Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
  • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
  • B60D1/14—Draw-gear or towing devices characterised by their type
  • B60D1/167—Draw-gear or towing devices characterised by their type consisting of articulated or rigidly assembled bars or tubes forming a V-, Y-, or U-shaped draw gear
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
  • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
  • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
  • B60D1/14—Draw-gear or towing devices characterised by their type
  • B60D1/143—Draw-gear or towing devices characterised by their type characterised by the mounting of the draw-gear on the towed vehicle
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
  • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
  • B60D1/48—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by the mounting
  • B60D1/481—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by the mounting adapted for being mounted to the front and back of trailers, carts, trolleys, or the like to form a train
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
  • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
  • B60D1/48—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by the mounting
  • B60D1/52—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by the mounting removably mounted
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
  • B62B5/00—Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
  • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
  • B60D2001/001—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices specially adapted for use on vehicles other than cars
  • B60D2001/005—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices specially adapted for use on vehicles other than cars for carts, scooters, or the like
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
  • B62B2207/00—Joining hand-propelled vehicles or sledges together

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a coupling device for coupling to one another two trolleys, such as auction trolleys, positioned one behind the other in the direction of movement, comprising two coupling components which in the fitted position are hingeable with respect to one another in a horizontal plane, at least one of said coupling components being provided with fixing means for connecting to the trolley concerned, said fixing means comprising a fixing bar which in the use position extends essentially perpendicularly to the direction of travel and has a length of at least 30 cm.
• a coupling device is described, for example, in Netherlands Patent 1 002 573 in the name of J. Kortleve.
• the coupling device shown in this patent is constructed for coupling two trolleys positioned alongside one another in the direction of travel.
• the present invention relates to a construction for connecting two trolleys positioned one behind the other in the direction of travel.
• the fixing bar in Netherlands Patent 1 002 573 is provided with projections which in the use position extend downwards and are slid into seatings in the trolley concerned.
• seatings are present in, for example, auction trolleys.
• This construction it is extremely important to position the projections of the fixing bar absolutely vertically when fitting and to allow them to drop uniformly into the seatings. In practice it is found that if the position is somewhat skew the projections jam in the seatings and will not drop further downwards. The same problem arises when removing the fixing bar.
• the aim of the present invention is to avoid this disadvantage and to provide a coupling device to be used for two trolleys positioned one behind the other.
• the bar is provided with seating means close to each of the ends, the mouths of said seatings delimited by said seating means facing away from one another with respect to said bar.
• the seatings according to the present invention engage behind the vertical uprights mounted on a(n) (auction) trolley.
• a(n) (auction) trolley By, for example, simply placing the fixing bar concerned at somewhat of an angle this can be inserted in the gap between the vertical uprights and by then allowing the fixing bar to drop (under gravity), as a result of which said fixing bar comes to bear on the horizontal platform of the auction trolley, locking is produced in that the limits of the seatings engage behind the uprights concerned.
• the hinge construction between the two coupling components can comprise any construction known in the state of the art.
• a pin/hole construction is possible.
• this hole can be open to the surroundings on one side in order to make easy uncoupling possible (Aalsmeer coupling).
• one or both coupling components can be provided with the seatings described above.
• the invention also relates to an assembly comprising two trolleys positioned behind one another in the direction of movement, as well as a coupling device as described above arranged between said trolleys.
• the seatings are adapted to the shape of the uprights concerned and that the distance between the seatings is, of course, adapted to the distance between said uprights.
• FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention where a coupling component is connected to an auction trolley;
• Fig. 2 shows a side view of the construction according to Fig. 1 connected to two trolleys;
• FIG. 3 shows the operation for coupling a fixing bar to a trolley
• Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the coupling device according to the invention
• FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of the coupling device according to the invention
• Fig. 6 shows fitting of the coupling device according to Fig. 5;
• Fig. 7 shows a further embodiment of a coupling device according to the invention.
• Fig. 8 shows a fifth embodiment of a coupling device according to the invention.
• Fig. 9 shows a sixth embodiment of a coupling device according to the invention.
• Fig. 10 shows a further embodiment of a coupling device according to the invention.
• Fig. 1 the coupling device according to the invention is indicated in its entirety by 1.
• Said device consists of a coupling component 2 and a coupling component 3.
• Coupling component 2 is connected to (auction) trolley 17.
• Said trolley 17 is provided with vertical uprights 19 for carrying the various trays on which, for example, flowers and the like can be transported.
• Coupling component 2, and more particularly fixing bar 11, is provided close to the ends thereof with plate-shaped parts 13 which have a U-shaped seating 12.
• the mouths of the "U" of the two plate-shaped parts 13 face away from one another. That is to say the bases of the Us face one another.
• Coupling component 2 is provided with two tongues some distance apart provided with in-line holes 5 through which a pin 4 (Fig. 2) can be fitted in order to lock a connecting rod 7, which is constructed as a triangle and, in turn, is hingeably accommodated, via transverse rod 8, in lugs 9 fixed to fixing bar 10.
• Fixing bar 10 is likewise provided with plate-shaped parts 13 which delimit a U-shaped seating 12.
• the direction of travel of the trolleys is indicated in Fig. 1 by arrow 6. This direction of movement is chosen in the main at low speeds at which accurate control of the trolleys is important. For higher speeds, at which there is a risk of slewing, the direction of travel will be precisely the opposite.
• FIG. 2 A side view of the various features is shown in Fig. 2, in which, furthermore, part of trolley 18 is shown, which trolley is also provided with uprights 19 for attaching fixing bar
• Fig. 3 shows how fixing bar 11 is tilted between the uprights 19. To facilitate tilting the
• body of the U-shaped seating is of chamfered construction. This is indicated by 16 in Fig. 1.
• Fig 4 shows a variant of the construction according to the invention in which the connection is of somewhat different construction.
• This connection is now constructed as a simple pin/hole connection, the pin being indicated by 14 and mounted on fixing bar 11. In other respects the construction, apart from drawbar 15, is unchanged.
• FIG. 5 shows a variant with which tilting through an appreciable angle as shown in Fig. 3 is no longer necessary.
• the entire coupling device is indicated by 21.
• Fixing bar 10 is now provided with a seating 22 constructed in a somewhat different manner.
• a flanged strip section 23 has been fixed to bar 10.
• the fixing bar 10 is provided with a seating 22, one limit of which is formed by a lock 25 which can be flipped away with the aid of a lever 26.
• Lever 26 and lock 25 are joined via a pin accommodated in a bush 24. Fitting of this coupling 21 is shown highly diagrammatically in Fig. 6. It is clear that fixing bar 10 only has to be kept horizontal, so that the distance between an article on top, such as a further (auction) trolley, can be very small. After turning in the horizontal plane in accordance with arrow 20, lock 25 can be flipped back and engaged behind upright 19.
• Fig. 7 shows a further variant in which the coupling device is indicated in its entirety by 31. Only part of the coupling device is shown, specifically the part that belongs to fixing bar 11. This is now provided with a locking lip 33.
• a locking lip 33 can be used because, as in the case of the embodiment according to Figs. 5 and 6, a seating 32 can be opened by the presence of a lock 36 which can be operated via lever 37 with wire 34.
• a carrying handle 35 is also present. Grasping the carrying handle 35 also operates the wire 34 and unlocking takes place, after which the fixing bar 11 can be brought into its position by rotation in the horizontal plane. During this operation locking lip 33 engages below the horizontal cross-member 33 of the trolley. By then simply releasing the hold on the handle, the tension in wire 34 is released and lock 36 drops, as a result of the weight of part 37, into the locked position behind upright 19.
• Fig. 8 shows a further embodiment of the coupling device according to the invention.
• This device is indicated in its entirety by 41.
• the plate-shaped parts which delimit the seating are indicated here by 43, whilst 45 comprises a fixing for some form of coupling.
• a stop plate is indicated by 44.
• the vertical upright of the trolley concerned is located in the gap between plate-shaped part 43 and stop plate 44. By fitting such a plate it is possible to prevent the coupling device according to the invention from tilting out and detaching on braking. This tilt direction is indicated by arrow 46.
• Fig. 9 shows a further variant of the invention. This is indicated in its entirety by 51.
• This variant is provided with a carrying bracket 60 which makes fitting and detaching easy.
• the vertical uprights of the trolley are gripped by the plate-shaped parts 53.
• An additional reaction lip 55 which engages on the vertical upright of a trolley is fitted.
• locking takes place at the bottom of the horizontal cross-member of the trolley.
• fitting by turning in a vertical plane is possible. This is achieved by the presence of a lock 52 which can be operated with the aid of rod 58 and handle 59.
• Fig. 10 shows an embodiment which is indicated in its entirety by 61. Various components shown in Fig. 9 are also present in this embodiment.
• This free end 63 can be fixed in a position in which it has been brought upwards, as shown in Fig. 10, with the aid of a locking device 64, but it can also be moved downwards in order to engage in a chain track or the like by means of which the trolleys are transported automatically.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Handcart (AREA)
• Conveying And Assembling Of Building Elements In Situ (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=19768583

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (7)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (4)

• 1999
  • 1999-02-02 NL NL1011191A patent/NL1011191C2/nl not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2000
  • 2000-01-05 WO PCT/NL2000/000006 patent/WO2000046050A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2000-01-05 AU AU30829/00A patent/AU3082900A/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (4)

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