GB2290768A - Combined vehicle coupling and stabiliser - Google Patents

Combined vehicle coupling and stabiliser Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2290768A
GB2290768A GB9412873A GB9412873A GB2290768A GB 2290768 A GB2290768 A GB 2290768A GB 9412873 A GB9412873 A GB 9412873A GB 9412873 A GB9412873 A GB 9412873A GB 2290768 A GB2290768 A GB 2290768A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
coupling
stabiliser
rotation
employed
axis
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9412873A
Other versions
GB9412873D0 (en
Inventor
Peter Read Matthews
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB9412873A priority Critical patent/GB2290768A/en
Publication of GB9412873D0 publication Critical patent/GB9412873D0/en
Publication of GB2290768A publication Critical patent/GB2290768A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/24—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions
    • B60D1/30—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions for sway control, e.g. stabilising or anti-fishtail devices; Sway alarm means
    • B60D1/32—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions for sway control, e.g. stabilising or anti-fishtail devices; Sway alarm means involving damping devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/24—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions
    • B60D1/30—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions for sway control, e.g. stabilising or anti-fishtail devices; Sway alarm means

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)

Abstract

A coupling is provided for a towing and trailed vehicle that incorporates a stabiliser and may have three separate axes of rotation. A horizontal tube 1 may be fitted to the towing vehicle, about which the connector attaches allowing rotation about a lateral axis. A rotary coupling may be provided in the trailer drawbar to provide rotation about a longitudinal axis. A pivot is provided in the coupling to allow rotation about a vertical axis, and this pivot is provided with stabilising means which may comprise friction discs operated by a cam lever, 3, to clamp rotation about this axis.

Description

COUPLING STABILISER FOR CARAVANS This invention relates to a Coupling Stabiliser for caravans.
Caravans have traditionally been coupled to the towing vehicle by a ball coupling. But adverse weather and traffic conditions have made it necessary to introduce a stabiliser to prevent accidents caused by snaking.
This invention combines the coupling stabiliser into one unit.
According to this invention the towing vehicle is provided with a bracket carrying a horizontal tube mounted at the normal coupling height.
The caravan is provided with a hook of matching proportions which when engaged with the towing bracket is secured by a spring loaded tongue and safety catch.
The rear of the hook is shaped as a fork end to house a pivot plate secured to the caravan draw bar. A vertical pivot pin unites this assembly which includes friction discs, disc spring and lock nut. Operation of the cam lever hinged on the top of the vertical pivot pin allows the hook to swing freely or engage the friction discs providing resistence to movement. The magnitude of the damping force can be varied by adjusting the lock nut.
Referring to the drawing and assuming the bracket with horizontal tube (1) is attached to the towing vehicle by suitable bolts and the pivot plate (2) is firmly secured to the caravan draw bar by dowel or taper pin.
The coupling stabiliser is attached to the towing vehicle by the following sequence of operations: Cam lever (3) is raised to the vertical position to allow the hook to pivot without restraint.
Safety catch (4) is released and locking tongue (5) is withdrawn by the handle provided. The same handle is employed to lift, rotate and locate the hook on the horizontal tube (1) on the vehicle. The coupling stabiliser will be securely attached to the vehicle when the locking tongue (5) has retracted and the safety catch (4) engaged.
By depressing cam lever (3) into a horizontal position towards the tow vehicle the stabiliser is engaged.
To uncouple the caravan from the vehicle this sequence described above should be carried out in reverse order.
If it is required to tow the caravan without the stabiliser engaged the cam lever (3) should be depressed into a horizontal position towards the caravan.

Claims (6)

1. A coupling and stabiliser presented as one unit.
2. A vehicle towing bracket where in a horizontal coupling tube is employed.
3. A coupling stabiliser wherein a hook is employed as a connection piece.
4. A coupling stabiliser wherein a tongue and safety catch are employed as a locking device.
5. A coupling stabiliser wherein a cam lever is employed to engage or dissengage the damping unit.
6. A coupling stabiliser wherein a lock nut is employed to vary the dampling force exerted by friction discs.
GB9412873A 1994-06-27 1994-06-27 Combined vehicle coupling and stabiliser Withdrawn GB2290768A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9412873A GB2290768A (en) 1994-06-27 1994-06-27 Combined vehicle coupling and stabiliser

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9412873A GB2290768A (en) 1994-06-27 1994-06-27 Combined vehicle coupling and stabiliser

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9412873D0 GB9412873D0 (en) 1994-08-17
GB2290768A true GB2290768A (en) 1996-01-10

Family

ID=10757391

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9412873A Withdrawn GB2290768A (en) 1994-06-27 1994-06-27 Combined vehicle coupling and stabiliser

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2290768A (en)

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1295045A (en) * 1968-11-23 1972-11-01
GB2038259A (en) * 1978-09-26 1980-07-23 Graubremse Gmbh Device for damping snaking movements between towing vehicle and trailer vehicle
US4312516A (en) * 1978-09-18 1982-01-26 Olsen Gary E Trailer hitch
GB2204548A (en) * 1987-05-08 1988-11-16 Godfrey Wyndham Boxall Ball and socket coupling devices
GB2234722A (en) * 1989-07-05 1991-02-13 Garrison Ltd Towing assembly having limited compliance in vertical and lateral directions
GB2275241A (en) * 1993-02-23 1994-08-24 Ian Stanley Warn Hydraulic towed vehicle stabiliser.

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1295045A (en) * 1968-11-23 1972-11-01
US4312516A (en) * 1978-09-18 1982-01-26 Olsen Gary E Trailer hitch
GB2038259A (en) * 1978-09-26 1980-07-23 Graubremse Gmbh Device for damping snaking movements between towing vehicle and trailer vehicle
GB2204548A (en) * 1987-05-08 1988-11-16 Godfrey Wyndham Boxall Ball and socket coupling devices
GB2234722A (en) * 1989-07-05 1991-02-13 Garrison Ltd Towing assembly having limited compliance in vertical and lateral directions
GB2275241A (en) * 1993-02-23 1994-08-24 Ian Stanley Warn Hydraulic towed vehicle stabiliser.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9412873D0 (en) 1994-08-17

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)