WO1991011338A1

WO1991011338A1 - An apparatus for interconnecting two connecting members

Info

Publication number: WO1991011338A1
Application number: PCT/SE1990/000874
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bert Olsson
Original assignee: Bert Olsson
Priority date: 1990-01-31
Filing date: 1990-12-27
Publication date: 1991-08-08
Also published as: SE465457B; SE9000319L; SE9000319D0

Abstract

In an apparatus for interconnection of two connecting members (3, 4) belonging to two connecting devices (1, 2), a first (1) of the connecting devices is arranged movably on a carrying device (6) and provided with a guide member (8) whereas the second connecting device (2) is arranged on a vehicle (5). On movement of the second connecting device (2) towards the first, the guide member (8) actuates, if the connecting devices would not be located opposite to each other, the first connecting device (1) to such a movement relative to the carrying device (6) that the connecting members may enter into engagement with each other.

Description

An apparatus for interconnecting two connecting members

FIELD OF INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

This invention is related to an apparatus ^•for interconnecting two connecting members, for instance two electrical contacts, belonging to two connecting devices, one of which is arranged on a vehicle whereas the remaining is stationarily arranged or possibly arranged on another vehicle.

The invention is primarily related to the connecting situation involved when a vehicle is to be connected to a stationary supply source. The supply source in question may supply fluids, for instance combustible gases, pressurised air, hydraulic fluid or other pressurised fluids, but in the primary application the supply source is intended to supply electrical current. The expression "stationarily arranged" should in this connection be interpreted within wide limits since a certain amount of mobi¬ lity may be conceivable without necessarily involving mounting on a vehicle.

The need for interconnecting a connecting member arranged on a vehicle and a connecting member belonging to the stationary supply source occurs in many cases. As an example reference is made to the desire to be able to carry out interconnection in order to obtain supply of electricity to heating elements located in the vehicle for heating the engine and/or compart¬ ment. Such interconnection is presently carried out manually by the driver after having parked the vehicle at a suitable loca- tion. The driver then has to manually manipulate electrϊti l cords and contacts associated therewith, which is time consuming and laborious, in particular if there is ice and snow. As other examples on such needs for interconnection reference is made to electrically driven vehicles, such as electrical cars and trucks. Such vehicles must with regular intervals be connected to an electrical supply source for charging the accumulators .in question. Also in this case there is a need for manually manipu¬ lating with required cords and contacts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a mechanically, operating interconnection apparatus, by means of which intercon¬ nection shall be possible to be carried out by the driver while he is located in the vehicle, i.e. without manual manipulation of cords and contacts.

This object is obtained according to the invention by the apparatus having been imparted the features more closely appea¬ ring from the appendent claims, and then in particular the characterising part of claim 1.

The arrangement of at least a first of the connecting devices as moveable on a carrying device and the presence of the guide member defined enable engagement between the connecting members of the connecting devices also in such cases where the driver by steering the vehicle has not achieved perfect alignment of the connecting devices opposite to each other; with other words, the apparatus according to the invention allows a certain amount of misalignment between the connecting devices without interconnec¬ tion being made impossible. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the enclosed drawings, a more specific de¬ scription of an embodiment example of the invention will follow hereinafter.

In the drawings;

Fig 1 is a diagrammatical and partly cut view of the apparatus according to invention viewed from above, there being a certain amount of misalignment between the connecting devices;

Fig 2 is a view similar to Fig 1 but illustrating the connecting members of the connecting devices in engagement with each other;

Fig 3 is a front view of a first connecting device and a carry¬ ing device belonging thereto;

Fig 4 is a partly cut view of the apparatus according to Fig 3 viewed from the left; and

Fig 5 is a diagrammatical, perspective and partially cut view of the components according to Fig 3 and 4 viewed obliquely from behind.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The apparatus according to the invention will in the following primarily be described as being suitable for electrical inter¬ connection of a vehicle and a stationary supply source in the form of an electrical supply network.

The apparatus comprises two connecting devices 1, 2 with associ¬ ated electrical contact members 3 and 4 respectively fitting with each other. The connecting device 2 is conceived to be arranged on a diagrammatically indicated vehicle 5 whereas the connecting device 1 is arranged on a stationary carrying device 6. This may be secured or supported in an arbitrary manner; the carrying device is in the example illustrated as provided with feet 7, which are intended to be secured in or on an underlayer.

The connecting device 1 is moveably arranged relative to the carrying device 6. Furthermore, the connecting device l com¬ prises a guide member 8, which is arranged to actuate, on movement of the connecting device 2 towards the connecting device l, the connecting device 1 to such movement relative to the carrying device 6 that the connecting members 3, 4 of the connecting devices may enter into engagement with each other even if the connecting devices initially would not have been adequately aligned opposite to each other. . .

The guide member 8 is designed with a funnel-like recess or cavity 9, in the deepest middle area of which the connecting member 3 is arranged. As is most clearly apparent from Fig 3, the guide member 8 has a substantially rectangular shape in front view. As can be seen from Figs 1, 3 and 5, the guide member 8 has cha ferings 10 adjacent to the connecting member 3 for the purpose of simplifying for the connecting member 4 to move to a contacting engagement with the connecting member 3 by sliding abutment against the inwardly tapering inside of the guide member 8. The connecting members 3 and 4 are conceived to be of a nature known per se and having pins and sleeves respec¬ tively, which may be plugged into each other.

As indicated with the double arrows 11, the connecting device 1 and the associated connecting member 3 is arranged moveable horizontally relative to carrying device 6. The double arrows 12 indicate that the connecting device 1 and the connecting member 3 pertaining thereto is movably arranged vertically relative to the carrying device 6.

A return device generally denoted 13 has the purpose to actuate the connecting device 1 to a starting position (Figs 1, 3 and 4) relative to the carrying device 6, from which starting position the connecting device is moveable horizontally as well as vertically in opposite directions.

The carrying device 6 comprises in the example a frame having two first guides 14, which are formed by beams and which extend substantially horizontally and which are located at a mutual distance in a parallel relation. These guides 14 are at their ends interconnected by means of substantially vertical beams 15, the lower ends of which form the feet 7 previously mentioned. A member 16 is horizontally displaceable along the guides 14. As is most clearly apparent from Figs 3 and 5, this member 16 may be formed by two substantially vertically orientated beams 17 located adjacent to each other and interconnected in an arbi¬ trary manner to a unit. The member 16 is at the top and at the bottom in engagement with the guide beams 14 by means of holder members 18, which exert such a holding action relative to the guide beams 14 that the member 16 is held thereto but may be displaced reciprocatingly in horizontal direction. The holder members 18 are as can be seen in the example designed as L- shaped profile pieces. The member 16 forms a vertical guide, along which the connecting device 1 is displaceable. The guides 14 on one hand and the guide 16 on the other hand are substan¬ tially perpendicular and substantially parallel to planes substantially perpendicular to the direction of interconnection of the connecting members 3, 4. As is most clearly apparent from Fig 5, the connecting device 1 comprises holder members 19, by means of which the connecting device 1 is held and vertically displaceably guided along the guide 16. The holder members 19 engage completely or partially about the guide 16 with a slide fit and they are suitably arranged at some mutual distance in vertical direction.

The electrical cord running to the contact member 3 of the connecting device 1 is not illustrated in the drawings. However, this cord may for instance run rearwardly from the contact member 3 between the beams 17 forming the guide 16 and then run further rearwardly to connection to the supply network. The connecting member 3, the guide member 8 and the holder members 19 form in unison a rigid slide-like unit, which may be displaced along the guide 16.

The return device 13 comprises (Fig 4) at least one energy accumulating member 20, which on movement of the connecting device 1 in any direction from the starting position (Figs 1, 3 and 4) accumulates energy for subsequent return to the starting position. More specifically, the member 20 is formed by a weight, which by means of a traction element 21 is connected to the connecting device 1, said traction element running, between the weight 20 and the connecting device 1, via diverting members 22,^" 23 secured relative to the frame of the carrying device 6. More specifically, the return device 13 comprises a body struc¬ ture 24, which may be secured to the horizontal guide beams 14 of the carrying device. This body structure may comprise a tubular and vertically orientated portion 25, within which the weight 20 is received and may run. At the upper part of the tube 25 the body structure 24 comprises a casing portion 26, in which the diverting member 22, 23 are arranged. These diverting members define the starting position of the connecting device l. The diverting members may for instance comprise two rollers or pulleys, which have substantially horizontal axes of rotation and between which the flexible traction element 21 extends. Moreover, there may for instance be two additional rollers or pulleys 23, which have their axes of rotation vertical and between which the traction element extends as well. As can be seen, the traction element 21 may be secured relative to the connecting device 1 by means of an eye 27 attached to one of the holder members 19.

The connecting device 2 arranged on the vehicle 5 comprises power means 28 for advancing and retracting the associated connecting member 4. As appears particularly clearly from Fig 2 , this power means may for instance have the character of a piston cylinder mechanism, e.g. a pneumatic cylinder obtaining pressu¬ rised air from a pressurised air source on the vehicle and controlled by the driver by means of an operating member acces¬ sible to the driver in the vehicle. The power means 28 is mounted to a frame of the connecting device 2, said frame not being illustrated more closely but being secured to the vehicle 5 at one end thereof, normally the front end. A casing, for instance a rubber sleeve 29, encloses preferably the base end of the cylinder 28.

It is suitable that a stop member 30 is arranged to aid the driver to avoid crushing the connecting" apparatus by driving the vehicle too far in the direction towards the carrying device 6. The stop member 30 may be designed as a rigid stop beam anchored in the underlayer but it could also be designed resilient, in • which case it primarily would obtain the character of an indi¬ cator.

The electrical cord to the connecting member 4 could extend within the power means 28 variable in length if an internal passage suitable for this purpose would be arranged in the power means. Otherwise the cord could simply extend to the connecting member 4 at the side of the power means 28 in a manner not illustrated.

The apparatus described is used in the following manner: prior to interconnection the connecting device 1 with its associated guide screen 8 is located in the central starting position according to Figs 1, 3 and 4. When the vehicle is to be connec¬ ted, the driver has to drive the vehicle towards the connecting device 1, the driver of course having to try to achieve an alignment as correct as possible of the connecting devices 1 and 2. Depending upon of the skill of the driver, a larger or smaller deviation from that which is desired is, however, obtained in practice. Such a deviation is illustrated in Fig 1, from which it can be seen that the contact member 4 of the contact device 2 is located a distance to the side of the contact member 3 of the connecting device 1. It is to be pointed out that the stop member 30 in the example involves a restric- tion as to how far the driver may drive the vehicle towards the connecting device 1. The final movement of the connecting devices 1 and 2 towards each other are accordingly intended to be carried out by means of the power means 28. Due to the large width of the guide screen 8 the work of the driver is, however, substantially simplified since even a very unskilful driving does not make connection impossible. In the next phase, the" driver has to actuate the power means 28 to be extended, the contact between the front portion of the connecting device 2 being under displacement forwardly and the inside of the guide screen 8 and the inclination of this inside causing the connec¬ ting device 1 in its entirety to be displaced to the position illustrated in Fig 2 by the guide 16 being displaced along the guide beams 14 in horizontal direction. In the position accor¬ ding to Fig 2 the contact member 4 has entered into engagement with the contact member 3 in the deepest middle portion of the guide screen 8 and interconnection is then completed. If a vertical misalignment initially would have existed between the connecting devices 1 and 2, this alignment would have been compensated within the limits of the width of the guide screen 8 by displacement of the connecting device 1 along the vertical guide 16. On displacement of the connecting device 1 from its central starting position, a traction force is obtained in the traction element 21 and the weight 20 is lifted more or less while potential energy is accumulated. When the interconnection is ceased by retracting the contact member 4, this potential energy involves return of the connecting device 1 to its star¬ ting position.

The invention is of course not only delimited to the embodiment described. As already pointed out, the apparatus may also be used for other interconnection than electrical. Furthermore, the carrying device 6 with its associated moveable connecting member 1 could be arranged on a vehicle whereas instead the connecting member 2 described could be stationarily arranged or also arranged on another vehicle if there would be need for intercon¬ nection of two vehicles. The guide member 8 must not necessarily have to be coordinated with the connecting device 1, which is moveably arranged relative to the carrying device 6; instead, the guide member could be connected to the other connecting device. Finally, it is to be mentioned that the connecting device 2 must not necessarily be associated to any power means as the one denoted 28 but the apparatus could instead be desig¬ ned, suitably with resilient buffer elements, so that the driver slowly could drive the vehicle all the way until adequate interconnection has been obtained.

Claims

1. An apparatus for interconnecting two connecting members (3, 4), for instance two electrical contacts, belonging to two connecting devices (l, 2), one of which is arranged on a vehicle (5) whereas the remaining is stationarily arranged or possibly arranged on another vehicle, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at least a first (1) of the connecting devices is movably arranged on a carrying device (6) and that one of the connecting devices (1, 2) comprises a guide member (8) which is adapted to actuate, on relative movement of the connecting devices towards each other, the first connecting device to such a movement relative to the carrying device (6) that the connecting members of the connecting devices may enter into engagement with each other in case the connecting devices are not adequately adjusted opposite to each other.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the guide member (8) iε designed with a funnel-like recess (9), in the deepest middle area of which the connecting member (3) of the connecting device in question is arranged.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the first connecting device (1) with its associated connecting member (3) iε movably arran¬ ged horizontally relative to the carrying device (6).

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the first connecting device (1) with its associated connecting member (3) iε movably arran¬ ged vertically relative to the carrying device (6).

5. An apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it comprises a return device (13) for actuating the first connecting device (1) to a starting position relative to the carrying device (6), from which star¬ ting position the connecting device is moveable in at least two opposite directions.

6. An apparatus according to claims 3-5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the carrying device (6) comprises a frame having at least a first guide (14), along which at least one member (16) is displaceable, that this displaceable member (16) is deεigned with at leaεt one second guide (17), along which the first connecting device (1) is displaceable, and that the first and second guides (14, 17) are substantially perpendicular and substantially parallel to planes substantially perpendicular to the direction of connection of the connecting members.

7. An apparatus according to claims 5 and 6, c h a r c t e r i z e d in that the return device (13) com¬ prises at least one energy accumulating member (20), which on movement of the first connecting device (1) in any direction from the starting position accumulates energy for subsequent return to the starting position.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the energy accumulating member is formed by a weight (20), which by means of a traction element (21) iε connected to the first connecting device (1), said traction element (21) running, between the weight and the first connecting device, via one or more diverting members (22, 23) arranged on the frame of the carrying device (6).

9. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the second connecting device (2) compriseε power means (28) for advancing and retracting the associated connecting member (4) .

10. An apparatus according to any preceding claim. c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the first connecting device (1) is secured to the guide member (8) .

11. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the first connecting device (1) and its carrying device (6) are stationarily arranged whereas the second connecting device (2) is arranged on a vehicle (5) .