Trailer connection device

Abstract

Trailer connection device (10) for a towing vehicle (2) with a device frame (12) which can be fixed to a chassis (8) of the towing vehicle (2) via fastening means (26), and with a storage device (14) for the storage of at least one connection device (18) of the towing vehicle (2), to which a supply and / or control line (20) of a towing vehicle (2) to be pulled, trailer can be connected, characterized in that the bearing device (14) forms a rear light and / or license plate holder (22) and is displaceable relative to the device frame (12) between a driving position and an operating position.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a trailer connection device for a towing vehicle, such as in particular a truck according to the preamble of claim 1, and to a towing vehicle with such a trailer connection device. The towing vehicle can be formed, for example, by a swap body vehicle for roll-off containers or a truck with a swap body frame (BDF) for swap bodies or any other truck in which the trailer connections are arranged below a loading space for the respective loading superstructures during driving operation. The trailer connection device has a device frame with fastening means. The fastening means are suitable for establishing a permanently fixed connection between the device frame and a chassis of the towing vehicle and for this purpose have, for example, a screw connection or a welded connection.In addition, the trailer connection device comprises a bearing device suitable for supporting at least one connection device of the towing vehicle. The at least one connection device can be formed, in particular, by an electrical, pneumatic, and / or hydraulic connection of the towing vehicle, which serves for the detachable connection to a supply and / or control line of a trailer that is to be towed by the towing vehicle.

[0002] The known trailer connection devices, via which a trailer coupled to a trailer coupling of the towing vehicle can be supplied with compressed air and / or electricity from the towing vehicle, are usually arranged on one side of the rear of the towing vehicle, for example, adjacent to a taillight or license plate. It is known, for example, to arrange the trailer connection device on a bracket for a taillight and / or license plate of the towing vehicle, which bracket is located below the cargo area.

[0003] A disadvantage of the known trailer connection devices is that they are difficult to access when mounted on the towing vehicle in the usual way. To attach or remove a supply and / or control line of a trailer, the user must generally bend down and move beneath the respective loading area or the loading structures located therein, and in this position, connect or disconnect the relevant connections. If the loading structure or the load is wet, contaminated water often drips onto the user, particularly during a sudden movement of the towing vehicle following the connection or disconnection of a pneumatic supply line.

[0004] DE 10 2021 209 167 A1 describes a connection system for a tractor combination that enables an automated operative connection between a tractor-side adapter element and a trailer-side adapter element. For this purpose, an adjustment device is provided by which the tractor-side adapter element can be motor-driven to move it.

[0005] DE 20 2011 051 870 U1 discloses a coupling device for a semi-trailer. This device comprises a coupling head panel that is pivotably mounted on a semi-trailer via a pivot arm.

[0006] DE 20 2011 051 903 U1 shows an arrangement of supply connections arranged next to a trailer coupling. The supply connections are mounted on a position-adjustable support device.

[0007] GB 2 507 802 B describes a coupling device for supply lines, which is slidably mounted on a rod to provide better accessibility.

[0008] GB 2 467 955 A discloses a coupling device with a connecting plate that is adjustable between a working position and a connecting position. The displacement of the connecting plate can be achieved by electronic or pneumatic control means, or even remotely.

[0009] DE 20 2016 007 988 U1 describes a rear light bracket for a vehicle or work machine. The rear light bracket is pivotably mounted on a frame structure of the vehicle between a folded and unfolded position via a parallel rod. In both the folded and unfolded positions, the rear light bracket is oriented in the same direction, i.e., in particular, against the direction of travel.

[0010] DE 10 2022 110 135 A1 discloses a light and / or license plate holder for a trailer with a pivoting element pivotable relative to a loading area, to which a light or license plate can be attached. A pivot bearing with a horizontal pivot axis is provided between the loading area and the pivoting element, allowing the pivoting element to be folded vertically upwards from a horizontal position relative to the loading area.

[0011] The object of the invention is to avoid the aforementioned disadvantages in a generic trailer connection device and to enable a more convenient connection and disconnection of a supply and / or control line.

[0012] This object is achieved by a trailer connection device having the features of claim 1. The bearing device forms a taillight and / or license plate holder and can be displaced relative to the device frame between a driving position and an operating position. This allows a common bearing device to be used for the respective line connections and a taillight and / or license plate of the towing vehicle, thereby again reducing the required installation space. Furthermore, it is possible to relocate the bearing device or the at least one connection device held thereon, such as a quick-coupling head for a pneumatic or hydraulic supply and / or control line or a socket for an electrical line, to a more easily accessible position.This position is preferably designed so that the user can stand upright when connecting or disconnecting the trailer's supply and / or control line. This allows the trailer's supply and / or control line to be connected or disconnected particularly conveniently to the connection device.

[0013] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the bearing device is pivotably and / or displaceably mounted on the fixture frame. This enables a particularly stable, adjustable mounting of the bearing device and the connecting devices mounted thereon relative to the fixture frame.

[0014] It is advantageous if the bearing device has a connection surface. This allows the at least one connection device to be attached particularly easily and securely to the bearing device, which can be adjusted between the driving position and the operating position.

[0015] It is advantageous if the bearing device can be automatically moved between the driving position and the operating position using an adjusting device. This allows for particularly convenient movement of the bearing device between the driving position and the operating position.

[0016] Advantageously, the adjusting device comprises a compressed air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder and / or an electric spindle in order to enable safe and trouble-free adjustment between the driving position and the operating position, particularly in the case of a stable design of the bearing device.

[0017] It is also advantageous if the actuating device has an end-position safety device. This ensures that the connecting devices mounted on the bearing device are held in a stable position in the travel position and / or the operating position, in order to safely absorb the forces that occur during travel and / or when connecting and disconnecting a supply and / or control line, such as when opening or closing a quick-release coupling. This can significantly facilitate the disconnection and connection of the supply and / or control lines.

[0018] Advantageously, at least one supply coupling head for connecting a pneumatic or hydraulic supply line, a brake coupling head for connecting a pneumatic or hydraulic brake line and an electrical connection for connecting an electrical line of the trailer are held on the bearing device, so that all connections essential for trailer operation are arranged together on a single trailer connection device and can be moved together between the driving position and the operating position via its bearing device.

[0019] Furthermore, the above-mentioned object is achieved by a towing vehicle with a trailer connection device in one of the above-mentioned embodiments, wherein the bearing device has a connection surface on which the at least one connection device is held and which, in the driving position, is arranged entirely within the horizontal outer dimensions of the towing vehicle and, in the operating position, is arranged over its entire extent adjacent to the limit of the horizontal outer dimensions of the towing vehicle, i.e., at a distance of no more than 50 cm from this limit. Preferably, the connection surface is held substantially parallel to the limit of the horizontal outer dimension.This arrangement of the storage device's connection surface relative to the limit of the towing vehicle's horizontal outer dimensions, which are defined in particular by the horizontal extent of the cargo space or its vertical projection, allows the user to access the towing vehicle's connection devices, which are held on the storage device's connection surface, even in an upright position in order to connect or disconnect the trailer's supply and / or control lines. This enables particularly convenient connection or disconnection of the relevant supply and / or control lines.

[0020] In addition, it is advantageous if the storage device is accessible from the driver's side of the towing vehicle in the operating position, so that the user does not have to stay between the towing vehicle and the trailer during the connection or disconnection of the relevant supply and / or control lines.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the actuating device can be activated via an activation device arranged adjacent to an outer side of the towing vehicle, i.e., at a position no more than 50 cm from the limit of the horizontal external dimensions of the towing vehicle. For example, the activation device can be mounted on the wheel cover of the towing vehicle. By arranging the activation device at the limit of the horizontal external dimensions, the user can activate the actuating device in an upright position in order to adjust the support device or the connecting devices attached to it between the driving position and the operating position.

[0022] The towing vehicle is preferably a swap body vehicle, such as a roll-off container, or a truck with a swap body frame (BDF) for swap bodies. The trailer connection device, which can be adjusted between the driving position and the operating position, allows the user to conveniently connect or disconnect the supply and / or control lines of a trailer while maintaining an upright posture next to a loaded swap body, roll-off container, or swap body.

[0023] It is pointed out that all features of the subject matter according to the invention described above are interchangeable or combinable with one another, unless an exchange or combination thereof is excluded for technical reasons.

[0024] The figures illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention. They show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of the rear area of ​​a towing vehicle with a trailer connection device according to the invention, Fig. 2 a plan view of the trailer connection device according to Fig. 1 in a driving position and Fig. 3 a plan view of the trailer connection device according to Fig. 2 in an operating position.

[0025] Fig. Figure 1 shows the rear of a towing vehicle 2, in the exemplary form of a swap-body vehicle with a swap body 4 or roll-off container mounted on its loading space 6. A trailer coupling device 10 is mounted below the loading space 6 on a chassis 8 of the towing vehicle 2.

[0026] The trailer connection device 10 has a bearing device 14 held on a device frame 12, which forms a connection surface 15 on which a plurality of mounting openings 16 are provided. The connection surface 15 with the mounting openings 16 serves for the attachment and storage of connection devices 18 of the towing vehicle 2, which are formed, for example, by two pneumatic or hydraulic quick-coupling heads and an electrical connection or a plug socket. In the illustrated ready-to-tow operation, two pneumatic, hydraulic and / or electrical supply and / or control lines 20 of a trailer to be towed (not shown) are connected to the connection devices 18.The supply and / or control lines 20 form, for example, a pneumatic or hydraulic supply line, a pneumatic or hydraulic brake line and an electrical line for the power supply of the trailer.

[0027] Furthermore, a part of the bearing device 14 or its connecting surface 15, as can be seen from Fig. 1, a rear light and / or license plate holder 22, to which a rear light 24 and / or a license plate (not shown) of the towing vehicle 2 can be attached.

[0028] As is particularly evident from Fig. As can be seen from Figure 2, the fixture frame 12 is secured to the chassis 8 by fastening means 26, wherein the fastening means 26 form, for example, a screw connection, as shown. Alternatively or additionally, the fastening means 26 can also have a riveted or welded connection (not shown).

[0029] The bearing device 14 is pivotally mounted on the device frame 12 via a first pivot joint 28. The bearing device 14 is in Fig. 2 is held in a driving position transverse to a direction of travel F, in which the connecting surface 15 is arranged entirely within a horizontal extension E of the towing vehicle 2. The horizontal extension E is defined by the horizontal external dimensions or the vertical projection of the swap body 4 or the loading space 6 of the towing vehicle 2.

[0030] In addition, the bearing device 14 is connected via a second pivot joint 30 to an actuating device 32, which may comprise, for example, a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or an electric spindle. In each case, the actuating device 32 comprises an automatically displaceable actuator 34 connected to the second pivot joint 30.

[0031] By actuating an activation device 36, the actuator 34 can be displaced relative to the remaining actuating device 32 in such a way that the bearing device 14 is moved from the Fig. 2 shown driving position along a horizontal swivel direction S into a Fig. 3 or vice versa. In this operating position, the connection surface 15 is arranged adjacent to the storage device 14, that is to say no more than 50 cm away from a virtual boundary G of the horizontal extension E. Preferably, the connection surface is held substantially parallel to the boundary G, as shown. This allows a user in the operating position, while maintaining an upright posture next to the loading space 6, to access the connection devices 18 in order to be able to connect or disconnect the respective supply and / or control line 20.

[0032] The storage device 14 is, as in Fig.1, preferably arranged on the driver's side L of the towing vehicle 2 to allow quick access by the driver if necessary. Furthermore, the activation device 36, which comprises, for example, a switch 38, is also arranged adjacent, i.e., no more than 50 cm, from the virtual boundary G of the horizontal extension E, such as, for example, on a wheel cover 40 of the towing vehicle 2. This also makes the activation device 36 easily accessible to the driver in order to pivot the bearing device 14 between the driving position and the operating position.

[0033] Alternatively or in addition to the pivotability of the bearing device 14, it can also be moved linearly between the travel position and the operating position. For this purpose, the actuating device 32 can, for example, have a corresponding guide and a suitable drive for the bearing device 14 (not shown).

[0034] In any case, the actuating device 32 has an end-position safety device that additionally fixes the bearing device 14 relative to the device frame 12, at least in the driving position, preferably both in the operating position and in the driving position. This ensures a secure and stable position of the bearing device 14 and the connections held thereon, as well as the rear light 24 and / or the license plate, particularly in the driving position. Furthermore, a stable position of the bearing device 14 can be ensured in the operating position, which facilitates the connection or disconnection of the supply and / or control lines to or from the connection devices 18.

[0035] It is pointed out that all elements and features of the various embodiments of the subject matter according to the invention described above are interchangeable or combinable with one another, unless an exchange or combination thereof is excluded for technical reasons.

Claims

[1] Trailer coupling device (10) for a towing vehicle (2) with a device frame (12) which can be fixed to a chassis (8) of the towing vehicle (2) via fastening means (26), and with a storage device (14) for the storage of at least one connection device (18) of the towing vehicle (2), to which a supply and / or control line (20) of a towing vehicle (2) to be pulled, trailer can be connected, characterized by that the bearing device (14) forms a rear light and / or license plate holder (22) and is displaceable relative to the device frame (12) between a driving position and an operating position. [2] Trailer connection device according to claim 1, characterized by that the bearing device (14) is pivotably and / or displaceably held on the device frame (12). [3] Trailer connection device according to claim 2, characterized bythat the bearing device (14) has a connection surface (15) with mounting openings (16) for the attachment of the at least one connection device (18). [4] Trailer connection device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the bearing device (14) can be automatically displaced between the driving position and the operating position by means of an adjusting device (32). [5] Trailer connection device according to claim 4, characterized by that the adjusting device (32) comprises a compressed air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder and / or an electric spindle. [6] Trailer connection device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by that the adjusting device (32) has an end position safety device. [7] Trailer connection device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized bythat at least one supply coupling head for connecting a supply line, a brake coupling head for connecting a brake line and an electrical connection for connecting an electrical line of the trailer are held on the bearing device (14). [8] Towing vehicle with a trailer connection device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the bearing device (14) in the driving position is arranged completely within a horizontal extension (E) of the towing vehicle (2) and the connecting surface (15) in the operating position is arranged at a limit (G) of the horizontal extension (E) of the towing vehicle (2). [9] Towing vehicle according to claim 8, characterized by that the storage device (14) is accessible in the operating position from a driver's side (L) of the towing vehicle (2). [10] Towing vehicle according to one of claims 8 or 9 in conjunction with one of claims 4 to 6, characterized bythat the actuating device (32) can be activated via an activation device (36) arranged adjacent to an outer side of the towing vehicle (2). [11] Towing vehicle according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized by that the towing vehicle (2) is formed by a swap body vehicle or a truck with a swap body frame (BDF) for swap bodies.

Images