NZ609560B - Trailer Adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

609560 A trailer adapter 1 to be interposed between a socket 2 of a towing vehicle and a connector 3 of a trailer, comprising a first electrical taillight path V on the input side 5 and a second electrical taillight path VII on the input side 5 which are interconnected to form a common electrical taillight path VII on the output side 4. The adaptor 1 further comprises different electrical paths for at least direction indicators, brake light and taillights. aillight path VII on the output side 4. The adaptor 1 further comprises different electrical paths for at least direction indicators, brake light and taillights.

Description

_ 1 - Trailer adapter The invention relates to a trailer adapter to be interposed between a socket of a towing vehicle and a connector of a trailer. 80 called vehicle trains which can also be designated as vehicle combinations are known from the state of the art. Such a vehicle combination comprises a towing vehicle on the one hand and a r that is towed by the towing vehicle on the other hand. A typical vehicle combination consists for e of a passenger car and a transport trailer or caravan.

In the due appiication case, the towing vehicle and the traiier are coupled to each other both mechanically and electrically. Herein, the ical coupling is realized by means of a trailer coupling on the towing e on the one hand and a correspondingly designed counterpart on the r on the other hand. For the electrical coupling, the eiectric k of the towing vehicle has to be connected to the eiectric network of the trailer, for which purpose a socket-connector assembly is typically used.

The socket-connector assemblies known from the state of the art comprise a socket arranged on the towing vehicle as well as a connector on the trailer. Herein, the socket and the connector are correspondingly designed, such that in the due application case, the connector on the trailer is received by the socket on the towing vehicle, in which case an ic connection of the electric network of the trailer to the eiectric k of the towing vehicle is established. if the connector is not plugged in, both electric networks will be decoupled.

Socket-connector assemblies of the above described type are welt known from the state of the art, for which reason no special nce to any prior publication will be made here.

In practice, sockets and connectors are used which have both a different geometric design and different pin connections and which are at least partly not compatible with each other. As a consequence, a trailer cannot be coupled to a towing vehicle for forming a vehicle ation in case of mpatibiiity. A mechanical coupling may be possible, but due to the lacking compatibility of the socket and the connector it will not be possible to connect the electric k of the trailer to the electric network of the towing vehicle. A safe operation of the e combination which corresponds to the traffic rules wiil then not be possible. 80 called “round" sockets or connectors are known from the state of the art. Such s or connectors comprise a socket housing or connector housing, the cross section of which is circular in at least some sections. rmore, so called “flat" or “rectangulai” sockets or connectors are known from the state of the art. Such sockets or connectors respectively comprise a housing, the cross n of which is rectangular in at least some sections. “Round" sockets or connectors are mainly used in Europe and the USA. ngular” sockets or connectors are mainly used in the Pacific Region, such as for example in lia and New Zeeland. Due to their geometric housing designs, "round" sockets or connectors on the one hand and “rectangular” sockets or connectors on the other hand are not compatible with each other.

Furthermore, different pin connections are known from the state of the art. Thus, seven- poie, twelve-pole and thirteen-pole systems are known. Depending on the , a socket or a connector comprises seven, twelve or thirteen contacts. The individuai systems are not compatible with each other, such that for example a seven-pole connector cannot be used in combination with a thirteen-pate socket and vice versa.

But even systems having the same number of poles are not necessarily ible with each other, notwithstanding the geometric design of the socket and the connector.

Thus, different pin connections are known from the state of the art, such that in case of an interconnection, mis-mating can happen which endangers the operational reliability.

Thus, in case of different pin tions it can for example happen that the contact of the socket which is connected to the connection path of the brake light of the towing vehicle corresponds to a connector t which is connected to the connection path of the taillight of the trailer. As a consequence, the brake lights of the trailer will fail to appear if the brakes of the towing vehicle are actuated and instead the taillights of the trailer will be switched on. A short circuit may eventually occur or the whole installation will not show any function. in any case, compatible pin tions of the socket and the connector have to be made sure for a proper operation.

In Europe and the USA, in particular "round" sockets or connectors are used. Herein, both thirteen~pole and seven—pole systems are known. In order to be able to combine seven-pole tors with thirteen-pole sockets and vice versa, so called connection or trailer adapters are known from the state of the art. These ones enable a due combination of sockets and connectors which are as such not compatible with each other. Herein, a trailer adapter comprises a tion section on the side of the connector and a connection section on the side of the socket. In the due application case, the connection section of the trailer adapter which is provided for the socket, is inserted into the socket of the towing e. The connector of the trailer is meanwhile plugged into the connection section of the trailer adapter which is provided for the connector. The trailer adapter is thus interposed between the socket of the towing vehicle and the connector of the trailer.

The known r adapter is only able to combine thirteen-pole “round” sockets or connectors with seven~pole "round” sockets or connectors. The known trailer adapter does not allow other combination possibilities. In so far, there is need of improvement and it is the object of the invention to propose a trailer adapter which extends the combination options of sockets or connectors which are not compatible with each other.

For achieving this aim, the invention proposes a trailer adapter to be interposed between a socket of a towing vehicle and a connector of a trailer, comprising a first taillight path on the input side and a second taillight path on the input side which are switched to a common taillight path on the output side.

On the input side, ie. in the connection section on the side of the socket, the r adapter according to the ion provides a plurality of connection contacts which cooperate with the contact s of the socket of the towing vehicle in the due application case. Herein, the individual contact sockets of the socket of the towing vehicle are connected to ent electric paths, such as for example the electric path of the brake light of the towing vehicle, the connection path of the direction indicators of the towing vehicle and/or the like.

The plug-in ts of the connector of the r are in the same way connected to electric paths of the r, thus for e the first n contact is connected to the electric path of the brake light of the trailer, the second plug-in contact is ted to the electric path ofthe taillight of the trailer and/or the like.

It is now provided by means of the trailer adapter according to the invention to connect a path of a first taillight of the towing vehicle on the input side and a path of a second ght of the towing vehicle on the input side to each other, such that only one common electric path for a taillight of the r will remain on the output side. In concrete terms, the path of the left taillight of the towing vehicle and the path of the right taillight of the towing e can be connected to each other to form a common connection contact on the output side.

The ation according to the invention of the two taillight paths of the towing vehicle offers the possibility to couple s or connectors to each other which are in themselves not ible with each other with respect to their pin connections. Thus, it is in particular possible to combine sockets or connectors ing to the European system with sockets or connectors according to the Austraiian system. The spectrum of possible socket-connector combinations will thus be advantageously broadened.

According to the design of the invention, the two taillight paths on the input side are connected to each other to form a common taillight path on the output side, whereby in terms of circuitry one path has been saved. This advantageously enables to combine both seven-pole and thirteen-pole “round" sockets or connectors with seven-pole or twelve~po|e "rectangular" sockets or connectors and vice versa. Thus, it is made possible for the first time to electrically couple trailers comprising Australian connector systems to towing vehicles comprising European socket systems and vice versa. The adapters known from the state of the art have hitherto not been able to realize this.

According to another feature of the invention it is provided that the connection section on the side of the tor has a rectangular shape, i.e. a rectangular structure. Thus, it is geometrically compatible with "rectangular” connectors. The connection section of the adapter on the side of the socket is r designed with a round structure ing to another feature of the invention, i.e. it has a round shape and is thus geometrically compatible with “round” sockets. atively, the connection sections of the adapter can also be designed in a reverse manner, i.e. the connection section on the side of the connector is designed with a round structure and the connection section on the side of the socket is designed with a rectangular structure.

Thanks to the above described geometric design of the connection sections, the geometric ibility of sockets and connectors which are ise not compatibie with each other is achieved. The r adapter according to the invention is in so far not only able to assure the electric compatibility but also the geometric compatibility.

According to a red embodiment it is provided that the connection section on the side of the socket comprises thirteen connection contacts in total. It is thus compatible with a thirteen-pole “round” socket. The connection section on the side of the connector however comprises seven or twelve connection contact sockets and is thus compatible with a “rectangular” connector sing seven or twelve plug—in contacts.

According to another feature of the invention, the connection section of the adapter on the side of the connector comprises a cover which is arranged in a pivoting manner thereon. This cover is advantageously prestressed by a spring and in the non-use on assumes its closing position, in which the connection n is covered and protected against splash water and dirt. In the due ation case, the cover can be d by the user, such that an access to the connection section of the adapter on the side of the connector is allowed and a connector can be plugged into the connection section. Herein, the cover is advantageously designed such that it overlaps or reaches behind an extension provided by the connector of the trailer, such that due to the spring power which acts upon the cover a safe on of the connector of the trailer with respect to the r is assured. Thanks to this protection, the vibrations which occur during the proper operation cannot iead to an unintended disengagement of the connector of the trailer from the connection section of the adapter on the side of the connector.

According to r e of the invention it is provided that the connection section on the side of the socket comprises a bayonet guidance. This bayonet guidance cooperates with a bayonet counterpart which is ed by the socket of the towing vehicle. In the finaily assembled state, a position safe arrangement of the adapter on the socket of the towing vehicle is thus achieved, such that an unintended separation of the connection or trailer adapter and the socket of the towing vehicle will be safely prevented, even in the case of vibrations which occur in the application case.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the foliowing description by means of the figures. Herein: Fig. 1 is a purely schematic view of a trailer adapter according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective side View of a trailer adapter according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a ctive side view of a trailer adapter according to the ion; Fig. 4 is a perspective rear View of a trailer adapter according to the ion; Fig. 5 is a schematic front View of a trailer adapter according to the invention and Fig. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram.

Fig. 1 is a purely schematic representation showing a trailer r 1 according to the invention. This one comprises a connection section 4 on the side of the connector, on the one hand, and a connection section 5 on the side of the socket, on the other hand. in the due application case, the trailer adapter 1 is osed between a socket 2 on the towing vehicle, on the one hand, and a connector 3 on the trailer, on the other hand.

Thanks to the r adapter 1, the socket 2 and the connector 3 which are in lves not compatible with each other can be connected to each other, wherein a compatibility adaptation both with respect to the geometric aspect and the pin connections is realized.

As it is visible in fig. 1, the socket 2 is connected to a loom of cables 7 of the towing e and the connector 3 is connected to a loom of cables 6 of the trailer. Each of the looms of cables 6 or 7 comprises a plurality of cables which respectively represent an electric path and are connected to the tive jacks with respect to the socket or to the respective plug—in contacts which are also called pins with respect to the connector.

Figures 2 through 5 are different ctive views of the trailer adapter 1 according to the invention. As it is visible in these drawings, the trailer r 1 comprises a connection section 5 on the side of the socket as well as a connection n 4 on the side of the connector, which connection sections merge into each other via a central section 8. Herein, the connection section 4 on the side of the connector is designed as a so called “rectangular” tion, i.e. it has a design, the cross section of which is essentially rectangular. The connection section 5 on the side of the socket is however designed as a so called “round” connection, i.e. it has a design, the cross n of which is circular in at least some sections. These geometricaily ent s of the connection sections 4 and 5 allow the socket side of the trailer adapter 1 to be connected to a " socket 2 and the connector side to be connected to a “rectangular” connector 3, which is also called “flat" connector 3, whereby a “rectangular" connector which is otherwise not compatible with a “round” socket can be connected.

As it is in particuiar visible in fig. 4, the connection section 4 on the side of the connector comprises a contact block 11 which provides a total of seven openings 15. in the finally assembled state, each of these openings 15 respectively receives one contact socket, which contact sockets are not represented in the shown exemplary embodiment for better clarity. According to the shown embodiment, a total of seven openings 15 are provided, the connection section 4 on the side of the connector is thus designed with seven poles. Herein, one electric path is allocated to each pole or each contact socket received in an opening 15, thus starting from the right side with l, Vi, V, ill, Ii, Vli and IV with respect to the drawing plane of fig. 4. Herein: 1 stands for ion tor to the left side ll stands for reversing light “I stands for ground IV stands for direction indicator to the right side V stands for control iine Vi stands for brake light VII stands llight, sideiight and number plate lamp.

In the due application case, the connection section 4 of the trailer adapter 1 on the side of the connector is received by a connector of the trailer which is no further represented in the figures. Herein, the connection n 4 on the side of the connector or the contact block 11 provided by this one has got geometric dimensions including the orientation and position of the gs 15 which are corresponding to a usual “rectangular" connector 3. For the positional ity in the plugged-in condition, the connection section 4 on the side of the connector comprises a guiding plate 13 which is placed beneath the contact block 11 with respect to the drawing plane of fig. 3. The guiding piate is spaced from the contact block 11 while leaving a gap 12 and in the d-in state of the trailer connector 3 it supports this one. Furthermore, the cover 9 which is ed on the connection section 4 on the side of the connector in a pivoting manner is provided for securing the on of a plugged-in trailer connector 3.

The design of the connection section 5 on the side of the socket will in particular become apparent by simultaneously looking at figures 3 and 5. These figures show that the connection section 5 on the side of the socket comprises a bayonet guidance on its outer surface. In the due application case, this bayonet guidance cooperates with a bayonet counterpart which is provided by the socket 2 of the towing vehicle, which socket is no further shown by the figures.

The connection section 5 on the side of the socket provides a plurality of openings 18 into which corresponding connection contacts which are also called pins 19 are inserted in the finally assembled state. In the shown exemplary embodiment, only one such pin 19 is represented for better clarity.

Furthermore, a coding extension 17 is visible in fig. 5. This one serves to assure that the connection n 5 of the trailer adapter 1 is inserted into a socket 2 of the towing e in a t manner with respect to the contacts.

The pins 19 provided by the connection section 5 on the side of the socket are atlocated to different electric paths 1 through 13 as follows. i for ion indicator to the left side It for rear fog—light of the r III for ground iv for direction indicator to the right side V for taillight, sidelight and number plate lamp on the right side VI for brake light Vll for taillight, sidelight and number plate lamp on the felt side Vlll reversing light lX for power supply X for charging line + for battery in the trailer Xl for ground for contact X Xll for control line The above described pin connections correspond to those ones of a thirteen-pole ” socket according to the European rd.

According to the design according to the invention, an interconnection of the individual paths is realized such as schematically represented in fig. 6. It is in particular visible in this figure that on the input side, a first taillight path (V) and a second taillight path (Vll) are interconnected and merged to one common taillight path (Vll) on the output side. All together, pin connections or interconnections n the connection section 5 on the side of the socket and the connection section 4 on the side of the connector are obtained as follows: I (direction indication to the left side) to l (direction indicator to the ieft side) Vill (reversing light) to Ii (reversing light) lll (ground) to lll (ground) lV (direction indicatorto the right side) to N (direction indicatorto the right side) XII (control line) to V (control line) Vl (brake light) to Vl (brake light) V (taillight, ght, number plate lamp on the right side) and VI (taillight, sidelight, number piate lamp on the left side) to Vil (taillight, sidelight, number plate lamp).

The other connection contacts II and IX through XI of the connection n 5 on the side of the socket remain as they are and will not be interconnected, wherein either non- connected pins 19 can be provided or — as it is in particular represented in fig. 5 — corresponding pins 19 are not provided from the beginning for the purpose of saving material.

Thanks to the above described circuit diagram ing to fig. 6, a ible electric contact connection between the pin connections of a thirteen—pole “round” socket according to an standard and a seven-pole “rectangular” connector according to Australian standard is achieved.

In the shown exemplary embodiment, the central section 8 is equipped with a retaining plate 10 which is carried by a web 14. This ing plate 10 is designed correspondingly to a cover of a socket 2 of the towing vehicle. in the due application case, in which the connection section 5 of the trailer adapter 1 on the side of the socket is inserted into the socket 2 of the towing vehicle, the d cover of the socket 2 reaches behind the retaining plate 10 provided by the central section 8 of the adapter 1, whereby a position safe ent of the adapter 1 with respect to the socket 2 of the towing vehicle is achieved. -12..

List of reference numerals COVCDCD-thON-A trailer adapter socket connector connection section on the side of the connector tion section on the side of the socket loom of cables loom of cables central section 9 cover retaining plate 11 contact block 12 gap 13 guiding plate 14 web opening 16 bayonet ce 17 coding extension 18 opening 19 pin

Claims (8)

Claims:

1. A trailer adapter to be interposed between a socket of a towing e and a connector of a trailer, comprising ent electrical paths for at least direction indicators, brake light and ghts, wherein a first electrical taillight path on the input side and a second electrical taillight path on the input side are interconnected to form a common electrical taillight path on the output side.

2. An adapter according to claim 1, r comprising a rectangular connection section to be coupled with the connector.

3. An adapter according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a round connection section to be coupled with the socket.

4. An adapter according to claim 2, wherein the connection section to be coupled with the connector provides seven connection contact s.

5. An adapter ing to claim 2, wherein the connection section to be coupled with the connector provides twelve tion contact sockets.

6. An adapter according to claim 3, wherein the connection section to be coupled with the socket provides thirteen connection contacts.

7. An adapter according to ciaim 2, wherein the connection section to be coupled with the connector comprises a cover arranged thereon in a ng manner.

8. An adapter according to claim 3, wherein the connection section to be coupled with the socket comprises a t guidance. I / V/I/ // III III IV IV X// V V/ VI V V//