GB2266686A - Coupling a jockey wheel drive assembly to a towing bracket - Google Patents

Abstract

Coupling apparatus for coupling a jockey wheel drive assembly 16 to a towing bracket of a vehicle comprises a support bracket 10, coupling means viz. a ball 12 mounted thereon for engagement with a coupling of a vehicle trailer and means 24, 26, 22 engageable with the coupling of the trailer when the apparatus is connected thereto by way of the ball 12 so constructed and arranged as to restrict movement of the coupling apparatus relative to the coupling. The coupling apparatus further comprises a clamp 14 by which a jockey wheel drive assembly can be removably and adjustably secured to the coupling apparatus. The coupling apparatus provides a simple and efficient means for connecting a jockey wheel drive assembly to the towing bracket of a vehicle trailer. <IMAGE>

Description

COUPLING APPARATUS SUITABLE FOR USE IN COUPLING A JOCKEY WHEEL DRIVE ASSEMBLY TO A TOWING BRACKET This invention relates to a coupling apparatus suitable for use in coupling a jockey wheel drive assembly to a towing bracket of a vehicle trailer.

Vehicle trailers are commonly provided with a jockey wheel which is adapted to be moved into engagement with the ground, to raise the towing bracket of the trailer whereby to disengage the trailer from the towing apparatus of a towing vehicle and to manoeuvre the trailer. In some vehicle trailers, for example certain models of caravan, this jockey wheel assembly is integral with the frame of the vehicle trailer. In order to manoeuvre a trailer to a convenient position once it has been detached from the towing vehicle, considerable effort may sometimes be entailed and to facilitate such manoeuvring, jockey wheel drive assemblies have been proposed by which jockey wheels may be driven, for example from the electrical power supply of the caravan or an independently mounted battery.One such jockey wheel drive assembly is the subject of our copending Patent Application Publication No 2229150. One way in which such jockey wheel drive assemblies may be mounted on the towing bracket of a vehicle trailer which has been proposed is to use the trailer coupling. However, the mounting of the jockey wheel drive assembly must be secure so that the drive assembly does not move relative to the towing bracket. On the other hand, the coupling of vehicle towing brackets are commonly designed to permit considerable freedom of movement between the coupling member on a towing vehicle and the coupler on the vehicle towing bracket.

One of the various objects of the present invention is to provide an improved coupling apparatus suitable for use in coupling a jockey wheel drive assembly to a towing bracket of a vehicle trailer.

In one aspect the invention may be considered to provide coupling apparatus suitable for use in coupling a jockey wheel drive assembly to a towing bracket of a vehicle trailer comprising a support member, first means mounted on the support member and adapted for engagement with a coupling of a trailer whereby to connect the apparatus to the trailer, second means engageable with the coupling of the trailer when the apparatus is connected thereto by the first means so constructed and arranged as to restrict movement of the apparatus relative to the coupling of the trailer, and third means by which a jockey wheel drive assembly can be secured to the coupling apparatus.

In a preferred apparatus in accordance with the invention the first means comprises a projecting member, conveniently a three quarters spherical member or a ball of the type commonly used on towing vehicles, which projects from the support member on an axis and is adapted to be received in a coupling, namely a cooperating socket, of the trailer. Suitably the second means comprises projections upstanding from the support member in a direction generally parallel with the axis of the projecting member and spaced from the projecting member, the projections being adapted to cooperate with part of a coupling with which the coupling apparatus is to be coupled whereby to prevent movement of the apparatus relative to the coupling about the axis of the projecting member.Conveniently the projections comprise two parallel flanges which, as well as projecting parallel with the axis of the projecting member, also extend lengthwise of the coupling apparatus; parts of the coupling being slidingly received between the flanges when the apparatus is assembled with the coupling. Where the projecting member is a towing ball, the apparatus preferably also comprises means for adjusting the position of the ball along the axis relative to a surface of the support member from which the ball is upstanding.

In a preferred apparatus in accordance with the invention the second means also includes the surface from which the projecting member is upstanding, this surface being adapted to engage a complementary surface of the coupling to which the apparatus is secured whereby to prevent relative movement about orthogonal axes which are also orthogonal to the axis of the projecting member: in this preferred apparatus, the coupling apparatus is locked solidly to the coupling of the towing bracket so that it is effectively integral with the towing bracket coupling.

Preferably the third means of apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises a clamp, suitably comprising a mount secured to the support member and a cooperating member mounted by pivot means on the mount to define an opening between the mount and cooperating member adapted to receive a portion of the jockey wheel drive assembly. The clamp further comprises securing means, conveniently mounted in the cooperating member positioned at the opposite side of the opening to the pivot means and adapted to be screw threaded into the mount whereby to secure the mount and cooperating member to one another in such a manner as to clamp a portion of the drive assembly received in the opening and adjustably secure it to the apparatus.

The clamp is conveniently so constructed and arranged to permit adjustment lengthwise of an axis of a mounting portion of the jockey wheel drive assembly and/or the orientation about that axis.

Coupling apparatus in accordance with the invention is intended for use in association with trailer couplings which only have a limited amount of movement about the lengthwise axis of the coupling There now follows a detailed description to read with reference to the accompanying drawings of coupling apparatus embodying the invention. It will be realised that this apparatus has been selected for description to illustrate the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings:- Figure r is a perspective view of coupling apparatus embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the illustrative apparatus, assembled with a coupling of a towing bracket; and Figure 3 is an end view of the illustrative apparatus assembled with the coupling.

The illustrative coupling apparatus comprises a support member, namely a bracket 10 and a clamp 14 secured to the support member 10 by which a jockey wheel drive assembly 16 (shown in chain dot line in Figure 1) can be adjustably secured to the coupling apparatus. The coupling apparatus further comprises means engageable with a coupling of the trailer when the apparatus is connected thereto so constructed and arranged as to restrict movement of the apparatus relative to the coupling of the trailer, which will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

The illustrative coupling apparatus is especially suitable for use with so-called ALKO couplings which are used in a considerable part of the caravan market. The couplings permit a limited amount of twist (a maximum of about 50) about a lengthwise axis of the coupling.

The bracket 10 comprises two substantially planar parts 18, 20 which are disposed perpendicularly to one another. The first part 18 has a flat upper surface 22 from which the towing ball 12 projects on an axis A.

Parallel flanges 24, 26 are upstanding from the surface 22 and extend generally lengthwise of the apparatus. The flanges 24, 26 are spaced from the ball 12 being parallel to and equidistant from the axis A.

The plate 20 is perpendicular to the plate 18 and generally parallel with the axis A. The clamp 14 is secured by any suitable means, for example bolts 28, to the plate 20. The clamp 14 comprises a mount 30 which is secured to the plate 20 by the bolts 28 and a cooperating member 32 mounted on the mount 30 by pivot means 35 for pivotal movement. The mount 30 and member 32 cooperate to define an opening 34 between them which is adapted to receive a mounting portion 36 (having a cylindrical outer surface, having an axis B) of the jockey wheel drive assembly 16. The clamp 14 further comprises securing means namely a securing member 38 which is mounted for rotation in the member 32 at the opposite side of the opening 34 to the pivot means 35. The securing member 34 has a threaded end portion 40 which is adapted to be threadedly received in a nut 42 secured to the mount 30.The securing member 38 is cranked to provide a handle portion 44 which can be used to rotate the securing member 38 thus to tighten or loosen the clamp.

To introduce the portion 36 of the drive assembly 16 into the opening 34, the securing member 38 may be disengaged from the nut 42 and the member 32 hinged about the pivot means 35 to a fully open position so that end portions 46, 48 of the mount 30 and member 32 are spaced apart, and the portion 36 introduced between the end portions 46, 48. The member 32 can then be hinged to a closed position and the securing member 38 threaded into the nut 42 and tightened to tighten the clamp around the portion 36 thus to secure the jockey wheel drive assembly 16 in place. Conveniently, the jockey wheel drive assembly 16 is secured in place after the coupling apparatus has been mounted on the coupling of a towing bracket.

Thus the jockey wheel drive assembly 16 can be readily removed from the clamp 14 or reintroduced to the clamp 14 and clamped in place by a user of the illustrative apparatus. Furthermore, the jockey wheel drive assembly 16 can be clamped at a variety of positions lengthwise of the axis B so that it can be adjusted to a suitable position for use and clamped by means of the clamp 14 in this adjusted position lengthwise of the axis B. Minor adjustments of the actual jockey wheel lengthwise of the axis B after the drive assembly 16 has been clamped in place can be achieved using a rotary handle (not shown) positioned at an upper end of the portion 36 to operate a screw and nut assembly to raise or lower the jockey wheel 37 relative to the portion 36 in a known manner commonly used in jockey wheel assemblies.

The ball 12 is adjustable along the axis A.

Adjustment may be provided by any suitable means. In the illustrative apparatus, the ball 12 has a screw threaded shank 50 projecting therefrom. The shank 50 is received in and extends through an opening 52 in the plate 18 with the ball 12 above the plate 18. It is then adjusted to a desired position lengthwise of the axis A by adjustment of a nut 54 threaded on the shank 50. A slot may be provided in a lower end portion of the shank 50 (opposite the ball 12) to facilitate rotation of the shank 50 from beneath.

In use of the illustrative coupling apparatus, the ball is introduced into a socket of a coupling 56 of known design commonly used on the towing brackets of vehicle trailers and locked in position by operation of the locking lever 58 in known manner. The coupling 56 in question comprises a flat undersurface 62 and two flanges 60 which project outwardly from the main body of the coupling 56.

Outer edges of the flanges 60 are parallel and are spaced apart a distance such as so be a sliding fit between the upstanding flanges 24, 26 of the coupling apparatus. The flat undersurface 62 is, in use of the coupling apparatus, positioned in contact with the surface 22 of the plate 18.

The position of the ball 12 lengthwise of the axis A is adjusted by means of the nut 54 on the threaded shank portion 50 so that when the coupling is locked in place on the ball 12 the flat faces 22, 62 are urged firmly into contact. When the coupling 56 is locked firmly onto the ball 12 in this way, engagement of the flanges 24, 26 with the edges of the flanges 60 prevents relative movement between the coupling 56 and the coupling apparatus about the axis A. Engagement of the flat faces 22, 24 prevents relative movement between the coupling apparatus 10 and the coupling 56 about orthogonal axes (one of which extends lengthwise of the apparatus parallel with the flanges 24, 26) which are orthogonal to the axis A. The coupling apparatus and coupling 56 are thus locked solidly together so that there can be no relative movement between them.

When the jockey wheel drive assembly 16 is clamped by the clamp 14 to the illustrative coupling apparatus, the axis B of the portion 36 is slightly off-parallel relative to the axis A of the ball 12 and offset to one side, so that the upwardly projecting part of the portion 36 is clear of the coupling 56. For use with an ALKO coupling the axes A and B are inclined at an appropriate angle (about 50 on ALKO couplings) such that when the jockey wheel drive assembly 16 is securely mounted by the illustrative coupling apparatus on the coupling 56, the weight of the trailer on the coupling (which acts along the axis A through the ball 12) causes the coupling 56 to rotate through the maximum extent permitted by the coupling.The angle between the axes A, B is chosen to be such that the axis B is vertical (or substantially so) when the coupling 56 is rotated to that maximum permitted extent. The weight of the trailer acting on the coupling ensures that the coupling does not move from this fully rotated orientation during use of the jockey wheel drive assembly.

The illustrative apparatus is very convenient to use and is especially suitable for use in conjunction with the jockey wheel drive assembly described by way of example in our above mentioned Patent Application Publication No 2229150. It is important to ensure that the jockey wheel drive assembly 16 is mounted on the towing bracket in such a way that there can be no relative movement between the drive assembly 16 and the towing bracket to avoid the possibility of damage to the towing bracket or drive assembly or indeed collapse of the drive assembly which might cause considerable damage to the caravan. The illustrative apparatus is relatively inexpensive and simple to use, as well as being reliable.

Claims (9)

1. Coupling apparatus suitable for use in coupling a jockey wheel drive assembly to a towing bracket of a vehicle trailer comprising a support member, first means mounted on the support member and adapted for engagement with a coupling of a trailer whereby to connect the apparatus to the trailer, second means engageable with the coupling of the trailer when the apparatus is connected thereto by the first means so constructed and arranged as to restrict movement of the apparatus relative to the coupling of the trailer, and third means by which a jockey wheel drive assembly can be secured to the coupling apparatus.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the first means comprises a projecting member which projects from the support member on an axis and is adapted to be received in a cooperating socket of a trailer and the second means comprises projections upstanding from the support member in a direction generally parallel with the axis of the projecting member and spaced from the projecting member, the projections being adapted to cooperate with part of a coupling with which the coupling apparatus is to be coupled whereby to prevent movement of the apparatus relative to the coupling about the axis of the projecting member.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein the projecting member is a ball.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3 comprising means for adjusting the position of the ball along the axis relative to a surface of the support member from which it is upstanding.

5. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 4 wherein said second means also includes a surface from which the projecting member is upstanding, said surface being adapted to engage a complementary surface of a coupling to which the apparatus is secured whereby to prevent relative movement about orthogonal axes which are also orthogonal to the axis of the projecting member.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the first means comprises a projecting member which projects from the support member on an axis and is adapted to be received in a cooperating socket of a trailer and the second means comprises a surface from which the projecting member is upstanding, said surface being adapted to engage a complementary surface of a coupling to which the apparatus is secured whereby to prevent relative movement about orthogonal axes which are also orthogonal to the axis of the projecting member.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the third means comprises a clamp adapted to engage a portion of a jockey wheel drive assembly whereby to adjustably secure the drive assembly to the apparatus.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein the clamp comprises a mount secured to the support member, a cooperating member mounted by pivot means on the mount to define an opening between the mount and cooperating member adapted to receive a said portion of the jockey wheel drive assembly, and securing means positioned at the opposite side of the opening to the pivot means adapted to secure the mount and cooperating member to one another in such a manner as to clamp a portion of a drive wheel assembly received in the opening and secure it to the apparatus.

9. Apparatus suitable for use in coupling a jockey wheel drive assembly to a towing bracket of a vehicle trailer constructed arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying.