JP3305214B2 - Apparatus for releasing a kingpin from a vehicle coupling coupler - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for releasing a kingpin of a trailer as a tow vehicle from a coupling coupler of a tractor as a tow vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for releasing a kingpin remotely from a driver's seat of a towing vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an apparatus of this type, an air cylinder connected to a king pin by a plunger lock is supported by a jaw rotatably supported by a connector body, and an air cylinder connected to the plunger lock via a cam plate. The plunger lock is configured to be movable to the jaw coupling position or the disengagement position, the lock piece holds the plunger lock at the jaw coupling position, and furthermore, the operating part of the air cylinder and the operating part of the lock piece are provided in the driver's seat of the vehicle, respectively. (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-73090).
In this detaching device, the lock piece is connected to the operation part of the lock piece via the control cable. The port of the air cylinder is connected to an air reservoir via an electromagnetic switching valve, and the operating section of the air cylinder is a push button switch for switching the electromagnetic switching valve to supply and discharge compressed air to and from the air cylinder. Further, an operation lever capable of rotating the cam plate is connected to the cam plate, and an operation lever capable of rotating the lock member is connected to the lock piece.

In the detaching device for a vehicle coupler constructed as described above, when the operating portion of the lock piece provided in the driver's seat is operated to release and release the lock piece from the plunger lock, the plunger lock is moved to the jaw connection position. To the jaw disengagement position. When the operating portion of the air cylinder provided in the driver's seat is operated in this state, the plunger lock is moved to the jaw disengagement position via the cam plate by the driving force of the air cylinder. As a result, the jaw is allowed to rotate about the pivot, so that the kingpin can be released from the jaw and released. In this manner, the detaching operation of the kingpin can be remotely controlled from the driver's seat. Further, since the lock piece is mechanically released from the plunger lock, the kingpin does not detach from the jaw even if an electrical malfunction occurs.
Further, since the air cylinder rotates the cam plate which requires a relatively large force, the heavy work of operating the operation lever connected to the cam plate becomes unnecessary, and the workability of cargo handling can be improved.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional vehicle coupler decoupling device, even when the vehicle is running, the operating portion of the locking piece is operated to release the locking piece from the plunger lock. If the operating part of the air cylinder is operated by mistake, the jaw may release the kingpin. Also, in the above-described conventional vehicle coupler decoupling device, since the operation levers respectively connected to the cam plate and the lock piece are exposed to the outside of the vehicle, these operation levers can be used while the driver is away from the vehicle. There was also a risk that a third party would mischief. An object of the present invention is to prevent a kingpin from being released from a jaw even if a control lever in a driver's seat is erroneously operated while a vehicle is running, and an operation lever exposed to the outside of the vehicle for operating a yoke lever and a lock plate. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for releasing a kingpin from a vehicle coupling coupler, which does not cause a situation in which a manipulation lever is tampered with by a third party.

[0005]

The invention according to claim 1 is
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a coupler base 17 provided at a rear portion of the towing vehicle 11, and a coupler base 17 pivotally connected to the coupler base 17 via a pair of jaw pins 18, 18 and provided at a front portion of the towed vehicle 12. A pair of jaws 19, 19 capable of holding or releasing the king pin 12a, and the coupler base 1
7 and a pair of jaws 19, 19
First position A and jaw 1 to be fixed while holding 2a
The yoke 21 is configured to be able to reciprocate between a second position B in which the king pin 12a is released by allowing rotation about the jaw pin 18 and the coupler base 17 in a state engaged with the yoke 21. The yoke lever 22 is mounted on the yoke lever 22 and is rotatable between a third position C for fixing the yoke 21 at the first position A and a fourth position D for fixing the yoke 21 at the second position B. A fifth position E attached to the coupler base 17 in a state engaged with the yoke lever 22 and fixing the yoke lever 22 to the third position C;
2 can swing between a sixth position F allowing rotation between the third position C and the fourth position D and a seventh position G fixing the yoke lever 22 at the fourth position D. And a lock plate 23 provided in the driver's seat of the towing vehicle 11 and connected to the lock plate 23 via a cable 26 so that the lock plate 23 is in a fifth position E, a sixth position F, and a seventh position G. And the yoke lever 22 is mounted on the coupler base 17 and the yoke lever 22 is moved to the third position C or the fourth position with the lock plate 23 rotated to the sixth position F. D, and a pair of jaws 19 provided in a driver's seat.
A coupler release lamp 30 for displaying the status of the coupler release operation in which 19 releases the king pin 12a, a release preparation switch 39 provided in the driver's seat and operated at the start of the coupler release operation, and the lock plate 23 in the fifth position E. Alternatively, a lock sensor 36 for detecting whether the position is in the sixth position F or the seventh position G, a parking switch 38 for detecting whether the parking brake is operated, and a yoke 21 in the first position A yoke switch 40 for detecting whether the position is A or the second position B, a lock guard switch 45 for detecting whether the king pin 12a is located between the jaws 19, 19, a release preparation switch 39, Based on the detection outputs of the lock sensor 36, the parking switch 38, the yoke switch 40 and the lock guard switch 45 A device for releasing a kingpin from the vehicle coupling coupler and a controller 41 for controlling the actuator 27 and the coupler releasing ramp 30.

In the device according to the first aspect, the towing vehicle 1
First, the driver operates the parking brake to release the king pin 12a from the coupler 13, gets off the driver's seat, disconnects the jumper hose, and grounds the lower end of the landing gear of the towed vehicle 12. In this state, the driver returns to the driver's seat, confirms that the parking brake is operating, and confirms that the parking switch is operating by the parking lamp. When pulled, the lock plate 23 rotates from the fifth position E to the sixth position F. At this time, since the lock sensor 36 detects that the lock plate 23 has rotated to the sixth position F, the controller 41 operates the actuator 27 based on the detection output of the lock sensor 36.

The operation of the actuator 27 causes the yoke lever 22 to rotate from the third position C to the fourth position D, and the yoke 21 to move from the first position A to the second position B. 19, 19 can be rotated about the pair of jaw pins 18, 18. As a result, when the driver returns the parking brake to move the towing vehicle 11 forward, the pair of jaws 19, 19 open to open the kingpin 12.
a, and the king pin 12a is
Released from 19. In this series of operations and actions,
When the release preparation switch 39 is pressed, the coupler release lamp 30 is pressed.
Blinks, the control lever 24 is pulled, and the actuator 27 operates via the lock sensor 36. York 2
When 1 moves from the first position A to the second position B and the yoke switch 40 is turned off, the coupler release lamp 30 changes from blinking to lit, and the jaws 19 and 19 separate from the king pin 12a to lock the lock guard. When the switch 45 is turned off, the coupler release lamp 30 is turned off. This allows the driver to confirm that the coupler release operation has been correctly completed and that the disconnection has been completely completed.

Further, since the cable 26 connects the lock plate 23 and the control lever 24, an electrical malfunction occurs without pulling the control lever 24, and the controller 41 attempts to electrically operate the actuator 27. The yoke lever 22 does not rotate, and the jaw 19 does not release the king pin 12a. Also, even if the control lever 24 is pulled due to an erroneous operation, unless the release preparation switch 39 is pressed in advance when the parking switch 38 is on,
Since the controller 41 does not send an operation signal to the actuator 27, the jaws 19, 19 do not release the king pin 12a.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a cab 1 is provided at the front of a chassis frame 11 a of the tractor 11.
1b is mounted, and a coupler 13 is provided on the rear upper surface of the chassis frame 11a. A king pin 12a that is held by or released from the coupler 13 projects downward from the front lower surface of the trailer 12. The coupler 13 includes a coupler bracket 14 fixed to the rear upper surface of the chassis frame 11 a, a coupler base 17 pivotally mounted above the bracket 14, and a pair of jaw pins 18 on the lower surface of the coupler base 17. A pair of attached jaws 19, 19, a yoke 21 attached to the lower surface of the coupler base 17 so as to reciprocate in the traveling direction of the tractor 11, and a yoke 21
And a lock plate 23 attached to the lower surface of the coupler base 17 so as to be engaged with the yoke lever 22. The pair of jaws 19, 19 have their base ends at the pair of jaw pins 1 so that they are located substantially at the center of the coupler base 17.
8 and 18 to the coupler base 17 (FIG. 1).
~ FIG. 4). At the approximate center of the pair of jaws 19, 19, a pair of concave portions 19a, 19a are formed so as to be able to clamp the king pin 12a, and the tips of the pair of jaws 19, 19 are formed to be curved in a direction away from each other. .

The yoke 21 is a yoke body 21 formed in a gate shape so as to sandwich the pair of jaws 19 from both sides.
and a yoke shaft 21 formed integrally with the yoke main body 21a and extending forward from the center of the front end of the yoke main body 21a.
b. The yoke 21 is retracted most and the first position A
(FIGS. 1 and 2), the rear end of the yoke main body 21a sandwiches the tips of the pair of jaws 19, 19, and the yoke 21 is held in a state where the pair of jaws 19, 19 hold the king pin 12a. 19, 19 are configured to be fixed. When the yoke 21 moves forward to the second position B (FIGS. 3 and 4), the yoke body 21
a comes off from the tip of the pair of jaws 19, 19,
The yoke 21 has a pair of jaws 19, 19 having a jaw pin 1.
It is configured to allow rotation about 8,18. A compression coil spring (not shown) is loosely fitted to the yoke shaft 21b.
Are biased to move to the first position A.

The yoke lever 22 is provided to extend in the vehicle width direction of the tractor 11, and has its base end pivotally connected to the coupler base 17 via the first pin 31. Also, the yoke lever 22
Is engaged with the yoke 21 by being loosely inserted into an insertion hole 21c formed in the yoke shaft 21b. The yoke lever 22 fixes the yoke 21 to the first position when the tip rotates to the third position C (FIGS. 1 and 2), which is the rearmost position, about the first pin 31. When the yoke 21 is rotated to the position D (FIGS. 3 and 4) of FIG. 4, the yoke 21 is fixed at the second position B. In this embodiment, an insertion hole is formed in the yoke shaft to engage the yoke lever with the yoke. However, a concave groove may be formed in the yoke shaft as long as the yoke lever can be engaged with the yoke.

The base end of the lock plate 23 is located near the front end of the yoke lever 22 on the lower surface of the coupler base 17.
It is pivotally connected via a pin 32. This lock plate 23
A long hole 23a in the shape of an arc centered on the first pin 31;
A first engagement hole extending from the rear end of the elongated hole 23a in a direction away from the yoke shaft 21b and a second engagement member extending from the front end of the elongated hole 23a in a direction approaching the yoke shaft 21b. A stop hole 23c is formed. An engaging pin 22a protrudes from the center end of the yoke lever 22, and the engaging pin 22a is slidably loosely inserted into the long hole 23a, the first locking hole 23b or the second locking hole 23c. As a result, the lock plate 23 is engaged with the yoke lever 22.

When the lock plate 23 rotates about the second pin 32 to reach a fifth position E (FIG. 1) where the engaging pin 22a is located in the first locking hole 23b, the yoke lever 22
Is fixed to the third position C, and the lock plate 23 rotates about the second pin 32 so that the engagement pin 22a is inserted into the elongated hole 23a.
Is reached, the yoke lever 22 is allowed to rotate between the third position C and the fourth position D when reaching the sixth position F (FIGS. 2 and 3). The lock plate 23 rotates about the second pin 32 and the second locking hole 23c
The yoke lever 22 is configured to be fixed at the fourth position D when it reaches a seventh position G (FIG. 4) in which the engagement pin 22a is located. The second pin 32 has a first locking hole 23.
A first torsion coil spring (not shown) that urges the lock plate 23 to rotate in the direction in which the engagement pin 22a is located in the area b is wound.

[0014] The driver's seat of the cab 11b has a control lever 24 by the driver (not shown) is operated, the lever 24 is connected via a cable 26 to the lock plate 23 (FIGS. 1 to 5 ). The cable 26 has an inner cable 26a having one end connected to the control lever 24 and the other end connected to the lock plate 23, and an outer cable 26b slidably enclosing the inner cable 26a except for both ends. In addition, inner cable 2
An elastic body (not shown) such as a tension coil spring having a larger elastic constant than the first torsion coil spring is interposed at one end, midway or the other end of 6a. Since this elastic body is not elastically deformed when the control lever 24 is not pulled, the lock plate 23 is configured to be held at the fifth position E (FIG. 1) by the elastic force of the first torsion coil spring. When the control lever 24 is pulled, the elastic body is elastically deformed against the elastic force of the first torsion coil spring. Therefore, when the engaging pin 22a is located at the rear end of the elongated hole 23a, the lock plate 23 is moved to the sixth position. It is configured to move to the position F and move to the seventh position G when the engagement pin 22a is located at the front end of the elongated hole 23a.

In this embodiment, an elastic body such as a tension coil spring is interposed at one end, midway or the other end of the inner cable, but the lock plate is pulled from the fifth position E to the sixth position by pulling the control lever. Even in the state where the inner cable has moved to the position F, the tension still acts on the inner cable, so that the inner cable is maintained in an elastically deformed state,
If the lock plate can be moved to the seventh position G when the engagement pin reaches the front end of the elongated hole by the elastic force of the inner cable, the elastic body becomes unnecessary.

An air cylinder 27 is provided on the lower surface of the coupler base 17 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The base end of the air cylinder 27 is pivotally connected to the coupler base 17 via a third pin 33, and the end of a piston 27 a projecting from the end of the cylinder 27 is connected to the end of the yoke lever 22 by a fourth pin 3.
4. The air cylinder 27 is a switching valve 28
Is connected to an air tank 29 in which compressed air is stored. The air cylinder 27 is a one-way air cylinder in which the piston 27a protrudes when compressed air is supplied, but the piston 27a stays at that position even when the supplied compressed air is discharged. Is a spring-offset electromagnetic switching valve. With the lock plate 23 rotated to the sixth position F, the switching valve 2
8 is off, the air cylinder 27 communicates with the atmosphere, and the air cylinder 27 moves the yoke lever 22 to the third position C.
When the switching valve 28 is turned on, the air cylinder 27 and the air tank 29 communicate with each other, and the air cylinder 27 rotates the yoke lever 22 to the fourth position D.

A coupler release lamp 30 is provided in the driver's seat (FIGS. 1 to 4). The lamp 30 is configured to be switchable between off, blinking, and on.
Is configured to display the status of the coupler release operation for releasing the kingpin 12a. A release preparation switch 39 which is turned on by the driver at the time of releasing the king pin 12a from the coupler 13, that is, at the start of the coupler release operation, is attached to the control lever 24 (FIGS. 1 to 5). A lock sensor 36 is attached to the lower surface of the coupler base 17 in proximity to the lock plate 23 (FIGS. 1 to 4). The sensor 36 has a case 36a and a plunger 36b protruding from the case 36a so as to be able to protrude and retract. When the lock plate 23 is at the fifth position E, the plunger 36b
Projecting from the case 36a, the lock sensor 36 is kept off, and when the lock plate 23 rotates to the sixth position F or the seventh position G, the plunger 36b is pushed into the case 36a by the lock plate 23 to lock. The sensor 36 is turned on.

In the driver's seat, a parking lever 37 (FIG. 5) operated by a driver is provided. A parking switch 38 (FIG. 1) for detecting whether or not a parking brake is operated is provided near the parking lever 37. -Fig. 4)
Is provided. When the parking lever 37 is not pulled, the parking switch 38 is kept off, and when the parking lever 37 is pulled, the parking switch 38 is turned on. A yoke switch 4 is provided on the lower surface of the coupler base 17 near the front end of the yoke main body 21a.
0 is provided (FIGS. 1 to 4). This yoke switch 4
Reference numeral 0 denotes a configuration in which the on state is maintained when the yoke 21 is at the first position A, and is off when the yoke 21 moves to the second position B.

Reference numeral 42 in FIG. 1 to FIG.
a is located between the pair of jaws 19, 19 or the height of the king pin 12a is displaced.
It is a lock guard that gets into the space or is pushed down by the lower surface of the king pin 12a. The base end of the lock guard 42 is pivotally connected to the bridge bar 43 via a bracket 44 and a fifth pin 35. The bridge bar 43 is located below the lower end of the king pin 12a and has a notch 17a.
A second torsion coil spring (not shown) is wrapped around the fifth pin 35 to urge the tip of the lock guard 42 into the space between the pair of jaws 19. When the lock guard 42 moves the tractor 11 backward to bring the pair of jaws 19, 19 closer to the king pin 12a,
The lower end of the king pin 12a is configured to push down the lock guard 42 that has entered between the pair of jaws 19,19.

The king pin 12 is located near the lock guard 42.
whether a is between jaws 19, 19 or kingpin 1
A lock guard switch 45 for detecting whether or not 2a is at the correct height with respect to the coupler 13 is provided. The lock guard switch 45 is such that the king pin 12a has the jaw 19,
When the king pin 12a is located at an incorrect height between the jaws 19 and 19, or when the king pin 12a is not located between the jaws 19 and 19, it is turned off when the king pin 12a is located at the correct height. You.
Further, a landing gear that supports the front side of the trailer 12 when the trailer 12 is separated from the tractor 11 protrudes from the front lower surface of the trailer 12. The lower end of the landing gear is grounded when in use, and is stored when not in use.

Release preparation switch 39, lock sensor 3
6. The detection outputs of the parking switch 38, the yoke switch 40 and the lock guard switch 45 are connected to the control input of the controller 41, and the control output of the controller 41 is connected to the switching valve 28 and the coupler release lamp 30 via an amplifier circuit (not shown). (FIGS. 1 and 2). The controller 41 activates the lock sensor 36 only when the parking switch 38 and the release preparation switch 39 are turned on in this order.
Is turned on, the switching valve 28 is turned on, and the parking switch 38 and the release preparation switch 3
When the switch 9 is turned on in the reverse order to the above, the switching valve 28 is not turned on even if the lock sensor 36 is turned on. Further, the switching valve 28 is turned on and turned off after a lapse of a predetermined time, so that the compressed air in the air cylinder 27 is discharged.

[0022] Incidentally, although the lock plate in the embodiment of this is using an air cylinder yoke lever in a state of being rotated in the position of the sixth as an actuator for rotating the third position C or the fourth position D, Move the yoke lever to the third position C
Alternatively, a hydraulic cylinder, a rotary solenoid, a linear solenoid, or another actuator may be used as long as the actuator can rotate to the fourth position D.

The operation of the thus configured device for releasing the kingpin from the vehicle coupling coupler will be described. When releasing the king pin 12a from the coupler 13, the driver first stops the tractor 11 to which the trailer 12 is connected at a predetermined place, and pulls the parking lever 37 to operate the parking brake. At this time, the parking switch 3
8 turns on. In this state, the driver gets off the driver's seat of the tractor 11, disconnects a jumper hose and a jumper cable (not shown), grounds the lower end of the landing gear, returns to the driver's seat, and turns on the release preparation switch 39. At this time, since the controller 41 detects that the parking switch 38 and the release preparation switch 39 are turned on in this order, the controller 41 blinks the coupler release lamp 30 to notify the driver that the coupler can be released.

Next, the control plate 24 is pulled to rotate the lock plate 23 to the sixth position F as shown in FIG. 2, that is, the lock plate 23 is positioned at the rear end of the first slot 23a. To rotate. At this time, the plunger 36b of the lock sensor 36 is pushed into the case 36a, and the lock sensor 36 is turned on. Since the controller 41 turns on the switching valve 28 based on the detection output of the lock sensor 37, compressed air is supplied to the air cylinder 27, and the piston 27a protrudes and the yoke lever 22
Rotates from the third position C to the fourth position D (FIG. 3).
The rotation of the yoke lever 22 moves the yoke 21 from the first position A to the second position B, and the pair of jaws 19,
19 is rotatable about the pair of jaw pins 18, 18. At the same time when the yoke lever 22 reaches the fourth position D, the lock plate 23 is connected to the inner cable 26a.
The second locking hole 23c is rotated in a direction in which the second locking hole 23c is fitted into the engagement pin 22a by the elastic force of an elastic body (not shown) interposed in the second member (FIG. 4). As a result, even if the compressed air in the air cylinder 27 is discharged, the yoke lever 22 is held at the fourth position.

On the other hand, from the first position A of the yoke 21 to the second
Is moved to the position B, the yoke switch 40 is turned off. At this time, the controller 41
The coupler release lamp 30 is switched from blinking to lighting on the basis of the detection output, so that the driver can know that the trailer 12 can be disconnected from the tractor 11 whenever the coupler release operation is completed and the tractor 11 is advanced. .
When the driver returns the parking lever 37 to advance the tractor 11, the pair of jaws 19, 19 are pushed open by the king pin 12a and separated from the king pin 12a as shown by the dashed line in FIG. At this time lock guard 4
2 is rotated upward by the elastic force of the second torsion coil spring (not shown), and the lock guard switch 45 is turned off. The controller 41 turns off the coupler release lamp 30 based on the detection output of the switch 45. Informs the driver that the trailer 12 has been completely disconnected. Thus, the tractor 11 is remotely controlled from the driver's seat.
, The trailer 12 can be safely and reliably separated.

The controller 41 controls the release preparation switch 39 so as not to be turned on unless the parking switch 38 is turned on. Even if the lock sensor 36 is turned on by operating the control lever 24, the release preparation is performed. Control is performed so that the switching valve 28 is not turned on unless the switch 39 is turned on. Furthermore, the lock plate 23 is connected to the control lever 24 via the cable 26, that is, since the lock plate 23 is mechanically connected to the control lever 24,
Even if the controller 41 turns on the switching valve 28 without the pulling of the lever 4, the yoke lever 22 does not rotate and the jaw 19 does not release the king pin 12a even if the controller 41 turns on the switching valve 28.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, the jaw pivotally connected to the coupler base via the jaw pin holds or releases the king pin, and the yoke reciprocates between the first and second positions. Then, the yoke lever pivots between the third and fourth positions, the lock plate swings between the fifth to seventh positions, and the driver's seat control lever connected to the lock plate via a cable operates. Lock plates 5 and 6
Alternatively, the controller swings to the seventh position, and further, the controller controls the actuator that rotates the yoke lever and the coupler release lamp based on the detection outputs of the release preparation switch, the lock sensor, the parking switch, the yoke switch, and the lock guard switch. When the driver first operates the parking brake to release the kingpin from the coupler, then presses the release preparation switch, and pulls the control lever, the lock plate is moved from the fifth position to the sixth position. Rotate to the position. At this time, since the lock sensor detects that the lock plate has rotated to the sixth position, the controller operates the actuator based on the detection output of the lock sensor. The yoke lever rotates from the third position to the fourth position by the operation of the actuator, and the yoke moves from the first position to the second position, so that the pair of jaws can rotate about the pair of jaw pins. Become.

As a result, when the driver returns the parking brake and advances the tractor, the kingpin is released from the pair of jaws. Therefore, even while the vehicle is running,
If the operating part of the air cylinder is operated incorrectly while operating the operating part of the lock piece to release the lock piece from the plunger lock, the detachment of the conventional vehicle coupler, where the jaw may come off the kingpin, may occur. In comparison with the device, in the present invention, the controller does not operate the actuator unless the parking brake is first actuated and then the release preparation switch is pressed. Even the kingpin is not released from the jaw.

Further, since the operation levers respectively connected to the cam plate and the lock piece are exposed to the outside of the vehicle, there is a possibility that a third party may play these operation levers while the driver is away from the vehicle. Compared with the conventional decoupling device for a vehicle coupler, in the present invention, there is no operation lever exposed to the outside of the vehicle for operating the yoke lever and the lock plate, so that the situation in which the operation lever is tampered does not occur. . Since the cable is connected to the lock plate and the control lever, even the controller attempts to operate the electrical actuator in a state that does not draw the control lever, the yoke lever does not rotate,
Joe never releases the kingpin. Further, in the course of the coupler release operation, the driver can always grasp the status of the coupler by the coupler release lamp in the driver's seat. As a result, it is possible to perform the secure by remote control at the solution discharge the driver's seat from the jaws of the kingpin when disconnection of the towing vehicle trailer or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along the line HH of FIG. 5, showing an apparatus for releasing a kingpin from a vehicle coupling coupler according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1 and showing a state in which a lock plate has been rotated from a fifth position to a sixth position.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing a state in which a yoke lever is rotated from a third position to a fourth position.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1 and showing a state in which a lock plate has been rotated from a sixth position to a seventh position.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a tractor including the coupler.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 tractor (towing vehicle) 12 trailer (towed vehicle) 12a kingpin 13 coupler 17 coupler base 18 Jopin 19 jaw 21 yoke 22 yoke lever 23 lock plate 24 the control lever 26 cable 27 air cylinder (actuator) 30 coupler releasing ramp 36 locks Sensor 38 Parking switch 39 Release preparation switch 40 Yoke switch 41 Controller 45 Lock guard switch A First position B Second position C Third position D Fourth position E Fifth position F Sixth position G Seventh Position of

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A coupler base (17) provided at a rear portion of a towing vehicle (11), and a towed vehicle (12) pivotally attached to the coupler base (17) via a pair of jaw pins (18, 18). A pair of jaws capable of holding or releasing the king pin (12a) provided at the front of
(19, 19) and the pair of jaws (1) attached to the coupler base (17).
9, 19) is a first position (A) for fixing the king pin (12a) while holding it and the jaw pin (18) of the jaw (19).
A yoke (21) configured to be able to reciprocate between a second position (B) allowing the rotation about the center and releasing the king pin (12a), and engaging with the yoke (21). In the state where the coupler base (17)
And a third position (C) for fixing the yoke (21) at the first position (A) and the yoke (21) at a second position (B).
A yoke lever (22) configured to be rotatable between a fourth position (D) and a yoke lever (22) attached to the coupler base (17) while being engaged with the yoke lever (22). A fifth position (E) for fixing the yoke lever (22) at the third position (C) and the yoke lever (2);
The yoke lever (22) and the sixth position (F) allowing the rotation between the third position (C) and the fourth position (D) of 2) and the yoke lever (22) are moved to the fourth position (D). A lock plate (23) configured to be swingable between a seventh position (G) to be fixed, and a cable (26) connected to the lock plate (23) provided in the driver's seat of the towing vehicle (11). A control connected to the lock plate (23) to swing the lock plate (23) between the fifth position (E), the sixth position (F), and the seventh position (G). A lever (24) and the lock plate attached to the coupler base (17)
With the (23) rotated to the sixth position (F), the yoke lever (22) is moved to the third position (C) or the fourth position (D).
A coupler release lamp (30) provided in the driver's seat and displaying the status of a coupler release operation in which the pair of jaws (19, 19) release the kingpin (12a); A release preparation switch (39) provided at the driver's seat and operated at the start of the coupler release operation, and the lock plate (23) is located at the fifth position (E) or the sixth position (F) or the A lock sensor (36) for detecting which of the seventh positions (G) is located, a parking switch (38) for detecting whether a parking brake is activated, and the yoke (21) Yoke switch for detecting whether the position is the first position (A) or the second position (B)
(40), a lock guard switch (45) for detecting whether the king pin (12a) is located between the jaws (19, 19), the release preparation switch (39), and the lock sensor (36). ), A controller (41) that controls the actuator (27) and the coupler release lamp (30) based on each detection output of the parking switch (38), the yoke switch (40), and the lock guard switch (45). A device for releasing a kingpin from a vehicle coupling coupler provided with: