Trailer coupling with ball head and tow ball coupling with integrated trailer lighting connection

Abstract

Device, characterized in that when the towing vehicle is coupled to a trailer, the power connection to the trailer lighting is established at the same time.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device which, when the towing vehicle is coupled to the trailer, simultaneously establishes the power connection to the trailer lighting according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] The trailer couplings available on the market consist of a bracket on the towing vehicle with a ball head that engages the trailer's tow ball coupling. The trailer lighting is connected to the towing vehicle via a socket on the towing vehicle and a cable with a plug on the trailer. The socket is usually located next to the ball head bracket and often under the body of the towing vehicle. Plugging or screwing the trailer lighting plug into the socket on the towing vehicle is therefore often difficult and laborious. Trailer lights with their own power supply (rechargeable battery) are available on the market, and their light signals are controlled wirelessly from the towing vehicle. However, these systems do not meet the requirements of Section 49a of the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (STVZO).

[0003] The invention is based on the object of providing a trailer coupling on the towing vehicle and a further developed towing ball coupling on the trailer which, when coupled, simultaneously establishes a power connection from the towing vehicle to the trailer lighting and thus eliminates the laborious task of plugging the plug into the socket on the towing vehicle.

[0004] This problem is solved according to the invention by a split, single-pole current-carrying connecting cable between the towing vehicle and the trailer. The opposite pole, "ground," is connected via the ball head on the trailer coupling and the attached tow ball coupling.

[0005] Part "one" of the cable has a 13-pin connector with an electronic component at one end and a bare metal head at the other. The connector with the electronic component connects to the trailer socket on the towing vehicle. The single-pin cable is routed through a vertically milled channel through the center of the trailer hitch's ball head and ends flush with an elliptical, rounded surface on the ball head.

[0006] Part "two" of the cable has a 13-pin socket with an electronic component at one end and a spring-loaded pin as a current collector at the other end. The socket with the electronic component connects to the trailer lighting plug. The single-pin cable is routed through an opening in the center of the tow bar coupling shell, with the current collector protruding slightly (spring-loaded) on the inside of the tow bar coupling's curve.

[0007] The current collector consists of a sleeve with an internally insulated current and a conically reduced opening. A spring within the sleeve pushes a ball partially through the (reduced) opening of the sleeve via an intermediate slide.

[0008] The ball, the intermediate slide, and the spring are electrically conductive. The power cable and socket are connected to the spring.

[0009] When the tow ball coupling is engaged over the ball head of the trailer hitch, the contact of the current collector with the pin in the ball head creates a conductive connection between the towing vehicle and the trailer's lighting. This conductive connection remains stable during rotation of the vehicle / trailer combination or at different gradients between the towing vehicle and trailer thanks to the centrally positioned current collector (ball) above the elliptically rounded surface of the counterpole. Since the current collector is located beneath the curve of the tow ball coupling, it is completely protected from rain or wet conditions. Damage to the current collector during the coupling process is impossible due to its protected position in the curve of the tow ball coupling and the suspension.

[0010] A specific current voltage is set for each light signal, preferably in 0.1-volt increments. The electronic component in the plug (part "one") reduces the usual 12-volt voltage to the voltage specified for the currently active light signal. The electronic component in the socket (part "two") activates the corresponding light signal(s) of the trailer lighting based on the current voltage and converts the voltage back to the input voltage at the plug, usually 12 volts.

[0011] The current collector has a battery-backed push button that triggers an electric shock when the ball or intermediate slider in the collector sleeve is pushed back during the coupling process. The current pulse is detected by the electronics in the connector of the connecting cable, part "one," and activates the power connection.

[0012] When the tow ball coupling is removed from the tow bar's ball head, the contact between the current collector and the pin in the ball head is also immediately broken. The electronics in the connector ensure that the power is immediately shut off as soon as the power connection is interrupted.

[0013] If the described connection cable is not connected with a plug and / or socket, any standard trailer coupling with a direct power connection between the towing vehicle and the trailer can be connected to the towing vehicle coupling.

[0014] Both parts of the connecting cable are theft-proof. Part "one" is firmly connected to the ball head of the trailer hitch on the towing vehicle, and part "two" is firmly connected to the ball coupling on the trailer.

[0015] The spring-loaded pantograph in part “two” can be prevented from moving back behind the curve of the tow ball coupling by a lockable bolt and thus also serves as an anti-theft device for the trailer.

[0016] The above statements regarding a trailer apply accordingly to bicycle racks or luggage boxes that are mounted on the trailer coupling.

[0017] Neither the hole through the ball head of the trailer coupling nor the hole through the shell of the tow ball coupling noticeably reduces the tensile strength of the connection.

[0018] The described connection cable with the components mentioned fully meets the requirements of Section 49a of the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO) for a "permanently ready" connection. The laborious task of plugging the plug into the socket on the towing vehicle is eliminated. The power connection can no longer be "forgotten."

Claims

[1] Device, characterized by that when the towing vehicle is coupled to a trailer, the power connection to the trailer lighting is established at the same time. [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized by that changes must be made to the ball head of the trailer coupling and to the tow ball coupling. [3] Device according to claim 2, characterized by that the ball head of the trailer coupling has a channel [4] Device according to claim 3, characterized by that the channel runs centrally through the ball head [5] Device according to claim 3, characterized by that the channel runs vertically through the ball head when the towing vehicle is in a horizontal position [6] Device according to claim 3, characterized by that the channel on the surface of the ball head widens elliptically [7] Device according to claim 6, characterized by that a tip of the elliptical opening points in the direction of the towing vehicle [8] Device according to claim 2, characterized by that the shell of the tow ball coupling has a channel [9] Device according to claim 8, characterized by that the channel runs centrally through the shell of the tow ball coupling [10] Device according to claim 8, characterized by that the channel runs vertically through the shell of the tow ball coupling when the trailer is in a horizontal position [11] Device according to claim 1, characterized by that it consists of a two-part connecting cable [12] Device according to claim 11, characterized by that in part “one” of the connecting cable, a plug with an electronic part is connected via a cable with a metal pin [13] Device according to claim 12, characterized by that the cable is single-pole [14] Device according to claim 12, characterized by that the metal pin is insulated [15] Device according to claim 12, characterized bythat the metal pin has an elliptical, rounded head [16] Device according to claim 12, characterized by that the connector is 13-pin [17] Device according to claim 12, characterized by that the current is passed through the electronics into the connecting cable. [18] Device according to claim 12, characterized by that the electronics reduce the voltage to a specified value for each light signal constellation based on the respective poles of the plug being powered. [19] Device according to claim 12, characterized by that the electronic part interrupts the current flow as soon as there is no current consumption [20] Device according to claim 12, characterized by that the electronic part switches on the connecting cable with a current surge [21] Device according to claim 12, characterized by that the pin is firmly fixed in the channel of the ball head of the trailer coupling [22] Device according to claim 12, characterized by that the head of the pin is flush with the ball head of the trailer coupling [23] Device according to claim 11, characterized by that in part “two” of the connecting cable, a socket with electronic part is connected to a current collector via a cable [24] Device according to claim 23, characterized by that the cable is single-pole [25] Device according to claim 23, characterized by that the current collector consists of a sleeve with an internal compression spring, a sliding spacer and a ball [26] Device according to claim 25, characterized by that the inside of the sleeve is insulated [27] Device according to claim 25, characterized by that the ball, the sliding spacer and the spring are conductive [28] Device according to claim 25, characterized by that the spring is connected to the connecting cable [29] Device according to claim 25, characterized bythat the sleeve opening is tapered and reduced in size [30] Device according to claim 23, characterized by that the socket is 13-pin [31] Device according to claim 23, characterized by that the current is fed into the socket via the electronics [32] Device according to claim 23, characterized by that the electronics powers the corresponding lights of the lighting based on the respective voltage [33] Device according to claim 23, characterized by that the electronics raises the voltage to the input voltage at the plug [34] Device according to claim 23, characterized by that the pantograph is firmly fixed in the channel of the tow ball coupling