Towbar

Abstract

In order to create the simplest possible structural and safest solution for a trailer coupling comprising a ball neck movable between a working position and a rest position, which is connected at a first end to a swivel bearing unit and carries a coupling ball at a second end, wherein the ball neck can be pivoted about a pivot axis between the working position and the rest position by means of the swivel bearing unit, and a rotary locking device acting between a guide body and a swivel bearing body of the swivel bearing unit with at least two rotary locking units, each of which has ais movable into a locking position that secures the actuating body in the rotational locking position and into an intermediate position between the rest position locking position and the locking position.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a trailer coupling comprising a ball neck movable between a working position and a rest position, which is connected at a first end to a pivot bearing unit and carries a coupling ball at a second end, wherein the ball neck can be pivoted between the working position and the rest position by means of the pivot bearing unit when performing a pivoting movement about a pivot axis, and a rotary locking device acting between a guide body and a pivot bearing body of the pivot bearing unit, comprising on the one hand at least two rotary locking units, each of which has a rotary locking element which is movably guided in a guide direction by means of a guide receptacle of the guide body and which is movable in the guide direction by means of a pressure surface provided on an actuating body extending transversely to the guide direction, and comprising on the other hand at least two receptacles,wherein by a movement of the actuating body in an actuating direction the rotary locking elements of all rotary locking units are movable and actuated in the guide direction and wherein the rotary locking elements of all rotary locking units in the working position can be brought into a rotary locking position by a movement in the guide direction and in this position engage by means of one of the receptacles in order to block a pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body and the guide body relative to each other about the pivot axis, and can be brought into a release position, and in this position are disengaged from the respective receptacle and release the relative movement between the pivot bearing body and the guide body,wherein in all intended relative pivot positions between pivot bearing body and guide body, including the rest position and excluding the working position, movement of the actuating body in the actuating direction and consequently also force-actuated engagement of the rotary locking elements of each of the rotary locking units in one of the receptacles is blocked.

[0002] Such a trailer coupling is known from the prior art, for example from DE 10 2020 111 469.

[0003] The invention is therefore based on the objective of creating the simplest possible constructive solution.

[0004] This problem is solved in a trailer coupling of the type described above according to the invention by providing a multiple locking device which comprises a locking element which is movable into a rest position locking position which blocks the pivot bearing body and the guide body in the rest position relative to each other, into a locking position which secures the actuating body in the rotation locking position and into an intermediate position between the rest position locking position and the locking position.

[0005] The advantage of the solution according to the invention is therefore that it allows for a simple locking of the swivel bearing unit in the rest position and also a securing of the rotational locking position of the swivel bearing unit in a locking position.

[0006] It is particularly advantageous if the blocking element is guided on the guide body of the swivel bearing unit.

[0007] One way to guide the blocking body on the guide body is to guide the blocking body in a guide arranged on the guide body.

[0008] In particular, it is provided that the guide for the blocking element is arranged in a wall area of ​​the guide body adjacent to the actuating element.

[0009] It is particularly advantageous if this wall area lies between the actuating body and the swivel bearing body, especially a flange of the same, so that the locking element can interact with both the actuating body and the swivel bearing body to realize both the locking position and the rest position locking position.

[0010] In principle, it would be conceivable to move the blocking body radially to the pivot axis.

[0011] However, for the sake of simplicity, it is particularly advantageous for the constructive solution if the blocking element in the guide can be moved in a direction approximately parallel to the pivot axis.

[0012] Furthermore, an advantageous solution provides that the blocking body engages in a receptacle in the pivot bearing body in the rest position.

[0013] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the locking element engages in a receptacle in the actuating body when in the locking position.

[0014] In order to easily position the locking element in the intermediate position, it is preferably provided that the locking element is arranged in the intermediate position between the receptacle in the actuating body and the receptacle in the pivot bearing unit.

[0015] In order to easily fix both the locking position and the rest position blocking position, it is preferably provided that the locking element engages with one end in the respective receptacle in both the locking position and the rest position blocking position, extending and guided by the guide.

[0016] In the context of the previous explanation of the individual solutions, it was not discussed in detail how the locking mechanism is to be actuated and fixed in the secure position, the intermediate position and the rest position locking position.

[0017] This can advantageously be achieved by making the blocking element lockable in the safe position, the intermediate position and the rest position blocking position by means of a blocking actuating device.

[0018] The locking mechanism could be designed in a variety of ways.

[0019] One advantageous solution provides that the locking actuation device includes a cam guide and a cam follower that can be moved by this guide and is coupled to the locking body.

[0020] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the cam follower can be moved approximately parallel to the pivot axis by means of the cam guide, in order to actuate the blocking body in a simple manner.

[0021] Furthermore, it is provided that the scenery guide is movable transversely to the pivot axis.

[0022] Preferably, the cam track is designed to be movable by means of the blocking actuation device.

[0023] For example, it is provided that the blocking actuation device includes a body that supports the cam guide and is rotatable relative to the cam follower.

[0024] Furthermore, the scenery mechanism is preferably designed in such a way that it has at least one scenery track acting on the scenery follower.

[0025] It is even more advantageous if the scenery system has two scenery tracks that act on the scenery follower and guide it between them.

[0026] It is expediently provided that both cam tracks together fix the cam follower in a position that specifies the safety position.

[0027] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that both cam tracks together fix the cam follower in a position that specifies the rest position blocking position.

[0028] The above functions can preferably be realized by a first cam track having a track section that allows the cam follower to move from the position defining the safety position to a position defining the intermediate position.

[0029] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the first cam track comprises a track section which acts upon the cam follower from the position defining the intermediate position to a position corresponding to the rest position blocking position.

[0030] In particular, it has proven advantageous if the track section acting in the direction of the position corresponding to the rest position blocking position acts spring-elastically on the cam follower in this direction.

[0031] In particular, it is provided that the track section acting in the direction of the position corresponding to the rest position blocking position is formed by a spring-elastic movable section of the first cam track.

[0032] Such a design of the first cam track has the advantage that the cam follower can be actuated in a spring-elastic manner and thus, when actuated in the direction of the position corresponding to the rest position locking position, does not necessarily have to enter the rest position locking position, but can only enter the rest position locking position when the receptacle in the pivot bearing body is aligned with the locking body in the intermediate position.

[0033] When the blocking body is in the rest position blocking position, it is fixed in the rest position blocking position by the fact that the cam follower is fixed between the spring-elastic movable section of the first cam track in conjunction with the second cam track, wherein the spring-elastic movable section of the first cam track has moved towards the second cam track by reaching the rest position blocking position through the blocking body, in order to thus fix the rest position blocking position between the spring-elastic movable section of the first cam track and the second cam track.

[0034] In order to release the rest position blocking position, it is provided that the second cam track has a track section which moves the cam follower from the position corresponding to the rest position blocking position to a position corresponding to the intermediate position.

[0035] Furthermore, in order to be able to return from the intermediate position to the safety position, it is provided that the second cam track has a track section which moves the cam follower from the position corresponding to the intermediate position to the position corresponding to the safety position.

[0036] In particular, in these embodiments it is provided that the first cam track is effective by a movement of the cam guide in a first direction of rotation and that the second cam track is effective by a movement of the cam guide in a direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation.

[0037] No further details have yet been provided regarding the actuation of the locking mechanism for moving the locking body.

[0038] In principle, it would be conceivable to couple the locking actuator with a controllable drive unit.

[0039] However, it is particularly advantageous if the locking actuation device can be driven by an actuation device for the rotary locking device, since this makes it easy to coordinate the movements of the locking body to be triggered by the locking actuation device with the actuation of the rotary locking device.

[0040] In particular, it is provided that the locking actuation device is coupled to the actuation device for the rotary locking device.

[0041] This coupling can preferably be achieved by arranging the cam track on a rotatable body of a planetary gear unit of the actuating device for the rotary locking device.

[0042] In particular, it is preferably provided that the cam track is arranged on a ring gear of a planetary gear of the actuating device.

[0043] In order to optimally monitor the multiple locking device, it is preferably provided that the multiple locking device has a sensor unit that detects the positions of the locking body.

[0044] The sensor unit is preferably designed to detect the safety position, the rest position blocking position and the intermediate position.

[0045] In particular, the sensor unit includes, for example, one or more pushbuttons as sensors that detect touch surfaces.

[0046] In the case of a sensor designed as a push button, the sensor unit is able, for example, to distinguish the intermediate position from the safety position or the rest position detent position of the blocking body by detecting the positions of the sensor actuating element.

[0047] In the case of multiple pushbuttons, for example two pushbuttons, the sensor unit is able to distinguish each of the positions of the locking body, such as the locking position, intermediate position and rest position detent position, from the other positions by means of an evaluation unit by detecting the positions of the sensor actuating element.

[0048] Another advantageous solution provides that the sensor unit is designed as a magnetic field sensor, which detects different magnetic fields depending on whether the safety position, the rest position blocking position or the intermediate position is present, and can thus distinguish between all of them.

[0049] In the case of a sensor that detects magnetic field directions in space, the sensor unit is able to distinguish each of the positions of the locking body, such as locking position, intermediate position and rest position detent position, from the other positions by detecting a course of the magnetic field of the sensor actuating element using an evaluation unit.

[0050] In particular, for coupling the cam follower with the blocking body, it is provided that the latter is coupled to the blocking body by means of a transmission element.

[0051] In this case, the transmission element can be easily coupled with a sensor actuator so that the sensor unit is able to detect the positions of the transmission element.

[0052] The sensor actuation element can have different detectable elements that the sensor unit detects, or, in the case of a sensor unit with a magnetic field sensor, detect magnetic fields oriented differently relative to the sensor unit in space depending on its position.

[0053] No further details have yet been provided regarding the blocking of the actuating body in the actuating direction in all relative pivot positions between the pivot bearing body and the guide body, including the rest position.

[0054] An advantageous solution provides that blocking surfaces run between the receptacles, against which the rotary locking elements can be applied and from which the receptacles extend, that the rotary locking units and the receptacles are arranged around the pivot axis at angular intervals from one another such that in all intended relative pivot positions between the pivot bearing body and the guide body, including the rest position and excluding the working position of the rotary locking elements, at least one of the rotary locking units is opposite one of the blocking surfaces, and thus this blocking surface, particularly when a force is applied to the actuating body in the direction of actuation, blocks a movement of the actuating body in the direction of actuation and consequently also a force-applied engagement of the rotary locking elements of each rotary locking unit in one of the receptacles.

[0055] The advantage of the solution according to the invention is therefore that the fixing of the actuating body in the release position can be realized in a simple and reliable manner by means of the already existing rotary locking elements, and that, in addition, a significant reduction in noise occurs during the transition of this trailer coupling from the release position to the rotary locking position of the rotary locking elements, since the rotary locking elements can easily slide from the locking surfaces into the receptacles.

[0056] Alternatively or additionally, in a trailer coupling of the type described above, it is further provided that the rotary locking units for forming a rotary locking configuration are arranged at angular intervals around the pivot axis, that the receptacles for forming a receptacle configuration are arranged at the same angular intervals around the pivot axis as the rotary locking units, that the rotary locking configuration and the receptacle configuration are congruent with each other in the working position so that the rotary locking elements can engage in the receptacles, and that the angular intervals between the rotary locking units of the rotary locking configuration and the angular intervals between the receptacles of the receptacle configuration are selected such thatthat the rotary locking configuration and the receiving configuration are only congruent in the working position and thus only in this position allow a transition of the actuating body from the release position to the rotary locking position, while in the other pivot positions of the pivot bearing body a transition of the actuating body from the release position to the rotary locking position is not possible.

[0057] Alternatively or additionally to the solutions described above, a further advantageous solution provides that the angular distances of at least one of the rotary locking units to the rotary locking units arranged adjacent in one direction of rotation around the pivot axis and to the rotary locking units arranged opposite to this direction of rotation are unequal, and that in the working position the receptacles are arranged such that the rotary locking elements of each of the rotary locking units can be brought into engagement with one of the receptacles, and that in all relative pivot positions intended for operation between the pivot bearing body and the guide body, including the rest position which lies outside the working position, the rotary locking element of at least one of the rotary locking units is opposite a locking surface located between the receptacles, and thus this locking surface, particularly when force is applied to the actuating body,a movement of the actuating body from the release position to the rotation lock position is blocked.

[0058] Starting from equal angular distances, the inequality of the angular distances is, for example, at least a deviation from equal angular distances on the order of half the angular range over which each of the recordings extends, preferably up to the angular range over which each of the recordings extends.

[0059] The advantage of all the aforementioned solutions according to the invention is that they provide a structurally simple solution for keeping the actuating body in the release position and allowing it to move into the rotational locking position only in the working position, whereby it is particularly advantageous that the rotational locking elements already available for the rotational locking device can be used.

[0060] In connection with the solution according to the invention, it has proven particularly advantageous if the number of rotational locking units corresponds to the number of recordings.

[0061] Furthermore, in order to obtain a spatially compact solution, especially in the direction of the pivot axis, it is advantageous if the rotary locking bodies of all rotary locking units are designed and arranged symmetrically to a geometric plane perpendicular to and intersecting the pivot axis.

[0062] A particularly advantageous solution provides that the blocking surfaces face the rotary blocking bodies of the rotary blocking units, in particular run transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the guide direction, so that the rotary blocking bodies can be moved over the blocking surfaces with little or almost no resistance to movement when they come into contact with them.

[0063] It is particularly advantageous if the blocking surfaces extend in a defined radius around the pivot axis, so that during the pivoting movement the rotating blocking bodies adjacent to these blocking surfaces do not perform any additional radial movement towards the pivot axis.

[0064] Furthermore, it is advantageously provided that the blocking surfaces extend to the edges of the openings of the recordings and merge into them.

[0065] In particular, it is preferably provided that the opening edges of the receptacles are at the same radial distance from the pivot axis as the locking surfaces, so that the rotating locking elements bearing against the locking surfaces can be moved across the opening edges into the receptacles without additional resistance to movement, as would occur, for example, with different distances of the opening edges from the pivot axis in relation to the distance of the locking surfaces from the pivot axis.

[0066] In particular, this solution also has the advantage that it allows for a simple and resistance-free transition from the working position to a pivoting position, since in this case, too, the rotating locking elements can leave the receptacles essentially without resistance to movement over the opening edges and move towards the locking surfaces.

[0067] It is particularly advantageous if at least one of the rotary locking elements of the rotary locking units bears against one of the locking surfaces during a pivoting movement in the direction of the working position, especially during the pivoting movement from the rest position to the working position, and is subjected to force by the actuating body, wherein the force is applied, for example, by means of retraction receptacles in the actuating body provided for the release position of the rotary locking elements, which act on the rotary locking elements with surfaces extending transversely to the guide direction.

[0068] In particular, it is advantageous if the rotary locking elements are pressed against the locking surfaces before reaching the working position and then press against the opening edges of the receptacles while pressing into them, so that the noise level during the transition of the rotary locking elements from the release position to the rotary locking position can be kept as low as possible, in contrast to a case in which the rotary locking elements are initially positioned with play relative to the locking surfaces, then pressed against the locking surfaces and then pressed into the receptacles from the locking surfaces, or the case in which the rotary locking elements move into the working position with play relative to the locking surfaces and are pressed into the receptacles in the working position.

[0069] With regard to the design of the receptacles, it is particularly advantageous if the 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 rotary blocking elements do not experience any additional deflection when entering the receptacles during movement in the guide direction.

[0070] Furthermore, no further details were given regarding the alignment of the recordings and the blocking surfaces relative to the guide sleeve.

[0071] One advantageous solution provides that the receptacles and the locking surfaces are arranged facing the guide sleeve, so that deflection-free movement of the rotary locking elements can occur in the direction of the locking surfaces or in the direction of the receptacles.

[0072] In principle, the guide body or the swivel bearing body could be pivotable about the swivel axis.

[0073] However, a particularly advantageous design solution provides that the guide body is the part of the swivel bearing unit that is fixed to the vehicle.

[0074] Furthermore, with regard to the design of the guide body, it is provided that all guide receptacles for the rotary locking elements of the rotary locking units are arranged in the guide body.

[0075] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the guide direction runs with at least one component in a radial direction to the pivot axis, so that the rotary locking elements are moved with at least one component in a radial direction to the pivot axis between the rotary locking position and the release position, and thus there is no exclusive movement of the rotary locking elements in the direction of the pivot axis in order to move them between the rotary locking position and the release position.

[0076] A particularly advantageous design solution provides that the guide body has a guide sleeve with guide receptacles for the rotary locking elements of the rotary locking units and that, in particular, the rotary locking elements are guided by the guide body which extends radially to the pivot bearing body.

[0077] In connection with the explanation of the preceding embodiments, it was not discussed in detail how the pivot bearing body of the pivot bearing unit is to be pivotably mounted relative to the guide body.

[0078] For this purpose, for example, a dedicated bearing could be provided on the swivel bearing unit, which is independent of the guide body.

[0079] However, from a design perspective, it is particularly simple if a swivel bearing is provided between the guide body and the swivel bearing body.

[0080] No further details were provided regarding the movement of the actuating elements in relation to the guide element.

[0081] One advantageous solution provides that the actuating body is guided so that it can move relative to the guide body.

[0082] The actuating body could be movable relative to the guide body in the direction of the pivot axis between the rotational locking position and the release position in order to move the rotational locking bodies into the corresponding positions.

[0083] A solution optimized with regard to space requirements provides that the actuating body is rotatably arranged around the pivot axis and in particular has wedge surfaces extending over an angular range around the pivot axis and varying in the direction parallel to the guide direction, preferably combined with retraction receptacles.

[0084] Furthermore, no further details were provided regarding the arrangement of the recordings and the blocking areas.

[0085] One advantageous solution involves arranging the mounts and the locking surfaces on the swivel bearing body.

[0086] Furthermore, a constructive solution regarding the absorption of the acting forces is particularly advantageous if the actuating body is enclosed by the guide body and, in particular, if the pivot bearing body surrounds the guide body.

[0087] No further details were provided regarding the arrangement of the rotary locking elements relative to the actuating element.

[0088] In principle, the rotary locking elements could be arranged in such a way that they are encompassed by the actuating element.

[0089] For the spatial arrangement of the trailer coupling according to the invention, it has also proven advantageous if the rotary locking elements are arranged around the actuating element.

[0090] It has proven to be particularly advantageous in terms of design if the pivot bearing body forms an outer body that surrounds the guide body and is arranged so as not to move relative to the guide body in the direction of the pivot axis, and in particular if the pivot bearing body forms an outer body that surrounds at least a partial area of ​​the rotary locking unit and is arranged so as not to move relative to the guide body in the direction of the pivot axis, so that the pivot bearing body does not move in the direction of the pivot axis when the rotary locking elements transition from the rotary locking position to the release position and vice versa, but can be arranged so as not to move in the direction of the pivot axis.

[0091] Such an arrangement of the swivel bearing body has the advantage of a favorable spatial structure of the swivel bearing unit itself and the advantage of a relatively simple sealing of the swivel bearing unit, since the swivel bearing body does not perform any movements in the axial direction of the swivel axis.

[0092] Preferably, a seal circumferential around the pivot axis is provided between a housing of the swivel bearing unit and at least one end side of the outer body, with which a seal against penetrating dirt and moisture is provided.

[0093] In such a solution, the pivot bearing body simultaneously represents the outer body protecting and enclosing the guide body, and by ensuring that the outer body is arranged immovably relative to the guide body in the direction of the pivot axis, it is particularly possible to achieve a simple seal between the outer body and the pivot bearing unit.

[0094] A particularly advantageous design solution is one in which the swivel bearing body forms an outer body that surrounds a portion of the rotary locking device and is arranged immovably relative to the guide body in the direction of the swivel axis.

[0095] In particular, it is provided that the rotary locking elements can be moved from the release position to the rotary locking position by the actuating element.

[0096] Preferably, the actuating body is designed in such a way that, in the release position, it allows the release position of the rotary locking elements.

[0097] In particular, a further design of the actuating body provides that it holds the rotary locking elements in their rotary locking position when in the rotary locking position.

[0098] To ensure that the rotary locking elements always return to their rotary locking position, especially when there is no active actuation of the actuating element, it is preferably provided that the actuating element is actuated in the direction of its rotary locking position by an elastic energy storage device.

[0099] In order to be able to move the actuating body from the rotational locking position to the release position, it is preferably provided that the actuating body can be moved from the rotational locking position to the release position by an actuating device.

[0100] In particular, such movement of the actuating body by the actuating device occurs against the action of the energy storage device, meaning that the actuating device counteracts the action of the energy storage device and thus must overcome the forces applied by the elastic energy storage device.

[0101] In particular, in the case of a rotatable actuating body, it is preferably provided that the actuating device rotates the actuating body in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation caused by the elastic energy storage device.

[0102] Such an elastic energy storage device can, in principle, be located in several places.

[0103] From a design perspective, it is particularly advantageous if the elastic energy storage device is located inside the guide body.

[0104] Another structurally advantageous solution involves arranging the elastic energy storage device on one side of the actuator.

[0105] In this case, the elastic energy storage device can be advantageously coupled with the actuating element.

[0106] Regarding the effect on the actuator, a wide variety of solutions are conceivable.

[0107] One advantageous solution provides that the actuating device has an output element which is coupled to the actuating body.

[0108] In principle, it would be possible to rigidly couple the output element and the actuating body together.

[0109] However, it is particularly advantageous if the output element and the actuating body are coupled to each other via a drive coupling device which, depending on the position of the output element and the position of the actuating body, in particular the rotational position thereof, allows a relative movement around a limited range of motion, in particular a limited angle of rotation.

[0110] The coupling device could act as an elastic connecting element.

[0111] However, it is particularly easy if the coupling device has a free-running state and a carrying state, meaning that either the free-running state or the carrying state is present.

[0112] In connection with the previous solutions, only the drive of the rotary locking device was explained in general terms, which makes it possible to realize a transition of the rotary locking device from at least one rotary locking position to a release position and vice versa.

[0113] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the actuating device for the rotary locking device comprises a motorized drive unit.

[0114] This could include a motorized drive unit exclusively assigned to the actuating device for the rotary locking device.

[0115] However, it is particularly advantageous if a motorized drive unit is provided as a swivel drive for performing the swivel movement of the ball neck.

[0116] For example, it is conceivable to provide two motor drives, one motor drive being provided for actuating the rotary locking device and one motor drive being provided for carrying out the pivoting movement of the ball neck.

[0117] In particular, since the rotary locking device is always driven at times when no pivoting movement of the ball neck is desired, and furthermore, a pivoting movement of the ball neck always occurs when no drive of the rotary locking device is required, it is conceivable to provide a switching device that alternately switches a supplied drive power, for example from a power source, from one drive to the other drive, so that the drive power provided by a separate, for example vehicle-side, supply device can be used either for actuating the rotary locking device or for pivoting the swivel bearing body.

[0118] In this case, however, appropriate sensors must be used to detect when the rotary locking device is in the rotary locking position or the release position, and when the ball neck is in the position corresponding to the working position or the rest position, and the drive power must be switched from one drive to the other according to the positions detected by the sensors.

[0119] In the case of a drive for the rotary locking device independent of the drive for the pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body, the problem is that in the event of a malfunction, it is difficult to find unambiguous starting positions for both the pivoting movement of the ball neck and for the rotary locking device.

[0120] It is particularly advantageous if an output element for driving the rotary locking device and an output element for driving the swiveling movement of the ball neck are coupled by a planetary gear driven by a drive element.

[0121] In this case, it is possible to drive the planetary gear unit by a single motor drive unit, in particular a single electric drive unit.

[0122] The epicyclic gear is preferably a planetary gear.

[0123] It is particularly advantageous if the first output element of the planetary gear acts as a swivel drive to pivot the ball neck between the working position and the rest position, and the second output element of the planetary gear acts as an actuator on the actuating body to move it from the rotationally locked position to the release position.

[0124] The planetary gear is expediently designed in such a way that it allows a change between the output element for actuating the rotary locking device and the output element for executing the pivoting movement of the ball neck.

[0125] In particular, the planetary gear can be used in such a way that, depending on the inhibition of the output element for the rotary locking device or the pivoting movement of the ball neck, the pivoting movement or the rotary locking device is driven.

[0126] The advantage of using a planetary gear system is that such a planetary gear system allows for a simple change from one output to the other output, and thus a drive unit, for example comprising an electric drive motor and, if necessary, a gearbox, is sufficient to drive the movements of the actuating body alternately via one output and to drive the pivoting movement of the ball neck between the working position and the rest position via the other output.

[0127] For example, it is provided that a ring gear of the planetary gear can be driven by the motor drive.

[0128] Furthermore, it is expedient to provide that a ring gear of the planetary gear is coupled to the output for the rotary locking device.

[0129] Furthermore, it is expediently provided that a planetary gear carrier of the epicyclic gear unit is coupled to the output for the swiveling movement.

[0130] In order to drive either the rotary locking device or the pivoting movement in a planetary gear unit driven by a single motor drive, it is advantageously provided that, depending on the inhibition of the drive of the rotary locking device or the pivoting movement, the pivoting movement or the rotary locking device is driven.

[0131] Such a restraint of the pivoting movement or the rotational locking device can be implemented in various ways.

[0132] The inhibition of the swiveling movement can be achieved in a simple way by making the ball neck lockable relative to the swivel bearing unit, so that when locking, the swiveling movement is inevitably inhibited.

[0133] The drive of the rotary locking device can be inhibited in a variety of ways.

[0134] One particularly advantageous solution involves providing a stop in the release position to inhibit the drive of the rotary locking device.

[0135] Regarding the arrangement of the planetary gear system, a wide variety of solutions are conceivable.

[0136] One particularly compact solution involves arranging the planetary gear unit coaxially with the pivot axis in the pivot bearing unit.

[0137] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the planetary gear is arranged on a side of the actuating element of the rotary locking device facing the motor drive.

[0138] For a compact design, it is particularly advantageous if, viewed in the direction of the pivot axis, the planetary gear unit is driven on one side by the motor drive unit and has an output for the actuating element on the opposite side.

[0139] Thus, the planetary gear unit is preferably arranged between the motor drive unit and the actuating element when viewed in the direction of the pivot axis.

[0140] Furthermore, the planetary gear, the elastic energy storage device and the actuating element are preferably arranged successively in the direction of the pivot axis, in particular within the pivot bearing unit.

[0141] The foregoing description of solutions according to the invention thus 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), the ball neck being connected at a first end to a swivel bearing unit (20) and carrying a coupling ball (18) at a second end, wherein the ball neck (10) is pivotable by means of the swivel bearing unit (20) when performing a swivel movement about a swivel axis (22) between the working position (A) and the rest position (R), and a rotary locking device (50) acting between a guide body (40) and a swivel bearing body (14) of the swivel bearing unit (20), comprising at least two rotary locking units (80), each of which has a rotary locking element (54) which is movably guided in a guide direction (58) by means of a guide receptacle (56) of the guide body (40) and which is guided in the guide direction (58) by a transversely extendinga pressure surface (66) provided on an actuating body (52) is movable, and with at least two receptacles (60) on the other hand, wherein by a movement of the actuating body (52) in an actuating direction (72) the rotary locking elements (54) of all rotary locking units (80) are movable and actuated in the guide direction (58) and wherein the rotary locking elements (54) of all rotary locking units (80) in the working position (A) can be brought into a rotary locking position by movement in the guide direction (58) and in this position each rotary locking element (54) engages with one of the receptacles (60) in order to block a pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body (14) and the guide body (40) relative to each other about the pivot axis (22), and can be brought into a release position and in this position are disengaged from the respective receptacle (60) and release the relative movement between the pivot bearing body (14) and the guide body (40),wherein in all intended relative pivot positions between pivot bearing body (14) and guide body (40), including the rest position (R) and excluding the working position (A), movement of the actuating body (52) in the actuating direction (72) and consequently also force-actuated engagement of the rotary locking elements (54) of each of the rotary locking units (80) in one of the receptacles (60) is blocked, wherein a multiple locking device (270) is provided which comprises a locking element (272) which is movable into a rest position locking position that blocks the pivot bearing body (14) and the guide body (40) relative to each other in the rest position (R), into a locking position that secures the actuating body (52) in the rotary locking position, and into an intermediate position between the rest position locking position and the locking position. 2. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 1, wherein the locking element (272) is guided on the guide element (40) of the swivel bearing unit (20). 3. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the locking element (272) is guided in a guide (274) arranged on the guide body (40). 4. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the guide (274) for the locking element (272) is arranged in a wall area (104) of the guide body (40) adjacent to the actuating element (52) and the pivot bearing body (14). 5. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 3 or 4, wherein the locking element (272) is movable in the guide (274) in a direction approximately parallel to the pivot axis (22). 6. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the locking element (272) engages in a receptacle (284) in the pivot bearing body (14) in the rest position locking position. 7. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the locking element (272) engages in a receptacle (282) in the actuating body (52) in the locking position. 8. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the locking element (272) is arranged in the intermediate position between the receptacle (282) in the actuating body (52) and the receptacle (284) in the pivot bearing unit (14). 9. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 3 to 8, wherein the locking element (272) engages with one end (276, 278) in the respective receptacle (282, 284) both in the locking position and in the rest position locking position, extending and guided by the guide (274). 10. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the locking element (272) can be fixed in the locked position, the intermediate position and the rest position locking position by a locking actuating device (280). 11. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 10, wherein the locking actuation device (280) comprises a cam guide (290) and a cam follower (292) movable by this cam follower, which is coupled to the locking body (272). 12. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 11, wherein the cam follower (292) is movable by means of the cam guide (290) approximately parallel to the pivot axis (22). 13. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 11 or 12, wherein the cam guide (290) is movable transversely to the pivot axis (22). 14. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 11 to 13, wherein the cam guide (290) is movable by the locking actuation device (280). 15. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 14, wherein the locking actuation device (280) comprises a body (142) which carries the cam guide (290) and is rotatable relative to the cam follower (292). 16. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 11 to 15, wherein the cam guide (290) has at least one cam track (312, 314) acting on the cam follower (292). 17. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 11 to 16, wherein the cam guide (290) has two cam tracks (312, 314) acting on the cam follower (292) and guiding it between themselves. 18. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 17, wherein both cam tracks (312, 314) together fix the cam follower (292) in a position specifying the locking position. 19. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 17 or 18, wherein both cam tracks (312, 314) together fix the cam follower (292) in a position specifying the rest position locking position. 20. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 17 to 19, wherein a first cam track (312) comprises a track section (312b) moving the cam follower (292) from the position defining the locking position to a position defining the intermediate position. 21. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 17 to 20, wherein the first cam track (312) comprises a track section (312d) which acts upon the cam follower (292) from the position defining the intermediate position in the direction of a position corresponding to the rest position blocking position. 22. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 21, wherein the track section (312d) acting in the direction of the position corresponding to the rest position blocking position acts spring-elastically on the cam follower (292) in this direction. 23. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 22, wherein the track section (312d) is formed by a spring-elastic movable section of the first cam track (312). 24. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 23, wherein in the position corresponding to the rest position blocking position the cam follower (292) is fixed between the spring-elastic movable track section of the first cam track (312) in conjunction with the second cam track (314). 25. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 17 to 24, wherein the second cam track (314) has a track section (314b) which moves the cam follower (292) from the position corresponding to the rest position blocking position to a position corresponding to the intermediate position. 26. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 17 to 25, wherein the second cam track (314) has a track section (314d) which moves the cam follower (292) from the position corresponding to the intermediate position to the position corresponding to the locking position. 27. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 17 to 26, wherein the first cam track (312) is effective by a movement of the cam guide (290) in a first direction of rotation (322) and that the second cam track (314) is effective by a movement of the cam guide in a direction of rotation (324) opposite to the first direction of rotation (322). 28. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 27, wherein the locking actuation device (280) can be driven by an actuation device (180) for the rotary locking device (50). 29. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 28, wherein the locking actuation device (280) is coupled to the actuation device (180). 30. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 28 or 29, wherein the cam track (290) is arranged on a rotatable body (142) of a planetary gear (130) of the actuating device (180) for the rotation locking device (50). 31. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 30, wherein the cam track (290) is arranged on a ring gear (142) of a planetary gear (130) of the actuating device (180). 32. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the multiple locking device (270) has a sensor unit (300) that detects the positions of the locking body (272). 33. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 32, wherein the sensor unit (300) detects the locking position, the rest position blocking position and the intermediate position. 34. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 32 or 33, wherein the sensor unit (300) is designed to distinguish at least the intermediate position from the locking position and the rest position blocking position, in particular to distinguish all these positions from each other. 35. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 32 to 34, wherein the sensor unit (300, 300') comprises at least one push button (301), in particular two push buttons (301a, 301b). 36. Trailer coupling according to one of embodiments 32 to 35, wherein the sensor unit (300") comprises a magnetic field sensor (301"), in particular a magnetic field sensor (301") which detects the course of a magnetic field (298) in space. 37. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments 11 to 36, wherein the cam follower (292) is coupled to the locking body (272) by means of a transmission element (294). 38. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 37, wherein the transmission element (294) is coupled to a sensor actuation element (296). 39. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein locking surfaces (90) extend between the receptacles (60), against which the rotary locking elements (54) can be applied and from which the receptacles (60) extend, such that the rotary locking units (80) and the receptacles (60) are arranged around the pivot axis (22) at angular distances (W) from one another such that in all intended relative pivot positions between pivot bearing body (14) and guide body (40), including the rest position (R) and excluding the working position (A) of the rotary locking elements (54), at least one of the rotary locking units (80) is opposite one of the locking surfaces (90) and the locking surface (90), in particular when force is applied to the actuating body (52),a movement of the actuating body (52) in the actuating direction (72) and consequently also a force-actuated engagement of the rotary locking elements (54) of each of the rotary locking units (80) in each of the receptacles (60) is blocked. 40. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the rotary locking units (80) are arranged at angular intervals (W) around the pivot axis (22) to form a rotary locking configuration, the receptacles (60) are arranged at the same angular intervals (W) around the pivot axis (22) to form a receiving configuration as the rotary locking units (80), the rotary locking configuration and the receiving configuration are congruent with each other in the working position (A) so that the rotary locking elements (54) can engage in the receptacles (60), and the angular intervals (W) between the rotary locking units (80) of the rotary locking configuration and the angular intervals between the receptacles (60) of the receiving configuration are selected such that the rotary locking configuration and the receiving configuration are congruent with each other only in the working position (A). 41. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments 39 or 340, wherein the angular distances (W) of at least one of the rotary locking units (80) to the rotary locking units (80) arranged adjacent in a direction of rotation about the pivot axis (22) and to the rotary locking units (80) arranged opposite to this direction of rotation are unequal, and that in the working position (A) the receptacles (60) are arranged such that the rotary locking element (54) of each of the rotary locking units (80) can be brought into engagement with one of the receptacles (60), and that in all relative pivot positions intended for operation between pivot bearing body (14) and guide body (40), including the rest position (R), which lie outside the working position (A), the rotary locking element (54) of at least one of the rotary locking units (80) is opposite a locking surface (90) extending between the receptacles (60), and the locking surface (90)in particular when force is applied to the actuating body (52), movement of the actuating body (52) from the release position to the rotational locking position is blocked. 42 Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments 39 to 41, wherein the locking surfaces (90) face the rotary locking elements (54) of the rotary locking units (80). 43. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments 39 to 42, wherein the locking surfaces (90) extend in a defined radius around the pivot axis (22). 44. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments 39 to 43, wherein the locking surfaces (90) extend to and merge into the opening edges (92) of the receptacles (60). 45. Trailer coupling according to embodiment 44, wherein the opening edges (92) of the receptacles (60) are at the same radial distance from the pivot axis (22) as the locking surfaces (90). 46. ​​Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments 39 to 45, wherein at least one of the rotary locking elements (54) of the rotary locking units (80) bears against one of the locking surfaces (90) during a pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body (14) in the direction of the working position (A), in particular bearing against it under force by the action of the actuating element (52). 47. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments 39 to 46, wherein the rotating locking elements (54) are subjected to force against the locking surfaces (90) before reaching the working position (A) and subsequently enter the receptacles (60) subjected to force against the opening edges (92) of the receptacles (60). 48. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments 39 to 47, wherein the receptacles (60) extend from the locking surfaces (90) in the guide direction (58), in particular with at least one component in the radial direction to the pivot axis (22). 49. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments 39 to 48, wherein the receptacles (60) and the locking surfaces (90) are arranged facing the guide body (40). 50. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the guide body (40) is part of the vehicle-fixed pivot bearing unit (20). 51. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein all guide receptacles (56) for the rotary locking elements (54) of the rotary locking units (80) are arranged in the guide body (40), and / or that in particular the guide direction (58) extends with at least one component in the radial direction to the pivot axis (22), and / or that in particular the guide body (40) has a guide sleeve (44) with guide receptacles (56) for the rotary locking elements (54) of the rotary locking units (80), and that in particular the rotary locking elements (54) are guided by the guide body (40) which extends radially to the pivot bearing body (14). 52. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein a pivot bearing is provided between the guide body (40) and the pivot bearing body (14). 53. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the actuating body (52) is guided movably relative to the guide body (40), in particular the actuating body (52) is rotatably arranged about the pivot axis (22) and in particular has wedge surfaces (66) extending over an angular range about the pivot axis (22) and varying parallel to the guide direction (58), preferably combined with retraction receptacles (62). 54. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the receptacles (60) and the locking surfaces (90) are arranged on the pivot bearing body (14). 55. 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) encompasses the guide body (40), and in particular the rotary locking elements (54) are arranged around the actuating body (52). 56. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the pivot bearing body (14) forms an outer body enclosing the pivot bearing unit (20) on the outside, which is arranged so as not to be displaced 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 enclosing at least a partial area of ​​the rotary locking unit (50) on the outside, which is arranged so as not to be displaced relative to the guide body (40) in the direction of the pivot axis (22). 57. Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the actuating body (52) is acted upon by an elastic energy storage device (114) in the direction of its rotationally locked position, in particular that the actuating body (52) can be moved from the rotationally locked position to the release position by an actuating device (180), in particular that the actuating body (52) can be moved by the actuating device (180) in the opposite direction to the actuation by the energy storage device (114), in particular that the actuating body (52) can be moved by the actuating device (180) in the opposite direction to the actuating direction (72) effected by the elastic energy storage device (114). 58. 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), in particular that the output element (142) and the actuating body (52) are coupled to each other via a drive coupling device (156, 158), in particular that the drive coupling device (156, 158) has a drive-free free movement state and a drive-engaged state, in particular that the actuating device (180) for the rotary locking device (50) comprises a motor drive unit, in particular that the motor drive unit (182) is also provided as a swivel drive for performing the swivel movement of the swivel bearing body (14),that in particular an output element (142) for driving the rotary locking device (50) and the output element (152) for driving the pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body (14) are coupled by a planetary gear (130).

[0142] 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.

[0143] The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a rear view of a motor vehicle with a trailer coupling according to the invention; Fig. 2 a top view of a first embodiment of a trailer coupling according to the invention, looking in the direction of travel at the trailer coupling mounted on the rear of a vehicle, wherein the trailer coupling is in its working position; Fig. 3 a top view of the trailer hitch in Fig. 2 in the direction of the pivot axis; Fig. 4 a view accordingly Fig. 2 of the trailer coupling in the rest position; Fig. 5 a top view of the trailer coupling according to the trailer coupling in the rest position according to Fig. 4 in the direction of the pivot axis; Fig. 6 a representation of a section along line 6-6 in Fig. 3; Fig. 7 a cut along line 7-7 in Fig. 6 in the working position; Fig. 8 a representation of a section similar to Fig. 7 in the release position with the actuator body rotated to its maximum extent; Fig. 9 a representation similar Fig. 8 when the swivel bearing body is slightly pivoted from the working position, with the actuating body rotated to its maximum extent; Fig. 10 a representation similar Fig. 8 with the actuating body under the influence of the torsion spring; Fig. 11 a representation similar Fig. 8 a pivoting position of the pivot bearing body with increasing pivoting movement in the direction of the rest position; Fig. 12 a representation similar Fig. 8 a pivoting position of the pivot bearing body with increasing pivoting movement in the direction of the rest position; Fig. 13 a representation similar Fig. 8 a pivoting position of the pivot bearing body with increasing pivoting movement in the direction of the rest position; Fig. 14 a representation similar Fig. 7 in the resting position; Fig. 15 a cut along line 15-15 in Fig. 6 without support plate and retaining ring; Fig. 16 a perspective view of a ring gear and a drive sleeve interacting with it; Fig. 17 a perspective exploded view of the pivot bearing body with the cover; Fig. 18 an enlarged section according to Fig. 6 in the working position with the blocking body in the safety position; Fig. 19 an enlarged section according to Fig. 6 with the blocking body in the intermediate position; Fig. 20 an enlarged section similar Fig. 18 in the rest position with the blocking body in the rest position blocking position; Fig. 21 in the starting position of the ring gear; Fig. 21a a perspective view of the interaction of the ring gear with the locking actuation device and with the rotary locking device; Fig. 21b a top view of the ring gear of the planetary gear from the side of the drive sleeve; Fig. 21c a perspective view of the interaction of the ring gear in the position according to Fig. 21b with recording of the positions of a blocking body; Fig. 22 in the first position of the ring gear rotated relative to the starting position after releasing the locking position and with the blocking body in the intermediate position and without acting on the rotary locking device; Fig. 22a a perspective view of the interaction of the ring gear with the locking actuation device and with the rotary locking device; Fig. 22b a top view of the ring gear of the planetary gear from the side of the drive sleeve; Fig. 22c a perspective view of the interaction of the ring gear in the position according to Fig. 22b with recording of positions of a blocking body; Fig. 23 in a position of the ring gear rotated maximally relative to the starting position when the release position of the rotary locking device is reached and in the intermediate position spring-loaded locking body; Fig. 23a a perspective view of the interaction of the ring gear with the locking actuation device and with the rotary locking device; Fig. 23b a top view of the ring gear of the planetary gear from the side of the drive sleeve; Fig. 23c a perspective view of the interaction of the ring gear in the position according to Fig. 23b with recording of positions of a blocking body; Fig. 24 in a position of the ring gear rotated relative to the starting position when the rest position of the swivel bearing body and the rest position locking position are reached; Fig. 24a a perspective view of the interaction of the ring gear with the locking actuation device and with the rotary locking device; Fig. 24b a top view of the ring gear of the planetary gear from the side of the drive sleeve; Fig. 24c a perspective view of the interaction of the ring gear in the position according to Fig. 24b with recording of positions of a blocking body; Fig. 25 in a position opposite the starting position of Fig. 24. Reversed position of the ring gear and deactivation of the rest position locking position and transition to the intermediate position; Fig. 25a a perspective view of the interaction of the ring gear in the position according to Fig. 25b with recording of positions of a blocking body; Fig. 25b a top view of the ring gear of the planetary gear from the side of the drive sleeve; Fig. 25c a perspective view of the interaction of the ring gear in the position according to Fig. 25a with a safety device and with the rotary locking device; Fig. 26 in the initial position of the ring gear after a transition of the rotary locking device into the rotary locking position and reaching the locking position of the locking body; Fig. 26a a perspective view of the interaction of the ring gear in the position according to Fig. 25b with recording of positions of a blocking body; Fig. 26b a top view of the ring gear of the planetary gear from the side of the drive sleeve; Fig. 26c a perspective view of the interaction of the ring gear in the position according to Fig. 26a with a safety device and with the rotary locking device Fig. 27 a second embodiment of a sensor unit with position indicator element; Fig. 27a upon recording the security position; Fig. 27b when recording the intermediate position; Fig. 27c when recording the rest position locking position; Fig. 28 a third embodiment of a sensor unit with position indicator element; Fig. 28a upon recording the security position; Fig. 28b when recording the intermediate position Fig. 28c when recording the resting position locking position.

[0144] A first embodiment of a trailer coupling AK according to the invention for a motor vehicle, shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 in a working position A and in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 in a rest position R, comprises a ball neck designated as a whole by 10, which is held at a first end 12 on a swivel bearing unit 20 and carries at a second end 16 a coupling ball designated as a whole by 18, on which a coupling ball receptacle of a trailer can be fixed.

[0145] The ball neck 10 is pivotably mounted about a pivot axis 22 relative to a vehicle-mounted support 24 by the pivot bearing unit designated as a whole by 20, wherein the support 24 preferably has 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 attached in a known manner to a rear area H of a vehicle body F, such that the pivot bearing unit 20 and the support 24 lie on the side of a lower edge 30 of a bumper unit 36 ​​facing away from a road surface FO, and are covered by the bumper unit 36 ​​( Fig. 3).

[0146] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. In the working position shown in Figure 2, the ball neck 10, with a section 32 adjoining the first end 12, engages the lower edge 30 of the bumper unit 36, so that the second end 16 and the coupling ball 18 together with a socket receptacle 34 are located on a side of the rear bumper unit 36 ​​facing away from the vehicle body F, while in the rest position both the swivel bearing unit 20 and the entire ball neck 10 together with the coupling ball 18 are covered by the rear bumper unit 36 ​​against view from behind.

[0147] The swivel bearing unit 20 comprises, as shown in Fig. 6, Fig. 7, Fig. 8 to Fig. Figure 9 shows a pivot bearing body 14 on the one hand and a guide body 40 on the other. For example, the guide body 40 is fixedly connected to the support plate 26 by a flange 42 and a guide sleeve 44 extends from the flange 42 away from the support plate 26, on which the pivot bearing body 14 is rotatably mounted about the pivot axis 20, and on which the ball neck 10 is held.

[0148] Alternatively, it is also conceivable to firmly connect the swivel bearing body 14 to the flange 42 and to arrange the ball neck on the guide body 40.

[0149] The guide sleeve 44 comprises a cylindrical outer surface 46, against which the pivot bearing body 14 with a cylindrical inner surface 48 abuts in order to obtain a rotary guide about the axis 22 about the pivot axis 22, so that the pivot bearing body 14 and the guide body 40 are rotatable relative to each other and thus the ball neck 10 can be pivoted from the working position A to the rest position R and vice versa.

[0150] In the case of its fixed mounting, the guide body 40 comprises a projection 41 extending through an opening 27 in the support plate 26, which carries a receptacle 43 on a side opposite the flange 42 for a retaining ring 45 that can be fixed to it, so that the guide body 40 is guided by the projection 41 due to its non-rotationally symmetrical but radially varying outer contour 47 ( Fig. 15) is securely locked in the support plate 26 by means of a positive locking mechanism in the appropriately shaped opening 27 and is fixed to the support plate 26 by means of the flange 42 and the retaining ring 45, which are located on opposite sides of the support plate 26.

[0151] The guide body 40 thus forms the vehicle-mounted rotary bearing for the swivel bearing body 14 through its fixed connection with the support plate 26 and the carrier 24.

[0152] To fix the pivot bearing body 14 and the guide body 40 relative to each other in the working position A, the pivot bearing unit 20 is equipped with a rotary locking device designated as a whole by 50 ( Fig. 7 to Fig. 14) which has an actuating body 52, several rotary locking bodies 54 which can be actuated by the actuating body 52, each of which is guided in a guide receptacle 56 of the guide sleeve 44 in a guide direction 58 which is substantially radial to the pivot axis 22.

[0153] Preferably, at least the rotary locking elements 54 and the guide receptacles 56 are arranged symmetrically to a geometric plane perpendicular to the pivot axis 22 and intersecting the rotary locking elements 54, which are located in the Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Fig. 9, Fig. 10, Fig. 11, Fig. 12, Fig. 13 to Fig. 14 corresponds to the character plane.

[0154] Furthermore, the rotary locking device 50 comprises receptacles 60 extending into the pivot bearing body 14, particularly in the radial direction to the pivot axis 22, starting from the inner surface 48, with which the rotary locking elements 54 can be brought into engagement in the working position A, wherein the receptacles 60 have wall surfaces that are increasingly closer together in the radial direction to the pivot axis 22.

[0155] For example, does the rotary locking device 50 include, as in connection with Fig. 7 to Fig. As shown in the first embodiment, the guide sleeve 44 has a set of three rotary locking elements 54a, 54b and 54c, in which the rotary locking elements 54a, 54b and 54c are slidably guided in the guide direction 58 which is substantially radial to the pivot axis 22, and the pivot bearing body 14 is provided with a set of receptacles 60a, 60b and 60c with which the rotary locking elements 54a, 54b and 54c can be engaged in the working position A.

[0156] For suitable movement and positioning of the rotary locking elements 54 in the guide direction 58, the actuating body 52 is provided with a set of retraction receptacles 62a, 62b and 62c corresponding to the number of rotary locking elements 54, for example a total of three, and three pressure surfaces 66a, 66b and 66c adjoining the retraction receptacles 62a, 62b, 62c in a rotational direction 64, which are designed as wedge surfaces acting radially to the pivot axis 22, wherein the rotary locking elements 54 can immerse themselves in the retraction receptacles 62a, 62b, 62c to such an extent ( Fig. 8) that they no longer protrude beyond the outer surface 46 of the guide sleeve 44, and wherein the pressure surfaces 66a, 66b, 66c each extend from a radially inner initial region 68a, 68b and 68c immediately adjoining the respective retraction receptacles 62, with increasing extension in the direction of rotation 64 increasingly radially outwards towards the pivot axis 22, up to a radially outer end region 70a, 70b and 70c, and thus act as wedge surfaces on the rotary locking elements 54 during a rotary movement of the actuating body 52 in order to move them into their rotary locking position.

[0157] Preferably, the pressure surfaces 66 extend as spiral or involute segments relative to the pivot axis 22.

[0158] In order to either hold the rotary locking elements 54 in their rotary locking position by applying pressure to them with the pressure surfaces 66 between the initial region 68 and the final region 70, or to allow them to retract into the retraction recesses 62 in the release position, the actuating element 52 is also rotatable about the pivot axis 22, in particular coaxially to it, such that either the set of retraction recesses 62a, 62b and 62c faces the rotary locking elements 54 and engages them, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 8, in its inactive or release position, it allows the retraction receptacles 62 to move radially towards the pivot axis 22 during the transition to the release position, thus enabling the respective rotary locking elements 54 to leave the receptacles 60 and, together with the pivot bearing body 14, to rotate about the pivot axis 22 relative to the guide body 40, so that the pivot bearing body 14 with the ball neck 10 can rotate freely and without hindrance relative to the guide sleeve 44, as shown in Figure 8. Fig. 8 shown, in which case the rotational locking elements 54 do not extend beyond the outer surface 46 of the guide sleeve 44.

[0159] A rotation of the actuating body 52 with rotary locking elements 54 seated in the retraction receptacles 62 in a direction of rotation 72 opposite to the direction of rotation 64 causes the rotary locking elements 54 to be moved out of the retraction receptacles 62 and initially, in the active position or rotary locking position of the actuating body 52, to rest on the initial areas 68 of the pressure surfaces 66, but in doing so, for example, they plunge into the receptacles 60 and thus, in their rotary locking position, prevent the free rotation of the pivot bearing body 14 relative to the guide body 40.

[0160] If the actuating body 52 is rotated further in the direction of rotation 72 opposite to the direction of rotation 64, the areas of the pressure surfaces 66 that are increasingly radially outward from the pivot axis 22 act on the rotary locking bodies 54 and thus increasingly press the rotary locking bodies 54 into the receptacles 60a, 60b and 60c in the working position A of the ball neck 10 ( Fig. 7), in order to achieve an essentially backlash-free fixation of the pivot bearing body 14 relative to the guide body 40, in this case to the guide sleeve 44.

[0161] In the rotary locking position of the rotary locking elements 54, the actuating element 52 is in its active position such that the rotary locking elements 54, as in Fig. 7 shown, approximately on central areas 76, which lie between the initial areas 68 and the final areas 70, on which the pressure surfaces 66 sit and are acted upon.

[0162] To enable the actuating body 52 to optimally actuate each of the three rotary locking elements 54, it is provided that, in the active position, the actuating body 52 centers itself according to the position of the rotary locking elements 54. In particular, the actuating body 52 is mounted in the guide sleeve 44 such that, due to the radial play, the actuating body 52 can self-center relatively according to the position of the rotary locking elements 54 within the guide body 40, which is determined by manufacturing tolerances. The self-centering of the actuating body 52 may deviate slightly from a coaxial arrangement with respect to the geometric pivot axis 22.

[0163] Due to self-centering, the rotary locking elements 54a, 54b and 54c exert approximately equal forces on the receptacles 60a, 60b and 60c in the respective guide direction 58a, 58b and 58c, so that the reaction forces acting on the actuating element 52 are also approximately equal.

[0164] Preferably the rotary locking elements 54 are designed as balls, which thus bear against the actuating element 52 on one side and against the receptacles 60 on the other.

[0165] Thus, only a play-in rotatable bearing of the actuating body 52 relative to the pivot axis 22 occurs, which is primarily relevant when the actuating body 52 holds the rotary locking elements 54 in a release position in which the rotary locking elements 54 immerse in the retraction receptacles 62 of the actuating body 52.

[0166] In order to cause the actuating body 52 to always move in the direction of rotation 72 without external influence, whereby the rotary locking elements 54 move in the direction of the rotary locking position, the actuating body 52 is actuated by a torsion spring 114 ( Fig. 6), which acts on the actuating body 52 on the one hand and is supported radially on the outside of the guide body 40 on the other hand.

[0167] The torsion spring 114 also causes the actuating body 52 to press the rotary locking elements 54 into the receptacles 60 with force, thus fixing the pivot bearing body 14 without play, whereby the freedom from play is maintained even if the geometry of the receptacles 60 changes due to the loads during operation by further rotating the actuating body 52 in the direction of rotation 72.

[0168] The three guide receptacles 56 and the rotary locking elements 54 arranged in them, as well as the retraction receptacles 62 assigned to these rotary locking elements 54 with the pressure surfaces 66 adjoining them in the actuating body 52, each form three rotary locking units 80 and these are arranged around the pivot axis 22 at unequal angular distances Wab, Wbc, Wca (relative to the respective central axis Ma, Mb, Mc) relative to each other, whereby, with reference to the pivot axis 22 as the axis of rotation, a rotary locking configuration of the rotary locking units 80 only results in an identical arrangement of the rotary locking units 80 when the rotary locking configuration is rotated by 360°.

[0169] For example, the angular distance Wab = 120°, the angular distance Wbc = 137° and the angular distance Wca = 103°, meaning that the deviation from equal angular distances is 17°.

[0170] For example, with three rotary locking units, deviations from equal angular distances of up to 30° or more are possible, so that, for example, angular distances of Wab = 120°, Wbc = 150° and Wca = 90° are possible.

[0171] Likewise, the receptacles 60 are arranged relative to each other with respect to the pivot axis 22 in a receptacle configuration with the same angular distances relative to each other, which, with respect to the pivot axis 22, also only result in an identical arrangement of the respective receptacle configuration when rotated by 360°, so that in the working position this is identical to the rotation locking configuration, so that in working position A, a rotation locking element 54 of one of the rotation locking units 80 is opposite one of the receptacles 60 and can engage with it in the rotation locking position, as in Fig. 7 shown, whereby the swivel bearing body 14 is fixed in a rotationally fixed manner relative to the swivel bearing unit 20 ( Fig. 7).

[0172] However, if the actuating body 52 in the working position A is moved against the force of the torsion spring 114 into the release position, as described below, each of the rotary locking bodies 54 of the respective rotary locking unit 80 has the possibility of entering the retraction receptacle 62 assigned to it and leaving the respective receptacle 60, so that the pivot bearing body 14 can be pivoted out of the working position about the pivot axis 22 ( Fig. 8).

[0173] As soon as the swivel bearing body 14 has left the working position A ( Fig. 9), the assembly of rotary locking units 80 arranged in the rotary locking configuration relative to the pivot axis 22 no longer has the possibility of engaging with the assembly of receptacles 60 arranged in the receiving configuration, so that when the actuating body 52 is actuated in the direction of rotation 72, the assembly of rotary locking elements 54 seated in the retraction receptacles 62 can no longer engage with the assembly of receptacles 60, since the rotary locking elements 54 can, although actuated by the actuating body 52 actuated by the torsion spring 114 in the direction of rotation 72, in particular by the curved base surfaces of the retraction receptacles 62 which run obliquely to the guide direction 58,However, in each of the rotational positions of the pivot bearing body 14 outside the working position A, the entirety of the rotational locking elements 54 never faces a receptacle 60 from the entirety of the receptacles 60, and thus at least one of the rotational locking elements 54 is always blocked by one of the blocking surfaces 90 running between the receptacles 60, in the simplest case formed by the cylindrical inner surface 48 of the pivot bearing body 14, and thereby prevents a rotation of the actuating element 52 in the direction of rotation 72 caused by the torsion spring 114, so that the actuating element 52 is held in the released position in all pivotal positions of the pivot bearing body 14 outside the working position A, even when the torsion spring 114 acts in the direction of rotation 72, and consequently can only return to the rotational locking position when the working position A is reached.

[0174] Preferably, the deviation of the rotary locking configuration of the rotary locking unit 80 and the receiving configuration of the receivings 60 from a symmetrical design is so large that, when one of the rotary locking units 80 is opposite one of the receivings 60, so that the rotary locking element 54 could engage with this receiving 60, at least one, preferably at least two, rotary locking units 80 are offset relative to the nearest receiving 60 in the direction of rotation to such an extent that a contact point of the rotary locking element 54 associated with this rotary locking unit 80 is already located on one of the locking surfaces 90 and cannot be located in the area of ​​one of the receivings 60, so that a reliable locking of the actuating element 52, in particular when the actuating element 52 is acted upon by the torsion spring 114 in the direction of rotation 72, is ensured by the locking surfaces 90 effective in the release position.

[0175] If the actuating body 52 is acted upon with a direction of rotation 64 opposite to the action of the torsion spring 114 and is rotated to its maximum extent, the rotation locking elements 54 lie in all pivot positions of the pivot bearing body 14 with play between the respective locking surface 90 and the retraction receptacles 62 as shown in Fig. 9 shown.

[0176] However, if the effect of the torsion spring 114 dominates in the direction of rotation 72, then, even when pivoting from the working position A to the rest position R, the conditions in the respective pivot positions of the pivot bearing body 14 are as described in Fig. 10, Fig. 11, Fig. 12, Fig. 13 to Fig. 14 are shown.

[0177] The Fig. 9, Fig. 10, Fig. 11, Fig. 12, Fig. 13 to Fig. Figure 14 shows 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 two rotary locking elements 54, which bear against one of the locking surfaces 90, and prevent one of the rotary locking elements 54, for example the rotary locking element 54c, from moving. Fig. 11, the rotational locking body 54a in Fig. 12 and the rotational locking body 54b in Fig. 13, into which each of these encircling recordings can intervene 60.

[0178] In any case, the circumstances are as follows Fig. 9, Fig. 10, Fig. 11, Fig. 12, Fig. 13 to Fig. 14 when pivoting from rest position R ( Fig. 14) into the working position A, whereby the rotational locking bodies 54 are in contact with the locking surfaces 90 according to Fig. 9 when pivoting back from the rest position R to the working position A in the sequence according to Fig. 14 to Fig. 9 the rotary locking elements 54 slide from the locking surfaces 90 directly and, in particular, steplessly into the opening edges 92 of the receptacles 60 adjoining them with low noise generation into the receptacles 60 and into the rotary locking position according to Fig. Skip to 7.

[0179] 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 off the guide sleeve 44 and extends radially to the pivot axis 22, which is preferably integrally formed on the guide sleeve 44 and limits 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 bearing against an inner surface 108 of the flange 104.

[0180] The flange 104 also has a receptacle 106 coaxial to the pivot axis 22, in which an insert 110, penetrated by a pivot drive shaft 100, is inserted, in particular screwed in, and is seated in the receptacle 106.

[0181] On a side of the receptacle 102 for the actuating body 52 opposite the flange 104, the guide sleeve 44, for example with a section passing through the flange 42, forms a torsion spring receptacle 112 in which the torsion spring 114 is arranged following the actuating body 52, which is fixed at one end in the torsion spring receptacle 112 and is connected at one end to a drive sleeve 122 which is rotationally fixed to the actuating body 52.

[0182] For this purpose, the drive sleeve 122 is used, as shown in the Fig. 6, Fig. 7 and Fig. 16 shown, for example provided with extensions 124 which engage in corresponding recesses 126 in the actuating body 52 to create a positive locking connection.

[0183] Because the torsion spring 114 acts on the drive sleeve 122, which is rotationally fixed to the actuating body 52, the action of the torsion spring 114 on the drive sleeve 122 causes the actuating body 52 to rotate in the direction 72. Thus, when the torsion spring 114 acts unimpeded on the drive sleeve 122, the actuating body 52 is always subjected to rotation in the direction 72. This causes it to tend to move the rotary locking elements 54 radially outwards away from the pivot axis 22 in the guide direction 58. This movement is prevented by the locking surfaces 90 in all intended pivot positions of the pivot bearing body 14, except for the working position A. Consequently, only in working position A are the rotary locking elements 54 pressed into the receptacles 60, thus fixing the pivot bearing body 14 rotationally fixed and, in particular, free of play relative to the guide sleeve 44. becomes.

[0184] In order to move the rotary locking elements 54 into the release position, an action on the actuating element 52 opposite to the direction of rotation 72 and thus also opposite to the effect of the torsion spring 114 is required.

[0185] For this purpose, the drive sleeve 122 can be driven by means of a planetary gear set 130 designated as a whole as 130 ( Fig. 6), which is arranged in a gearbox receptacle 132 of the guide sleeve 44, in particular coaxial to the pivot axis 22, which is arranged, for example, partially within the opening 27 of the carrier plate 26 and preferably extends away from the opening 27 of the carrier plate 26 on a side opposite the flange 42.

[0186] 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 an internal toothing 144, with which planet gears 146 engage with their external toothing 148.

[0187] The planet gears 146 are rotatably held on a planet gear carrier 152, which in turn is non-rotatably connected to the swivel drive shaft 100, so that the planet gear carrier 152 forms an output of the planetary gear 130 for performing the swiveling of the ball neck 10.

[0188] Furthermore, it includes - as in Fig. Figure 16 shows the ring gear 142 having a flange body 154 located between the planet gear carrier 152 and the torsion spring 114, which also extends in the direction of the swivel drive shaft 100, surrounds it, but is rotatable relative to it and represents an output of the planetary gear 130 for actuating the rotary locking device 50.

[0189] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 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 are designed such 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 allows for clearance of the drive sleeve 122 relative to the ring gear 142, which will be explained in detail below.

[0190] The planet gears 146 are furthermore engaged with their external teeth 148 with an external tooth 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 is, for example, by means of an end shaft stub 168 which engages in a face bore 172 of the pivot drive shaft 100, freely rotatable relative to the pivot drive shaft 100, but mounted coaxially to it.

[0191] The drive shaft 166 carries a drive gear 174, for example a bevel gear, at a distance from the planetary gear 130, which is driven by an output gear of a motor drive unit 182, which, for example, comprises on the one hand a drive motor, preferably an electric motor, and on the other hand a reduction gear for driving the drive gear.

[0192] The drive unit 182 is, for example, held on a cover body 184, which extends from the carrier plate 26 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.

[0193] Thus, the planetary gear 130 and the drive unit 182, for example, form among other things an actuating device 180 for the rotary locking device 50.

[0194] The swivel drive shaft 100, which is rotationally fixed to the planetary gear carrier 152, passes through the flange 104 of the guide body 40, as already described, and is rotationally fixed to a drive body 194 at an end 192 that projects beyond the insert 110 ( Fig. 17 and Fig. 18), which has two drive arms 196a and 196b extending towards an end flange 198 of the pivot bearing body 14, which overlaps an outer area 200 of the flange 104 of the guide body 40, and thereby engage positively in recesses of the same to establish a rotationally fixed connection between the drive body 194 and the pivot bearing body 14.

[0195] The end flange 198 overlaps the flange 104 of the guide body 40 in the outer area 200 and extends to a guide projection 202 of the flange 104, wherein the end flange 198, for example, with a radially inner cylindrical surface 204, encompasses an outer cylindrical surface 206 of the guide projection 202 and, for example, rests against it and is thereby also additionally guided coaxially to the pivot axis 22 at the guide projection 202.

[0196] Furthermore, a thread 212 extends into the receptacle 106 of the guide extension 202, in which the insert 110 is fixed, in particular screwed in, which with an outer flange 214 partially overlaps the end flange 198 in a radially inner area, so that the end flange 198 of the swivel bearing body 14 is axially non-displaceable between the flange 104 and the outer flange 214 of the insert 110 and thus is axially non-displaceable relative to the guide body 40.

[0197] Furthermore, a cover 222 is mounted non-rotatably on the end flange 198, which overlaps the drive body 194 with the drive arms 196 and forms a bearing receptacle 224 for the end 192 of the guide shaft 100, so that the cover 222 forms a unit with the pivot bearing body 14 which is rotatable about the pivot axis 22 ( Fig. 17).

[0198] The cover 222 sits on the end flange 198 and is fixed to it in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0199] In the solution described above, only one set of mounts 60 is provided for the rotationally fixed fixing of the swivel bearing body 14 in the working position A, while in the rest position R a fixing of the swivel bearing body 14 by the rotational locking device 50 is not provided.

[0200] For the safe operation of the trailer coupling according to the invention, a multiple locking device designated as a whole by 270 is provided, which comprises a locking element 272, which in turn is guided in a guide 274, for example designed as a bore, in or on the flange 104 of the guide sleeve 44 of the guide body 40, which lies between the actuating element 52 and the end flange 198 of the pivot bearing body 14, in a displacement direction 295, for example in a direction parallel to the pivot axis 22.

[0201] As in Fig. Figure 18 shows the locking body 272, which can be positioned so that in a locking position with a first end 276 facing the actuating body 52 it is able to engage from the guide 274 into a receptacle 282 of the actuating body 52 when the latter is in the rotary locking position and thus fixes the pivot bearing body 14 with the ball neck 10 in the working position.

[0202] Furthermore, the blocking body 272, as in Fig. 19 shown, movable into an intermediate position in which the first end 276 no longer engages in the recess 282 of the actuating body 52, but is preferably positioned within the extension of the flange 104 in the displacement direction 295.

[0203] Furthermore, the blocking body 272 remains in the intermediate position with a second end 278 opposite the first end 276 without a blocking effect, and is preferably also positioned within the extent of the flange 104 in the displacement direction 295 ( Fig. 19).

[0204] The blocking body 272 can also be moved relative to the guide 274 in the displacement direction 295 so that its second end 278 engages in a receptacle 284 of the end flange 198 of the swivel bearing body 14, but only when the swivel bearing body 14 and thus also the ball neck 10 are in the rest position ( Fig. 20), so that the blocking body 272 is then in a resting blocking position.

[0205] Thus, with the multiple locking device 270, it is possible to secure the actuating body 52 in its rotary locking position by moving the locking body 272 in its displacement direction 295 in the locking position, thereby providing an additional locking mechanism for the actuating body 52 which is already spring-loaded in the rotary locking position; on the other hand, it is possible to perform no locking function in the intermediate position and to block the pivot bearing body 14 and thus also the ball neck 10 in the rest position in the rest position locking position.

[0206] This movement of the blocking body 272 is effected by means of a blocking actuation device 280, which is coupled to the actuation unit 180 for the rotary blocking device 50.

[0207] The locking actuation device 280 comprises a cam guide designated as a whole by 290, wherein the cam guide 290 acts on a cam follower 292, which in turn acts on a transmission element 294 of the locking actuation device 280 which is coupled to the locking body 272 and is also movable in the displacement direction 295, so that the locking body 272 can be moved into the locking position, the intermediate position and the rest locking position by the locking actuation device 280.

[0208] Preferably, the cam guide 290 is arranged circumferentially of the ring gear 142 of the actuating unit 180, which is part of the planetary gear 130, which on the one hand serves via the drive sleeve 122 to drive the actuating body 52 of the rotary locking device 50 and on the other hand to pivot the swivel bearing body 14 by driving the swivel drive shaft 100 via the planet gear carrier 152 coupled to it.

[0209] As in Fig. 21, in particular Fig. 21a, shown, the actuating body 52 is in the rotary locking position of the rotary locking device 50 such that it acts on the rotary locking bodies 54 in a radial direction to the pivot axis 22 and moves them in the guide direction 58 into the provided receptacles 60 in order to thus fix the pivot bearing body 14 rotationally fixed relative to the pivot axis 22 in the working position A.

[0210] In this regard, the pressure surfaces 66 of the actuating body 52 act in particular on the rotary locking elements 54, as also in Fig. 21a shown.

[0211] For example, the recess 282, into which the locking body 272 engages with its first end 276 to secure the rotational position of the actuating body 52, is located next to the retraction receptacle 62 and a pressure surface 66 of a subsequent rotational locking body 54 in the circumferential direction.

[0212] As further in Fig. As shown in Figure 21a, the cam guide 290 comprises cam tracks 312 and 314 arranged circumferentially around the ring gear 142, which, for positioning the cam follower 292 in the locking position of the blocking body 272, have positioning sections 312a and 314e arranged relative to each other such that the cam follower 292 is positioned exactly between these positioning sections 312a and 314e of the two cam tracks 312 and 314 in the locking position and thus has no possibility of moving in its displacement direction 295, for example in the direction parallel to the pivot axis 22, into the intermediate position or the rest position locking position, so that, through this exactly defined positioning of the cam follower 292, the transmission element 294 positions the blocking body 272 immovably in the locking position and thus additionally secures the actuating body 52.

[0213] Furthermore, the transmission element 294 extends, as in Fig. 21c shown, up to a sensor actuation element 296, which in a first embodiment of a sensor unit 300, comprising an evaluation unit 308 and a sensor 301, actuates the sensor 301 when the transmission element 294 is moved in the displacement direction 295 by means of a mechanical position indication element 298 movable relative to the sensor 301.

[0214] In particular, in the illustrated case of a sensor 301 designed as a push button, the position indicator element 298 has a first touch surface 302, a second touch surface 304 which rises transversely to the displacement direction 295' towards the sensor 301 relative to the first touch surface 302, and a third touch surface 306 which is designed and extends in accordance with the first touch surface, so that the first touch surface 302 and the third touch surface 306 in conjunction with the sensor 301 generate the same first signal, while the second touch surface 304, due to the fact that it is raised relative to the first 302 and third touch surface 306, generates a second signal that differs from the first signal.

[0215] For example, the first touch surface 302 serves to detect the locking position, the second touch surface 304 to detect the intermediate position, and the third touch surface 306 to detect the rest position locking position, whereby in the simplest case the first touch surface 302 and the third touch surface 306, which run relative to the direction of movement 295, generate the same first touch signal from the sensor 301, while the second touch surface 304, which rises relative to the direction of movement 295, generates a different second touch signal from the sensor 301.

[0216] As further in Fig. As shown in Figure 21b, in the initial position of the ring gear 142 of the planetary gear 130, the drive fingers 158a and 158b, which engage in the drive slots 156a and 156b, rest against the drive webs 157a and 157b separating the drive slots 156a and 156b in such a way that driving the ring gear 142 initially does not cause the drive fingers 158a and 158b to be driven, since the ring gear 142 moves in the direction of rotation 322 in which the drive webs 157a and 157b move away from the drive fingers 158a and 158b, as shown in Fig. 22b is recognizable.

[0217] This causes the cam follower 292 to move along an extension section 312b of the cam track 312 ( Fig. 22a), which displaces the cam follower 292 and the transmission element 294 such that the blocking body 272 moves out of the recess 282 in the actuating body 52 into the intermediate position in which it, as in Fig. 19 shows that neither the first end 276 engages in the recess 282 in the actuating body 52 nor the second end 278 engages in the recess 284 in the flange 198 of the pivot bearing body 14.

[0218] In this intermediate position, defined by the positioning section 312c, the actuating body 52 is not secured against further rotation.

[0219] After reaching the end of the extension section 312a and thus releasing the locking position, a further rotation of the ring gear 142, as shown in Fig. Figure 22b shows that the drive webs 157a and 157b act on the drive fingers 158b and 158a respectively, and can rotate them further in the direction of rotation 322.

[0220] Reaching the intermediate position also results in the displacement of the transmission element 294 for the movement of the blocking body 272 simultaneously causing a displacement of the sensor actuation element 296, which in turn causes the sensor 300 to act on the sensor 300 with the second touching surface 304, and the sensor is thus able to detect the intermediate position, as shown in Fig. 22c is shown.

[0221] A further rotation of the ring gear 142 in the direction of rotation 322 results in the drive webs 157a and 157b striking the drive fingers 158a and 158b respectively, thus releasing the rotational locking position, so that the rotational locking elements 54 can retract into the retraction recesses 62 of the actuating body 52 and are therefore no longer subjected to radial pressure by the pressure surfaces 66.

[0222] This removes the rotational locking position of the rotational locking device 50.

[0223] Through this further rotation of the ring gear 142, the cam follower 292 also follows an actuation section 312d of the cam track 312, which is designed in the form of a spring-elastic element, for example a leaf spring, but which, as can be seen from the comparison of the Fig. 23a with the Fig. 22a results in, initially leading to a spring-elastic actuation of the cam follower 292, so that, as in Fig. 23a and Fig. 23c to recognize, initially allows that the blocking body 272 due to the blocking of the movement of the blocking body 272 by the end flange 198 of the pivot bearing body 14m, as in Fig. 19 is shown, remaining in the intermediate position.

[0224] The possibility of the actuation section 312b to initially act upon the cam follower 292 with an elastically acting spring force without displacing the locking body 272 is necessary because, although the rotary locking position of the rotary locking device 50 is released, no rotation of the pivot bearing body 14 has yet taken place, and thus the end flange 198 does not allow the displacement of the locking body 272 into the rest position locking position.

[0225] Such a rotation of the pivot bearing body 14 occurs due to the fact that, through the in Fig. 23b shows the actuating body 52 in its rotational position against the force of the torsion spring 114, which is moved into its release position, but remains in the release position and therefore cannot be rotated further.

[0226] This means that the drive fingers 158a and 158b block further rotation of the ring gear 142 by acting on the drive webs 157b and 157a respectively, thus enabling the planet gear carrier 152 to be driven due to a blockage of the rotational movement of the ring gear 142 in the direction of rotation 292, which leads to a pivoting of the pivot bearing body 14 and thus of the ball neck 10, while the planetary gear 130 is driven further.

[0227] By pivoting the pivot bearing body 14, its end flange 198 rotates relative to the flange 104 until the ball neck 10 reaches the rest position in which the receptacle 284 in the end flange 198 is aligned with the guide 274, so that the locking element 272 can then enter the receptacle 284 with its end 278, as shown in Fig. 20 and Fig. 24c is shown.

[0228] At the moment the receptacle 284 aligns with the guide 274 of the blocking body 272, the elastically acting actuation section 312d of the cam track 312 can move the cam follower 292 in the direction of the cam track 314 and thus, by means of the transmission element 294, push the actuating body 272 with the second end 278 into the receptacle 284.

[0229] In this position, the rotary locking elements 54 remain in their release position in the retraction receptacles 62, since they have no possibility of entering the opposite receptacles 60 in the pivot bearing body 14 despite being acted upon by the torsion spring 114, as can be seen from Fig. 14 results.

[0230] In the now achieved resting position locking position, shown in Fig. 20 and Fig. 24 the elastic actuation section 312d with the positioning section 312e presses the cam follower 292 so far in the direction of the cam track 314 that the cam follower 292 is positioned in a defined position between a positioning section 314a of the cam track 314 and the elastic positioning section 312e and thus the rest position blocking position is maintained in a defined manner.

[0231] In this case too, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 24c, the position indicator element 298 is moved relative to the sensor 300 by means of the transmission element 294 so far that the touch surface 306 acts on the sensor and the sensor is in turn able to detect the rest position blocking position.

[0232] In order to pivot the ball neck 10 with the swivel bearing element 14 back from the rest position R to the working position A, a reversal of the drive direction is required, so that, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 25b, the ring gear 142 is now rotated in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation 322, that is, in the direction of rotation 324, whereby initially no action is applied to the drive fingers 158a and 158b, but the drive webs 157a and 157b can be rotated independently of the drive fingers 158a and 158b until the drive webs 157a and 157b are again in contact with the drive fingers 158a and 158b, as shown in Fig. 25b shown.

[0233] This has the consequence, as in Fig. Figure 25a shows that, starting from the rest position blocking position, the cam follower 292 can now be acted upon by the cam track 314, in particular the extension section 314b, and thus the cam follower 292 moves again in the direction of the cam track 312, so that the blocking body 272, starting from the rest position blocking position, again into the intermediate position, as shown in Fig. 25a is being moved.

[0234] To achieve this intermediate position, the extension section 314b extends to a positioning section 314c so far in the direction of the cam track 312 that the cam follower 292 reaches a position that corresponds approximately to the positioning section 312c at the end of the extension section 312b, and thus the intermediate position of the blocking body 272 is identical to the intermediate position in the positioning section 312c after passing through the extension section 312b.

[0235] During this rotational movement of the ring gear 142, there is no rotational movement of the actuating body 52, so that the rotary locking elements 54 remain in the retraction receptacles 62 and thus in the released position.

[0236] However, as in Fig. 25b shows that the displacement of the cam follower 292 results in a displacement of the position indicator element 298, so that the second touch surface 304 now acts on the sensor 300, which in turn detects the intermediate position.

[0237] Further rotation of the ring gear 142 is not possible in this intermediate position, as the actuating element 52 remains in its released position and thus the drive fingers 156 and 158 prevent further rotation of the ring gear 142 until the swivel bearing body 14 with the ball neck 10, driven by the planet carrier 152, has reached the working position A, in which the rotation locking device 50 has the opportunity to move into the rotation locking position and thus the drive fingers 158a and 158b again allow rotation of the ring gear 142, so that then, as in Fig. 26a shows that the actuation section 314d can act on the cam follower 292 and can move it into the position corresponding to the securing position of the blocking body 272 as specified by the positioning sections 314e and 312a, in which the blocking body 272 with its first end 276 immerses in the receptacle 282 ( Fig. 26a).

[0238] At the same time, in this safety position, the cam follower 292 is positioned between the cam tracks 312 and 314.

[0239] In the rotary locking position, the rotary locking elements 54 are again acted upon by the pressure surfaces 56, so that the receptacle 282 is aligned with the guide 274 for the locking element 272 and thus a displacement of the locking element 272 into the locking position is made possible ( Fig. 26c).

[0240] Likewise, the transmission element 294 moves the position indicator element 298 into the position corresponding to the locking position, in which the first touch surface 302 again acts on the sensor 301 ( Fig. 26c).

[0241] In a second embodiment of a sensor unit 300' according to the invention, shown in the Fig. 27a, Fig. 27b and Fig. 27c the position indicator element 298 is designed in the same way as described in connection with the first embodiment, that is, the first touch surface 302 and the third touch surface 306 generate the same signal for a sensor 301 designed as a push button, while the second touch surface 304 generates a different signal from the sensor designed as a push button.

[0242] For this reason, in the second embodiment, two sensors 301a and 301b designed as pushbuttons are provided, which are arranged next to each other in such a way that each of the sensors 301a and 301b can scan one of the touch surfaces 302, 304 and 306 of two adjacent touch surfaces 302 and 304 or 304 and 306.

[0243] As in Fig. As shown in 27a, in the locking position of the blocking body 272 the position indicator element 298 is positioned by the transmission element 294 such that the first sensor 301a scans the first touch surface 302 and the second sensor 301b scans the second touch surface 304.

[0244] This results in the first sensor 301a generating a first signal corresponding to one of the touch surfaces 302 or 306, while the second sensor 301b generating a second signal corresponding to the second touch surface 304.

[0245] Is the blocking body 272 removed from the in Fig. 27a, the safety position shown, is moved to the intermediate position, as shown in Fig. 27b, moves, so the position indicator element 298 is moved by the transmission element 294 so far that the first sensor 301a scans the second touch surface 304 and that this generates the corresponding second signal, while the second sensor 301b scans the third touch surface 306 and thereby generates the first signal, which differs from that of the second touch surface 304.

[0246] Thus, in the intermediate position, sensors 301a and 301b generate exactly the opposite signals as in the safety position according to Fig. 27a.

[0247] If the blocking body 272 is moved into the rest position blocking position, as in Fig. As shown in 27c, the first sensor 301a scans the third touch surface 306 and the second sensor 301b does not scan any touch surface and thus generates the same first signal as the first sensor that scans the third touch surface 306.

[0248] This means that in this case both sensors 301 and 301b generate the same first signal.

[0249] Thus, the safety position can be set according to Fig. 27a, the intermediate position according to Fig. 27b and the resting position locking position according to Fig. 27c when evaluating the touch signals of the sensors 301a and 301b in relation to each other by means of an evaluation unit 308' in a simple and unambiguous way distinguish and display.

[0250] This means that the safety position, the intermediate position and the rest position blocking position for an evaluation unit 308' can be uniquely identified and communicated on the output side.

[0251] In a third embodiment of a sensor unit 300 according to the invention, shown in the Fig. 28a, Fig. 28b and Fig. 28c the sensor 301" is designed as a magnetic field sensor which is able to detect different magnetic field directions in space.

[0252] Furthermore, the position indicator element 298" is designed as a magnet, the north pole N and south pole S of which are spaced apart in the displacement direction 295 of the transmission element 294 and generate a magnetic field 299 extending in space around the position indicator element 298" designed as a magnet, which in the area near the north pole extends transversely in a first direction perpendicular to the displacement direction, in the area between the north pole and south pole extends approximately parallel to the displacement direction 295 in space and in the area near the south pole extends in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

[0253] Thus, the magnetic field sensor 301" can detect different positions of the position indicator element 298" which is designed as a magnet.

[0254] For example, in the locking position of the blocking body 272, the magnetic field sensor 301" detects the part of the magnetic field 299 that runs in the first direction perpendicular to the direction of displacement, for example in the direction of the magnetic field sensor 301' in space.

[0255] If the blocking element 272 is moved into the intermediate position, as in Fig. As shown in 28b, the magnetic field sensor 301" is penetrated by the part of the magnetic field running parallel to the displacement direction 295 between the north pole N and the south pole S and thus detects a direction of the magnetic field in space that has changed by 90° relative to the direction in the locking position.

[0256] If, on the other hand, the blocking body 272 is moved into the rest position blocking position, it can be seen how in Fig.28c shows the magnetic field sensor 301" located near the south pole S in space in the direction of the part of the magnetic field 299 that is perpendicular to the displacement direction 295, but away from the magnetic field sensor 301".

[0257] This enables an evaluation unit 308" to clearly distinguish and communicate the safe position, the intermediate position and the rest position blocking position by detecting the different directions of the magnetic field 299 in space using the magnetic field sensor 301". QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] FROM 10 2020 111 469

[0002]

Claims

[1] Trailer coupling comprising a ball neck (10) movable between a working position (A) and a rest position (R), the ball neck being connected at a first end to a pivot bearing unit (20) and carrying a coupling ball (18) at a second end, wherein the ball neck (10) is pivotable by means of the pivot bearing unit (20) when performing a pivoting movement about a pivot axis (22) between the working position (A) and the rest position (R), and a rotary locking device (50) acting between a guide body (40) and a pivot bearing body (14) of the pivot bearing unit (20), comprising on the one hand at least two rotary locking units (80), each of which has a rotary locking element (54) which is movably guided in a guide direction (58) by means of a guide receptacle (56) of the guide body (40) and which is guided in the guide direction (58) by a transversely extendinga pressure surface (66) provided on an actuating body (52) is movable, and with at least two receptacles (60) on the other hand, wherein by a movement of the actuating body (52) in an actuating direction (72) the rotary locking elements (54) of all rotary locking units (80) are movable and actuated in the guide direction (58) and wherein the rotary locking elements (54) of all rotary locking units (80) in the working position (A) can be brought into a rotary locking position by movement in the guide direction (58) and in this position each rotary locking element (54) engages with one of the receptacles (60) in order to block a pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body (14) and the guide body (40) relative to each other about the pivot axis (22), and can be brought into a release position and in this position are disengaged from the respective receptacle (60) and release the relative movement between the pivot bearing body (14) and the guide body (40),wherein in all intended relative pivot positions between pivot bearing body (14) and guide body (40) including the rest position (R) and excluding the working position (A) movement of the actuating body (52) in the actuating direction (72) and consequently also force-actuated engagement of the rotary locking elements (54) of each of the rotary locking units (80) in each of the receptacles (60) is blocked, characterized by , that a multiple locking device (270) is provided which comprises a locking element (272) which is movable into a rest position locking position which blocks the pivot bearing body (14) and the guide body (40) relative to each other in the rest position (R), into a locking position which secures the actuating body (52) in the rotation locking position and into an intermediate position between the rest position locking position and the locking position. [2] Trailer coupling according to claim 1, characterized by, that the blocking body (272) is guided on the guide body (40) of the pivot bearing unit (20). [3] Trailer coupling according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the blocking body (272) is guided in a guide (274) arranged on the guide body (40). [4] Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the guide (274) for the locking body (272) is arranged in a wall area (104) of the guide body (40) adjacent to the actuating body (52) and the pivot bearing body (14). [5] Trailer coupling according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by , that the blocking body (272) is movable in the guide (274) in a direction approximately parallel to the pivot axis (22). [6] Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the locking body (272) engages in a receptacle (284) in the pivot bearing body (14) in the rest position locking position. [7] Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the locking element (272) engages in a receptacle (282) in the actuating element (52) in the locking position. [8] Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims. characterized by , that the blocking element (272) is arranged in the intermediate position between the receptacle (282) in the actuating element (52) and the receptacle (284) in the pivot bearing unit (14). [9] Trailer coupling according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized by , that the blocking body (272) engages with one end (276, 278) in the respective receptacle (282, 284) both in the locking position and in the resting locking position, extending and guided by the guide (274). [10] Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the blocking body (272) can be fixed in the safe position, the intermediate position and the rest position blocking position by a blocking actuating device (280). [11] Trailer coupling according to claim 10, characterized by , that the locking actuation device (280) comprises a cam guide (290) and a cam follower (292) movable by this cam follower, which is coupled to the locking body (272). [12] Trailer coupling according to claim 11, characterized by , that the cam follower (292) can be moved approximately parallel to the pivot axis (22) by means of the cam guide (290). [13] Trailer coupling according to claim 11 or 12, characterized by , that the scenery guide (290) is movable transversely to the pivot axis (22). [14] Trailer coupling according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized by , that the cam track (290) can be moved by the blocking actuation device (280). [15] Trailer coupling according to claim 14, characterized by, that the blocking actuation device (280) comprises a body (142) which carries the cam guide (290) and is rotatable relative to the cam follower (292). [16] Trailer coupling according to one of claims 11 to 15, characterized by , that the scenery control (290) has at least one scenery track (312, 314) acting on the scenery follower (292). [17] Trailer coupling according to one of claims 11 to 16, characterized by , that the scenery mechanism (290) has two scenery tracks (312, 314) acting on the scenery follower (292) and leading it between themselves. [18] Trailer coupling according to claim 17, characterized by , that both cam tracks (312, 314) together fix the cam follower (292) in a position specifying the safety position. [19] Trailer coupling according to claim 17 or 18, characterized by, that both cam tracks (312, 314) together fix the cam follower (292) in a position specifying the rest position blocking position. [20] Trailer coupling according to one of claims 17 to 19, characterized by , that a first cam track (312) comprises a track section (312b) that moves the cam follower (292) from the position defining the safety position to a position defining the intermediate position. [21] Trailer coupling according to one of claims 17 to 20, characterized by , that the first cam track (312) includes a cam follower (292) from the position defining the intermediate position to a track section (312d) acting on it in the direction of a position corresponding to the rest position blocking position. [22] Trailer coupling according to claim 21, characterized by, that the track section (312d) acting in the direction of the position corresponding to the rest position blocking position acts spring-elastically on the cam follower (292) in this direction. [23] Trailer coupling according to claim 22, characterized by , that the track section (312d) is formed by a spring-elastic movable section of the first cam track (312). [24] Trailer coupling according to claim 23, characterized by , that in the position corresponding to the rest position blocking position of the cam follower (292) between the spring-elastic movable track section of the first cam track (312) in conjunction with the second cam track (314) is fixed. [25] Trailer coupling according to one of claims 17 to 24, characterized by, that the second cam track (314) has a track section (314b) which moves the cam follower (292) from the position corresponding to the rest position blocking position to a position corresponding to the intermediate position. [26] Trailer coupling according to one of claims 17 to 25, characterized by , that the second cam track (314) has a track section (314d) which moves the cam follower (292) from the position corresponding to the intermediate position to the position corresponding to the safety position. [27] Trailer coupling according to one of claims 17 to 26, characterized by , that the first cam track (312) is effective by a movement of the cam guide (290) in a first direction of rotation (322) and that the second cam track (314) is effective by a movement of the cam guide in a direction of rotation (324) opposite to the first direction of rotation (322). [28] Trailer coupling according to claim 27, characterized by, that the locking actuation device (280) can be driven by an actuation device (180) for the rotary locking device (50). [29] Trailer coupling according to claim 28, characterized by , that the locking actuation device (280) is coupled to the actuation device (180). [30] Trailer coupling according to claim 28 or 29, characterized by , that the cam track (290) is arranged on a rotatable body (142) of a planetary gear (130) of the actuating device (180) for the rotary locking device (50). [31] Trailer coupling according to claim 30, characterized by , that the cam track (290) is arranged on a ring gear (142) of a planetary gear (130) of the actuating device (180). [32] Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the multiple locking device (270) has a sensor unit (300) that detects the positions of the locking body (272). [33] Trailer coupling according to claim 32, characterized by , that the sensor unit (300) detects the safe position, the rest position blocking position and the intermediate position. [34] Trailer coupling according to claim 32 or 33, characterized by , that the sensor unit (300) is designed to distinguish at least the intermediate position from the safety position and the rest position blocking position, in particular to distinguish all these positions from each other. [35] Trailer coupling according to one of claims 32 to 34, characterized by , that the sensor unit (300, 300') comprises at least one push button (301), in particular two push buttons (301a, 301b). [36] Trailer coupling according to one of claims 32 to 35, characterized by , that the sensor unit (300'') comprises a magnetic field sensor (301''), in particular a magnetic field sensor (301'') that detects the course of a magnetic field (298) in space. [37] Trailer coupling according to any one of the preceding claims 11 to 36, characterized by , that the cam follower (292) is coupled to the blocking body (272) by means of a transmission element (294). [38] Trailer coupling according to claim 37, characterized by , that the transmission element (294) is coupled with a sensor actuation element (296). [39] Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that locking surfaces (90) extend between the receptacles (60), against which the rotary locking elements (54) can be applied and from which the receptacles (60) extend, that the rotary locking units (80) and the receptacles (60) are arranged around the pivot axis (22) at angular distances (W) from each other such that in all intended relative pivot positions between pivot bearing body (14) and guide body (40), including the rest position (R) and excluding the working position (A), at least one of the rotary locking units (80) is opposite one of the locking surfaces (90), and that the locking surface (90), in particular when force is applied to the actuating body (52), prevents movement of the actuating body (52) in the actuating direction (72) and consequently also a force-applied engagement of the rotary locking elements (54) of each of the rotary locking units (80) in one of the receptacles (60). blocked. [40] Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the rotary locking units (80) are arranged at angular distances (W) around the pivot axis (22) to form a rotary locking configuration, that the receptacles (60) are arranged at the same angular distances (W) around the pivot axis (22) to form a receptacle configuration as the rotary locking units (80), that the rotary locking configuration and the receptacle configuration are congruent with each other in the working position (A) so that the rotary locking bodies (54) can engage in the receptacles (60), and that the angular distances (W) between the rotary locking units (80) of the rotary locking configuration and the angular distances between the receptacles (60) of the receptacle configuration are selected such that the rotary locking configuration and the receptacle configuration are congruent with each other only in the working position (A). [41] Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims 39 or 340 characterized by, that the angular distances (W) of at least one of the rotary locking units (80) to the rotary locking units (80) arranged in a direction of rotation around the pivot axis (22) and to the rotary locking units (80) arranged adjacent to it in the opposite direction to this direction of rotation are unequal, and that in the working position (A) the receptacles (60) are arranged such that the rotary locking element (54) of each of the rotary locking units (80) can be brought into engagement with one of the receptacles (60), and that in all relative pivot positions intended for operation between pivot bearing body (14) and guide body (40), including the rest position (R), which lie outside the working position (A), the rotary locking element (54) of at least one of the rotary locking units (80) is opposite a locking surface (90) extending between the receptacles (60), and the locking surface (90), in particular when force is applied to the actuating body (52),a movement of the actuating body (52) from the release position to the rotation lock position is blocked. [42] Trailer coupling according to any one of the preceding claims 39 to 41, characterized by , that the blocking surfaces (90) face the rotational blocking bodies (54) of the rotational blocking units (80). [43] Trailer coupling according to any one of the preceding claims 39 to 42, characterized by , that the blocking surfaces (90) extend in a defined radius around the pivot axis (22). [44] Trailer coupling according to any one of the preceding claims 39 to 43, characterized by , that the blocking surfaces (90) extend to the opening edges (92) of the recordings (60) and merge into them. [45] Trailer coupling according to claim 44, characterized by , that the opening edges (92) of the receptacles (60) are at the same radial distance from the pivot axis (22) as the blocking surfaces (90). [46] Trailer coupling according to any one of the preceding claims 39 to 45, characterized by , that at least one of the rotary locking elements (54) of the rotary locking units (80) bears against one of the locking surfaces (90) during a pivoting movement of the pivot bearing body (14) in the direction of the working position (A), in particular bearing against it under force by the action of the actuating element (52). [47] Trailer coupling according to any one of the preceding claims 39 to 46, characterized by , that the rotating locking elements (54) are subjected to force against the locking surfaces (90) before reaching the working position (A) and subsequently enter the receptacles (60) subjected to force against the opening edges (92) of the receptacles (60). [48] ​​Trailer coupling according to any one of the preceding claims 39 to 47, characterized bythat the recordings (60) 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). [49] Trailer coupling according to any one of the preceding claims 39 to 48, characterized by that the receptacles (60) and the blocking surfaces (90) are arranged facing the guide body (40). [50] Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the guide body (40) is part of the vehicle-fixed pivot bearing unit (20). [51] Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that in the guide body (40) all guide receptacles (56) for the rotary locking elements (54) of the rotary locking units (80) are arranged, and / or that in particular the guide direction (58) runs with at least one component in the radial direction to the pivot axis (22), and / or that in particular the guide body (40) has a guide sleeve (44) with guide receptacles (56) for the rotary locking elements (54) of the rotary locking units (80) and that in particular the rotary locking elements (54) are guided by the guide body (40) which extends in the radial direction to the pivot bearing body (14). [52] Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a pivot bearing is provided between the guide body (40) and the pivot bearing body (14). [53] Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the actuating body (52) is guided movably relative to the guide body (40), that in particular the actuating body (52) is arranged rotatably about the pivot axis (22) and in particular has wedge surfaces (66) extending over an angular range about the pivot axis (22) and varying parallel to the guide direction (58), preferably combined with retraction receptacles (62). [54] Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the receptacles (60) and the locking surfaces (90) are arranged on the pivot bearing body (14). [55] Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the actuating body (52) is enclosed by the guide body (40) and that in particular the pivot bearing body (14) surrounds the guide body (40), and that in particular the rotary locking elements (54) are arranged around the actuating body (52). [56] Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the pivot bearing body (14) forms an outer body enclosing the pivot bearing unit (20) on the outside, which is arranged so as not to be displaced relative to the pivot bearing unit (20) in the direction of the pivot axis (22), and that in particular the pivot bearing body (14) forms an outer body enclosing at least a partial area of ​​the rotary locking unit (50) on the outside, which is arranged so as not to be displaced relative to the guide body (40) in the direction of the pivot axis (22). [57] Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the actuating body (52) is acted upon by an elastic energy storage device (114) in the direction of its rotational locking position, that in particular the actuating body (52) can be moved from the rotational locking position to the release position by an actuating device (180), that in particular the actuating body (52) can be moved by the actuating device (180) in the opposite direction to the actuation by the energy storage device (114), that in particular the actuating body (52) can be moved by the actuating device (180) in the opposite direction to the actuating direction (72) effected by the elastic energy storage device (114). [58] Trailer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the actuating device (180) has an output element (142) which is coupled to the actuating body (52), that in particular the output element (142) and the actuating body (52) are coupled to each other via a drive coupling device (156, 158), that in particular the drive coupling device (156, 158) has a drive-free free movement state and a drive-engaged state, that in particular the actuating device (180) for the rotary locking device (50) comprises a motor drive unit, that in particular the motor drive unit (182) is also provided as a rotary drive for performing the rotary movement of the swivel bearing body (14), that in particular an output element (142) for driving the rotary locking device (50) and the output element (152) and for driving the rotary movement of the swivel bearing body (14) are coupled by a planetary gear (130).

Images