WO2024052062A1

WO2024052062A1 - Trailer coupling

Info

Publication number: WO2024052062A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/072479
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wolfgang Gentner; Pascal Wisirenko
Original assignee: ACPS Automotive GmbH
Priority date: 2022-09-08
Filing date: 2023-08-15
Publication date: 2024-03-14
Also published as: DE102022122865A1

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to reduce, preferably to minimize, noise generation during the transition from the released position into the rotation-blocking position. This aim is achieved in that the rotation-blocking device is assigned at least one locking unit which delays a transition, which has been initiated via action upon the rotation-blocking device, of the latter into the rotation-blocking position at least when the operating position and/or the idle position is reached.

Description

TOWING COUPLING

The invention relates to a trailer coupling, comprising a ball neck movable between a working position and a rest position with a pivot bearing body arranged at a first end and a coupling ball arranged at a second end, a pivot bearing unit arranged fixed to the vehicle, by means of which the pivot bearing body is used to carry out a pivoting movement about a pivot axis between the working position and the rest position is pivotally accommodated, and a rotation blocking device acting between the pivot bearing unit and the pivot bearing body with, on the one hand, at least one rotation blocking unit, which has a rotation blocking body which is movably guided in a guide direction by means of a guide receptacle of a guide body and which is guided in the guide direction by a transverse a pressure surface extending in the direction of the guide and provided on an actuating body is movable, and on the other hand with at least one working position receptacle and/or at least one rest position receptacle, wherein by moving the actuating body in the actuating direction, the rotation blocking body of the rotation blocking unit can be moved and acted upon in the guide direction and wherein the rotation blocking body of the Rotation blocking unit in the working position and/or the rest position can be moved into a rotation blocking position by moving in the guide direction and in this the rotation blocking body engages with a respective working position holder or rest position holder in order to block a pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body about the pivot axis relative to the guide body and whereby the rotation blocking body can be brought into a release position and in this position is disengaged from the working position recording and/or the rest position recording and releases the pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body.

Such trailer couplings are known from the prior art, but with these there is the problem of noise generation when the rotation blocking unit transitions into the rotation blocking position. The invention is therefore based on the object of reducing, preferably minimizing, noise generation during the transition from the release position to the rotation-blocking position.

This object is achieved according to the invention in a trailer coupling of the type described at the outset in that at least one locking unit is assigned to the rotation blocking device, which at least when the working position and / or the rest position is reached, delays a transition of the rotation blocking device into the rotation blocking position caused by the action on the rotation blocking device.

The advantage of this solution is that it can reduce the noise generated during the transition to the rotation-blocking position.

The invention thus relates to trailer couplings in which the rotation blocking device should only be effective in the working position, as well as trailer couplings in which the rotation blocking device should be effective in the working position and the rest position, as well as trailer couplings in which the rotation blocking device should only be effective in the rest position should.

In principle, the delay unit could be designed in such a way that it temporally delays the effect on the rotation blocking device when it transitions into the rotation blocking position.

However, it is particularly favorable if the at least one delay unit acts on the rotation blocking device itself.

It is particularly advantageous if the at least one delay unit delays the transition of the rotation blocking unit into the rotation blocking position, since this results in a very strong reduction in noise generation. The at least one delay unit can be designed so that it acts on one or more elements of the rotation blocking device.

A particularly favorable solution provides that the at least one delay unit acts directly on one of the elements of the rotation blocking device, that is to say a movement of this element is delayed by the direct effect on this element.

An advantageous possibility for designing the at least one delay unit provides that it delays movement of the rotation-blocking body into the rotation-blocking position. This delay can occur through direct, in particular immediate, action on the rotation blocking body and/or through indirect, in particular indirect, action.

Another possibility provides that the at least one delay unit temporally delays the movement of the actuating body into the rotation-blocking position. This is particularly an indirect effect of delay.

In an advantageous embodiment of at least one delay unit, this can be achieved in that the delay unit is effective between the guide body and the actuating body.

For this purpose, for example, the at least one delay unit can be arranged on the actuating body.

Alternatively or additionally, there is also the possibility that the at least one deceleration unit is arranged on the guide body.

A particularly simple design of a delay unit provides that the at least one delay unit has a resilient element. For example, it is conceivable that the resilient element forms at least one friction surface or acts on a friction body.

A simple solution provides that the at least one deceleration unit comprises a movement deceleration body which is effective between a surface of the actuating body and a surface of the guide body facing it.

In the simplest case, the movement delay body is designed as a rotation delay ring, which is effective between an annular surface of the actuating body and an annular surface of the guide body facing it.

It is particularly advantageous if the movement delay body has a different friction effect depending on the direction of movement.

This allows, for example, the interaction between the actuating body and the guide body to be designed in such a way that a strong deceleration effect occurs in a direction of movement, in particular a direction of movement in the direction of the rotation-blocking position, and a smaller delay occurs when moving out of the rotation-blocking position.

A further advantageous solution that can be used in addition to or as an alternative to one of the above delay units provides that the at least one delay unit is arranged in a defined position on the guide body or the actuating body and, starting from this, decelerates on the actuating body or the guide body moving relative to this works.

Preferably, it is also provided in this case that the deceleration unit is provided with a friction body acted upon by a resilient body, which acts on the actuating body or the guide body. In particular, such a solution can be advantageously implemented in that the deceleration unit arranged on the guide body or the actuating body acts with the friction body on a friction surface which is arranged on the actuating body or the guide body, since reproducible conditions can be created by a friction surface.

This solution provides a simple possibility for the deceleration unit, which is arranged on one of the bodies, to interact with the other of the bodies under defined conditions, so that a delay in the movement of the actuating body is made possible in a direction of rotation in which the actuating body the respective rotation blocking body moves from the release position into the locking point.

Preferably, the friction surface is designed such that it extends over an angular range around the axis of rotation of the actuating body, so that the relative movement between the guide body and the actuating body allows the deceleration unit to interact with the friction surface during a definable period of time.

Preferably, the friction surface extends over an angular range around the axis of rotation of the actuating body, which corresponds to the angular range of the rotational movement of the actuating body that is required to move it from the release position into the rotation-blocking position.

In particular, the friction surface is designed such that it extends from a deceleration start region, which is assigned to the release position, to a deceleration end region, which is assigned to the rotation-blocking position.

It is particularly advantageous if the area of the friction surface acted upon by the friction body is at a varying distance from a guide receptacle when the actuating body rotates relative to the guide body the deceleration unit runs, which means that the distance between the guide receptacle and the area of the friction surface acted upon by the friction body does not have to be constant.

A particularly favorable solution provides that when the friction body acts on the deceleration end region, the spring-elastic body acts on the friction body with a greater force than when the friction body acts on the deceleration start region.

This solution has the great advantage that by increasing the force effect on the friction body, an increased deceleration effect of the interaction between the friction body and the friction surface is created and thus the rotational movement of the actuating body is braked more and more during the rotational movement from the release position to the rotation-blocking position, depending the rotational movement of the actuating body approaches the rotation blocking position of the actuating body.

One possible implementation provides that the area of the friction surface acted upon by the friction body moves increasingly in the direction of the guide receptacle as the friction body moves from the start of the deceleration area to the end area of the deceleration in order to increasingly tension the resilient body.

The region of the deceleration end region acted upon by the friction body could itself still be inclined relative to the guide receptacle and thus still generate a torque acting in the direction of the release position when acted upon by the friction body.

A particularly advantageous solution provides that the deceleration end region acted upon by the friction body runs over its entire area acted upon by the friction body along a circular arc around the axis of rotation of the actuating body or at approximately the same distance from the guide receptacle, so as not to move in the direction of the release position to generate acting torque, which would counteract the torque acting in the direction of the rotation blocking position of the actuating body and thus reduce the force acting on the rotation blocking body in the direction of the rotation blocking position.

The friction body could act on the actuating body in a variety of ways.

An advantageous solution provides that the friction body acts on the circumference of the actuating body, in particular on a friction surface arranged on the circumference of the same, in order to delay its movement in the direction of the rotation-blocking position.

Preferably, the at least one deceleration unit is arranged such that the friction body acts on a pressure surface acting on a rotational blocking body in order to act on the rotational blocking body.

Alternatively or in addition to this, it is particularly advantageous if the friction body acts on a peripheral region of the actuating body that adjoins a pressure surface for acting on the rotation blocking body.

In this case, the peripheral area is preferably provided with a friction-promoting surface in such a way that greater friction occurs between it and the friction body than can be achieved when interacting with the pressure surface, since this should have an optimal effect on the rotation-blocking body.

Alternatively, a further variant of the solution according to the invention provides that the friction body acts on the front side of the actuating body, in particular on a friction surface arranged on the front side of the same. In this case, the deceleration unit is arranged in the guide body and acts with the friction body on the front side of the actuating body, that is in particular on a friction surface arranged on the front side of the same.

A further alternative solution provides that the friction body acts on wall surfaces of a receptacle for the actuating body provided in the guide body, in particular on a friction surface arranged on the receptacle, when the deceleration unit is arranged in the actuating body.

Such a friction surface can, for example, be arranged on a cylindrical surface of the guide body that forms the receptacle when the deceleration unit is arranged in the actuating body.

Alternatively, when the deceleration unit is arranged in the actuating body, such a friction surface can also be arranged on an inside of a flange of the guide body that delimits the receptacle and faces the actuating body.

A further advantageous embodiment of at least one delay unit that can be used in addition to or as an alternative to one or more of the above solutions provides that the at least one delay unit acts on a rotation blocking body when the working position and/or the rest position is reached, in particular acts directly on it, and its movement in the entry into the working position or the rest position is delayed.

No further details have yet been provided regarding the arrangement of such a delay unit.

An advantageous solution provides that the delay unit is assigned to at least the working position recording and/or the rest position recording. Such a delay unit works particularly advantageously if it counteracts the impact of the rotation blocking body on a recording base of the working position recording and / or the rest position recording.

Such a delay unit can be designed particularly advantageously if it comprises a resilient element which counteracts the movement of the rotation blocking body in the direction of the respective recording base in a decelerating manner.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that this at least one delay unit is held and supported on a component of the pivot bearing unit that supports the receptacle.

Such a component of the pivot bearing unit is, for example, the pivot bearing body.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the spring-elastic element has a decelerating effect on the rotation-blocking body entering the receptacle via a delay body, so that the rotation-blocking body does not act directly on the spring-elastic element, but rather the spring-elastic element receives additional protection from the delay body.

Furthermore, such a deceleration unit can be designed particularly advantageously if it has a guide body which accommodates the resilient element and, if necessary, the deceleration body.

In this case, it is particularly advantageous if the guide body is held in an adjustable position on the component carrying the receptacle, for example the pivot bearing body. In the case of a deceleration unit, which acts on a rotation blocking body in the working position and/or the rest position and delays its entry into the working position recording or rest position recording, it is preferably provided that in the case of several working position recordings and/or several rest position recordings, the delay unit is only responsible for one working position recording or one Rest position recording is assigned, since in this case the deceleration unit can act on the rotation blocking body impinging on it in such a way that the rotation blocking body again acts on the actuating body and in turn the reaction on the actuating body also leads to the remaining rotation blocking bodies being delayed into the intended working position recordings or . Rest position recordings occur.

In general, in the solution according to the invention it is advantageously provided that the rotation blocking device has at least two rotation blocking units, and thus at least two working position recordings are assigned to the working position and/or at least two rest position recordings are assigned to the rest position.

In this case too, the present invention described below relates to trailer hitches with only at least two working position mounts as well as trailer hitches with at least two working position mounts and at least two rest position mounts as well as trailer hitches with only two rest position mounts.

In order to achieve the simplest possible fixation of the rotation blocking device in the release position in such a case, it is advantageously provided that blocking surfaces run between the working position recordings and / or the rest position recordings, against which the rotation blocking bodies can be placed and from which the working position recordings and / or the Rest position recordings extend so that the rotation blocking units and the working position recordings and / or the rest position recordings around the pivot axis at angular intervals are arranged from each other so that in all intended pivot positions of the pivot bearing body, with the exception of the working position and / or the rest position, the rotation blocking body of at least one of the rotation blocking units is opposite one of the blocking surfaces and thus this blocking surface, in particular when force is applied to the actuating body, a movement of the actuating body in the actuating direction and consequently also a force-loaded engagement of the rotation blocking bodies of each of the rotation blocking units in one of the working position recordings or rest position recordings is blocked.

The advantage of the solution according to the invention can therefore be seen in the fact that the fixation of the actuating body in the release position can be achieved in a simple and reliable manner by means of the already existing rotation blocking bodies and that there is also a significant reduction in noise when this trailer coupling moves from the release position into the rotation blocking position of the rotation blocking bodies takes place because the rotation blocking bodies can easily slide from the blocking surfaces into the receptacles.

This solution also provides for a trailer coupling according to the invention, as an alternative or in addition to the solution described above, that the rotation blocking units are arranged at angular distances around the pivot axis to form a rotation blocking configuration, that the working position recordings and / or the rest position recordings each form a recording configuration for the working position and / or the rest position are arranged at the same angular distances around the pivot axis as the rotation blocking units, that the rotation blocking configuration and the recording configuration of the working position recordings in the working position or the rest position recordings in the rest position are congruent with one another, so that the rotation blocking bodies can engage in the working position recordings or rest position recordings, and that the angular distances between the rotation blocking units Rotation blocking configuration and the angular distances between the working position recordings or rest position recordings of the recording configurations are selected so that the rotation blocking configuration and the recording configurations are congruent with one another only in the working position and / or the rest position and thus a transition of the actuating body from the release position only in one of these or in both allow the rotation blocking position, while in the other pivot positions of the pivot bearing body a transition of the actuating body from the release position into the rotation blocking position is not possible.

Alternatively or additionally, a further advantageous solution provides that the angular distances of at least one of the rotation blocking units from the rotation blocking units arranged adjacent in a direction of rotation around the pivot axis and from the rotation blocking units arranged opposite to this direction of rotation are unequal and that in the working position the working position recordings are arranged in such a way that the The rotation blocking body of each of the rotation blocking units can be brought into engagement with one of the working position receptacles, and/or that in the rest position the rest position receptacles are arranged in such a way that the rotation blocking body of each of the rotation blocking units can be brought into engagement with one of the rest position receptacles and that in all intended for operation Pivot positions of the pivot bearing body, which are outside the working position and / or the rest position, the rotation blocking body of at least one of the rotation blocking units is opposite a blocking surface lying between the working position receptacles and / or the rest position receptacles and the blocking surface, in particular when force is applied to the actuating body, a movement of the actuating body from the release position to the rotation blocking position.

The inequality of the angular distances, starting from equal angular distances, is, for example, at least a deviation from equal angular distances in the order of half of the angular range over which each of the recordings extends, preferably up to the angular range over which each of the recordings extends. The advantage of all of the above-mentioned solutions according to the invention is that a structurally simple solution is available for holding the actuating body in the release position and only allowing it to change into the rotation-blocking position in the working position and/or the rest position, which is particularly advantageous the rotation blocking bodies already present for the rotation blocking device can be used.

In the context of the solution according to the invention, it has proven to be particularly advantageous if the number of rotation blocking units corresponds to the number of working position recordings and/or the number of rest position recordings.

Furthermore, in order to obtain a spatially compact solution, particularly in the direction of the pivot axis, it is advantageous if the rotation blocking bodies of all rotation blocking units are designed and arranged symmetrically to a geometric plane that runs perpendicular to the pivot axis and intersects it.

A particularly advantageous solution provides that the blocking surfaces face the rotation blocking bodies of the rotation blocking units, in particular transversely, preferably perpendicular to the guide direction, so that the rotation blocking bodies can be moved over the blocking surfaces with little or almost no movement resistance when in contact with them.

It is particularly advantageous if the blocking surfaces extend in a defined radius around the pivot axis, so that during the pivoting movement the rotation blocking bodies resting on these blocking surfaces do not carry out any additional radial movement to the pivot axis. Furthermore, it is advantageously provided that the blocking surfaces extend up to the opening edges of the working position receptacles and/or the rest position receptacles and merge into them.

In particular, it is preferably provided that the opening edges of the working position receptacles and/or the rest position receptacles are at the same radial distance from the pivot axis as the blocking surfaces, so that the rotation blocking bodies resting on the blocking surfaces can be moved beyond the opening edges into the receptacles without additional movement resistance can, as would occur, for example, with different distances of the opening edges from the pivot axis in relation to the distance of the blocking surfaces from the pivot axis.

In particular, this solution also has the advantage that there is a simple and movement-free transition of the swivel bearing body from the working position to a swivel position, since in this case too the rotation blocking bodies leave the working position receptacles and/or the rest position receptacles via the opening edges essentially without movement resistance can move towards the blocking surfaces.

It is particularly advantageous if at least one of the rotation blocking bodies of the rotation blocking units rests against one of the blocking surfaces during a pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body in the direction of the working position, in particular during the pivoting movement extending from the rest position to the working position, in particular under force by the action of the actuating body, whereby the Force is applied, for example, by retraction receptacles in the actuating body provided for the release position of the rotation blocking bodies, which act on the rotation blocking bodies with surfaces running transversely to the guide direction. In particular, it is advantageous if the rotational blocking bodies rest against the blocking surfaces under force before reaching the working position and then enter the receptacles under force on the opening edges of the receptacles, so that the noise level during the transition of the rotational blocking bodies from the release position to the rotational blocking position can be kept as low as possible , in contrast to a case in which the rotational blocking bodies initially rest against the blocking surfaces with play, are then applied to the blocking surfaces under force and then enter the working position receptacles from the blocking surfaces or the case in which the rotational blocking bodies lie with play against the blocking surfaces move the working position and experience the application of force in the working position in order to enter the working position recordings.

With regard to the design of the working position receptacles, it is particularly advantageous if the working position receptacles extend from the blocking surfaces in the guide direction, in particular with at least one component in the radial direction to the pivot axis, so that the rotation blocking bodies do not have any additional deflection upon entry when moving in the guide direction in the work position recordings.

It is particularly advantageous if at least one of the rotation blocking bodies of the rotation blocking units rests against one of the blocking surfaces during a pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body in the direction of the rest position, in particular during the pivoting movement extending from the working position to the rest position, in particular under force by the action of the actuating body, whereby the Force is applied, for example, by retraction receptacles in the actuating body provided for the release position of the rotation blocking bodies, which act on the rotation blocking bodies with surfaces running transversely to the guide direction. In particular, it is advantageous if the rotational blocking bodies rest against the blocking surfaces under force before reaching the rest position and then enter the resting position receptacles with force on the opening edges of the rest position receptacles, so that the noise level during the transition of the rotational blocking bodies from the release position to the rotational blocking position can be kept as low as possible , in contrast to a case in which the rotational blocking bodies initially rest against the blocking surfaces with play, are then applied to the blocking surfaces under force and then enter the rest position receptacles from the blocking surfaces or the case in which the rotational blocking bodies lie with play against the blocking surfaces move the working position and experience the application of force in the working position in order to enter the rest position recordings.

With regard to the design of the rest position receptacles, it is particularly advantageous if the rest position receptacles extend from the blocking surfaces in the guide direction, in particular with at least one component in the radial direction to the pivot axis, so that the rotation blocking bodies do not have any additional deflection upon entry when moving in the guide direction in the resting position recordings.

Furthermore, no further information was provided regarding the alignment of the working position holders and the rest position holders and the blocking surfaces relative to the guide sleeve.

An advantageous solution provides that the working position receptacles and the rest position receptacles and the blocking surfaces are arranged facing the guide sleeve, so that a deflection-free movement of the rotary blocking bodies in the direction of the blocking surfaces or in the direction of the working position receptacles and the rest position receptacles can take place.

In principle, the guide body could be pivotable about the pivot axis together with the pivot bearing body. However, a structurally particularly favorable solution provides that the guide body is part of the pivot bearing unit that is fixed to the vehicle.

Furthermore, with regard to the design of the guide body, it is provided that all guide receptacles for the rotation blocking bodies of the rotation blocking units are arranged in the guide body.

In addition, it is expedient if the guide direction runs with at least one component in the radial direction to the pivot axis, so that the rotation blocking bodies are moved at least with one component in the radial direction to the pivot axis between the rotation blocking position and the release position and thus no exclusive movement of the rotation blocking bodies in Direction of the pivot axis takes place in order to move it between the rotation blocking position and the release position.

A structurally particularly favorable solution provides that the guide body has a guide sleeve with guide receptacles for the rotation blocking bodies of the rotation blocking units and that in particular the rotation blocking bodies are guided by the guide body adjoining the pivot bearing body in the radial direction.

In connection with the explanation of the above exemplary embodiments, how the pivot bearing body should be pivotably mounted on the pivot bearing unit was not discussed in more detail.

For this purpose, for example, a bearing intended for this purpose could be provided on the pivot bearing unit, which is independent of the guide body.

However, it is particularly simple in terms of construction if the guide body has a pivot bearing for the pivot bearing body, that is, either Swivel bearing for the swivel bearing body or itself forms a swivel bearing for the swivel bearing body with an outer surface.

No further information was provided regarding the movement of the actuating body in relation to the guide body.

An advantageous solution provides that the actuating body is guided so that it can move relative to the guide body.

The actuating body could be movable relative to the guide body in the direction of the pivot axis between the rotation blocking position and the release position in order to move the rotation blocking bodies in the corresponding positions.

A solution that is particularly optimized in terms of space requirements provides that the actuating body is arranged to be rotatable about the pivot axis and in particular has wedge surfaces which extend over an angular range around the pivot axis and vary in the direction parallel to the guide direction, preferably combined with retraction receptacles.

Furthermore, no further information was provided regarding the arrangement of the recordings and the blocking surfaces.

An advantageous solution provides that the receptacles and the blocking surfaces are arranged on the pivot bearing body.

Furthermore, a constructive solution with regard to the absorption of the acting forces is particularly favorable when the actuating body is enclosed by the guide body and in particular when the pivot bearing body engages around the guide body.

No further information was provided regarding the arrangement of the rotation blocking bodies relative to the actuating body. In principle, the rotation blocking bodies could be arranged so that they are encompassed by the actuating body.

For the spatial structure of the trailer coupling according to the invention, it has also proven to be advantageous if the rotation blocking bodies are arranged around the actuating body.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous in terms of construction if the pivot bearing body forms an outer body which encloses the pivot bearing unit on the outside and which is arranged in a non-displaceable manner relative to the pivot bearing unit in the direction of the pivot axis, and in particular if the pivot bearing body forms an outer body which encloses at least a portion of the rotation blocking unit on the outside is arranged immovably relative to the guide body in the direction of the pivot axis, so that the pivot bearing body does not carry out any movement in the direction of the pivot axis when the rotation blocking body transitions from the rotation blocking position to the release position and vice versa, but can be arranged immovably in the direction of the pivot axis.

Such an arrangement of the pivot bearing body has, on the one hand, the advantage of a favorable spatial structure of the pivot bearing unit itself and the advantage of a relatively simple sealing of the pivot bearing unit, since the pivot bearing body does not carry out any movements in the axial direction of the pivot axis.

Preferably, a seal running around the pivot axis is provided between a housing of the pivot bearing unit and at least one end side of the outer body, which seals against ingress of dirt and moisture.

In such a solution, the pivot bearing body simultaneously represents the outer body that protects and encloses the pivot bearing unit and The fact that the outer body is arranged immovably relative to the pivot bearing unit in the direction of the pivot axis means that a simple seal between the outer body and the pivot bearing unit can be achieved.

A particularly favorable solution in terms of construction is in which the pivot bearing body forms at least one outer body which externally encloses a portion of the rotation blocking device and which is arranged non-displaceably relative to the guide body in the direction of the pivot axis.

In particular, it is provided that the rotation blocking bodies can be moved by the actuating body from the release position into the rotation blocking position.

The actuating body is preferably designed in such a way that it allows the rotation blocking body to be released in the release position.

In particular, a further design of the rotation blocking body provides that it holds the rotation blocking bodies in their rotation blocking position in the rotation blocking position.

In order to ensure that the rotation blocking bodies always move into their rotation blocking position, especially when there is no active actuation of the actuation body, it is preferably provided that the actuation body is acted upon by an elastic force accumulator in the direction of its rotation blocking position.

In order to be able to move the actuating body from the rotation-blocking position into the release position, it is preferably provided that the actuation body can be moved from the rotation-blocking position into the release position by an actuating device.

In particular, such a movement of the actuating body by the actuating device takes place counter to the action by the energy storage, This means that the actuating device counteracts the action by the energy accumulator and therefore has to overcome the forces applied by the energy accumulator.

Particularly in the case of a rotatable actuating body, it is preferably provided that the actuating body is rotated with the actuating device in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation caused by the elastic force accumulator.

Such an elastic energy storage device can in principle be arranged in several locations.

Structurally, it is particularly favorable if the elastic force storage is arranged within the pivot bearing unit.

Another structurally favorable solution provides that the elastic energy storage is arranged on one side of the actuating body.

In this case, the elastic force storage can be advantageously coupled to the actuating element.

With regard to the effect on the actuating body, a wide variety of solutions are conceivable.

An advantageous solution provides that the actuating device has an output element which is coupled to the actuating body.

In principle, it would be possible to rigidly couple the output element and the actuating body to one another.

However, it is particularly favorable if the output element and the actuating body are coupled to one another via a driving coupling device, which depends on the position of the output element and the position of the actuating body, in particular the rotational position thereof, allows a relative movement by a limited angle of rotation.

The driving coupling device could be an elastic connecting member.

However, it is particularly simple if the driving coupling device has a driving-free release state and a driving state, that is to say that either the release state or the driving state is present.

In connection with the previous solutions, only the drive of the rotation blocking device was explained in general terms, which allows the rotation blocking device to transition from at least one rotation blocking position to a release position and vice versa.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the actuating device for the rotation blocking device comprises a motor drive unit.

A motor drive unit exclusively assigned to the actuating device for the rotation blocking device could be provided.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the reduction gear is arranged on a side of the actuating element of the rotation blocking device that faces the motor drive.

For the compact structure, it is particularly beneficial if, viewed in the direction of the pivot axis, the reduction gear is driven by the motor drive unit on one side and has an output for the actuating element on the opposite side. Thus, the reduction gear is preferably arranged between the motor drive unit and the actuating element, viewed in the direction of the pivot axis.

Furthermore, the reduction gear, the elastic energy storage and the actuating element are preferably arranged one after the other in the direction of the pivot axis, in particular within the pivot bearing unit.

In order to further ensure that the actuating body does not leave its rotation-blocking position despite being acted upon by the elastic energy storage, it is preferably provided that the actuation body can be blocked in its rotation position by a safety device.

In particular, it is provided that the actuating body can be blocked by the safety device against reaching its release position in order to ensure that the actuating body never independently allows the release position of the rotation blocking body, for example in the event of a break in the elastic force storage acting on it in the direction of its active position.

Such a safety device is designed in such a way that it requires an action in order to remove the blocking of the actuating body.

For this reason, it is expediently provided that the actuating device for the rotation blocking device is coupled to the securing device, so that the blocking of the actuating body can also be released by the securing device via the actuating device.

Preferably, the safety device is coupled to the actuating device in such a way that the safety device blocks a movement of the actuating body that is not triggered by an actuation. In particular, the safety device is designed so that it blocks movement of the actuating body into its release position when the actuating device is not actuated.

An expedient solution provides that the drive element of the actuating device, for example the output element of the reduction gear, is coupled to the safety device.

The output element, for example the output element of the reduction gear, can expediently be designed in such a way that the action on the actuating body and the action on the safety device are coordinated with one another via the output element, so that actuation of the actuating device on the one hand leads to the blocking of the actuating body is canceled and on the other hand leads to the actuating body being moved from the active position to the inactive position.

For example, it is provided for this that the output element transfers the securing device from the securing position to the unlocking position in the course of its movement from the starting position to an intermediate position.

A wide variety of possibilities are conceivable with regard to the coupling between the output element and the safety device.

For example, any type of coupling, for example via an electrical control, would be conceivable.

A particularly useful solution due to its simplicity provides that the output element and the safety device are coupled to one another via a mechanical coupling device. The mechanical coupling device is advantageously designed in such a way that it controls the effect on the safety device by means of a sliding track.

With regard to the design of the safety device, a wide variety of solutions are conceivable.

The securing device works particularly reliably if it has an elastic energy storage device, which always acts on the securing device in the direction of its position securing or blocking the actuating body in the rotation-blocking position.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the safety device can be moved from its safety position into an unlocked position.

Preferably, the safety device is also moved into the unlocked position by the output unit for the actuation unit.

As part of the solution according to the invention, it is provided that by energizing a drive, it acts on the actuating body from a starting position in the opposite direction to a force applied to it, in particular caused by a spring element, so that it is moved from the rotation-blocking position into the release position.

As soon as the release position of the rotation blocking device is reached, the pivot bearing body leaves the position, that is, the working position or the rest position in which it was locked against rotation, and moves, in particular due to the action of gravity, into an intermediate position, already after leaving the working position or In the rest position, the movement of the actuating body into the rotation blocking position is blocked by the blocking surfaces. After leaving the working position or rest position, the drive is energized in such a way that it moves back into the starting position and the actuating body thus has the possibility of reaching the working position or rest position, in particular through manual action, due to the application of force to move from the release position to the rotation-blocking position and to lock the pivot bearing body again.

The above description of solutions according to the invention therefore includes in particular the various combinations of features defined by the following numbered embodiments:

1. Trailer coupling, comprising a ball neck (10) movable between a working position (A) and a rest position (R) with a pivot bearing body (14) arranged at a first end and a coupling ball (18) arranged at a second end, a pivot bearing unit arranged fixed to the vehicle (20), by means of which the pivot bearing body (14) is pivotably received for carrying out a pivoting movement about a pivot axis (22) between the working position (A) and the rest position (R), and one between the pivot bearing unit (20) and the pivot bearing body (14 ) acting rotation blocking device (50) with, on the one hand, at least one rotation blocking unit (80), which has a rotation blocking body (54), which is movably guided in a guide direction (58) by means of a guide receptacle (56) of a guide body (40) and which is in the guide direction ( 58) can be moved by a pressure surface (66) which runs transversely to the guide direction (58) and is provided on an actuating body (52), and on the other hand with at least one working position holder (60A) and/or at least one rest position holder (60R), by moving the Actuating body (52) can be moved and acted upon in an actuating direction (72), the rotation blocking body (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) in the guide direction (58) and the rotation blocking body (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) in the working position (A) and/or the rest position (R) can be brought into a rotation-blocking position by moving in the guide direction (58) and in this the rotation-blocking body (54) engages with a respective working position holder (60A) or rest position holder (60R) in order to enable a pivoting movement of the Pivot bearing body (14) about the pivot axis (22) to block relative to the guide body (40), and wherein the rotation blocking body (54) can be brought into a release position and in this with the working position receptacle (60) and / or the rest position receptacle (60R) out of engagement stands and releases the pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body (14), with the rotation blocking device (50) being assigned at least one deceleration unit (300, 400, 500), which acts at least when the working position (A) and/or the rest position (R) is reached The transition caused by the rotation blocking device (50) into the rotation blocking position is delayed in time.

2. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 1, wherein the at least one deceleration unit (300, 400, 500) acts on the rotation blocking device (50).

3. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the at least one delay unit (300, 400, 500) delays the transition of the rotation blocking unit (80) into the rotation blocking position.

4. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one deceleration unit (300, 400, 500) acts on one or more elements of the rotation blocking device (50).

5. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 2 to 4, wherein the at least one deceleration unit (300, 400, 500) acts directly on one of the elements of the rotation blocking device (50). 6. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one delay unit (300, 400, 500) delays movement of the rotation blocking body (54) into the rotation blocking position.

7. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one delay unit (300, 400, 500) delays the movement of the actuating body (52) into the rotation-blocking position.

8. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 7, wherein the at least one deceleration unit (300, 400) is effective between the guide body (44) and the actuating body (52).

9. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 7 or 8, wherein the at least one deceleration unit (300, 400 ', 400"') is arranged on the actuating body (52).

10. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 7 to 9, wherein the at least one deceleration unit (300, 400, 400") is arranged on the guide body (44).

11. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one deceleration unit (300, 400, 500) has a resilient element (312, 314, 322, 336, 406, 504).

12. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 7 to 11, wherein the resilient element (312, 314, 322, 336, 406) forms at least one friction surface (316, 318, 342) or acts on a friction body (326, 328, 338, 402). . 13. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 7 to 12, wherein the at least one deceleration unit (300) comprises a movement deceleration body (310) which is effective between a surface (302) of the actuating body (52) and a surface of the guide body (40) facing this .

14. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 13, wherein the movement delay body (310) has a different friction effect depending on the direction of movement.

15. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 7 to 12, wherein the at least one deceleration unit (400) is arranged in a defined position on the guide body (40) or the actuating body (52) and, starting from this, acts on the actuating body (52) or the guide body (40) acts.

16. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 15, wherein the deceleration unit (400) is provided with a friction body (402) acted upon by a resilient body (406), which acts on the actuating body (52) or the guide body (40).

17. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 15 or 16, wherein the deceleration unit (400, 400', 400", 400"') arranged on the guide body (40) or the actuating body (52) is connected to the friction body (402, 402', 402", 402'") acts on a friction surface (403, 403', 403", 403'") which is arranged on the actuating body (52) or the guide body (40).

18. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 17, wherein the friction surface (403, 403 ', 403", 403'") extends over an angular range around the axis of rotation (22) of the actuating body (52). 19. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 17 or 18, wherein the friction surface (403, 403', 403", 403"') extends from a deceleration start area (405, 405', 405", 405'") to a deceleration end area (407, 407 ', 407", 407'") extends.

20. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 17 to 19, wherein the friction surface (403, 403 ', 403 ", 403'") during a rotational movement of the actuating body (52) relative to the guide body (40) at a varying distance relative to a guide receptacle ( 404, 404', 404", 404'") of the delay unit (400, 400', 400", 400'") runs.

21. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 17 to 20, wherein when the friction body (402, 402', 402", 402'") acts on the deceleration end region (407, 407', 407", 407'"), the resilient body (406 ) acts on the friction body (402, 402', 402", 402'") with a greater force than when the friction body (402, 402'. 402", 402'") acts on the deceleration starting area (405, 405', 405 ",405'").

22. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 16, wherein the friction body (402, 402', 402", 402'") is applied on the circumference of the actuating body (52), in particular on a friction surface (403, 403', 403", 403'") arranged on the circumference. , works.

23. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 22, wherein the friction body (402) acts on a pressure surface (66) acting on a rotation blocking body (54) to act on the rotation blocking body (54).

24. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 22 or 23, wherein the friction body (402) acts on a peripheral region (71) of the actuating body (52) adjoining a pressure surface (66) for acting on a rotation blocking body (54). 25. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 15 to 21, wherein the friction body (402) acts on the front side of the actuating body (52), in particular on a friction surface (403 ') arranged on the front side of the same.

26. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 15 to 21, wherein the friction body (402) rests on a wall surface of a receptacle (102) provided in the guide body (40) for the actuating body (52), in particular on a friction surface arranged on the receptacle (102). 403", 403"'), works.

27. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one deceleration unit (500) acts on a rotation blocking body (54) when the working position (A) and / or the rest position (R) is reached and its movement in the working position recording (60A) or Rest position recording (60R) delayed.

28. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 20, wherein the deceleration unit (500) is assigned to at least the working position recording (60A) and / or the rest position recording (60R).

29. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 28, wherein the deceleration unit (500) counteracts an impact of the rotation blocking body (54) on a recording base (61A, 61R) of the working position recording (60A) and / or the rest position recording (60R).

30. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 29, wherein the deceleration unit (500) comprises a resilient element (504) which counteracts the movement of the rotation blocking body (54) in the direction of the respective receiving base (61) in a decelerating manner.

31. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 29, wherein the deceleration unit (500 ') comprises a fluid braking element (505) made of a shear-thickening fluid. 32. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 30 or 31, wherein the deceleration unit (500) is held and supported on a component (14) of the pivot bearing unit (20) that carries the receptacle (60A, 60R).

33. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 27 to 32, wherein the resilient element (504) has a decelerating effect via a delay body (502) on the rotation blocking body (54) entering the receptacle (60A, 60R).

34. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 27 to 33, wherein the deceleration unit (500) can be positioned in an adjustable manner relative to the receptacle (60A, 60R).

35. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 34, wherein the deceleration unit (500) has a guide body (506) which receives the resilient element (504) and optionally the deceleration body (502).

36. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 35, wherein the guide body (506) is held in an adjustable position on the component (14) carrying the receptacle (60A, 60R).

37. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein blocking surfaces (90) run between the working position receptacles (60A) and/or the rest position receptacles (60R), against which the rotation blocking bodies (54) can be placed and from which the working position receptacles (60A ) and/or the rest position receptacles (60R) extend so that the rotation blocking units (80) and the working position receptacles (60A) and/or the rest position receptacles (60R) are arranged around the pivot axis (22) at angular distances (W) from one another in such a way that in all intended pivot positions of the pivot bearing body (14), with the exception of the working position (A) and/or the rest position (R), at least one of the rotation blocking units (80) is opposite one of the blocking surfaces (90) and thus these blocking surfaces (90), in particular in one Applying force to the actuating body (52) in the direction of the actuating direction (72), a movement of the actuating body (52) in the actuating direction (72) and consequently also a force-applied engagement of the rotation blocking bodies (54) of each of the rotation blocking units (80) in one of the working position receptacles (60A ) or the rest position recordings (60R).

38. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the rotation blocking units (80) are arranged at angular distances (W) around the pivot axis (22) to form a rotation blocking configuration, so that the working position recordings (60A) and / or the rest position recordings (60R) are formed each a recording configuration for the working position (A) and / or the rest position (R) are arranged at the same angular distances (W) around the pivot axis (22) as the rotation blocking units (80), so that the rotation blocking configuration and the recording configuration of the working position recordings (60A) in the working position (A) or the rest position receptacles (60R) are congruent with one another in the rest position (R), so that the rotation blocking bodies (54) can engage in the working position receptacles (60A) or rest position receptacles (60R), and that the angular distances (W) between the rotation blocking units (80) of the rotation blocking configuration and the angular distances between the working position holders (60) and the rest position holders (60R) of the holder configurations are selected so that the rotation blocking configuration and one of the holder configurations only in the working position (A) and/or the rest position (R). are congruent with each other.

39. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the angular distances (W) of at least one of the rotation blocking units (80) to the rotation blocking units (80) arranged adjacent in a direction of rotation around the pivot axis (22) and to the rotation blocking units (80) arranged opposite to this direction of rotation are unequal, that In the working position (A), the working position receptacles (60A) are arranged in such a way that the rotation blocking body (54) of each of the rotation blocking units (80) is connected to one of the Working position receptacles (60A) can be brought into engagement, and/or that in the rest position (R), the rest position receptacles (60R) are arranged in such a way that the rotation blocking body (54) of each of the rotation blocking units (80) engages with one of the rest position receptacles (60R). can be brought, and that in all pivot positions of the pivot body (14) intended for operation, which are outside the working position (A) or the rest position (R), the rotation blocking body (54) of at least one of the rotation blocking units (80) is between the working position recordings ( 60A) and/or the blocking surface (90) running opposite the rest position receptacles (60R), and the blocking surface (90), in particular when force is applied to the actuating body (52), blocks a movement of the actuating body (52) from the release position into the rotation-blocking position.

40. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 37 to 39, wherein the blocking surfaces (90) face the rotation blocking bodies (54) of the rotation blocking units (80).

41. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 37 to 40, wherein the blocking surfaces (90) extend in a defined radius around the pivot axis (22).

42. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 37 to 41, wherein the blocking surfaces (90) extend up to the opening edges (92) of the working position receptacles (60A) and / or the rest position receptacle (60R) and merge into them.

43. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 42, wherein the opening edges (92) of the working position receptacles (60A) and/or the rest position receptacle (60R) are at the same radial distance from the pivot axis (22) as the blocking surfaces (90).

44. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 37 to 43, wherein at least one of the rotation blocking bodies (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) During a pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body (14) in the direction of the working position (A), it rests against one of the blocking surfaces (90), in particular under the influence of force due to the action of the actuating body (52).

45. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 37 to 44, wherein the rotation blocking bodies (54) rest against the blocking surfaces (90) under force before reaching the working position (A) and then rest against the opening edges (92) of the working position receptacles (60A) under force in the working position receptacles ( 60A).

46. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 37 to 45, wherein the working position receptacles (60A) extend from the blocking surfaces (90) in the guide direction (58), in particular with at least one component in the radial direction to the pivot axis (22).

47. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 37 to 46, wherein at least one of the rotation blocking bodies (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) rests on one of the blocking surfaces (90) during a pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body (14) in the direction of the rest position (R), in particular through the action of the actuating body (52) is subject to force.

48. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 37 to 47, wherein the rotation blocking bodies (54) rest against the blocking surfaces (90) under force before reaching the rest position (R) and then rest against the opening edges (92) of the rest position receptacles (60R) under force in the rest position receptacles ( 60R).

49. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 37 to 48, wherein the rest position receptacles (60R) extend from the blocking surfaces (90) in the guide direction (58), in particular with at least one component in the radial direction to the pivot axis (22). 50. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 37 to 49, wherein the working position receptacles (60A), the rest position receptacles (60R) and the blocking surfaces (90) are arranged facing the guide sleeve (40).

51. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the guide body (40) is part of the pivot bearing unit (20) which is fixed to the vehicle.

52. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein all guide receptacles (56) for the rotation blocking bodies (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) are arranged in the guide body (40).

53. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the guide direction (58) runs with at least one component in the radial direction to the pivot axis (22).

54. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the guide body (40) has a guide sleeve (44) with guide receptacles (56) for the rotation blocking bodies (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) and in particular the rotation blocking bodies (54) through which in radial Direction to the guide body (40) adjoining the pivot bearing body (14).

55. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the guide body (40) has a pivot bearing for the pivot bearing body (14).

56. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the actuating body (52) is movably guided relative to the guide body (40). 57. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the actuating body (52) is arranged rotatably about the pivot axis (22) and in particular wedge surfaces (66) extending over an angular range around the pivot axis (22) and varying in a direction parallel to the guide direction (58). ) preferably combined with retraction recordings (62).

58. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the receptacles (60) and the blocking surfaces (90) are arranged on the pivot bearing body (14).

59. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the actuating body (52) is enclosed by the guide body (40) and in particular the pivot bearing body (14) surrounds the guide body (40).

60. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the rotation blocking bodies (54) are arranged around the actuating body (52).

61. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the pivot bearing body (14) forms an outer body which encloses the pivot bearing unit (20) on the outside and which is arranged immovably relative to the pivot bearing unit (20) in the direction of the pivot axis (22), and in particular the pivot bearing body (14) forms an outer body which externally encloses at least a portion of the rotation blocking unit (50), which is arranged non-displaceably relative to the guide body (40) in the direction of the pivot axis (22).

62. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the actuating body (52) is acted upon by an elastic force accumulator (114) in the direction of its rotation-blocking position. 63. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the actuating body (52) can be moved from the rotation-blocking position into the release position by an actuating device (180).

64. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 62 or 63, wherein the actuating body (52) can be moved by the actuating device (180) against the action by the energy accumulator (114).

65. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 62 to 64, wherein the actuating body (52) can be rotated with the actuating device (180) in the opposite direction to the actuating direction (72) caused by the elastic force accumulator (114).

66. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the actuating device (180) has an output element (142) which is coupled to the actuating body (52).

67. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 66, wherein the output element (142) and the actuating body (52) are coupled to one another via a driving coupling device (156, 158).

68. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 67, wherein the driving coupling device (156, 158) has a driving-free release state and a driving state.

69. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the actuating device (180) for the rotation blocking device (50) comprises a motor drive unit.

Further features and advantages of the solution according to the invention are the subject of the following description and the graphic representation of an exemplary embodiment. Show in the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a rear view of a motor vehicle with a trailer coupling according to the invention;

2 shows a top view of a trailer coupling according to the invention, looking in the direction of travel of the trailer coupling mounted on the rear of a vehicle, with the trailer coupling in its working position;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the trailer coupling in Fig. 2 in the direction of the pivot axis;

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 of the trailer coupling in the rest position;

5 shows a top view of the trailer coupling according to the trailer coupling according to FIG. 4, which is in the rest position, in the direction of the pivot axis;

Fig. 6 shows a section along line 6-6 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 shows a section along line 7-7 in Fig. 6 in the working position with rotation blocking by rotation blocking bodies standing in a rotation blocking position;

8 is a representation of a section similar to FIG. 7 in the release position with the actuating body twisted into a release position and the rotation blocking bodies standing in the release position;

Fig. 9 is a representation similar to Fig. 8 with the pivot bearing body slightly pivoted out of the working position, with the actuating body blocked under the action of the torsion spring; 10 is a representation similar to FIG. 8 with the pivot bearing body rotated further in the direction of the rest position, but in the release position;

Fig. 11 is a representation similar to Fig. 10 with the pivot bearing body rotated further in the direction of the rest position;

Fig. 12 is a representation similar to Fig. 11 with the pivot bearing body rotated further in the direction of the rest position;

Fig. 13 is a representation similar to Fig. 7 in the rest position;

Fig. 14 is a representation similar to Fig. 8 in the rest position;

Fig. 15 shows a section along line 15-15 in Fig. 6 without support plate and retaining ring;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a ring gear and a drive sleeve cooperating with it;

17 is an exploded perspective view of the pivot bearing body with the cover;

18 shows an enlarged section according to FIG. 6 in the working position;

Fig. 19 is an enlarged section similar to Fig. 18 in the rest position;

20 is a schematic representation similar to FIG. 6 of a first exemplary embodiment of a trailer coupling according to the invention with a first exemplary embodiment of a deceleration unit; 21 shows an enlarged detail view in the area of the deceleration unit of the first exemplary embodiment of the trailer coupling according to the invention;

22 shows an enlarged view of a cross section through a delay ring of the first exemplary embodiment of the delay unit according to the invention;

23 shows an enlarged view of a first variant of the delay unit according to the first exemplary embodiment;

24 is a perspective view of a second variant of the delay unit according to the first exemplary embodiment;

25 shows a representation of the actuating body in cooperation with a rotation delay ring of the second variant of the delay unit according to the first exemplary embodiment;

Fig. 26 is a perspective view of the rotation delay ring according to Figs. 24 and 25;

27 is a representation similar to FIG. 8 of a second exemplary embodiment of a trailer coupling according to the invention with a second exemplary embodiment of a deceleration unit according to the invention when the rotation blocking bodies begin to move in the direction of the working position recordings;

28 shows a representation of the second exemplary embodiment of the trailer coupling according to the invention when the rotation blocking bodies are acted upon by an initial region of pressure surfaces of the actuating body; 29 shows a representation of the second exemplary embodiment of the trailer coupling according to the invention according to FIG. 28 with rotation blocking bodies completely immersed in the working position receptacles;

30 shows a representation of a first variant of the second exemplary embodiment similar to FIG. 7,'

Fig. 31 shows a representation of the first variant of the second exemplary embodiment similar to Fig. 28;

Fig. 32 shows a representation of the first variant of the second exemplary embodiment similar to Fig. 29;

33 shows a representation of a second variant of the second exemplary embodiment;

Fig. 34 is an enlarged view of the delay unit of the second variant;

Fig. 35 is a representation similar to Fig. 34 of a modification of the second variant;

36 shows a top view of the actuating body with the friction surface and indicated friction body in the deceleration starting position in the second variant of the second exemplary embodiment;

Fig. 37 shows a section along line 37-37 in Fig. 36;

38 shows a top view of the actuating body with the friction surface and indicated friction body in the deceleration end position in the second variant of the second exemplary embodiment;

Fig. 39 shows a section along line 39-39 in Fig. 38; 40 shows a representation of a third variant of the second exemplary embodiment;

Fig. 41 is a representation similar to Fig. 39 of the third variant of the second exemplary embodiment in the deceleration end position;

42 is a representation similar to FIG. 8 of a third exemplary embodiment of a trailer coupling according to the invention with a third exemplary embodiment of a deceleration unit according to the invention when the rotation blocking bodies begin to move in the direction of the working position recordings;

43 shows a representation of the third exemplary embodiment of the trailer coupling according to the invention with the third exemplary embodiment of the deceleration unit with the rotation blocking bodies completely immersed in the working position holders,

Fig. 44 is a representation similar to Fig. 42 of a first variant of the third exemplary embodiment and

Fig. 45 is a representation similar to Fig. 43 of the first variant of the third exemplary embodiment.

A trailer coupling AK for a motor vehicle, shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 in a working position A and in FIGS. 4 and 5 in a rest position R, comprises a ball neck, designated as a whole by 10, which has a first end 12 on a pivot bearing body 14 is held and carries at a second end 16 a coupling ball designated as a whole 18, on which a coupling ball receptacle of a trailer can be fixed. The pivot bearing body 14 is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis 22 relative to a carrier 24 fixed to the vehicle by a pivot bearing unit designated as a whole 20, the support 24 preferably having a support plate 26 holding the pivot bearing unit 20, which preferably extends in a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis 22 , and has a vehicle-mounted cross member 28, which can be fastened in a known manner to a rear area H of a vehicle body F, in such a way that the pivot bearing unit 20 and the carrier 24 lie on a side of a lower edge 30 of a bumper unit 36 facing away from a road surface FO, and through the bumper unit 36 is covered (Fig. 3).

1 and 2, the ball neck 10 engages under the lower edge 30 of the bumper unit 36 with a section 32 adjoining the first end 12, so that the second end 16 and the coupling ball 18 together with a socket receptacle 34 are on one of the vehicle body F facing away from the side of the rear bumper unit 36, while in the rest position both the pivot bearing unit 20 and the entire ball neck 10 together with the coupling ball 18 are covered by the rear bumper unit 36 from view from behind.

6 to 9, the pivot bearing unit 20 comprises, as shown in FIGS Pivot bearing body 14 is rotatably mounted.

For this purpose, the guide sleeve 44 comprises a cylindrical outer surface 46, on which the pivot bearing body 14 rests with a cylindrical inner surface 48 and thereby undergoes rotational guidance about the axis 22 about the pivot axis 22, so that the pivot bearing body 14 is rotatable relative to the guide body 40 in such a way that the Ball neck 10 can be pivoted from the working position A to the rest position R and vice versa. The guide body 40 also includes an extension 41 which extends through an opening 27 in the support plate 26 and which has a receptacle following the extension 41 on a side opposite the flange 42

43 carries for a retaining ring 45 that can be fixed to this, so that the guide body 40 sits in a rotationally fixed manner in the support plate 26 through the extension 41 due to its not rotationally symmetrical but with a radially varying outer contour 47 (FIG. 15) in the correspondingly shaped opening 27 by positive locking and is fixed to the support plate 26 by the flange 45 and the retaining ring 43, which rest on opposite sides of the support plate 26.

The guide body 40 thus forms the vehicle-mounted pivot bearing for the pivot bearing body 14 through its firm connection to the support plate 26 and the carrier 24.

To fix the pivot bearing body 14 in the working position A, the pivot bearing unit 20 is provided with a rotation blocking device (FIGS. 7 to 14), designated as a whole by 50, which has an actuating body 52, a plurality of rotation blocking bodies 54 which can be acted upon by the actuating body 52, each of which is in a guide receptacle 56 the guide sleeve

44 are movably guided in a guide direction 58 that runs essentially radially to the pivot axis 22.

Preferably, at least the rotation blocking bodies 54 and the guide receptacles 56 are arranged symmetrically to a geometric plane running perpendicular to the pivot axis 22 and intersecting the rotation blocking bodies 54, which corresponds to the plane of the drawing in FIGS. 7 to 14.

Furthermore, the rotation blocking device 50 comprises, starting from the inner surface 48 of the pivot bearing body 14, in particular in the radial direction to the pivot axis 22, working position receptacles 60A, with which the rotation blocking bodies 54 can be brought into engagement in the working position A, the working position receptacles 60A in the radial direction Wall surfaces that are increasingly spaced apart from one another in relation to the pivot axis 22.

In addition, the rotation blocking device 50 includes, in addition to or as an alternative to the working position receptacles 60A, rest position receptacles 60R, which in the simplest case are designed in the same way as the working position receptacles 60A.

If, for example, the rotation blocking device 50, as shown in connection with FIGS , in which the rotation blocking bodies 54a, 54b and 54c are slidably guided in the guide direction 58 running essentially radially to the pivot axis 22, and the pivot bearing body 14 is provided with a set of working position receptacles 60Aa, 60Ab and 60Ac, with which the rotation blocking bodies 54a, 54b and 54c can be brought into engagement in the working position A (FIG. 7), and/or provided with a set of rest position receptacles 60Ra, 60Rb, 60Rc, with which the rotation blocking bodies 52 can be brought into engagement in the rest position R (FIG. 13).

For suitable movement and positioning of the rotation blocking bodies 54 in the guide direction 58, the actuating body 52 is provided with a set corresponding to the number of rotation blocking bodies 54, for example a total of three, retraction receptacles 62a, 62b and 62c and is located in a circumferential direction 64 on the respective retraction receptacles 62a, 62b, 62c adjoining pressure surfaces 66a, 66b and 66c, which are designed as wedge surfaces acting radially to the pivot axis 22, the rotation blocking bodies 54 in their release position being able to immerse themselves in the retraction receptacles 62a, 62b, 62c (FIG. 8) to such an extent that they can no longer protrude beyond the outer lateral surface 46 of the guide sleeve 44, and the pressure surfaces 66a, 66b, 66c each extend from a radially inner initial region 68a, 68b and 68c which immediately adjoins the respective retraction receptacles 62 As the extension in the circumferential direction 64 increases, they increasingly extend radially outwards relative to the pivot axis 22, up to a respective radially outer end region 70a, 70b and 70c and thus act as wedge surfaces on the rotation blocking bodies 54 when the actuating body 52 rotates in order to move them into their rotation blocking position .

The pressure surfaces 66 preferably run as spiral or involute segments relative to the pivot axis 22.

In order to either hold the rotation blocking body 54 in its rotation blocking position by applying the pressure surfaces 66 between the initial region 68 and the end region 70 to it or allow it to be immersed in the retraction receptacles 62 in the release position, the actuating body 52 is also about the pivot axis 22, in particular coaxially this, rotatable, in such a way that either the set of retraction receptacles 62a, 62b and 62c faces the rotation blocking bodies 54 and, as shown in FIG to immerse the retraction receptacles 62 in the radial direction towards the pivot axis 22 in order to give the respective rotation blocking bodies 54 the opportunity to leave the working position receptacles 60A or the rest position receptacles 60R and to release the pivot bearing body 14 with respect to rotation about the pivot axis 22 relative to the guide body 40, so that the pivot bearing body 14 with the ball neck 10 can be rotated unhindered and freely relative to the guide sleeve 44, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 14, in which case the rotation blocking bodies 54 do not extend beyond the outer surface 46 of the guide sleeve 44.

A rotation of the actuating body 52 with the rotation blocking bodies 54 seated in the retraction receptacles 62 in a direction of rotation 72 opposite to the direction of rotation 64 causes the rotation blocking bodies 54 to be moved out of the retraction receptacles 62 and initially in the active position or rotation blocking position of the actuating body 52 on the Initial areas 68 of the pressure surfaces 66 sit on, but are already immersed in the receptacles 60, for example, and thus prevent the free rotation of the pivot bearing body 14 relative to the guide body 40 in their rotation-blocking position.

If the actuating body 52 is rotated further in the direction of rotation 72 opposite to the direction of rotation 64, areas of the pressure surfaces 66 lying radially opposite the pivot axis 22 continue to act on the rotation blocking bodies 54 and thus increasingly press the rotation blocking bodies 54 in the working position A or the rest position R of the ball neck 10 into the working position receptacles 60Aa, 60Ab and 60Ac, FIG. 7, or into the rest position receptacles 60Ra, 60Rb and 60Rc, FIG 44, to reach.

In the rotation blocking position of the rotation blocking bodies 54, the actuating body 52 is in its active position such that the rotation blocking bodies 54, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 13, lie approximately on central regions 76, which lie between the initial regions 68 and the end regions 70, of the pressure surfaces 66 sit on and are acted upon by them.

In order to give the actuating body 52 the possibility of optimally acting on each of the three rotation blocking bodies 54, it is provided that in the active position the actuating body 52 is centered in accordance with the position of the rotation blocking bodies 54. In particular, the actuating body 52 is mounted in the guide sleeve 44 in such a way that the actuating body 52 can self-center due to the radial play relative to the position of the rotation blocking bodies 54 within the guide body 40 caused by manufacturing tolerances, the self-centering of the actuating body 52 being slightly different from a coaxial arrangement can deviate from the geometric pivot axis 22. Due to the self-centering, the rotation blocking bodies 54a, 54b and 54c act in the respective guide direction 58a, 58b and 58c with approximately the same forces on the working position receptacles 60Aa, 60Ab and 60Ac or the rest position receptacles 60Ra, 60Rb and 60Rc, so that they also act on the actuating body 52 acting reaction forces are approximately the same size.

The rotation blocking bodies 54 are preferably designed as balls, which therefore rest against the actuating body 52 on the one hand and also against the receptacles 60 on the other.

This means that the actuating body 52 is only supported rotatably with play relative to the pivot axis 22, which is primarily relevant when the actuating body 52 holds the rotation blocking bodies 54 in a release position in which the rotation blocking bodies 54 are immersed in the retraction receptacles 62 of the actuating body 52.

In order to cause the actuating body 52 to always move in the direction of rotation 72 without external influence, with the rotation blocking bodies 54 moving in the direction of the rotation blocking position, the actuating body 52 is acted upon by a torsion spring 114 (FIG. 6), which on the one hand Actuating body 52 acts and on the other hand is supported radially on the outside on the guide body 40.

The torsion spring 114 also causes the actuating body 52 to force the rotation blocking bodies 54 into the working position receptacles 60A or the rest position receptacles 60R and thus the pivot bearing body 14 is fixed without play, with the freedom from play even when the geometry of the working position receptacles 60A or the changes due to the loads during operation Rest position recordings 60R are maintained by further rotating the actuating body 52 in the direction of rotation 72. The three guide receptacles 56, for example, and the rotation blocking bodies 54 arranged in them, as well as the retraction receptacles 62 assigned to these rotation blocking bodies 54 with the pressure surfaces 66 adjoining them in the actuating body 52 each form three rotation blocking units 80 and these are at unequal angular distances Wab around the pivot axis 22 , Wbc, Wca (based on the respective central axes Ma, Mb, Mc) arranged relative to one another, whereby, based on the pivot axis 22 as the axis of rotation, a rotation-blocking configuration of the rotation-blocking units 80 only results in a rotation-blocking configuration of the rotation-blocking units 80 when the rotation-blocking configuration is rotated by 360 ° to a congruent arrangement of the rotation-blocking units 80 leads.

For example, the angular distance Wab = 120°, the angular distance Wbc = 137° and the angular distance Wca = 103°, which means that the deviation from equal angular distances is 17°.

With three rotation blocking units, for example, there are also deviations from equal angular distances of up to 30° or more, so that, for example, angular distances of Wab = 120°, Wbc = 150° and Wca = 90° are possible.

Likewise, the working position receptacles 60A and/or the rest position receptacles 60R are each arranged relative to one another in relation to the pivot axis 22 in a receptacle configuration with the same angular distances as the rotation blocking units 80 relative to one another, which also only become one in relation to the pivot axis 22 when rotated through 360° lead to a congruent arrangement of the respective recording configuration, so that in the working position A or the rest position R it is congruent with the rotation blocking configuration, so that in the working position A or the rest position R, in each case a rotation blocking body 54 of one of the rotation blocking units 80 of one of the working position recordings 60A or one of the Rest position receptacles 60R are opposite and engage with them in the rotation blocking position can come, as shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 13, whereby the pivot bearing body 14 is fixed in a rotationally fixed manner relative to the pivot bearing unit 20 (Fig. 7, Fig. 13).

However, if the actuating body 52 is moved into the release position in the working position A or the rest position R against the force of the torsion spring 114, as described below, each of the rotation blocking bodies 54 of the respective rotation blocking unit 80 has the opportunity to immerse itself in the retraction receptacle 62 assigned to it, and the to leave the respective working position receptacle 60A or rest position receptacle R, so that the pivot bearing body 14 can be pivoted out about the pivot axis 22 to the working position A or the rest position R (Fig. 8, Fig. 14).

As soon as the pivot bearing body 14 has left the working position A and/or the rest position R (FIG. 9), the totality of the rotation blocking units 80 arranged relative to the pivot axis 22 in the rotation blocking configuration no longer has the rotation blocking units 80 in all pivot positions between the working position A and/or the rest position R Possibility of engaging with the entirety of the working position receptacles 60A and/or rest position receptacles 60R arranged in the respective receptacle configuration, so that when the actuating body 54 is acted upon in the direction of rotation 72, the entirety of the rotation blocking bodies 54 sitting in the retraction receptacles 62 are no longer can intervene in the entirety of the working position receptacles 60A and / or the rest position receptacles 60R, since the rotation blocking bodies 54 are in the direction of the actuating body 52 acted upon by the torsion spring 114 in the direction of rotation 72, in particular through the curved base surfaces of the retraction receptacles 62, which run obliquely to the guide direction 58 of the pivot bearing body 14 can be acted upon, but in each of the rotational positions of the pivot bearing body 14 lying outside the working position A, there is never a receptacle from the entirety of the working position receptacles 60A and / or the rest position receptacles 60R opposite the entirety of the rotation blocking bodies 54 and thus always at least one of the rotation blocking bodies 54 through one of blocking surfaces 90 running between the working position receptacles 60A and/or rest position receptacles 60R, in the simplest case formed by the cylindrical inner surface 48 of the pivot bearing body 14, is blocked and thereby prevents rotation of the actuating body 52 in the direction of rotation 72 caused by the torsion spring 114, so that the actuating body 52 is held in the release position even when the torsion spring 114 acts in the direction of rotation 72 in all pivot positions of the pivot bearing body 14 outside the working position A and / or the rest position R and consequently only changes to the rotation-blocking position again when the working position A is reached can.

Preferably, the deviation of the rotation blocking configuration of the rotation blocking unit 80 and the receiving configuration of the recordings 60 from a symmetrical design is so large that when one of the rotation blocking units 80 is opposite one of the working position recordings 60A or the rest position recordings 60R, so that the rotation blocking body 54 with this working position recording 60A and / or the rest position receptacle 60R could come into engagement, at least one, even better at least two, rotation blocking units 80 are offset relative to the nearest receptacle of the working position receptacle 60A and/or the rest position receptacle 60R in the direction of rotation to such an extent that a contact point of the rotation blocking body 54 assigned to this rotation blocking unit 80 is already lies on one of the blocking surfaces 90 and cannot come to rest in the area of one of the receptacles 60, so that a reliable blocking of the actuating body 52, especially when the actuating body 52 is acted upon by the torsion spring 114 in the direction of rotation 72, is achieved by the in the Release position effective blocking surfaces 90 is guaranteed.

If the actuating body 52 is acted upon with a direction of rotation 64 opposite to the action of the torsion spring 114 and this is rotated to the maximum, the rotation blocking bodies 54 lie in all pivot positions of the pivot bearing body 14 with play between the respective blocking surface 90 and the retraction receptacles 62. However, if the effect of the torsion spring 114 dominates in the direction of rotation 72, conditions as shown in FIGS. 9 to 12 also exist when pivoting between the working position A and/or the rest position R in the respective pivot positions of the pivot bearing body 14.

9 to 12 show that the actuating body 52 is held in the release position in each of the pivot positions of the pivot bearing body 14 by at least one, preferably two, rotation blocking bodies 54, which rest on one of the blocking surfaces 90, and prevent one of the rotation blocking bodies 54, for example the rotation blocking body 54b in FIG. 10 or the rotation blocking body 54a in FIG. 11, cannot engage in the receptacle 60 that is aligned with it.

In any case, the conditions according to FIGS. 7 to 14 exist when pivoting between the rest position R and/or the working position A, with the rotation blocking bodies 54 resting against the blocking surfaces 90 according to FIGS. 9 to 12 when pivoting between the rest position R and In the working position A, the rotation blocking bodies 54 slide along the blocking surfaces 90 with little noise and slide from the blocking surfaces 90 above them directly and in particular continuously to the opening edges 92 of the working position receptacles 60A and/or the rest position receptacles 60A and/or the rest position receptacles 60R into the working position receptacles 60A and/or the rest position receptacles 60R and move into the rotation blocking position according to FIG. 7 or FIG. 13.

The guide sleeve 44 preferably extends with a section forming a receptacle 102 for the actuating body 52 between the flange 42 and a flange 104 which closes the guide sleeve 44 and extends radially towards the pivot axis 22, which is preferably integrally formed on the guide sleeve 44 and the receptacle 102 for the actuating body 52, so that the actuating body 52 is guided radially to the pivot axis 22 through the receptacle 102 of the guide sleeve 44 and is guided axially in the direction of the pivot axis 22 by resting on an inside 108 of the flange 104.

The flange 104 also has a receptacle 106 coaxial with the pivot axis 22, in which an insert 110 penetrated by a shaft 100 is inserted, in particular screwed in, which sits in the receptacle 106 and guides the shaft 100 rotatably relative to the guide sleeve 44.

On a side of the receptacle 102 for the actuating body 52 opposite the flange 104, the guide sleeve 44 forms, for example with a section passing through the flange 42, a torsion spring receptacle 112, in which the torsion spring 114 is arranged following the actuation body 52, which on the one hand has a outer end is fixed in the torsion spring receptacle 112 and is connected to an inner end with a drive sleeve 122, which is coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the actuating body 52.

For this purpose, the drive sleeve 122, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 16, is provided, for example, with extensions 124 which engage in corresponding recesses 126 in the actuating body 52 to produce a positive connection.

Because the torsion spring 114 acts on the drive sleeve 122, which is coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the actuating body 52, the action of the torsion spring 114 on the drive sleeve 122 drives the actuating body 52 in the direction of rotation 72, so that the actuating body 52 is unhindered the torsion spring 114 on the drive sleeve 122 always acts on the actuating body 52 in the direction of rotation 72, so that it has the tendency to move the rotation blocking body 54 in the guide direction 58 radially outwards away from the pivot axis 22, this movement being caused by the blocking surfaces 90 in all intended pivot positions of the pivot bearing body 14, with the exception of the working position A and the rest position R, is prevented and consequently only in the working position A and the rest position R the rotation blocking bodies 54 are pressed into the working position receptacles A and the rest position receptacles R and thus the pivot bearing body 14 is fixed relative to the guide sleeve 44 in a rotationally fixed manner and in particular without play.

In order to be able to move the rotation blocking body 54 into the release position, an action on the actuating body 52 opposite to the direction of rotation 72 and therefore also opposite to the action of the torsion spring 114 is required.

For this purpose, the drive sleeve 122 can be driven by means of a planetary gear 130, designated as a whole by 130 (FIG. 6), which is arranged in a gear receptacle 132 of the guide sleeve 44, in particular coaxially with the pivot axis 22, which, for example, is partially arranged within the opening 27 of the carrier plate 26 is and preferably extends away from the opening 27 of the carrier plate 26 on a side opposite the flange 42.

The planetary gear 130 (FIG. 15) in turn comprises a ring gear 142, which is guided in the gear receptacle 132 and is provided with internal teeth 144, with which planet gears 146 engage with their external teeth 148.

The planet gears 146 are rotatably held on a planet gear carrier 152, which in turn is connected to the standing shaft 100 in a rotationally fixed manner.

Furthermore - as shown in Fig. 16 - the ring gear 142 includes a flange body 154 lying between the planet gear carrier 152 and the torsion spring 114, which also extends in the direction of the shaft 100, encloses it, but is rotatable relative to it and an output of the planetary gear 130 for actuating the rotation blocking device 50 forms. As shown in Fig. 16, the flange body 154 has circular arc-shaped drive slots 156a, 156b arranged circumferentially around the pivot axis 22, which interact with drive fingers 158a, 158b of the drive sleeve 122 engaging in them, and which, however, are designed in such a way that the difference between the angular range around the pivot axis 22 over which the drive slots 156 extend, and the angular range around the pivot axis 22 over which the drive fingers 158 extend, a clearance of the drive sleeve 122 relative to the ring gear 142 is possible, which will be explained in detail below .

The planet gears 146 are also in engagement with their external teeth 148 with an external toothing 164 of a sun gear 162 of the planetary gear 130, which sits on a drive shaft designated as a whole by 166, which is arranged coaxially to the pivot axis 22 and, for example, by means of an end shaft stub 168, which is in a front bore 172 of the standing shaft 100 engages, is freely rotatable relative to the pivot drive shaft 100, but is mounted coaxially therewith.

The drive shaft 166 carries, at a distance from the planetary gear 130, a drive gear 174, for example a bevel gear, which is driven by an output gear of a motor drive unit 182, which comprises, for example, on the one hand a drive motor, preferably an electric motor, and on the other hand a reduction gear for driving the drive gear.

The drive unit 182 is held, for example, on a cover body 184, which, starting from the carrier plate 126, engages over the drive shaft 166 with the drive gear 174 and the output gear meshing with it and also supports the drive shaft 166 on a side facing away from the shaft stub 168.

The planetary gear 130 and the drive unit 182 thus form, for example, an actuating device 180 for the rotation blocking device 50. The standing shaft 100, which is coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the planet gear carrier 152, is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the flange 104 of the guide body 40.

An end flange 198 of the pivot bearing body 14 engages over the flange 104 of the guide body 40 in the outer region 200 and extends to a guide shoulder 202 of the flange 104, the end flange 198 having, for example, a radially inner cylinder surface 204, an outer cylinder surface 206 of the guide shoulder 202 encompasses and, for example, rests against it and is therefore also additionally guided on the guide projection 202 coaxially to the pivot axis 22.

In addition, a thread 212 extends in the receptacle 106 of the guide extension 202, in which the insert 110 is fixed, in particular screwed, which partially overlaps the end flange 198 with an outer flange 214 in a radially inner region, so that the end flange 198 of the pivot bearing body 14 is guided axially immovably between the flange 104 and the outer flange 214 of the insert 110 and thus axially immovably relative to the guide body 40.

A cover 222 is also mounted on the end flange 198 in a rotationally fixed manner, so that the cover 222 forms a unit with the pivot bearing body 14, which is rotatable about the pivot axis 22 (FIG. 17).

The cover 222 sits on the end flange 198 and is fixed on it in a rotationally fixed manner.

In the solution described above, a set of working position holders 60A are provided for the rotationally fixed fixing of the pivot bearing body 14 in the working position A, as well as a set of rest position holders 60R for the non-rotatable fixing of the pivot bearing body 14 in the rest position R. In order to reduce the noise development in a trailer coupling with a rotation locking device 50, as described above, when the rotation locking bodies 54 transition from the release position to the rotation locking position while moving in the guide direction 58, a first exemplary embodiment of a trailer coupling according to the invention, as shown in FIG. a first exemplary embodiment of a trailer coupling according to the invention presents a delay unit 300, which is designed so that it delays a movement of the actuating body 52 in the direction of rotation 72, in particular when the initial regions 68 of the pressure surfaces 66 already begin to act on the rotation blocking bodies 54 to reduce the speed at which the rotation blocking bodies 54 are moved in the direction of the working position receptacles 60A or the rest position receptacles 60R.

For this purpose, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, in the first exemplary embodiment it is provided that the actuating body 52 is provided with an annular extension 302 which extends in the direction of the flange 104 and which fits into an annular groove 304 provided in the flange 104 of the guide body 40 intervenes, the annular extension 302 and the annular groove 304 having annular surfaces 306 and 308 which face one another and are arranged coaxially with respect to the pivot axis 22, between which a rotation delay ring 310 is arranged, which serves to delay the rotational movement of the actuating body 52 in order to increase the speed which the rotation blocking bodies 54 move in the guide direction 58 into the working position receptacles 60A or the rest position receptacles 60R.

For example, as shown in FIG Middle legs 322 are connected to one another, the pressure legs 312, 314 and the middle leg 322 being formed from an elastic material, which ensures that the pressure legs 312 and 314 with their outer sides 316 and 318 are subjected to a preload in a spring-elastic manner in the direction of the annular surface 306 or 308 in order to achieve, in the simplest case, a sufficiently large friction between the outer side 316 and the annular surface 306 or the outer side 318 and the annular surface 308, which corresponds to that of the torsion spring 114 counteracts the torque exerted on the rotation blocking body 152 and acts in the direction of rotation 72 and thus delays the rotational speed of the rotational movement of the actuating body 52 in the direction of rotation 72.

In a variant of this solution, it is also possible to firmly arrange one of the outer sides 316 or 318 on the respective annular surface 306 or 308 and only allow the other outer side 318 or 316 to have a rubbing effect on the respective annular surface 308 or 306.

Preferably, the outer sides 316 and 318 can be provided with coatings 326 and 328 forming friction surfaces 332, 334, by selecting which the deceleration of the rotational movement in the direction of rotation 72 can be specified.

It is particularly advantageous if the friction surfaces 332, 334 of the coatings 326 and 328 are designed such that they develop an increased frictional effect during a rotational movement in the direction of rotation 72 and a reduced frictional effect in a direction of rotation opposite to the direction of rotation 72, around the transition of the actuating body 52 from the rotation blocking position to the release position.

In a first variant of the first exemplary embodiment of a deceleration unit according to the invention, shown in Fig. 23, the deceleration unit 300 'is provided with a rotation deceleration ring 310', which has a support body 336 which rests on the annular surface 306, for example in a rotationally fixed manner, and one which rests on the annular surface 308 Friction body 338, wherein, for example, the support body 336 is designed to be radially elastic and presses the friction body 338 against the annular surface 308 and also preferably rests on the annular surface 306 with a large frictional force, while the Friction body 338 rests on the annular surface 308 and can be moved relative to the annular surface 308 with a predeterminable coefficient of friction.

In a second variant of the first exemplary embodiment of the deceleration unit 300" according to the invention, shown in FIGS. 24 to 26, the rotation deceleration ring 310", which is effective between the annular surface 306 and the annular surface 308, consists of a base body 342 made of elastic material with a desired Friction coefficients are formed and has support bodies 344 arranged in the circumferential direction at a distance from one another in the base body 342, which are aligned obliquely relative to radial directions 346 to the pivot axis in order to ensure that the base body 342 with its outer sides 316 'during a rotational movement in the direction of rotation 72 ' or 318" rests with greater force against the annular surfaces 306 and 308 and thus generates a greater frictional force than during a rotational movement opposite to the direction of rotation 72.

As a result, the friction effect during a rotational movement of the actuating body 52 in the direction of rotation 72, i.e. when moving the rotation blocking bodies 54 into the working position or rest position receptacles 60, is greater than during a rotational movement opposite to the direction of rotation 72, i.e. when releasing the rotation blocking and transitioning into the release position.

Alternatively or additionally, a second exemplary embodiment of a trailer coupling according to the invention provides a second exemplary embodiment of a deceleration unit 400, which is arranged in the section of the guide sleeve 44 of the guide body 40 surrounding the actuating body 52 and with a peripheral side of the actuating body 52, in particular with a pressure surface 66 and / or with a peripheral region 71 adjoining one of the pressure surfaces 66, the deceleration unit 400 comprising a friction body 402, which is arranged in a guide sleeve 404, for example forming a guide receptacle, and by a spring-elastic body 406, which is also seated in the guide sleeve 404, for example formed by a coil spring or a Plate spring package, can be acted upon in the direction of the actuating body 52, the friction body 402 being arranged in such a way that, as shown in FIG. 28, it becomes effective when the initial region 68 of the respective pressure surface 66 begins to act on the respective rotation blocking body 54 (Fig . 27 to Fig. 29) and move it into the rotation blocking position.

This can be achieved, for example, in that the friction body 402 only protrudes so far from the guide sleeve 44 in the direction of the actuating body 52 that it only becomes effective when the end region 70 of the pressure surface 66 is opposite it or even only becomes effective when this the peripheral region 71 following the pressure surface 66 is opposite, which in particular forms a circular cylindrical peripheral region of the actuating body 52.

The end region 70 thus forms a deceleration starting region 405 of a friction surface 403 and the circular cylindrical circumferential region 71 a deceleration end region 407 of the friction surface 403, along which the deceleration unit 400 moves during the rotational movement in the direction of rotation 72 of the actuating body 52 when the rotation blocking bodies 54 move from the release position to the Rotary blocking position should be moved.

In particular, if the friction body 402 cooperates with the peripheral region 71, the peripheral region 71 can be provided with a friction-promoting surface structure or surface coating, which cannot be realized in the region of the pressure surface 66.

Only one delay unit 400 can be assigned to one of the rotation blocking bodies 54. Due to the mounting of the actuating body 52 with play relative to the pivot axis 22, it is also possible to provide a delay unit 400 acting for each circumferential region 71 following a pressure surface 66. These delay units 400 or delay units 400 allow the rotational movement of the actuating body 52 in the direction of rotation 72 and thus the movement of the respective rotation blocking body 54 in the guide direction 58 to engage, for example, in the working position recordings 60A or the rest position recordings 60R immediately before hitting a recording base 61A or also 61R to delay and thus reduce the impact noise of the respective actuating body 54 on the respective recording base 61A or 61R.

In a first variant of the second exemplary embodiment - shown in FIGS. 30 to 32 - a deceleration unit 400 'is arranged in the actuating body 52, the friction body 402' of which is located between the respective pressure surface 66 and the rotation blocking body 54 in the opposite direction The retraction receptacle 62, which moves the rotation blocking position and follows the direction of rotation 72, protrudes in the peripheral region 71 and cooperates with a friction surface 403 'provided in the guide sleeve 44 of the guide body 40.

The friction surface 403 'preferably runs in such a way that its radial distance from the pivot axis 22 forming a rotation axis of the actuating body 52 in the direction of the rotation axis 72, starting from a deceleration start region 405' to a deceleration end region 407', becomes smaller, so that the distance of the from The area of the friction surface 403' acted upon by the friction body 402' by the deceleration unit 400', in particular by the guide sleeve 404' which forms the guide receptacle, for example, becomes smaller when the actuating body 52 is rotated in the direction of rotation 72 and is thereby reduced by increased compression of the unit arranged in the guide sleeve 404' spring-elastic body 406', the frictional force between the friction body 402' and the friction surface 403' increases when the actuating body 52 rotates in the direction of rotation 72 and the movement of the deceleration unit 400' along the friction surface 403' from the deceleration start region 405' to a deceleration end region 407', and consequently the braking effect of the deceleration unit 400 'on the actuating body 52 also increases, and in particular when the respective pressure surface 66 begins to act on the respective rotation blocking body 54 and is at its maximum shortly before the rotation blocking body 54 fully engages in the respective rotation blocking receptacle 62.

In particular, the deceleration end region 407 'runs along a circular arc line around the axis of rotation 22 of the actuating body 52 in order not to generate any permanent torque opposite to the direction of rotation 72 by the deceleration unit 400' in the rotation-blocking position.

In a second variant of the second exemplary embodiment, shown in FIGS. 33 to 37, the delay unit 400" is arranged in the flange 104 enclosed by the guide body 40, which delimits the receptacle 102 for the actuating body 52 and in particular in one piece on the guide sleeve 44 of the guide body 40 is formed.

The guide sleeve 404" forming the guide receptacle is arranged in the flange 104 in such a way that the friction body 402" protrudes from the guide sleeve 404" in the direction of the actuating body 52 and cooperates with a friction surface 403" which is on a side of the actuating body facing the flange 104 52 is arranged and can be rotated with the actuating body 52.

Furthermore, the friction body 402" is acted upon by the spring-elastic body 406" seated in the guide sleeve 404", which is supported, for example, by the flange 104, as shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, or also on the end flange 198 resting on the flange 104 of the pivot bearing body 14, as shown in Fig. 35 in a modification of the second variant of the second exemplary embodiment.

The friction surface 403" formed on the actuating body 52 extends in an arc shape around the axis 22 from the deceleration start area 405" to to the deceleration end region 407", as shown in FIGS. 36 and 37 and runs from the deceleration start region 405" to the deceleration end region 407" with an increasingly smaller distance from the guide sleeve 404", which forms the guide receptacle, for example, so that when the friction body 402" moves from the 36 and 37, the spring-elastic body 406" is increasingly compressed into the deceleration end region 407" shown in FIGS. 38 and 39 and thus acts with a greater force on the friction body 402" in the deceleration end region 407". , than in the deceleration initial areas 405", so that when the rotation blocking body 52 moves in the direction of rotation 72, the frictional force and thus also the braking force acting opposite to the direction of rotation 72 increases and thus brakes the movement in the direction of rotation 72.

Preferably, the entire deceleration region 407" acted upon by the friction body 402" no longer runs inclined, but rather at a constant distance from the guide receptacle 404", so that in this position of the actuating body 52, the friction body 402" in cooperation with the deceleration end region 407" does not produce any torque opposite to the direction of rotation 72 generated, which would counteract the locking force acting on the rotation blocking body 54 through the actuating body 52.

In a third variant of the second exemplary embodiment, shown in FIGS. 40 and 41, the deceleration unit 400"' is arranged in the actuating body 52 and the friction surface 403"' is on the inside 108 of the flange 104 of the guide body 40 facing the actuating body 52.

The guide receptacle forming the guide sleeve 404'" with the friction body 402'" guided therein and the spring-elastic body 406" acting on the friction body 402" are thus arranged in the actuating body 52.

When the actuating body 52 moves in the direction of rotation 72, the rotation blocking body 54 moves from the release position into the rotation blocking position transfer, the friction body 402"' moves from the deceleration start area 405"' to the deceleration end area 407'" and causes an increasing deceleration of the rotational movement in the direction of rotation 72 in order to reduce the noise when the rotation blocking bodies 54 are finally immersed in the respective receptacles 60, in this variant, too, the friction surface 403'" has an increasingly smaller distance from the guide receptacle 404'" as it runs from the deceleration start region 405'" to the deceleration end region 407'" and thus the frictional force between the friction body 402'" and the friction surface 403 '" is increased in the area acted upon by the friction body 402'".

Furthermore, in this variant, too, the deceleration end region 407'" runs parallel to the guide receptacle 404'" in order not to obtain any torque acting in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation 72 in the locking position of the actuating body 52.

Even in the first to third variants of the second exemplary embodiment, the respective deceleration unit 400', 400" and 400'" with the corresponding friction surface 403', 403" and 403'" can not only be assigned to one of the rotation blocking bodies 54, but also due to the storage of the Actuating body 52 with play relative to the pivot axis 22, it is also possible to have several of the deceleration units 400 ', 400 "400'", in particular each of the rotation blocking bodies 54 or its pressure surfaces 66 a deceleration unit 400', 400 ", 400'" with the same cooperating friction surface 403 ', 403", 403'".

Alternatively or in addition to the exemplary embodiments of a deceleration unit according to the invention described so far, in a third exemplary embodiment of a trailer coupling according to the invention, a third exemplary embodiment of a deceleration unit 500 (FIGS. 42 and 43) is provided, which is provided in the pivot bearing body 14 and, for example, one of the working position receptacles 60A, for example the working position recording 60Aa is assigned. The deceleration unit 500 includes a delay body 502 assigned to the working position recording base 61Aa, which in its inactive position projects beyond the working position recording base 61Aa and is acted upon by a resilient element 504.

Both the deceleration body 502 and the resilient element 504 are arranged in a guide body 506, which is arranged in a bore 508 in the pivot bearing body 14 associated with the working position receptacle 60Aa, which is provided, for example, with an internal thread, and thus opens up the possibility, for example a guide body 506 provided with an external thread, whereby the guide body 506 together with the delay body 502 arranged therein and the associated spring-elastic element 504 can be moved in the direction of the working position receiving base 61Aa and can therefore be adjusted so that the delay body 502 is in its still ineffective starting position, in which There is no action by the associated rotation blocking body 54, over which the working position recording base 61Aa protrudes more or less far into the working position recording 60Aa.

Depending on how far the deceleration body 502 protrudes beyond the working position receiving base 61Aa into the working position receiving base 60Aa, the deceleration effect exerted by the deceleration body 502 on the rotation blocking body 54 when moving in the guide direction 58 in the direction of the working position receiving base 61Aa can be adjusted and thus also the deceleration effect of the deceleration unit 500 adjustable from an outside of the pivot bearing body 14, in particular if the guide body 506 has a guide body head 512, which projects beyond an outer circumference of the pivot bearing body 14 and, for example, has a receptacle 514 for an adjustment tool, for example a screwdriver.

With a deceleration unit 500 adjusted in this way, the rotation blocking body 54a reaches 61Aa before hitting the working position receiving base the deceleration body 502 which delays the movement of the rotation blocking body 54a by deforming the resilient element 504 and allows it to hit the working position receiving base 61Aa at a reduced speed.

Although the delay unit 500 is only assigned to one working position receptacle 60A, for example the working position receptacle 60Aa, it also has a delaying effect on the remaining rotation blocking bodies 54 entering the respective working position receptacles 60Ab and 60Ac, since the rotation blocking body 54a, which is provided by the delay unit 500 is delayed when it hits the working position recording base 61Aa, at the same time exerting a reaction on the actuating body 52, so that its rotational movement in the direction of rotation 72 is also delayed and thus the remaining rotation blocking bodies 54b and 54c are only delayed in the direction of the respective working position recording base 61Ab and 61Ac moves and thus leads to an overall reduction in noise.

In the same way, such a delay unit 500 according to the invention can also be assigned to one of the rest position receptacles 60R in addition or alternatively in order to achieve the desired noise attenuation when the rotation blocking bodies 54 enter the respective rest position receptacles 60R.

In a first variant of the third exemplary embodiment, shown in Fig. 44, the deceleration body 502 is not supported by a resilient element 504, but by a fluid braking element 505 made of a shear-thickening fluid in an elastic casing 507, which has a shear rate-dependent dilatancy, thus at a sudden action of the rotation blocking body 54 on the deceleration body 502 has a high resistance to relative flow and thus brakes the movement of the rotation blocking body in the direction of movement 48 and then in the braked state due to the then occurring lower resistance to relative flow while expanding the elastic covering 507 allows the transition to the rotation-blocking position, as shown in Fig. 45.

A further detailed description of the trailer coupling according to the invention, in particular the individual movement sequences, is in

DE 10 2020 11 468 disclosed, so that full reference is made in this regard to the disclosure in this application.

Claims

PATENT CLAIM Trailer coupling, comprising a ball neck (10) movable between a working position (A) and a rest position (R) with a swivel bearing body (14) arranged at a first end and a coupling ball (18) arranged at a second end, a vehicle-fixed arrangement Pivot bearing unit (20), by means of which the pivot bearing body (14) is pivotably received for carrying out a pivoting movement about a pivot axis (22) between the working position (A) and the rest position (R), and one between the pivot bearing unit (20) and the pivot bearing body ( 14) acting rotation blocking device (50) with, on the one hand, at least one rotation blocking unit (80), which has a rotation blocking body (54), which is movably guided in a guide direction (58) by means of a guide receptacle (56) of a guide body (40) and in the guide direction (58) can be moved by a pressure surface (66) which runs transversely to the guide direction (58) and is provided on an actuating body (52), and on the other hand with at least one working position receptacle (60A) and/or at least one rest position receptacle (60R), wherein by moving of the actuating body (52) in an actuating direction (72), the rotation blocking body (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) can be moved and acted upon in the guide direction (58) and wherein the rotation blocking body (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) is in the working position (A) and /or the rest position (R) can be brought into a rotation blocking position by moving in the guide direction (58) and in this the rotation blocking body (54) comes into engagement with a working position holder (60A) or rest position holder (60R) in order to achieve a pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body (14) to block the pivot axis (22) relative to the guide body (40), and wherein the rotation blocking body (54) can be brought into a release position and in this is disengaged from the working position holder (60) and/or the rest position holder (60R) and releases the pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body (14), characterized in that at least one delay unit (300, 400, 500) is assigned to the rotation blocking device (50). , which at least when the working position (A) and / or the rest position (R) is reached, delays a transition into the rotation-blocking position caused by the action on the rotation-blocking device (50). Trailer coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one deceleration unit (300, 400, 500) acts on the rotation blocking device (50). Trailer coupling according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one delay unit (300, 400, 500) delays the transition of the rotation blocking unit (80) into the rotation blocking position. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one deceleration unit (300, 400, 500) acts on one or more elements of the rotation blocking device (50). Trailer coupling according to claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the at least one deceleration unit (300, 400, 500) acts directly on one of the elements of the rotation blocking device (50). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one delay unit (300, 400, 500) delays movement of the rotation blocking body (54) into the rotation blocking position. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one delay unit (300, 400, 500) delays the movement of the actuating body (52) into the rotation-blocking position. Trailer coupling according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least one deceleration unit (300, 400) is effective between the guide body (44) and the actuating body (52). Trailer coupling according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the at least one deceleration unit (300, 400', 400"') is arranged on the actuating body (52). Trailer coupling according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the at least one deceleration unit (300, 400, 400") is arranged on the guide body (44). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one deceleration unit (300, 400, 500) has a resilient element (312, 314, 322, 336, 406, 504). Trailer coupling according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the resilient element (312, 314, 322, 336, 406) forms at least one friction surface (316, 318, 342) or a friction body (326, 328, 338, 402, 402', 402", 402'") applied. Trailer coupling according to one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the at least one deceleration unit (300) comprises a movement deceleration body (310) which is effective between a surface (302) of the actuating body (52) and a surface of the guide body (40) facing it is. Trailer coupling according to claim 13, characterized in that the movement delay body (310) has a different friction effect depending on the direction of movement. Trailer coupling according to one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the at least one deceleration unit (400) is arranged in a defined position on the guide body (40) or the actuating body (52) and, starting from this, acts on the actuating body (52) or .The guide body (40) acts. Trailer coupling according to claim 15, characterized in that the deceleration unit (400) is provided with a friction body (402) acted upon by a resilient body (406), which acts on the actuating body (52) or the guide body (40). Trailer coupling according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the deceleration unit (400, 400', 400", 400"') arranged on the guide body (40) or the actuating body (52) is connected to the friction body (402, 402', 402" , 402'") acts on a friction surface (403, 403', 403", 403'") which is arranged on the actuating body (52) or the guide body (40). Trailer coupling according to claim 17, characterized in that the friction surface (403, 403', 403", 403'") extends over an angular range around the axis of rotation (22) of the actuating body (52). Trailer coupling according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the friction surface (403, 403', 403", 403'") extends from a deceleration start area (405, 405', 405", 405'") to a deceleration end area (407, 407', 407", 407'") extends. Trailer coupling according to one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that the friction surface (403, 403 ', 403", 403"') is at a varying distance relative to a guide receptacle when the actuating body (52) rotates relative to the guide body (40). (404, 404', 404", 404'") of the delay unit (400, 400', 400", 400'"). Trailer coupling according to one of claims 17 to 20, characterized in that when the friction body (402, 402', 402", 402'") acts on the deceleration end region (407, 407', 407", 407'"), the resilient body ( 406, 406', 406", 406'") acts on the friction body (402, 402', 402", 402'") with a greater force than when the friction body (402, 402', 402", 402'") acts ) to the delay start area (405, 405', 405", 405'"). Trailer coupling according to claim 16, characterized in that the friction body (402) acts on the circumference of the actuating body (52), in particular on a friction surface (403, 403 ', 403", 403'") arranged on the circumference. Trailer coupling according to claim 22, characterized in that the friction body (402) acts on a pressure surface (66) which acts on a rotation blocking body (54) in order to act on the rotation blocking body (54). Trailer coupling according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the friction body (402) acts on a peripheral region (71) of the actuating body (52) adjoining a pressure surface (66) for acting on a rotation blocking body (54). Trailer coupling according to one of claims 15 to 21, characterized in that the friction body (402) acts on the front side of the actuating body (52), in particular on a friction surface (403 ') arranged on the front side of the same. Trailer coupling according to one of claims 15 to 21, characterized in that the friction body (402) rests on a wall surface of a receptacle (102) provided in the guide body (40) for the actuating body (52), in particular on a friction surface arranged on the receptacle (102). (403", 403"'), works. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one deceleration unit (500) acts on a rotation blocking body (54) when the working position (A) and/or the rest position (R) is reached and its movement in the working position recording (60A) or . Rest position recording (60R) delayed. Trailer coupling according to claim 20, characterized in that the deceleration unit (500) is assigned to at least the working position holders (60A) and/or the rest position holders (60R). Trailer coupling according to claim 28, characterized in that the deceleration unit (500) counteracts the impact of the rotation blocking body (54) on a recording base (61A, 61R) of the working position recording (60A) and / or the rest position recording (60R). Trailer coupling according to claim 29, characterized in that the deceleration unit (500) comprises a resilient element (504) which counteracts the movement of the rotation blocking body (54) in the direction of the respective receiving base (61) in a decelerating manner. Trailer coupling according to claim 29, characterized in that the deceleration unit (500') comprises a fluid braking element (505) made of a shear-thickening fluid. Trailer coupling according to claim 30 or 31, characterized in that the deceleration unit (500) is held and supported on a component (14) of the pivot bearing unit (20) which carries the receptacle (60A, 60R.). Trailer coupling according to one of claims 27 to 32, characterized in that the resilient element (504) has a decelerating effect via a delay body (502) on the rotation blocking body (54) entering the receptacle (60A, 60R.). Trailer coupling according to one of claims 27 to 33, characterized in that the deceleration unit (500) can be positioned in an adjustable manner relative to the receptacle (60A, 60R.). Trailer coupling according to claim 34, characterized in that the deceleration unit (500) has a guide body (506) which receives the resilient element (504) and optionally the deceleration body (502). Trailer coupling according to claim 35, characterized in that the guide body (506) is held in an adjustable position on the component (14) carrying the receptacle (60A, 60R.). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that blocking surfaces (90) run between the working position receptacles (60A) and/or the rest position receptacles (60R.), against which the rotation blocking bodies (54) can be placed and from which the working position receptacles (60A ) and/or the rest position receptacles (60R) extend so that the rotation blocking units (80) and the working position receptacles (60A) and/or the rest position receptacles (60R) are arranged around the pivot axis (22) at angular distances (W) from one another in such a way that in all provided pivot positions of the pivot bearing body (14), with the exception of the working position (A) and / or the rest position (R), at least one of the rotation blocking units (80) is opposite one of the blocking surfaces (90) and thus these blocking surfaces (90), in particular when force is applied to the Actuating body (52) in the direction of the actuating direction (72), a movement of the actuating body (52) in the actuating direction (72) and consequently also a force-applied engagement of the rotation blocking bodies (54) of each of the rotation blocking units (80) in one of the working position receptacles (60A) or the rest position recordings (60R) are blocked. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotation blocking units (80) are arranged at angular distances (W) around the pivot axis (22) to form a rotation blocking configuration, so that the working position receptacles (60A) and/or the rest position receptacles (60R). Formation of a recording configuration for the working position (A) and/or the rest position (R) are arranged at the same angular distances (W) around the pivot axis (22) as the rotation blocking units (80), so that the rotation blocking configuration and the recording configuration of the working position recordings (60A) in the working position (A) or the rest position holders (60R) are congruent with one another in the rest position (R), so that the rotation blocking bodies (54) can engage in the working position holders (60A) or rest position holders (60R), and that the angular distances (W) between the rotation locking units (80) of the rotation locking configuration and the angular distances between the working position holders (60) or the rest position holders (60R) of the holder configurations are selected so that the rotation blocking configuration and one of the holder configurations are congruent with one another only in the working position (A) and/or the rest position (R). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the angular distances (W) of at least one of the rotation blocking units (80) are unequal to the rotation blocking units (80) arranged adjacent in a direction of rotation around the pivot axis (22) and to the rotation blocking units (80) arranged opposite to this direction of rotation, that in the working position (A), the working position receptacles (60A) are arranged such that the rotation blocking body (54) of each of the rotation blocking units (80) can be brought into engagement with one of the working position receptacles (60A), and / or that in the rest position (R ) the rest position receptacles (60R) are arranged in such a way that the rotation blocking body (54) of each of the rotation blocking units (80) can be brought into engagement with one of the rest position receptacles (60R), and that in all pivot positions of the pivot bearing body (14) intended for operation, which lie outside the working position (A) or the rest position (R), the rotation blocking body (54) of at least one of the rotation blocking units (80) lies opposite a blocking surface (90) running between the working position receptacles (60A) and/or the rest position receptacles (60R), and the blocking surface (90), in particular when force is applied to the actuating body (52), blocks a movement of the actuating body (52) from the release position into the rotation-blocking position.

Trailer coupling according to one of claims 37 to 39, characterized in that the blocking surfaces (90) face the rotation blocking bodies (54) of the rotation blocking units (80). Trailer coupling according to one of claims 37 to 40, characterized in that the blocking surfaces (90) extend in a defined radius around the pivot axis (22). Trailer coupling according to one of claims 37 to 41, characterized in that the blocking surfaces (90) extend up to the opening edges (92) of the working position receptacles (60A) and/or the rest position receptacle (60R) and merge into them. Trailer coupling according to claim 42, characterized in that the opening edges (92) of the working position receptacles (60A) and/or the rest position receptacle (60R) are at the same radial distance from the pivot axis (22) as the blocking surfaces (90). Trailer coupling according to one of claims 37 to 43, characterized in that at least one of the rotation blocking bodies (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) rests on one of the blocking surfaces (90) during a pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body (14) in the direction of the working position (A), in particular is subjected to force by the action of the actuating body (52). Trailer coupling according to one of claims 37 to 44, characterized in that the rotation blocking bodies (54) rest against the blocking surfaces (90) under force before reaching the working position (A) and then rest against the opening edges (92) of the working position receptacles (60A) under force in the working position receptacles (60A). Trailer coupling according to one of claims 37 to 45, characterized in that the working position receptacles (60A) extend from the blocking surfaces (90) in the guide direction (58), in particular with at least one component in the radial direction to the pivot axis (22). Trailer coupling according to one of claims 37 to 46, characterized in that at least one of the rotation blocking bodies (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) rests on one of the blocking surfaces (90) during a pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body (14) in the direction of the rest position (R), in particular is subjected to force by the action of the actuating body (52). Trailer coupling according to one of claims 37 to 47, characterized in that the rotation blocking bodies (54) rest against the blocking surfaces (90) under force before reaching the rest position (R) and then rest against the opening edges (92) of the rest position receptacles (60R) under force in the rest position receptacles (60R). Trailer coupling according to one of claims 37 to 48, characterized in that the rest position receptacles (60R) extend from the blocking surfaces (90) in the guide direction (58), in particular with at least one component in the radial direction to the pivot axis (22). Trailer coupling according to one of claims 37 to 49, characterized in that the working position receptacles (60A), the rest position receptacles (60R) and the blocking surfaces (90) are arranged facing the guide sleeve (40). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide body (40) is part of the pivot bearing unit (20) which is fixed to the vehicle. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all guide receptacles (56) for the rotation blocking bodies (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) are arranged in the guide body (40). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide direction (58) runs with at least one component in the radial direction to the pivot axis (22). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide body (40) has a guide sleeve (44) with guide receptacles (56) for the rotation blocking bodies (54) of the rotation blocking units (80) and that in particular the rotation blocking bodies (54) are located through the in Radial direction to the guide body (40) adjoining the pivot bearing body (14). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide body (40) has a pivot bearing for the pivot bearing body (14). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating body (52) is guided movably relative to the guide body (40). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating body (52) is arranged rotatably about the pivot axis (22) and in particular wedge surfaces which extend over an angular range around the pivot axis (22) and vary in a direction parallel to the guide direction (58). 66) preferably combined with retraction receptacles (62). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receptacles (60) and the blocking surfaces (90) are arranged on the pivot bearing body (14). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating body (52) is enclosed by the guide body (40) and in particular the pivot bearing body (14) surrounds the guide body (40). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotation blocking bodies (54) are arranged around the actuating body (52). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivot bearing body (14) forms an outer body which encloses the pivot bearing unit (20) on the outside and which is arranged immovably relative to the pivot bearing unit (20) in the direction of the pivot axis (22), and in particular the Pivot bearing body (14) forms an outer body which externally encloses at least a portion of the rotation blocking unit (50), which is arranged non-displaceably relative to the guide body (40) in the direction of the pivot axis (22). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating body (52) is acted upon by an elastic force accumulator (114) in the direction of its rotation-blocking position. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating body (52) can be moved from the rotation-blocking position into the release position by an actuating device (180). Trailer coupling according to claim 62 or 63, characterized in that the actuating body (52) can be moved by the actuating device (180) against the action by the energy accumulator (114). Trailer coupling according to one of claims 62 to 64, characterized in that the actuating body (52) can be rotated with the actuating device (180) in the opposite direction to the actuating direction (72) caused by the elastic force accumulator (114). Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating device (180) has an output element (142) which is coupled to the actuating body (52). Trailer coupling according to claim 66, characterized in that the output element (142) and the actuating body (52) are coupled to one another via a driving coupling device (156, 158). Trailer coupling according to claim 67, characterized in that the driving coupling device (156, 158) has a driving-free release state and a driving state. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating device (180) for the rotation blocking device (50) comprises a motor drive unit.