GB2308580A

GB2308580A - An extendable tow bar

Info

Publication number: GB2308580A
Application number: GB9526547A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Robert Millington
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-12-27
Filing date: 1995-12-27
Publication date: 1997-07-02
Also published as: GB9526547D0

Description

EXTENDABLE RECOVERY BAR This invention relates to an Extendable Recovery Bar.

Recovery bars are a safe means of moving a disabled vehicle either towing or pushing without the need of the disabled vehicle needing brakes or own motive power.

Recovery bars however need to be of sufficient length to avoid damage between the disabled vehicle and the recovery vehicle while however when not in use need to be sufficiently short to store away. They must also have sufficient coupling devices to be able to connect to any type of vehicle.

According to the present invention there is provided an Extendable Recovery Bar comprising of a hollow bar sliding within another slightly larger hollow bar with quick release pins to lock in the position of open i.e. extended for recovery, or closed for storage or confined working areas.

A variety of coupling devices also with quick release pins can be used depending on suitable anchorage points of the recovery vehicle and disabled vehicle. The recovery bar also enables a disabled vehicle to be pushed as well as be pulled enabling difficult manouvering e.g. manouvering into a garage or loading the disabled vehicle onto a repair ramp.

The disabled vehicle can be safely towed at speed as braking can be controlled by the recovery vehicle without the disabled vehicle shunting as with a rope or strap.

A specific embodiment of the Invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which.

Figure 1 shows a hook cut from 22 millimetre plate with a flat bar of lOmm by 22mm placed underneath. Two holes are drilled to fit lOmm lock pins at (A) and on the flat bar at (B) a run of weld to act as a stop whilst fitting to the box section.

Figure 2 shows a hook and flat bar to fit the larger end of the recovery bar, having two holes (A) and a weld (B) as in Figure 1.

This hook is cut out of 30mm plate with a flat bar of 30mm by 1Gmm placed underneath.

Figure 3 shows a top view of the hook and flat bar in Figure 2.

The hook end is machined to 22mm as in Figure 1. This is necessary as some fitting points on some vehicles are not big enough to take a 30mm hook.

Figure 4 shows a ball coupling with a shaft size of either 22mm square or 30mm square with two holes (A) as in Figure 1 or 2 drilled on the horizontal plane allowing interchange ability with the hooks in Figure 1 or 2. For example where some vehicles eve a tow ball fitted the towing eye is sometimes removed.

This coupling would still allow use of the recovery bar Figure 5 shows a 50mm ball with a shaft with two holes (A) of similar sizes and dimensions as in Figure 4. This coupling in conjunction with the one in Figure 4 could be used to extend the drawbar on the towing vehicle for use such as launching a boat down a slipway. The vehicle will no longer need to be reversed into the water.

Figure 6 shows a towing eye with a shaft with two holes (A) of similar sizes and dimensions as in Figure 4 and 5. (D) being a hole of 30mm and (E) being a section of 22mm be 22mm. The eye is used where there is a jaw fitted on the towing vehicle or disabled vehicle.

Figure 7 is a drawing of the Extendable Recovery Bar. Two pieces of box (G) and (H) are of equal length, approximately one metre long. (G) is a box section of 40mm by 40mm with a 4mm thick wall, (H) is a box section of 30mm by 30mm with a 3.5mm wall section. Four holes are drilled in section (G) two at either end which are the same sizes and pitch as the couplings. Ten holes are drilled in section (H) two for the couplings and eight for the locking open or closed of the recovery bar.

Four holes on the vertical plane two of which are to lock the bar open or extended and two for when it is closed for confined working or storage. The other four holes are drilled on the horizontal plane, two in the open or extended position and two in the closed position.

By withdrawing box (H) from box (G) and rotating through 900 then refitting this allows any of the couplings to be fitted to vehicles with anchorage points on the opposite planes i.e. one vertical and one horizontal. Six lynch pins (F) are used to lock everything together, therefore allowing quick connection of any of the couplings and quick extension of the bar.

Figure 8 shows a jaw coupling with a shaft with two holes (A) of similar sizes and dimensions as in Figure 4, 5 and 6. The jaw size is 50mm high by 50mm long and 50mm wide, with a hole drilled at (J) for a pin size of 25mm.

All the parts are zinc coated for long life protection against rust.

Claims

1. An Extendable Recovery Bar comprising of an inner and outer hollow bar with locking pins to connect them. The bars having Towing Eyes attached to one end of each bar, used for towing, pulling or pushing.

2. An Extendable Recovery Bar as claimed in claim 1 with interchangeable Towing Eyes or Towing Balls used for towing or pushing.

3. An Extendable Recovery Bar as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 with interchangeable Hooks or Jaws.

4. An Extendable Recovery Bar as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 with interchangeable Ball Couplings used for towing or pushing.

5. An Extendable Recovery Bar as claimed in any preceding claim with any combination of the coupling devices, used for towing or pushing claimed in any preceding claim.

6. An Extendable Recovery Bar as claimed in any preceding claim where any of the coupling devices can be rotated through 900 to fit onto the Extendable Recovery Bar.