JP3359224B2 - Coupler device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coupler base having a pair of jaws for holding and releasing a king pin provided on a vehicle to be towed and an operating member for operating a fixing member for fixing the jaw at a holding position. The present invention relates to a coupler device having the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional coupler apparatus of this kind,
It is common to manually operate an operating member or the like that operates a fixing member such as a yoke that fixes the jaw at the clamping position,
In addition, since the operation requires a considerable force, the operation member and the like are provided to protrude outside from the coupler base.

A conventional coupler device for driving an operating member or the like for operating a fixing member such as a yoke for fixing a jaw at a holding position and an open position by an air cylinder is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. No. 53-119515,
JP-A-58-22773, JP-A-58-2277
No. 4, JP-A-58-97572 or JP-A-6-97572.
As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-103778, an operating member such as a lock cam plate for restricting the position of the fixing member to a sandwiching position and an open position, a handle such as a yoke lever, or an operating member such as an air cylinder itself is a coupler base. Was provided so as to protrude to the outside from the periphery.

[0004]

Therefore, when the tractor provided with the coupler device is moved backward and is connected to a trailer having a kingpin, if the height of the tractor is inadequate, if the height of the tractor is inadequate, the coupler pin is used by the kingpin on the trailer side. There is a fear that the functional parts that are overhanging from the tractor may be damaged, and that the functional parts that are overhanging from the coupler base may be opened by mischief or erroneous operation during parking to separate the tractor from the trailer.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention comprises a pair of jaws for holding and releasing a kingpin provided on a vehicle to be towed, and an operating member for operating a fixing member for fixing the jaw at a holding position. A coupler device having a coupler base, wherein all the functional components such as the operating member are arranged inside the coupler base so as not to protrude from the periphery of the coupler base. . Further, according to the present invention, in the above coupler apparatus, the fixing member comprises a yoke, an operating member comprising a yoke lever for moving the yoke along the yoke shaft, and a lock cam plate for regulating the position of the yoke between the clamping position and the open position. And the like. Further, the present invention is to provide a coupler device in which an air cylinder for automatically operating an operation member or the like is provided in the coupler device. Further, the present invention is to provide a coupler device in which a detachable manual operation member for manually operating an operation member or the like is provided in the coupler device.

Further, according to the present invention, in the coupler apparatus described above, a lock guard limit switch for confirming that the jaw is at a position for holding the kingpin, and a yoke limit switch for confirming that a fixing member such as a yoke is at the fixed position. And a stopper limit switch for confirming that the coupler base is at a proper coupling position is provided on the coupler base side, and a coupling state with the kingpin by the coupler device is configured to be provided. Is what you do.

[0007]

According to the coupler apparatus of the present invention having the above structure, there is provided a pair of jaws for clamping and releasing a kingpin provided on a vehicle to be towed, and an operating member for operating a fixing member for fixing the jaw at the clamping position. In a coupler device having a coupler base with a, by arranging all the functional components such as the operation member inside the coupler base so as not to protrude from the periphery of the coupler base, the tractor provided with the coupler device is moved backward. When connecting to a trailer equipped with a kingpin, there is a possibility that the kingpin on the trailer side abuts around the coupler base due to operation mistakes or inadequate height of the tractor. Since the functional components do not overhang, no accidents such as breakage occur. Further, since there is no functional part protruding from the coupler base during parking, the tractor and the trailer are not separated due to mischief or erroneous operation.

In the above coupler apparatus, the fixing member comprises a yoke, a yoke lever for moving the yoke along the yoke shaft, and an operating member comprising a lock cam plate for restricting the yoke to a clamping position and an open position. According to the coupler device provided with the yoke, the position of the yoke can be restricted to the clamped position and the open position by the lock cam plate, whereby the jaw can be restricted to the clamped position and the open position, and the yoke lever can be restricted. Thereby, the yoke can be moved to the holding position or the open position along the yoke shaft. Further, in the coupler apparatus described above, by providing an air cylinder for automatically operating an operating member and the like, for example, by operating a yoke lever and a lock cam plate with an air cylinder, labor by manual operation is unnecessary, and the tractor The yoke can be automatically moved and fixed to the holding position or the open position remotely from a driver's seat or the like.

Further, according to the present invention, in the above-mentioned coupler apparatus, by providing a detachable manual operation member for manually operating an operation member or the like, the coupler apparatus is arranged inside the coupler base so as not to protrude from the periphery of the coupler base. A manual operation member can be attached to an operation member such as a yoke lever or a lock cam plate to be manually operated, and after operation, can be detached so as not to protrude from around the coupler base. Further, according to the present invention, in the above-mentioned coupler apparatus, a lock guard limit switch for confirming that the jaw is located at the position for holding the kingpin, a yoke limit switch and a coupler base for confirming that a fixing member such as a yoke is in the fixed position. Is provided on the coupler base side to confirm that the jaws are in the proper coupling position, and the coupling state with the king pin by the coupler device is configured to check whether the jaw is holding the king pin. It is possible to check whether the fixing member such as is in the fixing position and whether the coupler base is in the proper connecting position, so that the connection preparation, the connection completion, the connection traveling, the disconnection preparation, or the disconnection completion, etc. In the case of, appropriate information is obtained based on the ON / OFF signals of the respective limit switches, And thus capable of performing the operation corresponding to the distribution reliably.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the following. Reference numeral 1 denotes a coupler base, as shown in FIG.
It is rotatably supported by a bearing 4 on a support leg 2 fixed to the tractor R side. A pair of jaws 3 that open and close around a pair of jaw pins 5 are provided at a central portion of the coupler base 1. The jaw 3 has a semi-circular holding portion 6 for holding the king pin K on the trailer T side shown in FIG. 7 at the center, and has a guide surface 7 in a direction in which the king pin K enters.
Is provided. As shown in FIG. 4, an emergency separation prevention wall 8 provided on the coupler base 1 and a wall contact portion 9 facing the front surface of the guide surface 7 are provided integrally with each other. In the case of breakage, the jaw 3 is configured to hold the kingpin K by holding the kingpin K and holding the wall contact portion 9 against the separation preventing wall 8. An open jaw spring 11 is provided between the protruding portions 10 of the jaw 3 on the opposite side of the holding portion 6 with the jaw pin 5 as a fulcrum, and is provided with a tensile elastic force. are doing.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a bifurcated yoke which constitutes a fixing member for fixing the jaw 3 to the clamping position.
The inner wall portion of the jaw 4 is in contact with the tip pressing surface 13 of the jaw 3, and the outer wall portion is in contact with the pressing wall portion 15 of the coupler base 1, thereby fixing the jaw 3 at the holding position and performing the evacuation operation. By doing so, the yoke tip portion 14 is separated from the tip pressing surface 13 of the jaw 3 and the pressing wall portion 15 of the coupler base 1, and the jaw 3 is opened by the open jaw spring 11. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the locking projection 16 of the forked tip end portion 14 engages with the engagement groove 17 on the back side of the jaw 3, thereby setting the jaw 3 to the open position and in this state. Thus, even if the yoke 12 is to be moved in the direction of the kingpin K, the engagement projection 16 is engaged with the engagement groove 17 on the back side of the jaw 3 to prevent the jaw 3 from moving in the clamping direction. is there. Then, when the king pin K enters the holding portion 6 of the jaw 3 and rotates the jaw 3 in the closing direction, the locking projection 16 is moved to the jaw 3.
The yoke tip 14 is configured to be disengaged from the engagement groove 17 on the back side of the jaw 3 and to move the jaw 3 in the clamping direction. At the center of the base of the yoke 12, a yoke shaft 20 having both ends integrally fixed to the rear wall surface 18 of the coupler base 1 and the center support portion 19 is provided. The center of the base of the yoke 12 is movably guided by a yoke shaft 20, and a yoke spring 21 wound around the outer periphery of the yoke shaft 20 is provided by applying elastic force between the rear wall surface 18 and the yoke 12. In this case, the yoke 12 is provided with a spring elasticity in a direction in which the jaw 3 is moved in the direction of clamping the jaw 3 and the jaw 3 in the clamped state is fixed at the clamping position.

On the other hand, at the center of the base of the yoke 12, a yoke lever 22 for moving the yoke 12 between a fixed position for fixing the jaw 3 at the clamping position and an open position against the spring elasticity of the yoke spring 21 is provided at the yoke shaft. It is provided to intersect with 20. One end of the yoke lever 22 is attached to one end of the coupler base 1 around the support shaft 23 and the yoke shaft 2.
0 is pivotally supported along the longitudinal direction. In the case of this embodiment, a lever guide member 24 is provided integrally at the center of the base of the yoke 12 below the yoke shaft 20 in FIG. 2, and the yoke lever 22 swings on the lever guide member 24. The yoke 12 is freely engaged so that the yoke 12 can be movably operated along the yoke shaft 20 as the yoke lever 22 swings. At the other end of the yoke shaft 22, a yoke cylinder 25 in which an operating rod 26 is air-operated in a direction substantially parallel to the yoke shaft 20 is arranged on the coupler base 1 along the jaw 3.
Is swingably provided at the fulcrum. Reference numeral 28 denotes an attachment member for attaching the operating rod 26 to the other end of the yoke shaft 22 so as to be able to expand and contract. When the operating rod 26 is moved to the retracted position by the air operation of the yoke cylinder 25, the yoke lever 22 is moved to the yoke 12 via the lever guide member 24.
Is moved to a fixing position for fixing the jaw 3 to the clamping position,
When the operating rod 26 moves to the extended position, the yoke lever 2
Numeral 2 is configured to move the yoke 12 via the lever guide member 24 to an open position where the jaw 3 is strongly opened against the spring elasticity of the yoke spring 21. All operating members such as the tip of the operating rod 26 are provided so as not to protrude around the coupler base 1. Reference numeral 29 denotes a connection portion of a manual operation member including a connection mechanism to which the manual operation member provided at the distal end of the yoke lever 22 is to be connected.

On the side of the yoke 12, an intermediate portion between the yoke shaft 20 and the yoke cylinder 25 is provided.
In addition, a lock pin 30 protrudes from the yoke lever 22 and the yoke base, and is integrated with the yoke 12 via a square connection portion. 31 is a lock cam plate,
In the figure, it is located below the yoke 12 and the yoke lever 22 and is provided on the rear wall surface 18 of the coupler base 1 so as to be swingable about the support shaft 32 along the longitudinal direction of the yoke lever 22. The lock cam plate 31 has the lock pin 3
A cam hole 33 into which 0 is fitted is provided. The cam hole 33 has a yoke fixing step 3 for locking the yoke 12 at a fixing position so that the jaw 3 maintains the clamping position as shown in FIG.
4, a yoke separation step 35 for maintaining the jaw 3 in a ready state for separation as shown in FIG. 5, and a jaw opening hole for regulating the position of the yoke 12 for maintaining the jaw 3 in the open state as shown in FIG. 36 and the like are provided.

The lock cam plate 31 has a safety lock cylinder 40 between its base side and the rear wall surface 18 of the coupler base 1 for actuating the operating rod 37 by air. Numeral 38 designates the base of the safety lock cylinder 40 on the rear wall 18 of the coupler base 1 and the lock cam plate 3.
A support shaft 39 swingably connected in one direction. Reference numeral 39 denotes a mounting member for mounting the operating rod 37 to the lock cam plate 31. The actuation rod 37 is moved to the retracted position by the air operation of the safety lock cylinder 40 and the lock pin 3 is moved.
When 0 engages with the yoke fixing step 34, the yoke lever 22 and the yoke 12 are fixed at the fixing position for fixing the jaw 3 at the clamping position as shown in FIG. 4, and as shown in FIG. When the operating rod 37 extends and moves to the yoke separating step 35, the yoke lever 22 and the yoke 1
2 is fixed at an open preparation position where the jaw 3 is strongly opened against the spring elasticity of the yoke spring 21. As shown in FIG.
In this case, the position of the yoke 12 for maintaining the jaw 3 in the open state is regulated. Reference numeral 41 denotes the lock cam plate 31 and the operating rod 3 of the safety lock cylinder 40.
Reference numeral 7 denotes a lock plate spring for applying a spring elasticity that rotates in the retreating direction. Reference numeral 42 denotes a detachable / attachable manual operation member made of a wire or the like for manually operating the lock cam plate 31 against the spring elasticity of the lock plate spring 41. It is a connecting portion including a projection and the like that are freely connected.

Reference numeral 43 denotes a lock guard limit switch for confirming that the jaw 3 is at a position for holding the kingpin K. The lock guard limit switch 43 is provided at the front end of the introduction path of the kingpin K of the coupler base 1 with the support shaft 4.
4 is provided at a position where it comes into contact with an operating end 46 of a detection lever 45 that is swingably provided on the detection lever 45. As shown in FIG. 2, the detection portion of the detection lever 45 extends below the holding portion 6 of the jaw 3 along the introduction path of the kingpin K, and is pressed down by contacting the holding portion 6 at the holding position. When the operating end 46 moves upward about the support shaft 44, the lock guard limit switch 4
3 is closed (ON). Reference numeral 47 denotes a detection lever spring which resiliently moves the detection portion of the detection lever 45 upward, and the tip of the detection lever 45 in the direction of the detection portion is always stopped by using an appropriate structural member of the coupler base 1 as a stopper. Reference numeral 48 denotes a yoke limit switch for confirming that the yoke 12 is at a fixed position.
At the position where the yoke 12 fixes the jaw 3 at the clamping position, the yoke 12 is provided near the center support portion 19 so as to abut on the base of the yoke 12 or a part integral with the base to be closed (ON).

Reference numeral 49 denotes a stopper limit switch for confirming that the coupler base 1 is at a proper connection position in the horizontal direction. The stopper limit switch 49 is shown in FIG.
As shown schematically in FIG. 13, the coupler base 1, which normally receives a spring elastic force so that the connecting tip direction is lowered in the direction of the trailer T with respect to the support leg 2, is around the kingpin K of the trailer T at the time of connection. Utilizing the change in posture in the horizontal direction by contacting the bottom of the support base 2, the coupler base 1 that is inclined and approaches the protruding portion 51 of the support leg 2 is rotated by spring elasticity or the like. The coupler base 1 is installed such that the trailer T
When the posture is changed in the horizontal direction by contacting the bottom around the kingpin K, the operation terminal 50 rotates and the stopper limit switch 49 is closed (0N).

The above lock guard limit switch 4
3, the yoke limit switch 48 and the stopper limit switch 49, as described in the explanatory views of FIG.
A starter switch 52, a parking brake switch 53, and a reverse switch 54 of the tractor driver's seat are provided via relay switch circuit sections such as relay switches R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 of a control box S provided on the tractor near the connection portion. , A pilot lamp 55 for confirming proper connection, and an alarm circuit including an alarm lamp 56 and a buzzer 57. 58 and 59 are alarm lamps and buzzers of an alarm circuit provided in the control box S, and 60 is a power supply such as a battery provided in the tractor. Also, the yoke cylinder 2
5 and the safety lock cylinder 40 are connected to the solenoid valve 6 in the control box S from the air tank 63 of the tractor, respectively.
Working air is supplied via 1 and 62. 64 is a yoke key switch of the solenoid valve 61 for operating the yoke cylinder 25, and 65 is a lever key of the solenoid valve 62 for operating the safety lock cylinder 40. In the case of the embodiment, the solenoid valve 6
When the air tanks 1 and 62 are operated and the air in the air tank 63 is supplied to the air cylinders 25 and 40, the operating rods 26 and 37 thereof are operated.
When the air is not supplied from the air tank 63 in which the solenoid valve is not operated, the air from each of the air cylinders 25 and 40 is sucked from another air circuit, and the operating rods 26 and 3 are operated.
7 is urged in the reduction direction. The operation modes of the above switches are as shown in Table 1 corresponding to the operation of each unit from connection to disconnection of the coupler device.

[0018]

[Table 1]

The operation of the coupler connecting device according to the present invention will be described with reference to Table 1. In the preparation stage, first, it is confirmed that the jaw 3 is open and the height of the trailer T is appropriate. . At this time, as shown in FIG.
The operating rod 26 of the yoke cylinder 25 extends, the yoke 12 is in the jaw open position along with the yoke lever 22, and the lock pin 30 at the yoke base is located in the jaw open hole 36 of the lock cam plate 31. The jaw 3 is opened and the yoke 1 receives the spring elasticity of the yoke spring 21.
The engaging projection 16 of the tip 14 of the second jaw is
And the jaw 3 is maintained in the open state.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the tractor is retracted and the connecting operation is started. At this time, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG.
The starter switch 52 and the reverse switch 54 associated with the operation of the reverse gear lever are turned on, and the relay switches R1, R2, R3, R4 are turned on. Do not energize the alarm circuit. 'If you retract the tractor with the jaw 3 closed, the alarm lamp and buzzer in the driver's seat and control box will sound and you can know the abnormality. At this time, as shown in FIG. 16, the starter switch 52 and the reverse switch 54 are turned on, and the lock guard limit switch 43 and the yoke limit switch 48 are
N state, relay switches R1, R2, R3 are ON
Then, the alarm circuit is energized to turn on the alarm lamps 56 and 58 of the driver's seat and the control box, and the buzzers 57 and 59 sound.

When the tractor R and the trailer T are connected in a normal state as shown in FIG. 8, the pilot lamp 55 in the driver's seat lights up with the reverse gear engaged. Do not energize the alarm circuit. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, when the king pin K enters the jaw portion 6 of the jaw 3 and the jaw 3 moves in the closing direction, the distal end portion 14 of the yoke 12 receiving the spring elasticity of the yoke spring 21 as shown in FIG. Locking projection 1
Reference numeral 6 detaches from the engagement groove 17 of the jaw 3 and maintains the jaw 3 in a sandwiched state. At the same time, the yoke cylinder 25 is also reduced via the yoke lever 22 receiving the elastic force of the yoke spring 21. When air operation in the reducing direction acts on the yoke cylinder 25, air force acts in a fixed direction on the yoke 12 via the yoke lever 22. The lock pin 30 at the base of the yoke moves through the cam hole 33 and engages with the yoke fixing step 34 of the lock cam plate 31 rotated by the spring elasticity of the lock plate spring 41, so that the jaw 3 is fixed at the fixed position. At this time, as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 15, since the jaw 3 is at the connection position where the king pin is clamped, the lock guard limit switch 43, the yoke limit switch 48, and the stopper limit switch 49
Are in the ON state, the starter switch 52 and the reverse switch 54 are ON, and the relay switches R1, R
3, R5 and R6 are turned ON, and the circuit of the pilot lamp 55 in the driver's seat is energized and turned on with the reverse gear engaged.

Next, the tractor is connected to the trailer brake, the electrical system hose and the harness, the trailer's auxiliary leg is raised, the trailer parking brake is released, and the vehicle travels. 'If there is a connection failure due to trailer height mismatch, etc., the alarm device will be activated and the pilot lamp will go out in the above-mentioned state. In this case, the stopper limit switch 49 is maintained in the OFF state in the normal state of FIG. 15, so that the state becomes exactly the same as the state of FIG. 16, and the alarm device is activated and the pilot lamp is turned off. .

When the vehicle is traveling normally in the connected state, the reverse switch is turned off in the state shown in FIG. 11, so that the relay switch R3 is turned off in FIGS.
The pilot lamp 55 turns off. 'If the kingpin K is disconnected from the jaw 3 during the connection running, a connection failure occurs, the alarm circuit is energized, the driver's seat and the control box's alarm lamps 56, 58 are lit, and the buzzers 57, 5
9 rings. In this case, as shown in FIG.
When the kingpin K is removed from the lock guard limit switch 43 and the yoke limit switch 48,
Is turned off and the relay switches R1, R4, R5 are turned on, the alarm circuit is energized, and the alarm lamps 56, 58 of the driver's seat and the control box are turned on, and the buzzers 57, 59 sound. In "", when the vehicle is stopped and the parking brake is applied, the operation of the alarm device is stopped. In this case, in FIG.
When the parking brake switch 53 is turned on, the relay switch R1 constituting the alarm circuit is turned off,
The alarm is shut off.

In preparation for disconnection, the parking brake of the trailer is applied, the auxiliary leg of the trailer is lowered, and the connection between the tractor and the trailer brake, the electrical system hose, and the harness is disconnected. The state is exactly the same. By operating the keys in the order of the lever key and the yoke key, the air cylinder is operated in the order of the safety lock cylinder 40 and the yoke cylinder 25 to release the connection. In this case, when the lever key provided in the control box S is operated as shown in FIG. 12, the lever key switch 65 is turned on, the solenoid valve 62 is operated, and the state shown in FIG. The safety lock cylinder 40 is extended, the lock cam plate 31 is rotated against the lock plate spring 41, and the lock pin 30 of the yoke 12 is fixed to the yoke fixing step 34.
Then, when the yoke key is operated, the yoke key switch 64 is turned on, the solenoid valve 61 is operated, and the yoke cylinder 25 is extended as shown in FIG. Yoke fixing step 34
The yoke 12 is released from the position and moves to the fixed release position against the elastic force of the yoke spring 21. At this time, FIG.
As shown in (1), since the king pin K is at the clamping position of the jaw 3, the lock guard limit switch 43 maintains the ON state. In this state, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 18, the yoke key switch 64 and the lever key switch 65 in the control box S are ON, and among the switches 43, 48, and 49 of the coupler base 1, the yoke limit Only the switch 48 is turned off and the starter switch 52
And the parking brake switch 53 is turned on, and the relay switches R4, R5, R6 are in the ON state. If the parking brake switch 53 is in the OFF state at this time, the relay switch R1 is turned ON, and the alarm circuit is activated immediately.

As shown in FIG. 9, the tractor is advanced and separated from the trailer. At this time, as shown in FIG. 13, the lever key and the yoke key are released, and the lever key switch 65 and the yoke key switch 64 are released.
13 is in the OFF state, the lock guard limit switch 43, the yoke limit switch 48, and the stopper limit switch 49 of the coupler base 1 are in the OFF state. The only difference from FIG. 13 is that the reverse switch 54 is also in the OFF state.

When the air cylinder operating system using the lever key and the yoke key has failed, the connection can be released by manually operating the lock cam plate 31 and the yoke lever 22 with a manual operation member. As shown in FIG. 19, in the state where the king pin is clamped and fixed in FIG. 4, the clamp wire 66 is attached to the connection portion 42 of the manual operation member including the connection protrusion of the lock cam plate 31 and the screw connection portion of the yoke lever 22. The bar handle 67 is attached to the connecting portion 29 of the manual operation member, and the clamp wire 66 is pulled to rotate the lock cam plate 31 forward against the spring elasticity of the lock plate spring 41, as shown in FIG. When the lock pin 30 of the yoke 12 is disengaged from the yoke fixing step 34 and the yoke lever 22 is rotated clockwise in the figure by the bar handle 67, the base of the yoke 12 is moved via the lever guide member 24 to the yoke spring 21. Yoke shaft 20 against the spring elasticity of
, The distal end 14 of the yoke 12 is moved to the jaw open position. At this time, the lock pin 30 integrated with the yoke 12 is guided to the jaw release hole 36 of the cam hole 33 of the lock cam plate 31. After operating the yoke 12 to the open position of the jaw 3, the clamp wire 66 and the bar handle 67 can be separated.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 19, among the switches 43, 48 and 49 of the coupler base 1, only the yoke limit switch 48 is turned off, and the starter switch 52 and the parking brake switch 53 are turned on.
Then, the relay switches R4, R5, R6 are in the ON state. If the parking brake switch 53 is in the OFF state at this time, the relay switch R1 is turned ON, and the alarm circuit is activated immediately. The electric circuit of the manual operation shown in FIG. 19 is, as apparent from comparison with FIG. 18, the solenoid valves 61 and 62 with the lever key switch 65 and the yoke key switch 64 of FIG. Since the other electric circuit configuration is the same only by removing the air cylinder operation system of the cylinder 25, even if the coupler apparatus according to the present invention is a configuration only for manual operation without the air cylinder operation system, Obviously, all operations except the above are performed.

[0028]

As described above, according to the coupler apparatus of the present invention, there is provided a pair of jaws for holding and releasing a kingpin provided on a vehicle to be towed, and an operating member for operating a fixing member for fixing the jaws at the holding position. In a coupler device having a coupler base provided with a coupler and the like, by having a configuration in which all components such as the operation member are arranged inside the coupler base so as not to protrude from the periphery of the coupler base, a tractor provided with the coupler device is provided. When moving backward and connecting to a trailer equipped with a kingpin, the height of the tractor is inadequate, so even if the kingpin on the trailer side may come into contact with the periphery of the coupler base, the air cylinder, yoke lever, etc. Because functional parts etc. do not overhang around,
There is an effect that an accident that a functional component is damaged and cannot be connected does not occur. In addition, since there is a configuration in which there is no functional part protruding from the coupler base during parking, there is an effect of preventing fear of an accident such as disconnection of the tractor and the trailer due to mischief or erroneous operation.

According to the present invention, in the above coupler apparatus, the fixing member comprises a yoke, the yoke lever moving the yoke along the yoke shaft, and the lock cam plate for restricting the yoke to the clamping position and the open position. By having the configuration provided with the operation member and the like, the position of the yoke can be restricted to the clamping position and the opening position by the lock cam plate, and thereby the jaw can be regulated to the clamping position and the opening position safely. On the other hand, there is an effect that the yoke lever allows the yoke to be easily moved along the yoke shaft to the holding position or the open position. Further, in the above coupler apparatus, by providing an air cylinder for automatically operating the operation member and the like, for example, by driving the yoke lever and the lock cam plate with the air cylinder,
There is an effect that the yoke can be moved and fixed to the holding position or the open position automatically and remotely from a tractor driver's seat or the like.

Further, according to the present invention, in the above-mentioned coupler apparatus, by providing a detachable manual operation member for manually operating an operation member or the like, the inside of the coupler base is prevented from projecting from the periphery of the coupler base. A manual operation member can be attached to an operation member such as a yoke lever or a lock cam plate, which is arranged at a position, and can be operated manually, and is detached so as not to protrude from the periphery of the coupler base after the jaw opening / closing operation. Therefore, even when the kingpin on the trailer side may come into contact with the periphery of the coupler base during connection, the functional components such as the air cylinder and yoke lever do not protrude around, so the functional components may be damaged. This has the effect of preventing accidents that could result in loss of connection, and there are no functional parts protruding from the coupler base during parking. From the effect of fear can also prevent accidents that would disconnect the tractor and the trailer by mischief or erroneous operation.

Further, according to the present invention, in the coupler apparatus described above, a lock guard limit switch for confirming that the jaw is at a position for holding the kingpin, and a yoke limit switch for confirming that a fixing member such as a yoke is at the fixed position. Also, a stopper limit switch for confirming that the coupler base is at an appropriate coupling position is provided on the coupler base side, and a configuration for confirming the coupling state with the king pin by the coupler device is employed, so that whether or not the jaw is holding the king pin is determined. Or, whether or not the fixing member such as the yoke is in the fixing position, it is possible to check whether the coupler base is in the proper connecting position, so that connection preparation, connection completion, connection running, disconnection preparation, or Appropriate information based on the ON / OFF signal of each of the above limit switches according to the case of disconnection completion etc. The resulting, there is an effect that can be reliably each operation corresponding to the information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a bottom view showing a main part of an embodiment of a coupler apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the center longitudinal section.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the central longitudinal section.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a main part showing a mode of use.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a main part showing another mode of use.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a main part showing another use mode.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the central longitudinal section showing the mode of use.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the central longitudinal section showing another mode of use.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the central longitudinal section showing another mode of use.

FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory view showing an operation mode.

FIG. 11 is a schematic explanatory view showing an operation mode.

FIG. 12 is a schematic explanatory view showing an operation mode.

FIG. 13 is a schematic explanatory view showing an operation mode.

FIG. 14 is a schematic explanatory view showing an operation mode.

FIG. 15 is a schematic explanatory view showing an operation mode.

FIG. 16 is a schematic explanatory view showing an operation mode.

FIG. 17 is a schematic explanatory view showing an operation mode.

FIG. 18 is a schematic explanatory view showing an operation mode.

FIG. 19 is a schematic explanatory view showing an operation mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Coupler base 2 Support leg part 3 Jaw 4 Bearing 5 Jaw pin 6 Nipping part 7 Guide surface 8 Separation prevention wall 9 Wall contact part 10 Projection part 11 Open jaw spring 12 Yoke 13 Tip pressing surface 14 Yoke tip part 15 Nipping wall part 16 Locking projection 17 Engagement groove 18 Rear wall surface 19 Center support portion 20 Yoke shaft 21 Yoke spring 22 Yoke lever 23 Support shaft 24 Lever guide member 25 Yoke cylinder 26 Operating rod 27 Support shaft 28 Mounting member 29 Connection part of manual operation member Reference Signs List 30 lock pin 31 lock cam plate 32 support shaft 33 cam hole 34 yoke fixing step 35 yoke separation step 36 jaw release hole 37 operating rod 38 support shaft 39 mounting member 40 safety lock cylinder 41 lock plate spring 42 manual operation member Connection part of 43 Lock guard limit Switch 44 support shaft 45 detecting lever 46 operating end 47 detecting lever spring 48 yoke limit switch 49 stopper limit switch 50 operating terminal 51 projecting part 52 starter switch 53 parking brake switch 54 reverse switch 55 pilot lamp 56 alarm lamp 57 alarm buzzer 58 Alarm lamp 59 Alarm buzzer 60 Power supply 61 Solenoid valve 62 Solenoid valve 63 Air tank 64 Yoke key switch 65 Lever key switch 66 Clamp wire 67 Bar handle R Tractor T Trailer K Kingpin S Control box R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 , R6 relay switch

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-53-119515 (JP, A) JP-A-63-103778 (JP, A) JP-A-56-87380 (JP, U) JP-A-7-8174 (JP, A) , U) Shokai 53-143311 (JP, U) Shokai 3-130705 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B62D 53/12 B62D 53/08

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fixing member comprising a pair of jaws for clamping and releasing a kingpin provided on a vehicle to be towed, and fixing the jaw at a clamping position and opening the jaw to an open position.
And an operation member for operating the fixing member between the holding position and the opening position
And a position for positioning the operation member between the clamping position and the release position.
In a coupler apparatus having a coupler base provided with a determining member, the fixing member, the operating member, and the positioning member may include
Automatic operation member of the operation member and automatic operation part of the positioning member
The timber, the coupler device being characterized in that disposed inside the coupler base so as not to protrude from the periphery of the coupler base. 2. The coupler apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member comprises a yoke which moves along a direction in which the king pin enters, and the yoke is provided across a yoke shaft provided along the moving direction of the yoke. The yoke lever is operated by an operating member comprising a yoke lever to restrict the position of the yoke between the clamping position and the open position.
Material is provided along the yoke movement direction, and the yoke lever
And a positioning member for positioning the
The cam lock plate along the moving direction of the yoke
And an automatic operation member for the cam lock plate.
A coupler provided in a direction crossing the yoke shaft . 3. The coupler apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an air cylinder is provided as an automatic operation member . 4. The coupler device according to claim 1, further comprising a detachable manual operation member for manually operating an operation member or the like. 5. The coupler device according to claim 1, wherein a fixing member such as a lock guard limit switch and a yoke for confirming that the jaw is at a position for holding the kingpin is at the fixing position. A coupler characterized in that a yoke limit switch for confirming the condition and a stopper limit switch for confirming that the coupler base is at a proper coupling position are provided on the coupler base side so that a coupling state with the king pin by the coupler device can be confirmed. apparatus.