JP3477659B2 - Coupling device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connecting device for connecting objects to be connected before and after a towing vehicle, a train, a transport vehicle, a bogie, a sliding vehicle, a traveling vehicle, and the like. It is about. 2. Description of the Related Art A conventional connecting apparatus for connecting objects such as vehicles reliably without impairing free movement and simplifying connection and disconnection is, for example, an invention by the present applicant. See No. 3-276355. In the connecting device according to the present invention, the forked bifurcated portions, which are arranged on the left and right sides of the central cross link, are rotatably connected to each other such that one is rotatable in the horizontal direction and the other in the up and down direction. A stopper is provided, and the locking tool is inserted and connected to a locking receiver provided on the facing surface of the objects to be connected, and the horizontal direction between the front and rear objects to be connected is horizontal. A change in the direction or a change in the vertical direction, which is the vertical direction, can be coped with, and the connection operation is facilitated. [0003] In the connecting device of the prior art introduced above, the orthogonal bifurcated branch is connected to the cross link so as to be rotatable in the horizontal and vertical directions.
Although it was possible to follow the horizontal and vertical movements and changes of the connected objects, if the preceding connected object suddenly decelerates or changes direction, the connection of the bifurcated branch of the connecting device An excessive force was applied to the joint and the like, and the absorption and relaxation of the impact force could not be sufficiently obtained. In addition, the structure of the cross link and the bifurcated branch are complicated, the shape is increased and the weight is increased in order to secure the strength, and the manufacturing cost of the connecting device is also increased. Furthermore, when attaching or detaching the connecting device to or from the object to be connected, in addition to the large and heavy connecting device, the connecting device is rotated by its own weight at the bifurcated branch portion and breaks and hangs down. Temporary fixation was required, and it was difficult to handle. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to freely change not only the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the front and rear connecting objects but also the rotation direction with respect to the axis. To provide a highly safe and economical coupling device that is simple, lightweight and compact, and can easily and reliably perform operations such as connection and disconnection in a short time while absorbing and relaxing the impact force. Is to do. [0006] The connecting device of the present invention comprises:
A compression spring that elastically supports a subsequent object to be connected to alleviate the impact due to compression and maintains a mutual interval; a compression spring that is restricted within a predetermined interval to be movable in the axial direction; And a connecting member having torsion are formed coaxially. [0007] Then, a base shaft is formed at both ends of the connecting member, a locking member is provided at an end edge of the base shaft, and a through-hole is provided inside the locking member so as to penetrate the base shaft in a loose fitting manner. A washer is inserted, a compression spring is sandwiched in a state where an appropriate compression force is applied between the opposed washer, and the connecting member is extended by the compression spring and the washer is pressed against the locking member. ,
Locking receiving members provided with locking pieces which are sandwiched between the locking tool and the washer and are removably stopped are provided on opposing surfaces of the objects to be connected located at the front and rear. According to the present invention, when a tensile force acts on the connecting member in an attempt to increase the distance between the connecting objects located in front and behind, the connecting object having the degree of freedom is the preceding or succeeding connecting object. When the object is towed and a compressive force acts between the objects to be connected, the compression spring elastically supports the subsequent object to be connected and reduces the impact force .
Maintain a predetermined distance from each other. Therefore, even if the objects to be connected connected by this connecting device are mutually changed in the horizontal direction, the vertical direction, and the rotational direction with respect to the axis, and twisted, the degree of freedom of the connecting material and the compression spring is maintained. Due to the inherent tensile strength of the material and the inherent elastic force of the compression spring, it follows swinging and complicated changes. In particular, even if the preceding connection object suddenly decelerates or suddenly brakes due to the action of the compression spring, the compression spring becomes a cushioning material and the subsequent connection object
The object is elastically supported to absorb and reduce the impact between the connected objects. In this connecting device, the strength is secured by the tensile strength of the connecting material and the compressive strength of the compression spring, and the compressing spring is constantly acted on to push the washers facing both ends to expand the connecting material. Because the connector is pressed against both ends of the locking device, the connecting device keeps its entire self-supporting shape at all times, does not break down, and has a simple, lightweight and compact structure, so it is easy to handle when installing and removing. It will be easier. Further, the locking pieces of the locking receivers provided on the opposing surfaces of the objects to be connected are inserted and detachably inserted between the locking tool and the washer of the connecting device. Removal work can be done easily in a short time. Also,
Since the attached portion is received by the surface pressure, an excessive force such as bending or twisting does not concentrate on the axis. An embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view showing an embodiment of the connecting device according to the present invention. The connecting device 1 is formed by coaxially forming, for example, a chain 2a, which is a connecting member 2 that is movable in the axial direction within a predetermined interval and has flexibility and torsion, through a compression spring 3 and is coaxial. Get the subject. In addition, connecting material 2
However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described chain 2a, and may be, for example, a wire rope, a string, a belt, or the like. It is formed coaxially so as to be deflected by the spring 3. Both ends of the chain 2a are base shafts 4.
A, 4B, and a locking tool 5 is attached to the edge of the base shafts 4A, 4B.
A and 5B are provided. A base shaft 4 is provided inside the locking members 5A and 5B.
A and 4B are inserted through washers 7A and 7B provided with through holes 6A and 6B for loosely penetrating therethrough, and the compression spring 3 is sandwiched between the opposed washers 7A and 7B while applying an appropriate compression force. As a result, the tension is applied to the chain 2 by the compression spring 3, and the locking members 5A, 5B and the washer 7
A and 7B are formed so as to be pressed against each other via spacers 17A and 17B. Also, the above-mentioned locking members 5A and 5B and the washer 7
Locking pieces 8A, which are inserted between A and 7B and are inserted and removed.
8B is provided at one end of locking receivers 9A and 9B formed in a U-shaped cross-section without a receiving part at the center, and the locking receivers 9A and 9B are front and rear not shown. Are provided on the opposing surfaces of the objects to be connected. The washer 7A, 7B is provided with a pair of projections 10A, 10B, respectively.
0B, the projection pieces 11A, 11B are provided in the locking pieces 8A, 8B, and the projection receiving holes 1 are provided in the locking tools 5A, 5B.
2A and 12B are provided respectively. After the locking tools 5A, 5B are inserted into the locking receivers 9A, 9B formed in this way, the projections 10A, 10B provided on the washers 7A, 7B are inserted through the projections provided on the locking pieces 8A, 8B. After passing through the holes 11A and 11B, the projection receiving holes 12A provided in the locking tools 5A and 5B,
12B, the both ends of the connection device 1 are securely fixed to the opposing surfaces of the objects to be connected. FIGS. 1 to 4 are perspective explanatory views showing a mounting procedure of an embodiment of the connecting device according to the present invention. As shown in the procedure of FIG. 1, the washers 7A and 7B are
B is set up vertically so that the locking tools 5A,
5B is moved in parallel so as to fall from above and inserted into the U-shaped grooves of the locking receivers 9A and 9B of the object to be connected. At this time, spacers 17A, 17B having a thickness corresponding to the plate thickness of the locking pieces 8A, 8B are provided between the washers 7A, 7B and the locking tools 5A, 5B.
Are provided to secure the insertion interval, so that the washers 7A, 7B
Can be easily inserted from above without pushing back. As shown in the procedure of FIG. 2, washers 7A, 7B
While holding the pair of triggers 13A, 13B provided with the fingers with the fingers and pulling them in the direction in which the compression spring 3 contracts,
Rotate B 90 degrees. Next, as shown in the procedure of FIG. 3, the triggers 13A and 13B are returned by the elastic force of the compression spring 3 in the direction of the arrow, and the projections 10A and 10B are passed through the projection through holes 11A and 11B. 12A, 12B
And fix it. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the connecting device 1 has been completely mounted on the locking receivers 9A and 9B of the object to be connected. Locking device 5A,
Since the locking pieces 8A, 8B are pressed and inserted between the 5B and the washers 7A, 7B by the elastic force of the compression spring 3, the above-described protrusions 10A, 10B are formed in the protrusion through holes 11A, 11B.
B and the force in the direction deviating from the projection receiving holes 12A and 12B do not act, and the locking tools 5A and 5B
It does not escape upward from 9B. FIG. 5 is an explanatory side view showing a case where the connecting device according to the present invention is provided on a traveling cart such as a cart of a leisure traveling device. In the leisure travel device, a player 15 enjoys traveling on a traveling carriage 16 on a traveling path 14 provided on an inclined surface. Locking receivers 9A and 9B are provided before and after this traveling vehicle 16, respectively, and the locking devices 5A and 5B at both ends of the coupling device 1 are connected to the locking vehicles 9A and 9B on the opposing surfaces of the traveling vehicle 16 to be connected. And a plurality of traveling vehicles 16 corresponding to a plurality of players 15 are connected. By using the connecting device 1 according to the present invention, the plurality of connected traveling vehicles 16 can cope with a change in free movement of the traveling vehicles 16 due to a change in head, turning, rotational curvature or the like of the traveling path 14. And can run smoothly and safely. In addition, even if the preceding traveling vehicle 16 suddenly applies a brake or suddenly starts or decelerates, the inter-vehicle distance does not become narrower than a certain value or the vehicle does not collide, and the impact force is transmitted by the elastic force of the compression spring 3. It absorbs and absorbs and can enjoy comfortable and safe driving. Further, as described above, since the connecting device 1 can be freely attached and detached, lightweight and easy to handle, the connecting and disconnecting of the traveling vehicle 16 can be performed easily and in a short time, and the leisure in which the traveling vehicle 16 is repeatedly used one after another. The operation of the traveling device can be performed smoothly. Therefore, the player 15 can not only run alone,
By connecting a number of traveling vehicles 16 according to the number of people, a plurality of traveling vehicles can be appropriately selected and a large number of traveling vehicles can simultaneously enjoy traveling.
Therefore, when the connecting device 1 according to the present invention is used for the traveling vehicle 16, the waiting time of the player 15 is short, the use efficiency is enhanced, and a safe and economical leisure traveling device can be provided. In addition, although the example used for the cart connection of the leisure travel device was introduced, the object to be connected is not limited to the cart, but can be widely used for towing vehicles, transport vehicles, and the like. The present invention is configured as described above, and has the following effects. If a tensile force acts on the connecting material in an attempt to increase the distance between the connecting objects located before and after, the preceding connecting object pulls the subsequent connecting object by the connecting material, and when the compressive force acts between the mutual well as reduce the impact support the subsequent connection object resiliently by a compression spring
It is possible to provide a coupling device that reliably and smoothly transmits tension and compression force while maintaining a predetermined interval. The objects to be connected, which are connected by this connecting device, change in the horizontal direction, the vertical direction, and the rotational direction with respect to the axis, and are twisted. In combination with the tensile strength of the compression spring and the inherent elastic force of the compression spring, it can follow swinging and complicated changes. In particular, even when the preceding object to be connected is suddenly decelerated or suddenly braked by the action of the compression spring, the compression spring serves as a cushioning material and can absorb and reduce the impact acting on the objects to be connected. . The connecting device has a simple structure, is lightweight, is compact, is easy to manufacture, and is economical. The connecting device has sufficient strength by a connecting member and a compression spring, and is entirely expanded by the compression spring. Since the entire body does not break and hang while maintaining a self-supporting shape, handling such as mounting and dismounting is extremely easy in addition to being lightweight and compact. Further, in this connecting device, the locking pieces of the locking receivers respectively provided on the opposing surfaces of the objects to be connected are inserted and detachably sandwiched between the locking tool and the washer at both end edges. Therefore, mounting and dismounting can be easily performed, and the objects to be connected can be quickly connected and disconnected. Since this mounting portion is subjected to surface pressure, excessive force such as bending or twisting is applied to the shaft center. Without having to concentrate on
A durable coupling device can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view showing a connection device according to an embodiment of the present invention before mounting. FIG. 2 is an explanatory perspective view showing a mounting procedure of an embodiment of the connecting device according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory perspective view showing a mounting procedure of the embodiment of the connecting device according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory perspective view showing the embodiment of the connecting device according to the present invention after mounting. FIG. 5 is an explanatory side view showing a case where the connecting device according to the present invention is provided on a traveling cart of a leisure traveling device. [Description of Signs] 1 Connecting device 2 Connecting material 2a Chain 3 Compression spring 4A, 4B Main shaft 5A, 5B Locking tool 6A, 6B Through hole 7A, 7B Washer 8A, 8B Locking piece 9A, 9B Locking receiver 10A, 10B Projection 11A, 11B Projection through hole 12A, 12B Projection receiving hole 13A, 13B Trigger 14 Running path 15 Player 16 Running cart 17A, 17B Spacer

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60D 1/14 B60D 1/18

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] [Claim 1] Compression while elastically supporting a subsequent object to be connected
Compression swivel to reduce the impact of
Pulling and, Tadashi within Therefore predetermined intervals in the compression spring
Movable in the braking has been axially, or One FLEXIBLE and a connecting member having a body resistance and torsional properties and coaxially formed, to form a base shaft at both ends of the connecting member, engaging the edge of the base shaft And a washer provided with a through hole through the base shaft in a loosely fitting manner inside the locking member, and sandwiching a compression spring with an appropriate compression force applied between the opposed washer. The compression spring extends the connecting member and presses the washer against the locking member. The locking member includes a locking piece that is sandwiched between the locking member and the washer to be removably stopped. A coupling device, wherein the stoppers are provided on opposing surfaces of the objects to be coupled located at the front and rear, respectively.