WO2001007274A1 - Attelage de remorque - Google Patents

Attelage de remorque Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2001007274A1
WO2001007274A1 PCT/GB2000/002764 GB0002764W WO0107274A1 WO 2001007274 A1 WO2001007274 A1 WO 2001007274A1 GB 0002764 W GB0002764 W GB 0002764W WO 0107274 A1 WO0107274 A1 WO 0107274A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cylinder
prime mover
piston
trailer
assembly
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2000/002764
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Gordon Holmes
Original Assignee
Independent Brakes Limited
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 Independent Brakes Limited filed Critical Independent Brakes Limited
Priority to AU60022/00A priority Critical patent/AU6002200A/en
Publication of WO2001007274A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001007274A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60T—VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL; ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES
    • B60T11/00—Transmitting braking action from initiating means to ultimate brake actuator without power assistance or drive or where such assistance or drive is irrelevant
    • B60T11/10—Transmitting braking action from initiating means to ultimate brake actuator without power assistance or drive or where such assistance or drive is irrelevant transmitting by fluid means, e.g. hydraulic
    • B60T11/107—Transmitting braking action from initiating means to ultimate brake actuator without power assistance or drive or where such assistance or drive is irrelevant transmitting by fluid means, e.g. hydraulic overrun brakes with fluid means
    • 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
    • B60D1/50—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by the mounting resiliently mounted
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60T—VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL; ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES
    • B60T13/00—Transmitting braking action from initiating means to ultimate brake actuator with power assistance or drive; Brake systems incorporating such transmitting means, e.g. air-pressure brake systems
    • B60T13/02—Transmitting braking action from initiating means to ultimate brake actuator with power assistance or drive; Brake systems incorporating such transmitting means, e.g. air-pressure brake systems with mechanical assistance or drive
    • B60T13/06—Transmitting braking action from initiating means to ultimate brake actuator with power assistance or drive; Brake systems incorporating such transmitting means, e.g. air-pressure brake systems with mechanical assistance or drive by inertia, e.g. flywheel
    • B60T13/08—Overrun brakes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60T—VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL; ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES
    • B60T7/00—Brake-action initiating means
    • B60T7/12—Brake-action initiating means for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger
    • B60T7/20—Brake-action initiating means for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger specially for trailers, e.g. in case of uncoupling of or overrunning by trailer

Definitions

  • This invention relates to tow couplings for trailers, and more particularly to such couplings capable of accommodating off-road buffeting and oscillations as can occur on rough terrain whilst still being such as to satisfy civilian road regulations.
  • BACKGROUND Fundamental considerations of road safety require that, when a non-powered road-going vehicle, such as a trailer, is towed behind a powered vehicle, the towed vehicle should itself have a braking system. Otherwise there is a danger of the towed vehicle over-running the towing vehicle when brakes are applied on the latter, thereby resulting in a serious loss of control and possible jack-knifing of the two vehicles.
  • towing and towed vehicles may take various forms, for example a car towing a trailer, for simplicity in the following description the towing vehicle and its associated braking mechanism will be referred to as ' the prime mover' and the towed vehicle with its associated braking mechanism will be referred to as 'the trailer' .
  • Current tow couplings are fitted with an hydraulic or gas damper unit the rating of which is dependent upon the gross weight of the trailer.
  • the damper unit is set such that it retards the inertia-force of the trailer when the prime mover's brakes are applied, and enables a smooth, progressive braking effect to be applied to the trailer by the trailer brake under civilian road conditions .
  • the damper unit of a tow coupling is set according to the trailer weight and to satisfy EU regulations. Should a combination of prime mover and trailer be used off-road on rough terrain, the combination, and in particular the tow coupling, can be subjected to substantial buffeting and oscillation which can cause serious damage to the damper unit .
  • a tow coupling for a prime mover and trailer combination comprising a first damper unit reacting between the prime mover and the trailer, characterised by a second damper unit reacting between the prime mover and the trailer, and means for interconnecting the coupling and the braking mechanism of the prime mover such that, until the braking mechanism of the prime mover is actuated, the first and second damper units provide a combined damping effect between the prime mover and the trailer, and, on actuation of the braking mechanism of the prime mover, the damping effect of the second damper unit is disconnected whereby damping between the prime mover and the trailer is effected by the first damper unit only.
  • the coupling includes an outer cylinder for securing to the trailer and an inner cylinder for securing to the prime mover and guided for linear sliding movement within the outer cylinder, the first damper unit comprising a first fluid-operated ram mounted within the inner cylinder and reacting between the inner and outer cylinders .
  • the coupling includes, within the inner cylinder, a fluid-operated piston-cylinder assembly the free end of the piston of which is fixed relative to the outer cylinder, the second damper unit comprising a second fluid operated ram mounted within the inner cylinder and reacting between the inner cylinder and the cylinder of the piston-cylinder assembly, the piston and cylinder of the assembly being locked to prevent relative movement therebetween during normal towing conditions, the assembly being interconnected with the braking mechanism of the prime mover such that, on actuation of said braking mechanism, the piston-cylinder assembly is released to permit substantially unimpeded relative movement between the piston and cylinder thereof.
  • the cylinder of the piston-cylinder assembly is slidable relative to the inner cylinder whereby, with the piston-cylinder assembly in its locked condition, and on compression of the first and second rams as a result of relative movement between the inner and outer cylinders, the cylinder of the piston-cylinder assembly moves as a unit with the piston thereof and with the pistons of the first and second rams.
  • the piston-cylinder assembly may incorporate a solenoid valve electrically connected with a stop light of the prime mover, the valve being closed under normal towing conditions to maintain the piston-cylinder assembly locked, said valve being opened on actuation of the stop light of the prime mover to release the assembly and to permit unrestricted relative movement between the piston and the cylinder of the assembly.
  • Fig. 1 is a plan view from above, partly in longitudinal horizontal section, of a tow coupling according to the invention,-
  • Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in longitudinal vertical section, of the coupling of Fig. 1, and
  • Fig. 3 is a rear end view, partly in transverse vertical section, of the coupling of Fig. 1.
  • the illustrated tow coupling comprises an outer cylinder 2 mounted on a frame 4, for example by welding, the frame 4 being rigidly secured to a trailer (not shown) for example by bolts, the cylinder 2 and frame 4 typically being of heavy duty steel .
  • an inner cylinder 6 Slidably mounted within the outer cylinder 2 is an inner cylinder 6 guided by bearings 8 of nylon or the like.
  • One end of the inner cylinder 6 comprises a coupling member 10 for attachment to the rear of a prime mover .
  • a securing disc 12 of substantial thickness is mounted in the open end of the inner cylinder 6 remote from the coupling member 10 and is fixed relative to the outer cylinder 2 by means of a pin 14 extending through the outer cylinder 2, through opposed axial slots 16 formed in the inner cylinder 6 and through a bore in the disc 12.
  • Figs. 1 and 2 show the inner cylinder 6 fully extended to the right as viewed in the drawings relative to the outer cylinder 2, which position is determined by abutment of the ends of the slots 16 nearest the open end of the inner cylinder 6 with the pin 14.
  • a flexible bellows 18 reacts between, to seal, the ends of the inner and outer cylinders 6,2 adjacent the coupling member 10, the fully retracted position of the inner cylinder 6 within the outer cylinder 2 being determined by abutment of an annular shoulder 20 on the inner cylinder 6 with the end face 22 of the outer cylinder 2. In this position of the inner cylinder 6, the other ends of the slots 16 lie adjacent to, but just spaced from, the pin 14.
  • the free end of the inner cylinder 6 is closed by an end cap 24 which is screwed into the cylinder 6 and is used to adjust the desired pre-load on the coupling as will be detailed below, a washer 26 of rubber or the like reacting between the cap 24 and the disc 12.
  • the cap 24 carries an adjusting bolt 28 and a lock nut 30, the head of the bolt 28 reacting with, to actuate, the lever arm (not shown) of a braking mechanism for the trailer.
  • the first damper unit 32 comprises a cylinder 36 and a piston 38
  • the second damper unit 34 which extends parallel with the first unit 32, comprises a cylinder 40 and a piston 42.
  • the two cylinders 36,40 are connected together and to the inner cylinder 6 by means of a pin 44 extending through the three cylinders 6,36,40 as clearly seen in Fig. 1 and whereby the cylinders 36,40 move with the inner cylinder 6.
  • the free end of the piston 38 of the damper unit 32 is secured to the fixed disc 12 and is locked thereto by a lock nut 46, whereby said piston is effectively secured to the outer cylinder 2, and the damper unit 32 reacts between the inner and outer cylinders 6,2.
  • a linear bearing assembly generally referenced 48 is mounted within the inner cylinder 6.
  • the assembly 48 comprises a lower section 50 bolted or otherwise securely attached to the inner wall of the cylinder 6, and an upper section 52 mounted on the lower section 50 to be slidable therealong.
  • Bolted to the upper section 52 of the bearing 48 is the cylinder 54 of an hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly indicated generally at 56 and also including a piston 58 extending from the cylinder 54.
  • the free end of the piston 58 is secured to the disc 12, and is locked thereto by a lock nut 60, thereby effectively attaching the piston 58 to the fixed outer cylinder 2.
  • An hydraulic valve 62 for the assembly 56 is mounted on the cylinder 54, as is a solenoid-operated control switch 64 for the valve 62, an electric cable 66 feeding from the switch 64 through a protective covering 68 housed in a channel in the wall of the inner cylinder 6, through a watertight connector 70 in the wall of the outer cylinder 2 and thence through a protective shroud 72.
  • the cable 66 is connected to the brake lighting circuit of the prime mover to which the trailer is coupled by the coupling member 10.
  • the piston-cylinder assembly 56, the valve 62 and the switch 64 comprise a unitary construction mounted on the upper section 52 of the linear bearing 48.
  • a support plate 74 is secured to the cylinder 54 of the assembly 56, the free end of the piston 42 of the damper unit 34 being attached to the support plate 74 and locked thereto by a lock nut 76.
  • Grease nipples 78 are provided in the outer cylinder 2 to enable lubrication of the bearings 8.
  • the described tow coupling operates as follows.
  • the end cap 24 is screwed into the inner cylinder 6 to engage the disc 12 by way of the washer 26 to apply the desired pre-load to the piston-cylinder assembly 56 and to the damper units 32,34, the cap 24 being retained in its operative position by a grub screw 80 projecting from the inner cylinder 6 into a groove in the end cap 24.
  • the bolt 28 and lock nut 30 are adjusted to determine the desired setting of the lever arm of the trailer's braking mechanism.
  • the hydraulic valve 62 is closed, which serves to lock the piston 58 of the assembly 56 relative to the cylinder 54 thereof.
  • the assembly 56 is fixed relative to the outer cylinder 2, thereby, by way of the plate 74, fixing the piston 42 of the damper unit 34 relative to the outer cylinder, the piston 38 of the damper unit also being fixed relative to the outer cylinder 2 by its connection to the disc 12.
  • Such heavy duty damping although also provided in on-road conditions, is particularly advantageous under rough off-road conditions and can readily absorb the buffeting and oscillations to which the tow coupling is subjected under such conditions.
  • the piston-cylinder assembly 56 which is rigid under such conditions, is effectively attached to the outer cylinder 2 through the connection of the piston 58 to the disc 12, the movement of the inner cylinder 6 relative to the outer cylinder 2, and therefore to the assembly 56, being accommodated by relative sliding movement between the upper and lower sections 52,50 of the linear bearing 48.
  • the solenoid switch 64 On braking of the prime mover, whether under on- road or off-road conditions, the solenoid switch 64 is actuated as a result of actuation of the brake lighting system of the prime mover, this switch 64 serving to actuate hydraulic control valve 62.
  • This valve 62 once opened, allows unrestricted fluid flow within the assembly 56, whereby the piston 58 can move substantially unrestricted within the cylinder
  • the damper unit 32 is operating to apply the correct damping force for the weight of trailer and according to official requirements for on-road conditions, the trailer brakes being applied in dependence upon movement of the bolt 28.
  • the switch 64 closes the valve 62 whereby hydraulic fluid within the assembly 56 free-flows within the cylinder 54 to the opposite side of the piston to return the assembly 56 to its locked condition.
  • a tow coupling between a trailer and a prime mover so arranged that, when towing on civilian road or over rough terrain, or when using only the engine and gears of the prime mover to retard the trailer's speed as during a steep decline, and when both the damper units operate to retard the weight of the trailer, the unit comprising the piston-cylinder assembly 56, hydraulic valve 62 and solenoid switch 64 slides along the lower section 50 of the linear bearing 48, and the trailer's brakes are applied without the prime mover's brakes being applied.
  • damping of the coupling is effected by a single damper unit, and the trailer brakes are applied conventionally .
  • the precise construction of the coupling may vary from that described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the appended claims.
  • the means by which the effect of the second damper unit is eliminated from the coupling on actuation of the prime mover brakes may be other than a hydraulic piston- cylinder assembly under the control of a solenoid actuated valve.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Regulating Braking Force (AREA)

Abstract

Attelage conçu pour une combinaison d'élément moteur et de remorque et comprenant une première et une deuxième unités d'amortissement (32, 34) réagissant entre l'élément moteur et la remorque et des moyens (54 à 66) servant à accoupler l'attelage et le mécanisme de freinage de l'élément moteur, de sorte que, jusqu'à la mise en service du mécanisme de freinage de l'élément moteur, la première et la deuxième unités d'amortissement (32, 34) exercent un effet amortissant combiné, relativement important entre l'élément moteur et la remorque et de façon à interrompre, lors de la mise en service du mécanisme de freinage de l'élément moteur, l'effet amortissant de la deuxième unité d'amortissement (34), ce qui permet à la première unité d'amortissement (32) seulement d'exercer un effet amortissant entre l'élément moteur et la remorque, de manière à répondre aux exigences de la législation routière.
PCT/GB2000/002764 1999-07-27 2000-07-18 Attelage de remorque WO2001007274A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU60022/00A AU6002200A (en) 1999-07-27 2000-07-18 Tow coupling for a trailer

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9917464.1 1999-07-27
GBGB9917464.1A GB9917464D0 (en) 1999-07-27 1999-07-27 Overrun auto-reverse heavy duty towing coupling on a trailer

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001007274A1 true WO2001007274A1 (fr) 2001-02-01

Family

ID=10857909

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2000/002764 WO2001007274A1 (fr) 1999-07-27 2000-07-18 Attelage de remorque

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU6002200A (fr)
GB (1) GB9917464D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2001007274A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014037895A2 (fr) * 2012-09-05 2014-03-13 Dromone Engineering Limited Système de suspension pour un attelage

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2029595A1 (fr) * 1969-01-28 1970-10-23 Precision Power Units
US3682278A (en) * 1971-01-28 1972-08-08 Toledo Stamping & Mfg Co Trailer hitch and brake actuator
US3796287A (en) * 1972-03-16 1974-03-12 Kelsey Hayes Co Surge-actuator for brake system
FR2498544A1 (fr) * 1981-01-29 1982-07-30 Bineau Guy Dispositif de freinage hydraulique autonome progressif a deblocage automatique en marche arriere pour remorques
US4840256A (en) * 1988-05-05 1989-06-20 Webb James E Surge brake apparatus for gooseneck trailers
US4856621A (en) * 1989-03-20 1989-08-15 Yoder Herbert G Heavy duty actuating means in combination with surge or inertia type trailer brake system for use with "low boy", "gooseneck" or fifth wheel trailers and the like

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2029595A1 (fr) * 1969-01-28 1970-10-23 Precision Power Units
US3682278A (en) * 1971-01-28 1972-08-08 Toledo Stamping & Mfg Co Trailer hitch and brake actuator
US3796287A (en) * 1972-03-16 1974-03-12 Kelsey Hayes Co Surge-actuator for brake system
FR2498544A1 (fr) * 1981-01-29 1982-07-30 Bineau Guy Dispositif de freinage hydraulique autonome progressif a deblocage automatique en marche arriere pour remorques
US4840256A (en) * 1988-05-05 1989-06-20 Webb James E Surge brake apparatus for gooseneck trailers
US4856621A (en) * 1989-03-20 1989-08-15 Yoder Herbert G Heavy duty actuating means in combination with surge or inertia type trailer brake system for use with "low boy", "gooseneck" or fifth wheel trailers and the like

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014037895A2 (fr) * 2012-09-05 2014-03-13 Dromone Engineering Limited Système de suspension pour un attelage
WO2014037895A3 (fr) * 2012-09-05 2014-11-06 Dromone Engineering Limited Système de suspension pour un attelage

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU6002200A (en) 2001-02-13
GB9917464D0 (en) 1999-09-29

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