GB2147257A

GB2147257A - Connecting a tow bar and control cable support to an axle

Info

Publication number: GB2147257A
Application number: GB08423610A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Erich Korte; Ernst Jacobs
Original assignee: Bergische Achsen Kotz Soehne
Current assignee: Bergische Achsen Kotz Soehne
Priority date: 1983-09-30
Filing date: 1984-09-18
Publication date: 1985-05-09
Also published as: SE458024B; GB2147257B; GB8423610D0; SE8404851L; DE3335444A1; SE8404851D0; DE3335444C2

Abstract

A separable connection between a tow bar (1) incorporating an over-run brake actuator and an axle (4) comprises two half-shells (5, 6) clamped together by bolts (7, 8) penetrating the tow bar (1) and the axle (4). An angular control cable support (9) is separably attached to the axle (4) by means of the bolt (8). The support (9) supports two control cables, and can be mounted on the axle (4) at laterally different positions. The support (9) can also be mounted on the axle (4) in the position shown by dotted lines. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATiON Connection between a tow bar and an axle The object of the invention is a separable connection between a tow bar and an axle with half-shells engaging around the polygonal or round profiles.

The known connections between a tow bar and an axle, disposed at a right-angle to each other, consists of top and bottom half-shells, the spatial form of which is adapted to the polygonal or round profiles of tow bar and axle, to which they are welded. A control cable support cannot be integrated into this inseparable welded connection.

Therefore, the control cable support is also provided with its own connection to the tow bar tube.

This known construction is expensive, is not separable and is therefore not variable either.

On a basis of this premise, the invention relates to the problem of providing a simply constructed joint between a tow bar and an axle in which a control cable support can be separably so incorporated that a central or eccentric arrangement is possible, according to whether only two control cables have to be supported for a single axle or four control cables have to be supported for a tandem axle.

In order to resolve this problem, it is proposed that the two half-shells be separably bolted to each other by means of bolts which penetrate the tow bar and the axle, spacers being interposed, and that the bolt which penetrates the axle should also secure an angular control cable support separably and adjustably on the axle.

In the case of a practical embodiment, the adjustability of the control cable support can be made possible in that at least one of the two halfshells comprises not only a bore for the bolt but also embossed projections, while the control cable support has spaced-apart bores in its side wall, adjustment facility involving moving the projections into a coincident relationship with the bores. With this arrangement, it is possible for the control cable support to be eccentrically disposed so that two other control cables can be run past it to a second axle.

A connection constructed according to the invention is not only separable, a factor which permits of space-saving transportation of tow bar and axle, but also offers the advantage of an integrated and as the same time also adjustable control cable support, so that there is no need for a separate connection to the tow bar or the axle. Thus, the number of component parts involved in the connection is reduced.

Further advantages and details of the object of the invention will become evident from the ensuing description of the associated drawings which show in elevation and in cross-section a preferred embodiment of connection between a tow bar and an anxle constructed according to the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of a tow bar with an overrun brake and an axle shown in section; Figure 2 is an enlarged detail from Figure 1, in side elevation; Figure 3 is a cross-section through the tow bar taken on the line Ill-Ill in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a cross-section through a half-shell in three different views, and Figures 5 and S are details of Figure 2 in section on the line V-V to illustrate the adjustability of a control cable support.

Fixed at a right-angle to a tow bar 1 with an overrun brake 2 and control cables 3 emerging therefrom is an axle 4. The connection between the tow bar 1 and the axle 4 is separable and consists of two half-shells 5, 6, two bolts 7, 8 and an integrated control cable support 9. Spacer sleeves 10, 11 are disposed on the two bolts 7, 8 within the tow bar 1 and the axle 4.

Of the two half-shells 5, 6, which can also be identically constructed, at least one (Figure 4) has two embossed projections 13, 14 on either side of a bore 12 through which the bolt 8 can pass. The angularly constructed control cable support 9 has in a side wall three bores 15, the spacing between and size of which are adapted to the spacing and size of the bore 12 and of the two projections 13, 14, so that in keeping with Figure 5, both central attachment and also, as shown in Figure 6, eccentric non-rotatable attachment are possible.

In its free standing side wall, the control cable support 9 comprises slots 16 for the insertion and supporting of tubes to accommodate the control cables 3.

The control cable support 9 can not only be incorporated centrally and eccentrically into the connection between tow bar 1 and axle 4, but it is also possible for the free standing side wall with the slots 16 to be located to face the tow bar 1, as illustrated by solid lines in Figure 1, and also to locate it to face away from the tow bar 1, as shown by broken lines in Figure 1. Differences in lengths of the control cables 3 can be compensated by these two possibilities of location.

1. Connection between a tow bar (1) and an axle (4) with half-shells (5, 6) engaging around the polygonal or round profiles, characterised in that the two half-shells (5, 6) are clamped separately to each other by bolts (7, 8) passing through the tow bar (1) and the axle (4), with interposed spacer sleeves (10, 11) and in that an angularly shaped control cable support (9) is separably and adjustably secured to the axle (4) by the bolt (8) which passes through the axle (4).

2. Connection according to Claim 1, characterised in that at least one of the two half-shells (5, 6) comprises not only a bore (12) for the bolt (8) but also embossed projections (13, 14), while the control cable support (9) has in its side wall spaced apart bores (15) which can be brought into a coincident relationship with the bore (12) and the projections (13, 14).

3. An assembly for connecting a tow bar to a vehicle axle comprising two half-shell members fixedly secured opposite one another on one end

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATiON Connection between a tow bar and an axle The object of the invention is a separable connection between a tow bar and an axle with half-shells engaging around the polygonal or round profiles. The known connections between a tow bar and an axle, disposed at a right-angle to each other, consists of top and bottom half-shells, the spatial form of which is adapted to the polygonal or round profiles of tow bar and axle, to which they are welded. A control cable support cannot be integrated into this inseparable welded connection. Therefore, the control cable support is also provided with its own connection to the tow bar tube. This known construction is expensive, is not separable and is therefore not variable either. On a basis of this premise, the invention relates to the problem of providing a simply constructed joint between a tow bar and an axle in which a control cable support can be separably so incorporated that a central or eccentric arrangement is possible, according to whether only two control cables have to be supported for a single axle or four control cables have to be supported for a tandem axle. In order to resolve this problem, it is proposed that the two half-shells be separably bolted to each other by means of bolts which penetrate the tow bar and the axle, spacers being interposed, and that the bolt which penetrates the axle should also secure an angular control cable support separably and adjustably on the axle. In the case of a practical embodiment, the adjustability of the control cable support can be made possible in that at least one of the two halfshells comprises not only a bore for the bolt but also embossed projections, while the control cable support has spaced-apart bores in its side wall, adjustment facility involving moving the projections into a coincident relationship with the bores. With this arrangement, it is possible for the control cable support to be eccentrically disposed so that two other control cables can be run past it to a second axle. A connection constructed according to the invention is not only separable, a factor which permits of space-saving transportation of tow bar and axle, but also offers the advantage of an integrated and as the same time also adjustable control cable support, so that there is no need for a separate connection to the tow bar or the axle. Thus, the number of component parts involved in the connection is reduced. Further advantages and details of the object of the invention will become evident from the ensuing description of the associated drawings which show in elevation and in cross-section a preferred embodiment of connection between a tow bar and an anxle constructed according to the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of a tow bar with an overrun brake and an axle shown in section; Figure 2 is an enlarged detail from Figure 1, in side elevation; Figure 3 is a cross-section through the tow bar taken on the line Ill-Ill in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a cross-section through a half-shell in three different views, and Figures 5 and S are details of Figure 2 in section on the line V-V to illustrate the adjustability of a control cable support. Fixed at a right-angle to a tow bar 1 with an overrun brake 2 and control cables 3 emerging therefrom is an axle 4. The connection between the tow bar 1 and the axle 4 is separable and consists of two half-shells 5, 6, two bolts 7, 8 and an integrated control cable support 9. Spacer sleeves 10, 11 are disposed on the two bolts 7, 8 within the tow bar 1 and the axle 4. Of the two half-shells 5, 6, which can also be identically constructed, at least one (Figure 4) has two embossed projections 13, 14 on either side of a bore 12 through which the bolt 8 can pass. The angularly constructed control cable support 9 has in a side wall three bores 15, the spacing between and size of which are adapted to the spacing and size of the bore 12 and of the two projections 13, 14, so that in keeping with Figure 5, both central attachment and also, as shown in Figure 6, eccentric non-rotatable attachment are possible. In its free standing side wall, the control cable support 9 comprises slots 16 for the insertion and supporting of tubes to accommodate the control cables 3. The control cable support 9 can not only be incorporated centrally and eccentrically into the connection between tow bar 1 and axle 4, but it is also possible for the free standing side wall with the slots 16 to be located to face the tow bar 1, as illustrated by solid lines in Figure 1, and also to locate it to face away from the tow bar 1, as shown by broken lines in Figure 1. Differences in lengths of the control cables 3 can be compensated by these two possibilities of location. CLAIMS

3. An assembly for connecting a tow bar to a vehicle axle comprising two half-shell members fixedly secured opposite one another on one end of said tow bar, said half-shells having remote ends shaped to partially surround the axle, fastening means passing through said half-shells and said axle, and a channel shaped member having means defining at least one cable support which is adjustably attached to said axle by said fastening means such that said cable support means are positioned to accommodate the required number of control cables.

4. A connection between a tow bar and an axle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.