WO1990005647A1 - Safety device for vehicles with a trailer - Google Patents

Safety device for vehicles with a trailer Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1990005647A1
WO1990005647A1 PCT/DK1989/000271 DK8900271W WO9005647A1 WO 1990005647 A1 WO1990005647 A1 WO 1990005647A1 DK 8900271 W DK8900271 W DK 8900271W WO 9005647 A1 WO9005647 A1 WO 9005647A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
safety device
vehicle
trailer
trail
bar
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/DK1989/000271
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Johnny Svensson
Original Assignee
Johnny Svensson
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Johnny Svensson filed Critical Johnny Svensson
Publication of WO1990005647A1 publication Critical patent/WO1990005647A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/01—Traction couplings or hitches characterised by their type
    • B60D1/06—Ball-and-socket hitches, e.g. constructional details, auxiliary devices, their arrangement on the vehicle
    • B60D1/065—Ball-and-socket hitches, e.g. constructional details, auxiliary devices, their arrangement on the vehicle characterised by the hitch mechanism
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/01—Traction couplings or hitches characterised by their type
    • B60D1/06—Ball-and-socket hitches, e.g. constructional details, auxiliary devices, their arrangement on the vehicle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/58—Auxiliary devices

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a safety device for vehicles with a trailer which is coupled to the vehicle's coupling device by means of a trail bar.
  • a safety device according to the inven ⁇ tion and as disclosed and characterized in the preamble to claim 1.
  • the safety device signals to the driver who is hereby made aware of the risk of the trailer and the vehicle touching each other, if the ma ⁇ noeuvre (the backing manoeuvre) is continued.
  • the actual sig ⁇ nalling can be made in any known manner, that is with a pilot lamp or with an acoustic signal or the like.
  • the safety device can be placed on the vehicle's coupling device and could, moreover, be designed as disclosed and characterized in claims 2-6.
  • an efficient and re ⁇ liable device is achieved which will not be in the way for the coupling of the trailer and the vehicle and which does not re ⁇ quire electric connection from the vehicle to the trailer.
  • the safety device according to the invention could also be de- signed as disclosed in the preamble to claim 7, since in this manner wiring on the trail bar is avoided, as is actually wi ⁇ ring to the trailer. If the detectors are placed in suitable spots on the vehicle's rear, the application of position indi ⁇ cators on the trailer is rendered unnecessary, since parts of the trailer itself, e.g. the bumper, can be used as position indicator, depending on the trailer design.
  • the safety device according to the invention is preferably de ⁇ signed as disclosed and characterized in claims 8-10.
  • a simple and reliable circuit is achieved which can be adapted to any vehicle with any kind of trailer and which signals to the driver in a suitable manner when the trail bar reaches a certain angle in relation to the longitudinal axis of the ve ⁇ hicle.
  • fig. 1 shows the coupling of a vehicle and a trailer with a safety device according to a first embodiment of the invention
  • fig. 2 shows the same as fig. 1, but from above, and
  • fig. 3 shows the principle of the safety device according to a second embodiment.
  • the reference 1 in figs. 1 and 2 is a trail bar secured to a motor vehicle, e.g. an ordinary passenger car.
  • the trail bar is ended by a coupling knob 2 and constitutes perfectly ordi ⁇ nary trail gear.
  • a draw bar 3 is coupled to the vehicle's trail gear, the trail bar comprising a protrusive portion 5, a gripper, which by employing the manoeuvring handle 4, can lock the draw bar 3 on to the knob 2 in the usual manner.
  • This design is very often applied for the coupling of trailers to passenger cars.
  • the vehicle's ordinary power supply also supplies the detector 6 with power and a signal cable 10 from the detector leads to a signalling device 8, e.g. an optical or an acoustic signal indicator placed in the driver's cab, or the vehicle's ordi ⁇ nary horn.
  • a signalling device 8 e.g. an optical or an acoustic signal indicator placed in the driver's cab, or the vehicle's ordi ⁇ nary horn.
  • Fig. 3 shows a draft of a second embodiment of the invention where a vehicle 11 trails a trailer 12 by means of a trail bar 3 which is coupled to the trail gear 1 of the vehicle, exactly as shown in figs. 1 and 2.
  • two detectors 6 have been applied here, placed at or in the vicinity of the outer edges of the vehicle's 11 rear.
  • the detectors 6 are arranged so as to signal, e.g. via a signalling device as explained in connection with figs. 1 and 2, when the trailer 12 has been turned so much in relation to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle 11 that one of the detec ⁇ tors 6 almost touches the trailer 12 or any position indica- tors placed on the trailer.
  • the fins 7 can be designed so that parts hereof can be cut or broken off for the position indicator to be adapted to any trailer, that is depending on the length of the trail bar and the width of the trailer and the vehicle.
  • the detector 6 can be any known kind of detectors, e.g. elec- trie or electronic proximity detectors based on inductive or magnetic detection; however, detectors based on light, sound or other kinds of oscillations are naturally applicable as well.
  • detectors e.g. elec- trie or electronic proximity detectors based on inductive or magnetic detection; however, detectors based on light, sound or other kinds of oscillations are naturally applicable as well.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)

Abstract

A safety device for vehicles with a trailer which is coupled to the vehicle's coupling device (1, 2) by means of a trail bar (3), which safety device functions by means of a detector (6) provided on the vehicle, which detector signals (8) by means of a position indicator (7) on the trail bar (3) when the trail bar of the trailer reaches a certain angle in relation to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

Description

SAFETY DEVICE FOR VEHICLES WITH A TRAILER
The invention relates to a safety device for vehicles with a trailer which is coupled to the vehicle's coupling device by means of a trail bar.
When driving with a trailer it is not advisable to turn so sharply that the vehicle and the trailer touch each other which would cause damage to both the vehicle and the trailer. Consequently, some experience and routine is required before one can drive with a trailer without causing damage when tur¬ ning. Especially backing manoeuvres require considerable skill and care in order to avoid that the trailer reaches an angle exceeding a certain maximum in relation to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
It is the object of the invention to describe a safety device for vehicles which device in order to prevent damage when tur¬ ning gives a signal before the driver reaches the trailer's maximum turning angle in relation to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
This is achieved with a safety device according to the inven¬ tion and as disclosed and characterized in the preamble to claim 1. When the trail bar reaches a certain angle in rela¬ tion to the vehicle's longitudinal axis, the safety device signals to the driver who is hereby made aware of the risk of the trailer and the vehicle touching each other, if the ma¬ noeuvre (the backing manoeuvre) is continued. The actual sig¬ nalling can be made in any known manner, that is with a pilot lamp or with an acoustic signal or the like.
In practice the safety device can be placed on the vehicle's coupling device and could, moreover, be designed as disclosed and characterized in claims 2-6. Hereby an efficient and re¬ liable device is achieved which will not be in the way for the coupling of the trailer and the vehicle and which does not re¬ quire electric connection from the vehicle to the trailer.
The safety device according to the invention could also be de- signed as disclosed in the preamble to claim 7, since in this manner wiring on the trail bar is avoided, as is actually wi¬ ring to the trailer. If the detectors are placed in suitable spots on the vehicle's rear, the application of position indi¬ cators on the trailer is rendered unnecessary, since parts of the trailer itself, e.g. the bumper, can be used as position indicator, depending on the trailer design.
The safety device according to the invention is preferably de¬ signed as disclosed and characterized in claims 8-10. Hereby a simple and reliable circuit is achieved which can be adapted to any vehicle with any kind of trailer and which signals to the driver in a suitable manner when the trail bar reaches a certain angle in relation to the longitudinal axis of the ve¬ hicle.
In the following the invention will be described in more de¬ tail with reference to two embodiments of the invention, in that
fig. 1 shows the coupling of a vehicle and a trailer with a safety device according to a first embodiment of the invention,
fig. 2 shows the same as fig. 1, but from above, and
fig. 3 shows the principle of the safety device according to a second embodiment.
The reference 1 in figs. 1 and 2 is a trail bar secured to a motor vehicle, e.g. an ordinary passenger car. The trail bar is ended by a coupling knob 2 and constitutes perfectly ordi¬ nary trail gear. A draw bar 3 is coupled to the vehicle's trail gear, the trail bar comprising a protrusive portion 5, a gripper, which by employing the manoeuvring handle 4, can lock the draw bar 3 on to the knob 2 in the usual manner. This design is very often applied for the coupling of trailers to passenger cars.
Furthermore, a detector 6 is provided on the trail gear which is screwed adjustably on to the trail bar 1 by means of a fit¬ ting 9. On the trail bar 3 of the trailer two position indica- tors 7 are provided in the form of a plate, e.g. a metal or a plastic plate having outwards projecting fins.
The vehicle's ordinary power supply also supplies the detector 6 with power and a signal cable 10 from the detector leads to a signalling device 8, e.g. an optical or an acoustic signal indicator placed in the driver's cab, or the vehicle's ordi¬ nary horn.
When the trail bar 3, see fig. 2 in particular, has been tur- ned to a certain angle in relation to the trail bar 1 which is positioned in the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, one of the position indicators 7 will reach across the detector 6 which will immediately detect this and activate the signalling de¬ vice 8 and the driver is now aware that he has reached the trailer's maximum turning angle.
Fig. 3 shows a draft of a second embodiment of the invention where a vehicle 11 trails a trailer 12 by means of a trail bar 3 which is coupled to the trail gear 1 of the vehicle, exactly as shown in figs. 1 and 2. Instead of- placing the detector on the trail bar, two detectors 6 have been applied here, placed at or in the vicinity of the outer edges of the vehicle's 11 rear. The detectors 6 are arranged so as to signal, e.g. via a signalling device as explained in connection with figs. 1 and 2, when the trailer 12 has been turned so much in relation to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle 11 that one of the detec¬ tors 6 almost touches the trailer 12 or any position indica- tors placed on the trailer.
By the embodiment shown in fig. 2 the fins 7 can be designed so that parts hereof can be cut or broken off for the position indicator to be adapted to any trailer, that is depending on the length of the trail bar and the width of the trailer and the vehicle.
The detector 6 can be any known kind of detectors, e.g. elec- trie or electronic proximity detectors based on inductive or magnetic detection; however, detectors based on light, sound or other kinds of oscillations are naturally applicable as well.

Claims

1. A safety device for vehicles with a trailer which by means of a trail bar (3) is coupled to the vehicle's coupling device (1), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in the vehicle being provided with means (6) for signalling when the trail bar (3) of the trailer reaches a certain angle in relation to the longitudi¬ nal axis of the vehicle.
2. A safety device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in the means (6) being provided on the vehicle's coupling device (1) in the vicinity of its coupling knob (2).
3. A safety device according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e - r i z e d in the trail bar (3) being provided with at least one position indicator (7).
4. A safety device according to claim 2 or 3, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in a position indicator (7) being provided at each side of the trail bar (3).
5. A safety device according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in that the position indicator comprises a plate (7), e.g. a metal or plastic plate, which is secured to the trail bar (3).
6. A safety device according to any one of the claims 2-6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in the position indicator/indica¬ tors (7) being adjustable in relation to the trail bar (3), e.g. by cutting for breaking off parts hereof.
7. A safety device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in the means (6) being provided at or in the vici¬ nity of the outer edges of the vehicle's (11) rear.
8. A safety device according to claim 1 or 7, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in the signalling device/devices being electric or electronic detection members, e.g. inductive or magnetic proximity detectors.
9. A safety device according to any one of the claims 1-8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the position of the signal¬ ling device (6) on the vehicle is adjustable.
10. A safety device according to claim 1, 7, 8 or 9, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that the signalling device (6) is con- nected to a display (8) and/or an acoustic signalling member via a cable (10).
PCT/DK1989/000271 1988-11-22 1989-11-16 Safety device for vehicles with a trailer WO1990005647A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DK651988A DK651988A (en) 1988-11-22 1988-11-22 SAFETY DEVICE FOR TRAILERS WITH TOWERS
DK6519/88 1988-11-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1990005647A1 true WO1990005647A1 (en) 1990-05-31

Family

ID=8148835

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/DK1989/000271 WO1990005647A1 (en) 1988-11-22 1989-11-16 Safety device for vehicles with a trailer

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU4649689A (en)
DK (1) DK651988A (en)
WO (1) WO1990005647A1 (en)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0589688A1 (en) * 1992-09-23 1994-03-30 John William Leslie Sansome Method and apparatus for use with a trailer
GB2342630A (en) * 1998-10-12 2000-04-19 Belton Technological Services Indicator for reversing articulated vehicles
DE10334000A1 (en) * 2003-07-25 2005-02-24 Volkswagen Ag Vehicle tow bar coupling has coupling head with integrated permanent magnet sensor to measure relative motion of coupled drawbar
DE20316698U1 (en) * 2003-10-30 2005-03-17 Knott Gmbh Trailer towing bar with sway control, has device for monitoring damping produced by stabilizing device by measuring damping force or moment
ITAT20090004A1 (en) * 2009-04-20 2010-10-21 Indeco Snc Di Franco Livio & C MANEUVERING SENSOR FOR TRAILERS
DE102010054958A1 (en) * 2010-12-17 2012-06-21 Audi Ag Coupler for coupling towing vehicle and trailer, has rotational position transmitter connected with connector, which is connected to pulling jaw for transmission of pulling jaw rotational position to transmitter
DE102011079632A1 (en) * 2011-07-22 2013-01-24 Zf Friedrichshafen Ag Tow bar for coupling towing vehicle e.g. tractor with trailer vehicle, attaches sensor device of coupling ball and coupling lock provided on support to towing vehicle
RU2554717C1 (en) * 2014-03-14 2015-06-27 Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего профессионального образования "Ульяновский государственный технический университет" Bolster-coupler for roadtrain
DE102014206808A1 (en) * 2014-04-09 2015-10-15 Zf Friedrichshafen Ag Device for detecting a trailer swivel angle
DE102014224425A1 (en) * 2014-11-28 2016-06-02 Zf Friedrichshafen Ag Ball carrier and method for producing a ball carrier for a trailer hitch, trailer hitch and method for measuring a bending angle
DE102005045195B4 (en) * 2004-09-24 2019-03-07 Continental Teves Ag & Co. Ohg Protractor for measuring the bending angle between a towing vehicle and a trailer

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN106427766A (en) * 2015-08-07 2017-02-22 福特全球技术公司 Illuminated hitch angle detection component

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE384177B (en) * 1973-08-03 1976-04-26 Rockinger Spezial Fab Joh TRAILER COUPLING FOR TRUCKS
DE3006638C2 (en) * 1980-02-22 1982-02-11 Zikun-Fahrzeugbau GmbH, 7831 Riegel trailer hitch
DE2837764C2 (en) * 1978-08-30 1982-03-04 M.A.N. Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg AG, 8000 München Auxiliary steering device for articulated vehicles
US4405145A (en) * 1980-07-03 1983-09-20 Saab-Scania Aktiebolag Arrangement for limiting uncontrolled articulation movements at the picot between vehicle units in articulated vehicles, preferably articulated buses
US4592565A (en) * 1984-10-17 1986-06-03 Leo Eagle Apparatus for detecting an overturning moment in a moving vehicle, and jackknifing in a trailer-truck combination
DE3806568A1 (en) * 1987-04-03 1988-10-13 Bravo Vicente Miro Device for adjusting the proximity of a trailer to a tractor

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE384177B (en) * 1973-08-03 1976-04-26 Rockinger Spezial Fab Joh TRAILER COUPLING FOR TRUCKS
DE2837764C2 (en) * 1978-08-30 1982-03-04 M.A.N. Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg AG, 8000 München Auxiliary steering device for articulated vehicles
DE3006638C2 (en) * 1980-02-22 1982-02-11 Zikun-Fahrzeugbau GmbH, 7831 Riegel trailer hitch
US4405145A (en) * 1980-07-03 1983-09-20 Saab-Scania Aktiebolag Arrangement for limiting uncontrolled articulation movements at the picot between vehicle units in articulated vehicles, preferably articulated buses
US4592565A (en) * 1984-10-17 1986-06-03 Leo Eagle Apparatus for detecting an overturning moment in a moving vehicle, and jackknifing in a trailer-truck combination
DE3806568A1 (en) * 1987-04-03 1988-10-13 Bravo Vicente Miro Device for adjusting the proximity of a trailer to a tractor

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0589688A1 (en) * 1992-09-23 1994-03-30 John William Leslie Sansome Method and apparatus for use with a trailer
GB2342630A (en) * 1998-10-12 2000-04-19 Belton Technological Services Indicator for reversing articulated vehicles
GB2342630B (en) * 1998-10-12 2002-07-31 Belton Technological Services Reversing articulated vehicles
DE10334000B4 (en) * 2003-07-25 2014-07-03 Volkswagen Ag trailer hitch
DE10334000A1 (en) * 2003-07-25 2005-02-24 Volkswagen Ag Vehicle tow bar coupling has coupling head with integrated permanent magnet sensor to measure relative motion of coupled drawbar
DE20316698U1 (en) * 2003-10-30 2005-03-17 Knott Gmbh Trailer towing bar with sway control, has device for monitoring damping produced by stabilizing device by measuring damping force or moment
DE102005045195B4 (en) * 2004-09-24 2019-03-07 Continental Teves Ag & Co. Ohg Protractor for measuring the bending angle between a towing vehicle and a trailer
ITAT20090004A1 (en) * 2009-04-20 2010-10-21 Indeco Snc Di Franco Livio & C MANEUVERING SENSOR FOR TRAILERS
DE102010054958A1 (en) * 2010-12-17 2012-06-21 Audi Ag Coupler for coupling towing vehicle and trailer, has rotational position transmitter connected with connector, which is connected to pulling jaw for transmission of pulling jaw rotational position to transmitter
DE102010054958B4 (en) * 2010-12-17 2014-10-30 Audi Ag Trailer coupling with a kink angle measuring device between a towing vehicle and a trailer
DE102011079632A1 (en) * 2011-07-22 2013-01-24 Zf Friedrichshafen Ag Tow bar for coupling towing vehicle e.g. tractor with trailer vehicle, attaches sensor device of coupling ball and coupling lock provided on support to towing vehicle
RU2554717C1 (en) * 2014-03-14 2015-06-27 Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего профессионального образования "Ульяновский государственный технический университет" Bolster-coupler for roadtrain
DE102014206808A1 (en) * 2014-04-09 2015-10-15 Zf Friedrichshafen Ag Device for detecting a trailer swivel angle
DE102014224425A1 (en) * 2014-11-28 2016-06-02 Zf Friedrichshafen Ag Ball carrier and method for producing a ball carrier for a trailer hitch, trailer hitch and method for measuring a bending angle

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DK651988A (en) 1990-05-23
AU4649689A (en) 1990-06-12
DK651988D0 (en) 1988-11-22

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