Tow bar and carrier arrangement

Abstract

Trailer coupling (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising: a carrier arrangement (2) which can be attached to a vehicle and a coupling element (3), wherein the coupling element (3) is arranged so as to be detachable from the carrier arrangement (2), and wherein the coupling element (3) can be fixed to the carrier arrangement (2) in an operating position at a rear of the vehicle in a first receiving device (13), characterized in that the detachable coupling element (3) can be fixed to the carrier arrangement (2) in a rest position in a second receiving device (25).

Description

The invention relates to a hitching device for a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a carrier arrangement according to the preamble of claim 11.Prior ArtVarious hitching devices are known in the prior art. For example, hitching devices can be provided with a rigid coupling element which is fixedly mounted on the vehicle and always remains in this mounted position. On the other hand, there are hitch devices with a pivotable or removable coupling element. In these configurations, the coupling element does not remain in the same position, but is only in an operating position for towing a trailer, in which it protrudes substantially perpendicularly from the rear of the vehicle. If the coupling element is not required to tow a trailer, it must be pivoted or moved into a rest position in which it is not positioned so as to project from the rear of the vehicle.Removable coupling elements are provided here in such a way that they can be removed from the vehicle or from a trailer block fixed to the vehicle at the rear and must be removed and stored when the coupling element is not used. Typically, a removable coupling or coupling element is stored in a storage location in the vehicle, e.g. in the trunk or in the vehicle interior.However, this is cumbersome and time-consuming. If, for example, the vehicle is to be parked only briefly, in order then to be used again as a towing vehicle for a trailer, doors-trunk doors or vehicle doors-must generally be opened and closed again.Furthermore, in cases where no fixed space is provided in the interior of the vehicle, the trunk or the load surface for receiving the coupling element, the coupling element can only be sought after if it is placed carelessly, for example, in the interior of the vehicle.The object is to provide a method for performing a processTherefore, the present invention is based on the object of providing a trailer device with a detachable coupling element and a carrier arrangement for a detachable coupling which overcomes the aforementioned problems of detachable couplings known from the prior art.This object is achieved according to the invention by a trailer coupling having the features of claim 1 and by a carrier arrangement having the features of claim 11. Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the respective dependent claims.According to the invention, a trailer coupling device for a motor vehicle is accordingly provided, having: a carrier arrangement which can be attached to a vehicle and a coupling element, wherein the coupling element is arranged releasably from the carrier arrangement, and wherein the coupling element can be fixed to the carrier arrangement in a first receiving device in an operating position at a rear of the vehicle, wherein the releasable coupling element can be fixed to the carrier arrangement in a second receiving device in a rest position.The configuration of the trailer coupling device according to the invention makes it possible to store a releasable coupling element in the immediate vicinity of the operating position in a simple, quick and space-saving manner when not in use, for example when parking the vehicle. The coupling element, when in the first receptacle in the operating position, may partially obscure a license plate of the vehicle. Due to the space-saving mounting on the cross member in the second receiving device, which is rotated through 90° with respect to the first receiving device, any covering of the license plate is avoided when the vehicle is parked or in the rest position of the coupling element. Also, the coupling head does not protrude upward in the rest position, which is possibly disruptive or even represents a risk of injury if no trailer is coupled to the hitch device. A rapid change of the clutch element from the operating position to the rest position is made possible by the direct proximity of the first and second receiving devices directly on the hitching device. This saves time and also prevents the coupling element from being stored at a location where it is lost or cannot be found.According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the carrier arrangement has a cross member and two side parts which can be fixed to the motor vehicle and are provided at respective ends of the cross member.According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the first receiving device is arranged via a connecting part on the cross member of the carrier arrangement.According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the second receiving device is arranged on the cross member of the carrier arrangement.Preferably, the first receiving means comprises a first plate projecting from the connecting part and provided with a through hole and a second plate projecting from the connecting part and provided with a through hole, wherein the first plate and the second plate are spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction, and wherein the through holes are aligned with one another such that a shaft of the coupling element can be passed through both through holes in the operating position.According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the second receiving device has a first plate provided with a through hole and projecting perpendicularly from the cross member and a second plate provided with a through hole and projecting perpendicularly from the cross member, wherein the first plate and the second plate are spaced apart from one another in the horizontal and the two through holes are aligned with one another such that the shank of the coupling element can be passed through both through holes in the rest position.It is likewise advantageous if a longitudinal axis of the second receiving device runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cross member. This ensures a particularly space-saving and well-integrated storage solution for the coupling element.Furthermore, a longitudinal axis of the first receiving device can preferably run perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second receiving device.According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the shaft is provided at a lower end with a through hole through which a locking or locking device can be passed in order to lock or lock the coupling element in the first receiving device and / or in the second receiving device. This provides a secure, but releasable, fixing of the coupling element in the rest position.Preferably, the locking or locking device is designed as a key, hoop lock, lockable plug-in bolt or lockable ball lock bolt. In particular lockable or lockable locking or locking devices provide a desired protection against theft or other loss of the coupling element.Furthermore, according to the invention, a carrier arrangement for attachment to a rear section of a motor vehicle is provided, which has a cross member and two side parts which can be fixed to the motor vehicle and are provided at respective ends of the cross member, wherein a first coupling element receiving device and a second coupling element receiving device are provided on the cross member.According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the first clutch element receiving device defines an operating position for a clutch element and the second clutch element receiving device defines a resting position for the clutch element.Moreover, it is preferable that the first coupling member receiving device is fixed to the cross member via a connecting part.Alternatively, the first coupling element receiving device can be directly fixed to the cross member.Furthermore, it is preferred if the second coupling element receiving device is fixed directly to the cross member, wherein a longitudinal axis of the second coupling element receiving device extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cross member.Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in detail below with reference to the drawings. The following are shown: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hitch according to an embodiment of the invention; and FIG. 2 shows a further perspective view of the hitch device illustrated in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the invention.FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a trailer coupling device 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The trailer device 1 comprises a carrier arrangement 2 and a releasable coupling element 3. The carrier arrangement 2 has a cross member 4, on the opposite ends 5, 5' of which respective side parts 6, 6' are arranged, which in the embodiment shown here are welded to the cross member 4. The cross member 4 is designed as a square tube. The side parts 6, 6' are designed in the manner of plates and have respective through-bores 7, 7', 7", 7"', through which, for example, screws or the like can be passed in order to fix the carrier arrangement 1 to a suitable rear section of a motor vehicle (not shown).A wall 8 of the cross member 4 designed as a square tube, facing away from the rear of the motor vehicle, not shown, is referred to below as the front side 9 of the cross member 4 or of the support arrangement 2. A connecting part 10 is arranged on the front side 9. The connecting part 10 essentially comprises a front plate 11 and two side parts 12, 12' protruding at an angle therefrom. The side parts 12, 12' are fixed to the cross member 4.A first receptacle 13 is arranged on the front plate 11. The first receptacle 13 has a first plate 15 provided with a through hole 14 and a second plate 17 provided with a through hole 16. Both plates 15, 17 are arranged on a base plate 18 arranged perpendicular thereto. Alternatively, however, it is also possible to provide the plates 15, 17 directly on the front plate 11 of the connecting part 10. It is important, however, that the first plate 15 and the second plate 17 are provided at a predetermined interval in the vertical direction from each other, with the first plate 15 being disposed above the second plate 17. The through-holes 14, 16 are aligned with one another so that they together form a guide for a shaft 20 of the coupling element 3 or are aligned. The through holes 14, 16 have a diameter which substantially corresponds to the diameter of the shank 20 or is somewhat larger than it. When the coupling element 3 has been inserted into or accommodated in the first accommodation device 13, it is in the operating position. In this case, the shank 20 of the coupling element 3 is passed through the two through-holes 14, 16 until a circumferential bead 19 or collar on the outer circumference of the shank 20 rests on the upper side 21 of the first plate 15.At an upper end of the shank 20, a spherical coupling head 22 engageable by a not-shown coupling claw is provided, and a through hole 23 is provided at a lower end of the shank 20. The through bore 23 serves to receive a locking or blocking device 24. In the embodiment shown here, the locking or blocking device 24 is designed as a splint. Other embodiments may instead include a pin or, if a lockable variant is desired, a lockable pin, a lockable ball lock pin, or a padlock.On the front side 9 of the cross member 4 there is also provided a second receiving device 25. Alternatively, however, the second receiving device 25 can also be provided on an underside or upper side of the cross member 4 or at any suitable position on the carrier arrangement 2.The second receiving device 25 likewise has a first plate 26 provided with a through hole 28 and projecting perpendicularly from the cross member 4, and a second plate 27 provided with a through hole 29 arranged at a distance therefrom along the longitudinal axis L of the cross member 4, the function of which is explained in more detail in conjunction with FIG. 2. The first plate 26 and the second plate 27 may be connected to each other by a connecting plate 31 and fixed to the front side 9 of the cross member 4 via the connecting plate 31. Possible joining methods for fixing the second receiving device 25 to the cross member 4 are adhesive methods, riveting methods, soldering, welding, clamping or screwing.Alternatively, the second receiving device 25 can also be designed without a connecting plate 31 comprising only the first plate 26 and the second plate 27, wherein the first plate 26 and the second plate 27 are then fixed directly to the front side 9 of the cross member 4, for example by means of one of the abovementioned joining methods.Furthermore, a mounting plate 30 is provided on the front side 9 of the cross member 4, which mounting plate serves to receive a socket (not shown) of the trailer coupling or to fix it thereto, for example by screwing or the like.The second receiving device 25 or the first plate 26, the second plate 27 and optionally the connecting plate 31 are preferably made of steel which is provided with a CTL coating. In the embodiment shown here, the second receiving device 25 is firmly connected to the cross member 4 by means of welding via the connecting plate 31.The first receptacle 13 or the first plate 15, the second plate 17 and the base plate 18 can also be produced from the same materials as the second receptacle 25 and it can be joined to the connecting part 10 or its front plate 11 by means of the same possible joining methods. However, it is also possible to use different materials for the first receiving device 13 and the second receiving device 25. It is likewise possible to use different joining methods for fixing the first receiving device 13 to the connecting part 10 and for fixing the second receiving device 25 to the cross member 4.As already mentioned above, steel is preferably used as material for the first receiving device 13 and / or the second receiving device 25, which steel can preferably be provided with a surface coating, for example CTL (cathodic dip coating) plus an optional further coating on the surface. Other coating methods and any suitable combinations thereof are also applicable. As coating methods and materials, powder coatings, galvanizing, electroplating passivation and any combinations of the methods can furthermore be used.Aluminum alloys can also be used as further preferred materials for the first and / or second receiving devices 13, 25. Also implementable here are fiber composites, plastics and combinations of the above-mentioned materials.FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the hitch device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. As can be seen here in contrast to FIG. 1, the coupling element 3 is here in the rest position, wherein it is located in the second receiving device 25. At the lower end of the shank 20 of the coupling element 3, the locking or blocking device 24 is guided in the form of a key through the through-bore 23 in order to lock or fix the coupling element 3 in this position. The rest position of the coupling element 3 is such that the coupling element 3 extends in its longitudinal extension parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the cross member 4. The rest position is rotated 90 degrees from the operating position. While the coupling element 3 is arranged on the carrier arrangement 2 of the trailer coupling device 1 in the rest position, it is ensured that it has, for example, no disturbing visual influence on the visibility of the vehicle license plate, but is arranged on it in a space-saving manner in terms of its dimension substantially corresponding to the dimension of the cross member. Since the second receiving device 25 is located in the direct vicinity of the first receiving device 13 directly on the carrier arrangement 2 of the hitch device 1, a rapid change of the clutch element 3 from the operating position into the rest position is possible. By locking by means of the locking or blocking device 24, secure fixing in the rest position is additionally ensured, wherein theft protection is likewise provided when a lockable locking or blocking device 24 is used. Thus, the releasable coupling element 3 cannot be lost or turned away.Reference numerals denote reference numerals1 Hitch 2 Carrier arrangement 3 Detachable coupling element 4 Cross member 5, 5' ends of the cross member 6, 6' Side parts 7, 7', 7", 7"' Through-holes Side parts 8 Wall 9 Front side 10 Connecting part 11 Front plate 12, 12' Side parts 13 First receiving device (coupling element receiving device) 14 Through-hole 15 First plate of the first receiving device 16 Through-hole 17 Second plate of the first receiving device 18 Base plate 19 Bead 20 Shank 21 Upper side of the first plate 22 Coupling head 23 Through-hole 24 Locking or blocking device 25 Second receiving device (coupling element receiving device) 26 First plate of the second receiving device 27 Second plate of the second receiving device 28 Through-hole 29 Through-hole 30 Mounting plate for socket 31 Connecting plate L Longitudinal axis of the cross member

Claims

Trailer device (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising: a carrier arrangement (2) which can be attached to a vehicle and a coupling element (3), wherein the coupling element (3) is arranged such that it can be detached from the carrier arrangement (2), and wherein the coupling element (3) can be fixed to the carrier arrangement (2) in a first receiving device (13) in an operating position at a rear of the vehicle, characterized in that the detachable coupling element (3) can be fixed to the carrier arrangement (2) in a second receiving device (25) in a rest position.Trailer coupling device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the carrier arrangement (2) has a cross member (4) and two side parts (6, 6') which can be fixed to the motor vehicle and are provided at respective ends (5, 5') of the cross member (4).Trailer coupling device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the first receiving device (13) is arranged on the cross member (4) of the carrier arrangement (2) via a connecting part (10).Trailer coupling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second receiving device (25) is arranged on the cross member (4) of the carrier arrangement (2).Trailer coupling device (1) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the first receiving device (13) has a first plate (15) protruding from the connecting part (10) and provided with a through hole (14) and a second plate (17) protruding from the connecting part (10) and provided with a through hole (16), wherein the first plate (15) and the second plate (17) are spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction, and wherein the through holes (14, 16) are aligned with one another such that a shaft (20) of the coupling element (3) can be passed through both through holes (14, 16) in the operating position.Trailer coupling device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the second receiving device (25) has a first plate (26) provided with a through hole (28) and projecting perpendicularly from the cross member (4) and a second plate (27) provided with a through hole (29) and projecting perpendicularly from the cross member (4), wherein the first plate (26) and the second plate (27) are spaced apart from one another in the horizontal and the two through holes (28, 29) are aligned such that the shaft (20) of the coupling element (3) can be passed through both through holes (28, 29) in the rest position.Trailer coupling device (1) according to one of Claims 2 to 6, wherein a longitudinal axis of the second receiving device (25) runs parallel to a longitudinal axis (L) of the cross member (4).Trailer coupling device (1) according to claim 7, wherein a longitudinal axis of the first receiving device (13) runs perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second receiving device (25).Trailer coupling device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the shank (20) is provided at a lower end with a through hole (23), through which a locking or locking device (24) can be passed in order to lock or lock the coupling element (3) in the first receiving device (13) and / or in the second receiving device (25).Trailer coupling device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the locking or blocking device (24) is designed as a key, a hoop lock, a lockable plug bolt or a lockable ball lock bolt.Carrier arrangement (2) for attachment to a rear section of a motor vehicle, which has a cross member (4) and two side parts (6, 6') which can be fixed to the motor vehicle and are provided at respective ends of the cross member, characterized in that a first coupling element receiving device (13) and a second coupling element receiving device (25) are provided on the cross member (4).The carrier assembly (2) according to claim 11, wherein the first clutch element receiving device (13) defines an operating position for a clutch element (3) and wherein the second clutch element receiving device (25) defines a resting position for the clutch element (3).The carrier arrangement (2) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the first coupling element receiving device (13) is fixed to the cross member (4) via a connecting part (10).The carrier arrangement (2) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the first coupling element receiving device (13) is fixed directly to the cross member (4).The carrier arrangement (2) according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the second coupling element receiving device (25) is fixed directly to the cross member (4), wherein a longitudinal axis of the second coupling element receiving device (25) extends parallel to a longitudinal axis (L) of the cross member (4).

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