JPH0365307B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) This invention provides a tractor-trailer coupling device,
That is, the present invention relates to a kingpin connecting device for connecting and disconnecting the kingpin of a trailer in a fifth wheel coupler.

(Prior art) In a coupler, a device for connecting the kingpin of a trailer has conventionally used a jaw having an engagement recess for engaging the kingpin, and has a structure in which the kingpin is held by a single jaw. There are two types: a single jaw type, and a double jaw type, which has a structure in which the king pin is sandwiched between two jaws. In either type, the structure is such that a wedge piece prevents the door from rotating in the locked state (for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1983-1999).
No. 79430).

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in this kingpin coupling device, when the kingpin is in the locked state, the wedge piece prevents the rotation of the jaw and maintains the blocking state. , when the kingpin is released, the wedge piece must be moved back and maintained in the retreated position so that it does not move forward. Therefore, in the conventional device, elastic force is always applied to the wedge piece in the forward direction by spring elasticity, and when the wedge piece is in the retracted position, there is a notch in the operating handle that operates the wedge piece to prevent the wedge piece from moving forward unnecessarily. The cutout portion was configured to be locked to an operating handle guide member provided on the immovable portion of the coupler base. With this structure, all the engagement and disengagement between the notch of the operating handle and the operating handle guide member must be performed manually. Therefore, there is a risk that the locking state may not be securely locked due to carelessness, or the timing of disengagement may be incorrect, resulting in a problem that a reliable operation may not be obtained.

This invention automatically locks the wedge piece when it moves backward, that is, locks it to maintain the wedge piece in its retreated state, and also automatically moves the wedge piece forward. This was done for the purpose of increasing safety by ensuring that the king pin operates while being securely held by the jaw, thereby eliminating the risk of malfunction.

(Means for Solving the Problems) To solve this problem, the present invention provides a fixing jaw which is fixed approximately at the center of the coupler base and has an engagement recess for receiving the kingpin facing toward the rear guide path of the coupler base. A main jaw that faces the fixed jaw and also has an engagement recess and is pivotally supported so that it can be rotated to open and close, and a pivot pin that pivots this main jaw and overlaps with the fixed jaw, allowing the king pin to move in and out. an actuating arm that rotates in conjunction with the main jaw; a wedge piece to which a force is applied in the forward protruding direction by spring elasticity to ensure that the main jaw is in a closed state; and a lock formed on the wedge piece. engages with the notch,
first and second latch members each having a locking protrusion that maintains the wedge piece in a retracted state, and the locking protrusion of the first latch member and the wedge piece when the main door is in the final position of the opening operation. In order to release the engagement with the locking notch, the actuating arm, which rotates in conjunction with the main jaw, is positioned so that its tip engages with the first latch member to displace the first latch member. With,
In order to release the engagement between the locking protrusion of the second latch member and the locking notch of the wedge piece at the final position of the closing operation of the main jaw, the second latch member is engaged and displaced. This is characterized in that a portion is formed on the main body.

(Example) The details of the present invention will be explained below based on preferred embodiments shown in the drawings.

Reference numeral 1 indicated by imaginary lines in the figure is a coupler base, and a hole for inserting a king pin (not shown) is formed in the center of the base in the same way as in known couplers. A guide path 2 for guiding the kingpin connects with this insertion hole and widens toward the rear of this insertion hole.
is formed.

In the figure, reference numeral 3 denotes a fixed jaw for receiving the kingpin, which is located just in front of the kingpin insertion hole and is fixed to the plastic base 1, with its engagement recess 4 facing the insertion hole. In the figure, reference numeral 5 denotes a main jaw provided opposite to the fixed jaw 3, which is rotatably supported by a pivot pin 6, and whose engagement recess 7 is connected to the engagement recess 4 of the fixed jaw 3. It is designed to hold Kingpin.

In the figure, reference numeral 8 denotes an operating arm pivotally supported by the pivot pin 6, which is positioned so as to overlap the fixed jaw 3 when the main jaw 5 is closed, and a protruding piece that engages with a pin 9 protruding from the main jaw 5. 10 are provided. That is, when the main jaw 5 is pushed by the king pin and rotates clockwise to open about the pivot pin 6 in the figure, the protrusion 10 is pushed by the pin 9 and the actuating arm 8 also moves to the pivot pin 6. It is designed to rotate clockwise around the center.

In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a buffer member that is fixed in front of the fixed jaw 3 and higher than the fixed jaw 3, and is configured to receive the operating arm 8, and absorbs the impact when the king pin is inserted through the operating arm 8. It is designed to do so.

In the figure, reference numeral 12 denotes a wedge piece, which locks the main jaw 5 in the closed state, and is guided by guide members 13 and 14 provided on the coupler base 1 so as to be slidable in the left and right directions. This wedge piece 12 is connected to the spring 1
Due to the expansion elasticity of the main jaw 5, an elastic force is applied in a protruding direction so as to lock the main jaw 5 into a locked state. Reference numeral 16 denotes a swing link, whose center position is pivoted 17 on the coupler base 1, one end of which is connected to the wedge piece 12 with a pin 18, the other end of which is connected to the operating lever 20 with a pin 19, and the operating lever 20 is By pulling the wedge piece 12, the wedge piece 12 is retracted against the expansion elasticity of the spring 15, thereby releasing the locked state of the main jaw 5.

Of the joint surfaces 21 and 22 of the wedge piece 12 and the main jaw 5, at least the joint surface 12 of the wedge piece 12 is an inclined surface so as to be tapered. The closed position of the door 5 can be determined, and the adjustment is performed using a known stopper pin 23 whose position is adjustable. Further, in order to secure the retracted position of the wedge piece 12, locking notches 24 and 25 are formed for locking a latch, which will be described later. 26
and 27 are a pair of latch members, each of which is pivoted at its center position on the coupler base 1, pulled by springs 28 and 29 at opposite ends thereof, and has a locking protrusion 30 at the end opposite to the spring, respectively. 31 is provided so that the locking protrusion 30 of the first latch member 26 engages with the locking notch 25 formed at the intermediate position of the wedge piece 12, and The locking protrusion 31 is adapted to engage with a locking notch 24 formed at the tip of the wedge piece 12.
The main door 5 is provided with a locking holding portion 32 that holds one end of the second latch member 27 when the main door is closed, and its holding action is released when the main door is opened. . The engagement between the locking protrusion 30 and the locking notch 25 of the first latch member 26 is such that the operating arm 8, which rotates as the main jaw 5 is opened, locks the first latch member 26. It is designed to be released by kicking the end opposite to the protruding piece 30.

(Operation) The operation of the apparatus of the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration will be explained below.

FIG. 1 shows the state in which the kingpin is held in by the jaw 5 and the main jaw 5 is locked by the wedge piece 12. To release the king pin from this state, first pull the operating lever 20 to the left in FIG. 1, and pull the wedge piece 12 to the right in the figure against the elasticity of the spring 15. When the wedge piece 12 is fully retracted, the locking notch 25 engages the locking protrusion 30 of the first latch member 26.
When the latch member 26 reaches the position, the latch member 26 is rotated by the spring 28 in the direction in which the locking protrusions 30 engage with the locking notches 25, so that the latch member 26 engages with the locking protrusions 30. The locking notch 25 automatically locks to prevent the wedge piece 12 from protruding and maintain its retracted state (as shown in the second figure).

If you remove the king pin from this state in the vertical direction in the figure,
The main shaft 5 is pushed by the king pin, and the main shaft 5 is rotated clockwise about the upper pivot pin 6 in FIG. And this Lord Jiyou 5 is the 4th
As shown in the figure, the kingpin will come out when it is sufficiently rotated. In this process, as shown in FIG. 3, the second latch member 27, which was held by the locking and holding part 32 of the main jaw 5, is released from its holding action and receives the pulling force of the spring 29, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2 , it rotates counterclockwise about the shaft support 33 , and the locking protrusion 31 can engage with the locking notch 24 of the wedge piece 12 . As shown in FIG. 4, when the main jaw 5 is sufficiently rotated, the actuating arm that rotates with the main jaw 5 locks the end of the first latch member 26 on the spring 28 side. The locking protrusion 30 and the locking notch 25 are disengaged by pushing against the traction force. However, in this state, the locking protrusion 31 of the second latch member 27 and the locking notch 24 engage with each other.
The wedge piece 12 still maintains the retracted state (as shown in the fourth figure).

Next, the function of receiving and connecting the king pin will be explained. That is, when the king pin is detached, the device of the present invention is as shown in FIG. 4. When the kingpin is received here, the operating arm 8 is pushed by the kingpin and rotated counterclockwise around the upper pivot pin 6 in FIG. This main shaft 5 is also rotated in the same direction to hold the king pin. With the kingpin fully received, the locking retainer 32 of the main jaw 5 engages the end of the second latch member 27 and holds it against the traction force of the spring 29. It rotates to release the engagement between the locking protrusion 31 and the locking notch 24 . As a result, the locking and restraining action on the wedge piece 12 is released, so that the wedge piece 12
It protrudes forward due to the expansion elasticity of 5 and locks the main jaw 5. Therefore, there is no danger that Kingpin will escape.

On the other hand, when the king pin is received, the enlarged diameter portion of the lowermost end presses the actuating arm 8, and the actuating arm 8 that receives this pressing action is received by the buffer member 11 and absorbs the impact. Therefore, when the king pin collides with the fixed jaw 3, the impact will not be transmitted to the driver's seat, and there is no risk of damaging the fixed jaw or the coupler base.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the device of the present invention includes a fixed jaw which is fixed at a substantially central position of the coupler base and whose engagement recess for receiving the king pin is disposed toward the rear guide path of the coupler base; The main jaws that face each other and have the same engagement recess and are pivoted so that they can be rotated to open and close, and the main jaws are pivotally supported by a pivot pin that pivots the main jaws, overlap with the fixed jaws, and rotate with the main jaws. The operating arm is engaged with a wedge piece to which a force is applied in the forward protruding direction by spring elasticity to ensure the main door is in the closed state, and a locking notch formed in this wedge piece is engaged. a latch member having a locking protrusion that maintains the wedge piece in a retracted state;
In order to release the engagement between the locking protrusion of the latch member and the locking notch of the wedge piece at the final position of the main door's closing operation, the latch holding portion that engages and displaces the latch member is moved to the main door. The locking notch of the wedge piece and the locking protrusion of the latch member, which cannot be operated from the outside, to maintain the retracted state of the wedge piece when the main jaw is opened. This is ensured by engagement, and there is no risk that this drawn state will be released unnecessarily. On the other hand, when the main door is closed, the locking and holding part of the main door operates the latch member at its final position to release the locking action of the wedge piece, automatically protrude the wedge piece forward, and close the main door. Since the closed state of the main door is locked, the locked state can be reliably obtained without fear of forgetting to lock the main door. Therefore, it has the advantage of being a highly secure coupling device.

In addition, in the present invention, a buffer member for receiving the actuating arm is fixed in the front position of the fixed jaw, so that it absorbs the shock when receiving the king pin, alleviates the shock when connecting the king pin, and eliminates the risk of damage to the fixed jaw or base plate. It also has the advantage that it can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings schematically show the device of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the device in its closed state and locked by a wedge piece, and FIG. 2 shows a state in which the wedge piece is retracted. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an initial state in which the king pin is removed, FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which the king pin is fully removed, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the main part. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Coupler base, 2... Guide path, 3... Fixed jaw, 4... Engagement recess, 5... Main jaw, 6
... Pivot pin, 7 ... Engagement recess, 8 ... Operating arm, 11 ... Buffer member, 12 ... Wedge piece, 15 ...
Spring, 24... Locking notch, 25... Locking notch, 26... Latch member, 27... Latch member, 30... Locking protrusion, 31... Locking protrusion, 32
...Latching holding part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A fixing jaw which is fixed at a substantially central position of the coupler base and has an engaging recess for receiving the kingpin facing toward the rear guide path of the coupler base, and an engaging recess opposite to the fixing jaw. It has a main jaw which is pivotally supported so that it can be rotated to open and close, and a pivot pin that pivots this main jaw so that it overlaps the fixed jaw and rotates in conjunction with the main jaw when the kingpin moves in and out. The operating arm, a wedge piece to which a force in the forward protruding direction is applied by spring elasticity to ensure the closed state of the main door, and a locking notch formed in this wedge piece engage with each other, and this wedge piece first and second latch members each having a locking protrusion that maintains the retracted state, and the locking protrusion of the first latch member and the wedge piece are locked in the final position of the opening operation of the main jaw. In order to release the engagement with the notch, the operating arm that rotates in conjunction with the main jaw is positioned so that its tip engages with the first latch member to displace the first latch member, and the above-mentioned In order to release the engagement between the locking protrusion of the second latch member and the locking notch of the wedge piece at the final position of the main jaw's closing operation, the second latch member is engaged and displaced. A king pin connecting device for a coupler, characterized in that a king pin connecting device for a coupler is formed in the main shaft. 2. A fixed jaw that is fixed at approximately the center position of the coupler base and has an engaging recess for receiving the kingpin and is arranged toward the rear guide path of the coupler base, and a fixed jaw that also has an engaging recess that faces the fixed jaw and rotates to open and close. an actuating arm that is pivotably supported by a pivot pin that pivots the main jaw, overlaps the fixed jaw, and rotates in conjunction with the main jaw when the kingpin moves in and out; To ensure the closed state of the door, the wedge piece to which a force in the forward protruding direction is applied by the spring elasticity engages with the locking notch formed in this wedge piece to maintain the retracted state of this wedge piece. first and second latch members each having a locking protrusion; the locking protrusion of the first latch member and the locking notch of the wedge piece engage with each other in the final opening position of the main jaw; In order to open the main jaw, an operating arm that rotates in conjunction with the main jaw is positioned so that its tip engages with the first latch member and displaces the first latch member, and the final closing operation of the main jaw is performed. In order to release the engagement between the locking protrusion of the second latch member and the locking notch of the wedge piece at the position, a locking holding portion that engages and moves the second latch member is attached to the main jaw. A king pin connecting device for a coupler, characterized in that a shock absorbing member for receiving the operating arm is fixedly provided at a position in front of the fixing arm.