GB2250254A

GB2250254A - "Tow Rope Device"

Info

Publication number: GB2250254A
Application number: GB9024429A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Bagnall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-11-09
Filing date: 1990-11-09
Publication date: 1992-06-03
Also published as: GB9024429D0

Abstract

A device for use at one or both ends of a tow rope for towing a vehicle, comprises a housing 12 having a hook 22 at one end and a rod 18 passing through the other end and having an eye 20 at its free end for attachment to the tow rope. A helical compression spring 14 surrounds the rod to resist withdrawal of the rod from the housing. A hydraulic damper may be incorporated within the housing to reduce the rate of compression of the spring 14. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Tow Rope Device Field of the invention This invention relates to a device for use with a tow rope for towing a vehicle.

Bakground to the invention Tow ropes, for use in an emergency for towing a vehicle, are nowadays usually made of a nylon or similar synthetic filamentary material. They require to be of a sufficient length sch that if the towing vehicle decelerates rapidly, the driver of the towed vehicle has sufficient time to brake his vehicle without bumping into the towing vehicle ahead. Although a certain amount of stretch or "give" occurs in such a rope when a towing force is applied, due to the significant length of the rope it is often difficult for the driver of the towing vehicle (particularly an inexperienced driver) to judge correctly when the slack in the rope has been taken up and the towing strain is being applied. As a result the problem may frequently occur that a sudden jerk is applied via the rope to the towed vehicle.This is both unpleasant and may even cause damage to the vehicle, and could even be dangerous.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for use of the tow rope which will at least mitigate the aforementioned problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for use with a tow rope or the like, having first connection means at one end for attachment to a towing vehicle or to a towed vehicle, and a second connection means at the other end for attachment to the tow rope, and spring means disposed between the connection means and arranged to make limited extension therebetween.

The spring means may be constituted by a tension spring (having means to limit its extension), or alternatively by a pneumatic spring.

Advantageously, the spring means comprises a helical compression spring enclosed in a cylindrical housing. In this case one end of the spring may be connected to a central rod passing axially through the spring while the other end abuts a cap at the other end of the housing.

In this manner the spring is neatly enclosed, and is less likely to attract dirt or constitute a danger to the user.

If desired the device may incorporate a hydraulic damping means to reduce the rate of extension or compression of the spring.

Brief description of the drawings An example of a device in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of the device in use at each end of a tow rope between a towed vehicle and a towing vehicle; and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the device, shown partly in section.

Referring first to Figure 1, there is shown the tail end of a towing vehicle A and the front end of a towed vehicle B.

Connected to a suitable towing point (eg. an eye bolt) on the towing vehicle A is one of the devices 10 in accordance with the invention. A similar device 10 is suitably connected to the towed vehicle B, and connected in between is a tow rope 11.

Referring now to Figure 2 each device comprises a cylindrical housing 12 closed at each end and surrounding a helical compression spring 14. One end of the spring 14 bears against the inside of an end cap 16 at one end of the housing, while the other end is connected to one end of a tension rod 18 which passes axially through the spring and the end cap 16, where it is formed into a ring or eye 20 for connection to one end of the tow rope 11.

The other end of the housing 12 has a hook 22 secured to it whose opening is closable by a sprung strip 24. As can be seen from Figure 1 the hook 22 is adapted to be connected to a suitable towing point on the towing vehicle or towed vehicle respectively.

In use, assuming that the tow rope 11 is at first slack, as soon as the tension begins to be applied to the tow rope, spring 14 in each device 10 begins to be compressed, thereby cushioning any sudden jerk caused by the acceleration of the towing vehicle. As the force is increased the rod 18 will be withdrawn from the respective device 10 until the spring is fully compressed. Clearly the device described above could be permanently fixed, particularly to the rear end of the towing vehicle.

Although two devices have been described above, in many circumstances it will be sufficient for only one device to be required.

In order to dampen the extension or retraction of the spring in the device, a hydraulic damping device may be incorporated within the housing.

Claims

1. A device for use with a tow rope or the like, having first connection means at one end for attachment to a towing vehicle or a towed vehicle, and a second connection means at the other end for attachment to the tow rope, and spring means disposed between the connection means and arranged to accomodate limited extension therebetween.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which the spring is constituted by a tension spring.

3. A device according to claim 2 in which the tension spring comprises means to limit extension of the spring.

4. A device according to claim 1 in which the spring means is a pneumatic spring.

5. A device according to claim 1 in which the spring means comprises a helical compression spring enclosed in a cylindrical housing.

6. A device according to claim 5 in which one end of the compression spring is connected to a central rod passing axially through the spring, and the other end of the spring abuts a cap at the other end of the housing.

7. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and further comprising hydraulic damping means to reduce the rate of extension or compression of the spring

8. A device for use with a tow rope or the like, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.