GB2365397A

GB2365397A - Trailer mounting for service lines

Info

Publication number: GB2365397A
Application number: GB0016234A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Francis Attree
Original assignee: Safeway Stores Inc
Current assignee: Safeway Inc
Priority date: 2000-06-30
Filing date: 2000-06-30
Publication date: 2002-02-20
Also published as: GB0016234D0

Abstract

A connecting device (3) for service lines between a tractor and a trailer (1) comprises an arm (5) along which the service lines extend. The arm (5) is pivotably mounted to a support (6, see figure 2) on the front of the trailer (1) so that it is pivotable about a substantially vertical axis (9).

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> TRAILER MOUNTING The present invention relates to a mounting on a trailer for use as part of a connection between tractors and trailers of motor vehicles and, more particularly, to a trailer mounting for the service line couplings, such as electrical and air couplings between the tractor and the trailer of an articulated lorry. These couplings comprise coiled cables and hoses which will be henceforth referred to as service connectors.

A problem with articulated lorries is that there is frequently limited access to the service connectors between the tractor and the trailer. Where the trailer is fitted with a front mounted refrigeration unit then this access is even more restricted. Standing between tractor and trailer to connect the service lines can be dangerous, particularly since these lines generally include a compressed air hose connected to the trailer brakes. Careless application of the parking brake can result in the vehicle rolling backwards or forwards.

Another problem is that when the trailer turns relative to the tractor, the tractor connectors can become hooked under a corner of a trailer and then damaged by the tractor.

GB 2321038 describes a trailer which has a slightly curved, forwardly mounted track extending athwart the trailer. A coupling mounting is mounted to and is movable on the track and flexible conductors and conduits are mounted between the mounting and the trailer so as to allow such movability. The mounting thus allows articulation with a tractor and allows the coupling mounting to be pulled to one side to make service connections.

The track also enables the mounting to move from side to side of the trailer as the tractor turns, to follow the turn without snagging under the trailer. The lines from the tractor tend to centralise the mounting thus centralising the flexible conductors and conduits between the mounting and the trailer.

A problem with this arrangement is that the lines from the tractor can still be caught under a corner of a trailer when a lorry makes a tight turn as

the coupling is still substantially parallel to the front of the trailer because of the large radius of curvature of the track. Thus, the lines between the mounting and the tractor can get caught.

The mounting is designed to slide freely along the track. As the mounting and track become worn or collect dirt, the mounting will not be able to move so effectively along the track, thus limiting its effectiveness. The position and configuration of the mounting and track also leave them vulnerable to damage from the tractor unit.

The track athwart the trailer does not fully span the width of the trailer and thus does not allow the mounting to be moved close to the side edges of the trailer. Thus, a person when coupling or uncoupling to make or unmake the connections between the tractor and trailer and conduits would still have at least of part of his body directly between the tractor and the trailer, with the risks referred to above.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a trailer mounting which alleviates the aforementioned problems.

According to the present invention there is provided a connecting device for trailer service lines, comprising a connector head with couplings thereon for at least one arid preferably two or more service lines such as air hoses and electricity cables, the connector head being mounted at or adjacent one end of an arm, the other end of which is pivotally connected to a support adapted for mounting onto the front of a trailer to allow the arm to pivot relative to the support about a substantially vertical axis.

The arm is preferably tubular with the service line or lines running inside it from the trailer to the connector head The support can be mounted on the front of a trailer, suitably at a position near the bottom and offset from the centre line towards one side. The arm then extends, in a rest position, substantially parallel to the front of the trailer so that the connector head is adjacent one side of the trailer, preferably the near side. The connector is thus easily accessible without stepping between tractor and trailer.

It may be desirable for the trailer mounting to have biasing means for urging the arm towards its rest position alongside the trailer front wall. The biasing means may comprise a tension spring. Alternatively, the support could be mounted with the pivoting axis of the arm slightly of the vertical.

The trailer mounting may include the coupling mountings.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a trailer fitted with a connecting device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figures 2 and 3 are respectively front and plan views of the connecting device; Figure 4 is plan view of a rear portion of a tractor and a front portion of the trailer with the connecting device, the tractor and trailer being substantially in line; and Figures 5 and 6 are similar to Figure 4 except the tractor is shown turning respectively to the right and to the left relative to the trailer.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, a trailer 1 has a front mounted refrigeration unit 2 and a trailer mounting 3 is mounted on the front of the trailer, offset to the right of the vertical centreline 4 of the trailer 1 when viewed from the front. The connecting device 3 includes an arm 5 which comprises a hollow tube which may be substantially of square or rectangular cross-section. The arm 5 cantilevers to the horizontal from a support 6 comprising a pair of flanges 7, between which the arm extends, protruding from a base plate 8 bolted to the front of the trailer 1. The arm 5 extends towards the right side of the trailer and is pivoted about a substantially vertical axis 9 between the two flanges 7 so that it can swing about the pivot. The distance from the vertical axis 9 about which the arm pivots to the right side of the trailer 1 may, for example, be approximately 1 metre. The arm 5 is connected by a tension spring 10 to the base plate 8, so that its rest position, as shown in Figure 3, the arm is substantially parallel to the front of the trailer, the spring 10 biasing the arm to its rest position.

The free end portion of the arm 5 has a plurality of apertures 11 over which corresponding coupling mountings 12 (shown dotted) are mounted and and partially inserted. Each mounting is adapted to be coupled to a respective service line 16 (Figs 4-6) from the tractor. The apertures 11 are on the side of the arm 5 opposite from the front face of the trailer and a plate 13 substantially coincident with the aperture side of the arm 5 extends below the apertures 11. From each of these coupling mountings 12 a flexible conductor or conduit 14 extends along the inside of the tubular arm 5, the conductors/conduits 14 protruding through the opposite end of the arm 5 and into the trailer 1.

Different types of coupling mountings 12 may be attached to the arm 5 and partially inserted into the apertures 11 to suit the coupling of the tractor connectors to different standards, such as to British Standard (BS, AU138: 1967) "Braking Connections for Articulated Vehicles using Three-Line Air Pressure Systems" or Palm Couplings to EU Standard. The apertures 1 1 may be of various sizes to accommodate the different coupling mountings 12. The connectors may comprise various combinations of for example air hoses and multi-pin electrical connectors.

To connect a trailer 1 to a tractor, a tractor is reversed and the trailer is coupled to the tractor by a conventional articulated join. A person stands to the side of the tractor and trailer to which the coupling mountings 12 are closest to and couples the tractor connectors extending from the rear of the tractor to the coupling mountings 12 on the arm 5 without risk of being run over by the tractor or by an improperly braked trailer. Also, he is able to use both hands to make the connection. When connected, the lines from the tractor have some slack.

Referring to Figure 4, the tractor 15 is shown connected to the trailer 1 with the tractor being substantially in line with the trailer and the arm 5 of the trailer mounting 3 being in its rest position. Service lines 16 extend from the rear of the tractor 15 to the trailer mounting 3.

Referring to Figure 5, when the tractor 15 connected to the trailer 1

makes a turn to the right, the services lines 16 are pulled taut causing the arm 5 of the trailer mounting 3 to swing about its pivot 9, stretching the tension spring 10. Hooking is prevented by the service lines 16 being taut.

When the tractor 15 turns more to the left, any slackness in the service lines 16 is taken up by the arm 5 being swung back by means of the tension spring 10 retracting urging the arm back to its rest position. When the arm 5 reaches its rest position, any further turning to the left, as shown in Figure 6, causes slack to develop in the service lines 16. However, as the coupling mountings on the arm 5 are mounted further above the base of the trailer 1 than the coupling mountings on a slightly curved track as previously described, the slack is less likely to get hooked under the corner of the trailer.

The trailer mounting 3 can easily be added to conventional trailers by simply bolting, or otherwise fixing, the base plate 8 to the front of the trailer. The trailer mounting may form a conversion kit for converting a conventional trailer.

The arm 5 in its rest position enables the coupling mountings 12 to be easily accessible when the trailer 1 is parked on the left-hand side of the road in countries where they drive on the left-hand side of the road. Also, the manoeuvrability of the pivoted arm 5 of the trailer mounting 3 is less likely to be affected by dirt, wear and damage than the coupling mountings on a slightly curved track as previously described.

Whilst a particular embodiment has been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The conductors/conduits 14 may be attached to the outside of the arm 5. The 'arm may be designed so that it can be mounted on front of the trailer to the left of the centreline, the arm being substantially a mirror image of the arm previously described so that it is more suitable for providing access to the coupling mountings in countries where they drive on the right-hand side of the road.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A connecting device for trailer service lines, comprising a connector head with couplings thereon for at least one service line, the connector head being mounted at or adjacent one end of an arm, the other end of which is pivotally connected to a support adapted for mounting onto the front of a trailer to allow the arm to pivot about a substantially vertical axis.
2. A connecting device according to claim 1 wherein the connector head has couplings for a plurality of service lines.
3. A connecting device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the arm is tubular with the service line or lines running through it.
4. A connecting device according to any preceding claim wherein the arm is biased to a pivotal position, relative to its support, such that when mounted on a trailer front end it will extend substantially parallel thereto.
5. A trailer having means at a front end thereof for coupling to a tractor vehicle and also having mounted on said front end a connecting device according to any preceding claim with its arm pivotable about a substantially vertical axis, said service line or lines running along the arm from the trailer to the connector head.

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6. A trailer according to claim 5 wherein said service line or lines comprise one or more air hoses and/or one or more electricity cables.
7. A trailer according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein said support for the connecting device is mounted at a position near the bottom of the front of the trailer, offset from a centre line thereof, so that in a rest position it extends substantially parallel to the front of the trailer with the connector head adjacent one side thereof.
8. A trailer according to claim 7 wherein said support is mounted on the trailer front end with the pivoting axis of the arm slightly off the vertical, whereby the arm is biased into said rest position.
9. An articulated tractor trailer combination, comprising a trailer according to any one of claims 5 to 8 coupled to a tractor, the tractor and trailer having connected between them one or more service lines carried by said connecting device.