Support stand for a pocket wagon

Abstract

The invention relates to a support stand for a pocket wagon, comprising a fifth wheel plate with a funnel-shaped, tapered opening designed to receive a kingpin of a semitrailer with a circumferential groove arranged in the pin, and a locking device for securing the kingpin engaging in the opening. To create a locking device that prevents incorrect locking without the need for electronic sensors, a lever is proposed that is rotationally fixedly connected to a crankshaft, which actuates a locking bolt that can be engaged and disengaged from the groove in the kingpin. A blocking device prevents the pivoting movement of the lever if the kingpin does not fully engage the opening of the fifth wheel plate.The different position of the lever in the unlocking position on the one hand and the locking position on the other hand is clearly visible to the crane operators, site managers and wagon managers.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a support frame for a pocket wagon comprising a fifth wheel plate with a funnel-shaped tapered opening, designed to receive a kingpin of a semitrailer with a circumferential groove arranged in the pin, and a locking device for securing the kingpin engaging in the opening.

[0002] A pocket wagon is a special wagon designed to accommodate semi-trailers in combined transport. It is designed as a bogie wagon. The pocket wagon is equipped with outer longitudinal beams that allow space for the semi-trailer's chassis.

[0003] The semi-trailer engages with its kingpin, also known as a king pin, into a funnel-shaped tapered opening in the fifth wheel plate of the support frame and is secured there with a locking device.

[0004] To adapt modern pocket wagons to different semitrailers, they feature a height-adjustable support frame. The support frames of conventional pocket wagons are single- or double-height adjustable. A pocket wagon with a height-adjustable fifth wheel plate on the support frame, which remains at the set height without additional mechanical locking, is known from DE 10 2009 032 905 B4.

[0005] EP 4 119 415 A1 discloses a support frame with a conventional locking device for the kingpin.

[0006] Two springs acting on the locking mechanism ensure that a locking bar is drawn into the groove of the kingpin. The force exerted by the kingpin from above on a beveled surface of the locking bar during engagement causes the locking bar to slide, and the spring force then re-engages it into the groove of the kingpin. To unlock the kingpin, a release lever is pulled to release the locking bar against the spring force. A trigger moves upward and prevents the locking bar from re-engaging.

[0007] FR 2 673 892 A1 discloses a locking device comprising a plate-shaped fifth wheel coupling device with an opening for receiving a kingpin of a semitrailer. A hook-shaped end of a locking lever pivotable about a vertical axis engages halfway around the kingpin in the fully locked position. By pivoting about the vertical axis, the locking lever can be brought into and out of engagement with the kingpin. An actuating device for the locking has a crankshaft rotatable about a rotational axis with a blocking lug arranged on the crank, which is connected via a spring attached to the blocking lug to a lever for rotating the locking lever about the vertical axis. Levers for manually pivoting the crankshaft about its rotational axis are connected to the crankshaft at its ends in a rotationally fixed manner.The body of the locking lever has an opening configured to receive the locking lug to hold the spring-loaded locking lever in the closed position.

[0008] An incorrectly positioned kingpin, i.e., a faulty locking mechanism, can significantly compromise loading security. With conventional locking devices, it is often not clear whether the kingpin is properly locked. Although a color-coded indicator is available to check the locking mechanism, it is often difficult to see in practice. A low jack stand height setting, dirt, and poor visibility can prevent clear detection of proper locking.

[0009] Trials are currently being conducted to investigate a maintenance-free sensor solution for monitoring the loading status of semi-trailers on pocket wagons. The sensor responds to the end position of the locking mechanism and the correct position of the kingpin in the funnel-shaped opening of the support frame. LED lights indicate the status of the kingpin on a display module mounted on both sides of the wagon. The data collected and transmitted by the sensor are consolidated in a platform. This provides employees with real-time information about the status of the semi-trailer (see press release, VTG AG: VTG and Nexxiot cooperate on Kingpin Monitor solution, Hamburg, June 3, 2021).

[0010] Based on this prior art, the invention is based on the object of creating a support frame for a pocket wagon with a locking device that avoids incorrect locking without the need for electronic sensors.

[0011] This object is achieved by a support frame having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention emerge from the features of the dependent claims.

[0012] The solution to the problem is based on the idea that the locking does not take place automatically, but is clearly visible to the crane operators, site managers and wagon managers due to the different position of the lever in the unlocking position on the one hand and the locking position on the other.

[0013] The locking bolt, which is arranged to move back and forth via the linear guide, is pivotally connected to the free end of the connecting rod, which is hinged to the crankshaft. At least one lever is connected to the crankshaft in a rotationally fixed manner, allowing it to be manually pivoted about its axis of rotation. The pivot angle of the lever between the unlocked and locked positions is preferably 180°. The crankshaft runs transversely to the longitudinal axis of the pocket carriage, so that the lever points either in or against the direction of travel of the pocket carriage, depending on its position.

[0014] Preferably, the crankshaft protrudes beyond the support bracket on both sides, so that a lever for locking the kingpin is arranged to the left and right of the support bracket in the direction of travel.

[0015] Incorrect locking is prevented by the locking device, which prevents the lever from pivoting from the unlocked position to the locked position if the kingpin is not fully engaged with the opening in the fifth wheel plate. Full engagement means that the kingpin is lowered into the opening until its head rests flush with the flat surface of the fifth wheel plate.

[0016] The blocking device positively prevents the lever from pivoting into the locked position by means of a spring-loaded button with a sensor tip and a catch hook, which is hinged to the underside of the locking latch. In an initial position, the sensor tip rests against the underside of the locking latch due to the spring load, and the catch hook engages a rear wall arranged on the saddle plate. The rear wall can, for example, be a downwardly angled section of the saddle plate, with the catch hook extending through an opening in the angled section and resting against the outside of the angled section. The catch hook, hooked in this way, prevents any movement of the locking latch in the linear guide.

[0017] The locking latch is connected to the crankshaft via the connecting rod and therefore cannot be turned out of the unlocked position using the lever as long as the catch hook is hooked in.

[0018] In the unlocked position, the probe tip extends far enough into the opening of the fifth wheel plate that the fifth wheel pin, which fully engages the opening, lifts the probe from the underside of the locking bar against the spring force. The catch hook released by the lifting of the probe now allows the locking bar to move in the linear guide, which can then be moved from the unlocked position to the locked position using the lever.

[0019] The spring-loaded button is a two-sided lever that pivots around a pivot axis, with one lever arm forming the trigger tip and the other arm forming the catch hook. A bearing, for example in the form of a bearing block, for the pivot axis of the two-sided lever is attached to a section on the underside of the locking latch that does not engage in the groove.

[0020] In order to ensure a uniform distribution of the spring force acting on the button into the preferably flat underside of the locking bolt, the lever arm forming the button tip has a stop element with a preferably flat surface on the upper side of a section that does not come into contact with the saddle pin, which stop element lies flush with the preferably flat underside of the locking bolt in the initial position.

[0021] The spring loading of the probe can be achieved with a tension spring in that a pivot point for a tension spring is arranged on the section of the probe tip that does not come into contact with the saddle pin, a pivot point for a tension spring is arranged on the section of the locking bolt that does not engage in the groove, and the tension spring extends between the two pivot points.

[0022] The linear guide for the locking bolt is preferably designed as an opening in a wall defining the funnel-shaped opening. The opening positively accommodates the locking bolt transversely to the direction of displacement and guides it in the direction of displacement along a straight line perpendicular to the lateral surface of the saddle pin engaging in the opening. The locking bolt is preferably guided in the region of its side walls and optionally also on the top side. The opening is widened on the underside so that a front section of the probe tip can extend into the funnel-shaped opening.

[0023] Whether the lever is in the unlocked or locked position can also be recorded by cameras and then evaluated in order to further increase safety through automated locking control.

[0024] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 a perspective overall view of a support frame according to the invention for a pocket wagon, Fig. 2 a section through a saddle plate of a support frame before inserting the kingpin, Fig. 3 the saddle plate Fig. 2 after inserting the kingpin, but before locking and Fig. 4 the saddle plate Fig. 3 after locking the kingpin.

[0025] Fig. 1 shows a perspective overall view of a support frame (1) for a pocket wagon (not shown), comprising a height-adjustable fifth wheel plate (2) with a funnel-shaped tapered opening (3) for receiving a kingpin (4) of a semitrailer, wherein the kingpin (4) has a circumferential groove (4.1) into which a locking bolt (5) can be engaged and disengaged (cf. Fig. 2).

[0026] A crankshaft (6) which is rotatable about an axis of rotation is mounted in corresponding passages in the side walls (2.1) of the fifth wheel plate (2), said crankshaft extending over the entire width of the fifth wheel plate (2) and beyond the side walls (2.1) on both sides of the fifth wheel plate (2), so that the levers (7) arranged at the end of the crankshaft (6) at right angles to its longitudinal axis can be pivoted by the operating personnel when they are standing on one or the other long side next to the pocket wagon.

[0027] A connecting rod (6.1) is hinged to the crankshaft (6), as can be seen in particular from Fig. 3 can be seen. The locking bolt (5) is pivotally connected to a free end (6.2) of the connecting rod (6.1) in order to bring the locking bolt (5) into and out of engagement with the groove (4.1) of the kingpin (4) by a back and forth movement running perpendicular to the outer surface of the kingpin (4).

[0028] How to continue Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, a linear guide (8) for the locking bolt (5) is arranged on the saddle plate (2). The linear guide (8) is designed as an opening (3.2) in a wall (3.1) bordering the funnel-shaped opening (3) (see Figure 2). Fig. 3).

[0029] Fig. Figure 2 shows the lever (7) in an unlocked position. In the unlocked position of the lever (7), the locking latch (5) is disengaged from the circumferential groove (4.1) of the kingpin (4).

[0030] A blocking device (9) prevents a pivoting movement of the lever (7) from the position in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 shown unlocking position into the position shown in Fig. 4 shown locking position, as long as the kingpin (4) does not fully engage in the opening (3) of the fifth wheel plate (2), as shown in Fig. 2. The blocking device (9) comprises a spring-loaded button (9.1) which is hinged to the underside of the locking bolt (5) and has a button tip (9.2) and a catch hook (9.3) which is angled at the end. The button (9.1) is designed as a two-sided lever which can be pivoted about a rotation axis (9.4). One lever arm forms the button tip (9.2) and the other lever arm the catch hook (9.3). The bearing for the rotation axis (9.4) is attached to the underside of the locking bolt (5). A section of the button tip (9.2) which does not come into contact with the saddle pin (4) has a stop element (9.7) on the upper side which, in the initial position (cf. Fig. 2) is flush with the underside of the locking latch (5).

[0031] A pivot point (9.5) for a tension spring (9.6) is located on a section of the probe tip (9.2) that does not come into contact with the kingpin (4). A further pivot point (5.1) for the tension spring (9.6) is located on a section of the locking bolt (5) that does not engage the groove (4.1) of the kingpin (4). The tension spring (9.6) extends between the two pivot points (9.5, 5.1), thereby pulling the stop element (9.7) of the probe (9.1) against the underside of the locking bolt (5).

[0032] As is particularly evident from Fig. 3, the probe tip (9.2) extends with its front section into the opening (3) of the saddle plate (2) so far that the saddle pin (4), which engages completely in the opening (3), pushes the probe (9.1) from the underside of the locking bolt (5) against the force of the tension spring (9.6) out of the Fig. 2, thereby releasing the catch hook (9.3). Release occurs when the angled end of the catch hook (9.3) no longer rests against the outside of the angled rear wall (2.2) of the saddle plate (2) due to the pivoting. The rear wall (2.2) has an opening through which the catch hook (9.3) of the button (9.1) extends.

[0033] By releasing the catch hook (9.3) a pivoting movement of the lever (7) from the position in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 shown unlocking position into the position shown in Fig. 4 is possible. By pivoting the lever (7) by 180° into the locking position, the crankshaft (6), which is connected to the lever (7) in a rotationally fixed manner, is also rotated by 180°, thereby moving the connecting rod (6.1) which is connected to the crankshaft (6) and thereby displacing the locking bolt (5) until it engages with the circumferential groove (4.1) of the kingpin (4) which fully engages in the opening (3), as shown in Fig. 4 is recognizable.

[0034] With the support frame (1) according to the invention, incorrect locking is reliably prevented, since the button (9.1) of the blocking device (9) reliably prevents displacement of the locking bolt (5) until the kingpin (4) is fully inserted into the opening (3) and thereby releases the catch hook (9.3). List of reference symbols 1. Support trestle 2. Saddle plate 2.1 Side wall 2.2 Rear wall 3. Opening 3.1 Wall 3.2 Breakthrough 4. Saddle pin 4.1 Groove 4.2 Head 5. Locking latch 5.1 Articulation point 6. Crankshaft 6.1 Connecting rod 6.2 free end 7. Lever 8. Linear guide 9. Blocking device 9.1 Buttons 9.2 Probe tip 9.3 Catch hook 9.4 Rotation axis 9.5 Articulation point 9.6 Tension spring 9.7 Stop element

Claims

[1] Support frame (1) for a pocket wagon comprising - a fifth wheel plate (2) with a funnel-shaped tapered opening (3) designed to receive a fifth wheel pin (4) of a semi-trailer with a circumferential groove (4.1) arranged in the fifth wheel pin (4), - a locking device for securing the saddle pin (4) engaging in the opening (3), - a crankshaft (6) arranged on the saddle plate (2) so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, with a connecting rod (6.1) having a free end (6.2) which is pivotally connected to the crankshaft (6), - a reciprocating locking bolt (5) which is pivotally connected to the free end (6.2) of the connecting rod (6.1), - a linear guide (8) for the locking bolt (5), which is arranged in such a way that the locking bolt (5) can be brought into and out of engagement with the circumferential groove (4.1) of the saddle pin (4) engaging in the opening (3), - a lever (7) connected to the crankshaft (6) in a rotationally fixed manner, arranged for manually pivoting the crankshaft (6) about its axis of rotation, wherein - in an unlocking position of the lever (7), the locking bolt (5) is disengaged from the circumferential groove (4.1) of the kingpin (4) engaging in the opening (3), - in a locking position of the lever (7), the locking bolt (5) is in engagement with the circumferential groove (4.1) of the kingpin (4) which fully engages in the opening (3), - a blocking device (9) designed to prevent a pivoting movement of the lever (7) from the unlocking position into the locking position if the kingpin (4) does not fully engage in the opening (3) of the fifth wheel plate (2), wherein - the blocking device (9) has a spring-loaded button (9.1) hinged to an underside of the locking bolt (5) with a probe tip (9.2) and a catch hook (9.3), - the spring-loaded probe (9.1) is a two-sided lever pivotable about a rotational axis (9.4), with one lever arm forming the probe tip (9.2) and the other lever arm forming the catch hook (9.3), - a bearing for the rotation axis (9.4) is attached to the underside of the locking bolt (5) in a section which does not engage in the groove (4.1), - the probe tip (9.2) rests in an initial position on the underside of the locking bolt (5) due to the spring load and the catch hook (9.3) interacts with a rear wall (2.2) arranged on the saddle plate (2) and thereby prevents a pivoting movement of the lever (7) from the unlocking position to the locking position, - the probe tip (9.2) projects far enough into the opening (3) in the saddle plate (2) that the saddle pin (4), which engages completely in the opening (3), lifts the probe (9.1) from the underside of the locking bolt (5) against the spring force from the starting position, thereby releasing the catch hook (9.3) and allowing a pivoting movement of the lever (7) from the unlocking position into the locking position. [2] Support frame (1) for a pocket wagon according to claim 1, characterized by that the lever arm forming the probe tip (9.2) has, at a section which does not come into contact with the saddle pin (4), a stop element (9.7) which, in the initial position, lies flush with the underside of the locking bolt (5). [3] Support frame (1) for a pocket wagon according to claim 2, characterized by , that - a pivot point (9.5) for a tension spring (9.6) is arranged on the section of the probe tip (9.2) which does not come into contact with the saddle pin (4), - a pivot point (5.1) for the tension spring (9.6) is arranged on the section of the locking bolt (5) which does not engage in the groove (4.1) and - the tension spring (9.6) extends between the two pivot points (9.5, 5.1). [4] Support frame (1) for a pocket wagon according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the linear guide (8) is designed as an opening in a wall (3.1) delimiting the funnel-shaped opening (3), wherein the opening receives the locking bolt (5) in a form-fitting manner transversely to the direction of displacement and moves it in the direction of displacement on a straight line perpendicular to the outer surface of the saddle pin (4) engaging in the opening (3). [5] Support frame (1) for a pocket wagon according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized bythat the pivoting angle of the lever (7) between the unlocking and locking positions is 180°. [6] Support frame (1) for a pocket wagon according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the axis of rotation of the crankshaft (6) runs at right angles to the long sides of the saddle plate (2).

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