding bar length :2ft. Distance between the two sliding bars: lOin. Sliding tubes thickness a: 20/100 inch. Plate receiving sliding tubes : thickness 20/100.

Pole : length of basis on cross-member joining wheels 3ft 4in.

Length of pole 1 ft 8 in. Plate fixed at the rear of the car: thickness : 20/100 inch length :10 in. Vertical bars + 80/100 in height 6 in. The plate should come under the pole level so that the springs come in front of the middle of the vertical bars when the car and the caravan are on a horizontal ground. Spring resistance at extremity Ib 22.

(Anti-swaying effect also can be obtained by way of any other type of spring or rubber.) Extremity of spring capable of a displacement of 4 inches.

The adjustment of the pole horizontal travel depends on the type of car. It is done after turning the car and the trailer on the minimum turning radius. The stabili. er-pole can be set above the cross-member according to the hooking-ball level.

The construction of the present stabilizer is relatively simple. A good many users of caravans or trailers (trailers carrying boats for example) would certainly be interested in its advantages of comfort, safety and simplicity of use.

Besides, this stabilizer could be standarized on a certain type or make of caravan, providing thus a great advantage on its rivals.

Another possibility is to join the turning plate directly to the caravan and set the inertia brake and hook in the pole of the stabilizer.

Claims (3)

1. The system of stabilizer for caravans or trailers using additional front wheels and characterized by a turning plate whose one table is connected with the caravan and whose other table is joined with the wheels of the stabilizer.

2. The system of stabilizer for caravans or trailers using additional front wheels and characterized by a turning plate whose one table is joined to the caravan by its inertia-brake and hook and by way of bars sliding into tubes fixed on the pole of the caravan and whose other table is connected with the front wheels of the stabilizer.

3. The anti-swaying system set in the pole of a towed vehicle and characterized by the reaction of springs or rubber against a rod fixed at the rear of the towing vehicle.