DEVICE FOR A TRAILER'S STEERING DRAWBAR

Abstract

Device (6) for a steering drawbar (5) of a trailer (4) with a frame (1) having at least one axle (2) with wheels (3), wherein the steering drawbar (5) is movably arranged relative to the frame (1) by means of a bracket (64) having an upright pivot pin (63) and can be brought into different positions relative to the longitudinal axis of the frame (1) by means of an actuating device (7) arranged between the frame (1) and the steering drawbar (5), and wherein a control and / or regulating device is connected to the actuating device (7) and the actuating device (7) can be controlled and actuated accordingly via the control and / or regulating device, characterized in that the device (6) is detachably mounted horizontally to the frame (1) and has a first flange plate (61) and a second flange plate (62), which are arranged vertically at an angle of 90° to the steering drawbar (5), as well as the bracket (64) with the pivot pin (63), • wherein the support (64) consists of two opposing plates (65) that are parallel and horizontal to each other and to the longitudinal axis of the frame (1), which are fixedly connected to the first flange plate (61) and which each have a continuous recess such that the pivot pin (63) can be inserted vertically into these recesses and runs in a continuous recess in the device (6), so that the device (6) and the frame (1) are movably connected to each other, • wherein the device (6) is detachably screwed to a corresponding head plate located on the frame (1) via the first flange plate (61) and the steering drawbar (5) is detachably screwed to a corresponding head plate on the second flange plate (62) so that the device (6) is detachably connected to the steering drawbar (5) and to the frame (1) via the first flange plate (61) and the second flange plate (62), • wherein the actuating device (7) is at least one hydraulic cylinder (7) which is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame (1) and which can steer the rear axle-bearing and -supporting part of the frame (1) or the steering drawbar (5) to the left or right in relation to the direction of travel by means of a hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical and / or electrohydraulic, electropneumatic or electromechanical control, and wherein the hydraulic cylinder (7) has a hydraulic cylinder base (71) and a piston rod (72), and • wherein the hydraulic cylinder base (71) is mounted on a first accessory (6a) on the frame and the piston rod (72) is mounted on a second accessory (6b) on the device (6), wherein the first accessory (6a) is welded to the frame (1) and the second accessory (6b) is welded to the device (6), and a removable bolt (6c) movably connects the piston rod (72) to the second accessory (6b), and a removable bolt movably connects the hydraulic cylinder base (71) to the first accessory (6a), so that the device (6) can be removed by loosening the screw connection on the first flange plate (61), loosening the screw connection on the second flange plate (62), and removing the bolt (6c) between the steering drawbar (5) and the frame (1) in order to easily retrofit a drawbar steering system to a trailer or easily replace a steering drawbar on a trailer make possible.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for a steering drawbar of a trailer, in particular for its easy retrofitting or replacement on a trailer.

[0002] DE 102 06 528 A1 discloses a towed agricultural machine, in particular a distribution machine, such as a field sprayer, with a towing device having a drawbar for coupling to a towing vehicle, a frame having an axle with running wheels and distribution and / or working elements arranged on the frame, wherein the drawbar is arranged to be movable on the frame by means of a joint having an upright axis and can be brought into different positions relative to the longitudinal axis of the frame by means of an adjusting device arranged between the frame and the drawbar.In order to enable a tight turning radius, which is also achieved by modern tractors, with simple measures and a high level of driving stability and safety, it is also provided that each wheel is steered by means of a steering knuckle that is movably arranged on the frame via an articulated arrangement with an upright axle, and that each steering knuckle is assigned an adjusting device by means of which the steering angle of the respective wheel to the longitudinal frame axis can be adjusted. Part of this technical solution is that a control and / or regulating device is provided, wherein this control and / or regulating device is connected to the adjusting device assigned to the drawbar and the adjusting device assigned to the steering knuckles, and the adjusting device on the wheels and the adjusting device on the drawbar can be controlled and actuated separately and / or simultaneously via the control and / or regulating device.

[0003] The common feature of this and all other technical solutions for steerable drawbars currently known in the field of vehicle technology is that all attachments for a steerable drawbar are welded to the trailer chassis.

[0004] The disadvantage of this wear-and-tear system is that the trailer's attachment points (drawbar, overrun hitch, drawbar eye, or drawbar extension) cannot be easily replaced if damaged or worn. Furthermore, there is no way to retrofit a drawbar steering system to a trailer.

[0005] When maintaining a stock of new vehicles (trailers) with welded supports for sales purposes, it is also necessary to have both chassis with a rigid drawbar and a steering drawbar in stock, as the two are not interchangeable on a trailer, which means increased capital expenditure for this stock management.

[0006] US 2017 / 0 245 417 A1 discloses a towing device for agricultural machines of the baler or round baler type, comprising a first member which can be coupled to the agricultural machine and which is connected to a second member via a first vertical pin, the second member in turn being connected to a third member via a second vertical pin which can be coupled to a tractor for towing the agricultural machine.The first link, or the first and second links, are actively controlled by at least one actuator by means of an electronic unit and sensors. The movement of the agricultural machine is at least partially independent of the tractor's propulsion, so that in the event of an uneven distribution of bales on the field, the baler can move at least partially independently of the tractor's propulsion, offset in the direction of travel, to collect the bales, without requiring constant corrections to the tractor's trajectory. This occurs at least partially independently of the tractor's propulsion.

[0007] This technical solution has the disadvantages that a trailer cannot easily be equipped with a steering drawbar (or that this cannot be easily replaced on the trailer) and that it does not allow for easy maneuvering of a trailer (e.g. in tight curves or when reversing straight ahead).

[0008] DE 199 42 034 A1 discloses a method for the track-true tracking of a trailer device which is attached to a drawbar behind a tractor by means of an articulated drawbar or with a steering knuckle drawbar, wherein a drawbar joint is subjected to an angular adjustment by the actuator controlled by an adjusting device, wherein the actuator is controlled in a controlled manner by the adjusting device in such a way that a virtual articulation point, which is the intersection point of a tractor center line and a trailer center line, is equidistant from the axle centers of a tractor axle and a trailer axle when these are on a circular path.

[0009] CN 1 09 168 510 A discloses an agricultural fertilizer machine, including a tractor connected to a drum by the coupling frame, wherein the coupling frame comprises a cross member attached to the end of the tractor, a reinforcing block is arranged in the central part of the cross member and is connected to a drawbar of the reinforcing block, the outer end of the drawbar being hinged to the movement rod. The outer end of a rod is hinged to the connecting frame, and the outer end of the connecting frame is equipped with a fixed plate, the fixed plate having a bolt provided on the side wall of the drum.The drawbar is provided with the first articulated block, and the connecting frame is provided with the second articulated block corresponding to the first articulated block, wherein fluid between the first articulated block and the second articulated block generates cylinder pressure, wherein one end of the hydraulic cylinder and the first articulated block are articulated, and the other end of the hydraulic cylinder and the second articulated block of the hydraulic cylinder are articulated.

[0010] EP 3 196 361 A1 discloses a snow removal trailer designed to be towed by a vehicle with a tow hitch, the snow removal trailer comprising a chassis extending in a first direction and including a snow plow and at least one selectively orientable wheel supporting the chassis. The drawbar of the trailer is pivotally connected to the trailer frame.

[0011] DE 296 11 664 U1 describes a mobile log debarking device with a towing vehicle and a trailer coupled to the latter by means of a length-adjustable drawbar, wherein a debarking unit is mounted on one of the two vehicles and a crane is mounted on each of the two vehicles, wherein the trailer is designed as a central axle trailer, the length-adjustable drawbar is guided in the longitudinal direction of one of the two vehicles and a steering drawbar which can be pivoted by means of a pivot drive connects the length-adjustable drawbar to the other vehicle in an articulated manner.

[0012] EP 2 634 018 A1 discloses a dolly axle which comprises a frame, a fifth wheel coupling plate (8) arranged on the frame, at least one wheel set rigidly arranged on the frame (4) and a drawbar rotatably mounted relative to the frame, wherein at least one adjustable actuating unit is designed to set a predetermined angle (δ) between the drawbar and the longitudinal direction of the dolly axle.

[0013] All of these technical solutions have the disadvantage that a trailer cannot simply be equipped with a steering drawbar or that the drawbar cannot be easily replaced on the trailer.

[0014] The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a device for a steering drawbar on a trailer which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art mentioned above, in particular enabling a simple retrofitting of a drawbar steering on a trailer or a simple replacement of a steering drawbar on a trailer.

[0015] According to the invention, this object is achieved by the characterizing features of the first patent claim. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subordinate patent claims.

[0016] A trailer is provided with a frame, at least one axle, and wheels as well as a steering drawbar, wherein a device for moving the steering drawbar is provided.

[0017] This device comprises a first flange plate and a second flange plate as well as a bracket with a vertical hinge pin.

[0018] The device is mounted horizontally to the frame of the trailer, with at least one hydraulic cylinder mounted parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame of the trailer and capable of steering the rear axle-bearing and -supporting component of the trailer or the steering drawbar to the left or right in relation to the direction of travel by means of a hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical and / or electro-hydraulic, electro-pneumatic or electromechanical control.

[0019] The hydraulic cylinder is mounted next to or between the longitudinal parts of the chassis.

[0020] The hydraulic cylinder has a hydraulic cylinder base and a piston rod, wherein the hydraulic cylinder base is mounted on a first accessory part and is movably connected to the first accessory part by means of a removable bolt and the piston rod is mounted on a second accessory part, wherein the first accessory part is welded to the chassis and the second accessory part is welded to the device and the piston rod is movably connected at its free end to the second accessory part by means of a removable bolt.

[0021] The holder for the vertical hinge pin consists of two opposite plates which run parallel and horizontal to one another and to the longitudinal axis of the frame, which are firmly connected to the first flange plate of the device and each have a continuous vertical recess in such a way that the hinge pin can be inserted vertically (upright, at a 90° angle to the longitudinal axis of the frame) into this recess (which can have two bushings for storage) and is stored there in the inserted state, so that the device is movably connected to the frame (by means of the hinge pin), wherein the device is screwed via the first flange plate to a corresponding head plate which is located on the frame of the trailer.

[0022] The vertical pivot pin can be mounted in a holder without a sliding piece or with metallic, synthetic or metallic-synthetic sliding pieces.

[0023] The second flange plate of the device is in turn screwed to a corresponding head plate, which is located on the steering drawbar or alternatively on a towing eye or on an overrun device or on a drawbar extension.

[0024] The frame of the trailer can be a central tube frame or a ladder frame, with the longitudinal profiles being round or polygonal.

[0025] The at least one hydraulic cylinder (within the scope of the invention there are also two or more) can be mounted next to, between or in the longitudinal profiles of the frame.

[0026] The head plate corresponding to the first flange plate of the device can be butt-flanged to the frame of the trailer, firmly inserted into it, or firmly slipped over or welded on.

[0027] The head plate corresponding to the second flange plate of the device can be firmly inserted into the drawbar or the overrun device or the towing eye or the drawbar extension, or can be firmly slipped over it, welded on it, or flange-screwed on it.

[0028] The chassis structure can be designed with or without a loading device and can be constructed with stanchions, as a rigid loading area, a tipper or a combination of these.

[0029] During normal operation, the drawbar steering is moved to the left or to the right by actuating at least one hydraulic cylinder, the device being screwed to the frame (i.e. its head plate) via the first flange plate and to the steering drawbar or the overrun device or the towing eye or the drawbar extension (i.e. its head plate) via the second flange plate.

[0030] The at least one hydraulic cylinder (by means of which the steering angle of the steering drawbar or the overrun device or the towing eye or the drawbar extension can be adjusted to the longitudinal axis of the frame) is connected to the steering drawbar and the frame via the device (specifically via the first accessory part on the frame and the second accessory part on the device as well as the bolt that can be removed from the second accessory part), so that this and the functioning of the screw-on and screw-off first and second flange plates enable a simple retrofitting of a drawbar steering on a trailer or a simple replacement of a steering drawbar on a trailer.

[0031] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the schematic drawings and the exemplary embodiment, without being limited to these. They show: Fig. 1: a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention installed in a single-axle trailer with a ladder frame, Fig. 2: a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention installed in a trailer with a pendulum axle / tandem axle, Fig. 3: a detailed view of a section of the front part of the Fig. 1 illustrated embodiment in the view from above and Fig. 4: a detailed view of a section of the front part of the Fig. 1 illustrated embodiment in the view from below.

[0032] The device 6 can, for example, as in Fig. 1, on a single-axle trailer (4) with frame (1), one axle (2) and wheels (3) or, as in Fig. 2, on a two-axle trailer (4) with frame (1), two axles (2) and wheels (3), whereby the number of axles (2) is not important.

[0033] On the trailer there is a steering drawbar (5) which is arranged to be movable relative to the frame (1) by means of a holder (64) having an upright pivot pin (63) and which can be brought into different positions relative to the longitudinal axis of the frame (1) by means of an adjusting device (7) arranged between the frame (1) and the steering drawbar (5).

[0034] For this purpose, a control and / or regulating device (not shown in the figures) is connected to the actuating device (7) and the actuating device (7) can be controlled and actuated accordingly via the control and / or regulating device.

[0035] It is important that the trailer (4) is positioned as shown in the Fig. 3 and Fig.4, comprises a frame (1) with a steering drawbar (5), wherein the device (6) is located between the frame (1) and the steering drawbar (5) and a first flange plate (61), a second flange plate (62) and the holder (64) for receiving the vertical hinge pin (63) are provided in order to enable the frame (1) and the steering drawbar (5) to be moved relative to one another.

[0036] The device (6) is arranged horizontally to the frame (1) of the trailer (4) and connected thereto, wherein a hydraulic cylinder (7) is mounted as an adjusting device parallel to the longitudinal parts of the frame (1) and can steer the steering drawbar (5) to the left or right to the direction of travel by means of a hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical and / or electro-hydraulic, electro-pneumatic or electromechanical control. (Alternatively, two hydraulic cylinders (7) can be provided to the left and right of the device (6) and next to the longitudinal parts of the frame (1), which is not shown in the figures.)

[0037] The hydraulic cylinder (7) has a hydraulic cylinder base (71) and a piston rod (72), wherein the hydraulic cylinder base (71) is mounted on a first accessory part (6a) on the frame (1) and the piston rod (72) is mounted on a second accessory part (6b) on the device (6).

[0038] The first accessory part (6a) is firmly connected (e.g. welded) to the frame (1) and movably connected to the hydraulic cylinder base (71) via a removable bolt (not shown in the figures).

[0039] The second accessory part (6b) is firmly connected to the device (6) (e.g. welded) and is movably connected to the piston rod (72) via a removable bolt (6c), so that the device (6) and its second flange plate (62) are rigidly connected to the steering drawbar (5) and at the same time are movable relative to the first flange plate (61), so that overall the steering drawbar (5) is movable = steerable relative to the frame (1) by means of the device.

[0040] The upright joint pin (63) is inserted and mounted vertically through the through-holes in two plates (65) of the holder (64) and runs through a through-hole in the device (6), which can have two bushings for mounting, whereby the steering drawbar (5) is thereby connected via the device (6) to the frame (1) so as to be movable at a horizontal angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the frame (1), in which the steering drawbar (5) is screwed via its head plate to the second flange plate (65) of the device (6) and the frame (1) is screwed via its head plate to the first flange plate (64) of the device. These screw connections, together with the removable bolt (6c), enable easy installation and removal of the device (6) arranged between the steering drawbar (5) and the frame (1).

[0041] As an alternative to the drawbar (5), a towing eye, overrun device or drawbar extension can also be screwed on (not shown in the figures).

[0042] The frame (1) of the trailer can have several stanchions and a protective grille (not shown in the figures).

[0043] The frame (1) of the trailer can be a central tube frame or a ladder frame, with the longitudinal profiles being round or polygonal.

[0044] The hydraulic cylinder (7) can be mounted next to, between or in the longitudinal profiles of the frame (1).

[0045] The head plate corresponding to the first flange plate (61) of the device (6) can be butt-flanged to the frame (1) of the trailer, firmly inserted into it, firmly slipped over it, welded on it, or flange-screwed on it.

[0046] The head plate corresponding to the second flange plate (62) of the device (6) can be butt-flanged to the drawbar (5) (or alternatively and not shown in the figures, the overrun device or the drawbar eye or the drawbar extension), firmly inserted into it, firmly slipped over it, welded on or flange-screwed on.

[0047] The first flange plate (61) and second flange plate (62) of the device (6) are each screwed to the corresponding head plate of the frame (1) or the drawbar (5).

[0048] The vertical hinge pin (63) can be mounted without a sliding piece or with metallic, synthetic or metallic-synthetic sliding pieces in the continuous recesses of the first flange plate (64).

[0049] The body on the frame (1) of the trailer can be designed with or without a loading device and can be designed with stanchions, as a rigid loading area, tipper or a combination thereof.

[0050] During normal operation, the steering drawbar (5) can be moved to the left or to the right about the vertical pivot pin (63) by actuating the hydraulic cylinder (7), the device (6) being screwed to the drawbar (5) and to the frame (1) and therefore detachably connected.

[0051] The advantage of this technical solution is that, for example, a trailer can easily be equipped with a steering drawbar according to the invention or that this can be easily replaced on the trailer, so that the owner of the trailer does not have to buy a new trailer if the steering drawbar is broken or if an existing trailer is to be equipped with one.

[0052] When stocking new vehicles for sale, especially new trailers, the trailer can be equipped with a steering drawbar according to the invention at short notice, since the technically required contact plate on the trailer frame is always identical. This saves storage costs.

[0053] All features presented in the description, the embodiments and the following claims can be essential to the invention both individually and in any combination with one another. List of reference symbols 1 frame 2 axis 3 wheel 4 trailers 5 Steering drawbar 6 Device 61 first flange plate 62 second flange plate 63 hinge pins 64 bracket 65 plates (as bearings and counter bearings) 6a first accessory 6b second accessory part 6c removable bolt 7 Actuator = hydraulic cylinder 71 Hydraulic cylinder base 72 piston rod

Claims

[1] Device (6) for a steering drawbar (5) of a trailer (4) with a frame (1) having at least one axle (2) with wheels (3), wherein the steering drawbar (5) is arranged to be movable relative to the frame (1) by means of a holder (64) having an upright pivot pin (63) and can be brought into various positions relative to the longitudinal axis of the frame (1) by means of an adjusting device (7) arranged between the frame (1) and the steering drawbar (5), and wherein a control and / or regulating device is connected to the adjusting device (7) and the adjusting device (7) can be controlled and actuated accordingly via the control and / or regulating device, characterized by that the device (6) is detachably mounted horizontally to the frame (1) and has a first flange plate (61) and a second flange plate (62) which are arranged vertically at an angle of 90° to the steering drawbar (5), as well as the holder (64) with the one hinge pin (63), • wherein the holder (64) consists of two opposite plates (65) which run parallel and horizontally to each other and to the longitudinal axis of the frame (1), which are firmly connected to the first flange plate (61) and each have a continuous recess in such a way that the hinge pin (63) can be inserted vertically into these recesses and thereby runs in a continuous recess in the device (6), so that the device (6) and the frame (1) are movably connected to each other, • wherein the device (6) is detachably screwed to a corresponding head plate located on the frame (1) via the first flange plate (61), and the steering drawbar (5) is detachably screwed to a corresponding head plate on the second flange plate (62), so that the device (6) is detachably connected to the steering drawbar (5) and to the frame (1) via the first flange plate (61) and the second flange plate (62), • wherein the adjusting device (7) is at least one hydraulic cylinder (7) which is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame (1) and can steer the rear, axle-bearing and -supporting end of the frame (1) or the steering drawbar (5) to the left or right in relation to the direction of travel by means of a hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical and / or electro-hydraulic, electro-pneumatic or electromechanical control, and the hydraulic cylinder (7) has a hydraulic cylinder base (71) and a piston rod (72), and • wherein the hydraulic cylinder base (71) is mounted on a first accessory part (6a) on the frame and the piston rod (72) is mounted on a second accessory part (6b) on the device (6), wherein the first accessory part (6a) is welded to the frame (1) and the second accessory part (6b) is welded to the device (6) and a removable bolt (6c) movably connects the piston rod (72) to the second accessory part (6b) and a removable bolt movably connects the hydraulic cylinder base (71) to the first accessory part (6a), so that the device (6) can be removed by loosening the screw connection on the first flange plate (61), loosening the screw connection on the second flange plate (62) and removing the bolt (6c) between the steering drawbar (5) and the frame (1) in order to easily retrofit a drawbar steering on a trailer or easily replace a steering drawbar on a to enable followers. [2] Device (6) according to claim 1, characterized by that instead of the steering drawbar (5) a towing eye or overrun device or drawbar extension is screwed to the second flange plate (62). [3] Device (6) according to claim 1, characterized by that the frame (1) of the trailer (4) is a central tube frame or a ladder frame, wherein the longitudinal profiles are round or polygonal. [4] Device (6) according to claim 1, characterized by that the hydraulic cylinder(s) (7) are mounted next to, between or in the longitudinal profiles of the frame (1). [5] Device (6) according to claim 1, characterized by that the first head plate is butt-flanged, firmly inserted, or firmly slipped over or welded onto the frame (1) of the trailer (1). [6] Device (6) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the second head plate is butt-flanged, firmly inserted, firmly slipped over or welded onto the steering drawbar (5) or onto the overrun device or onto the towing eye or onto the drawbar extension of the trailer (1). [7] Device according to claim 1, characterized by that the vertical hinge pin (63) is mounted without a sliding piece or with metallic or metallic-synthetic sliding pieces in the through recesses of the plate (65) and / or in the device (6). [8] Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the structure is mounted on the frame (1) of the trailer (4) with or without a charger. [9] Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the trailer (4) is designed with stanchions, as a rigid loading area, tipper or a combination thereof.

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