Swiveling trailer hitch

Abstract

A swiveling trailer coupling, in particular for a trailer of a motor vehicle, comprising a coupling ball (4) at one end of a support arm (5), the other end of which is provided with a suspension eye (6) forming an outer bearing ring (8) of the bearing, rotatably mounted on a cylindrical guide sleeve (12) which is provided with an end-face suspension flange (14) that is rigidly connected to a support plate (2) of a vehicle, wherein the angular position of the outer bearing ring (8) can be locked by an engagement end (22) of a locking element (21) which extends through the cylindrical guide sleeve (12) and engages with an inner radial recess (9) of the outer bearing ring (8) of the bearing, and the locking element (21) can be actuated by a control element (31) slidably mounted in the guide sleeve (12), characterized in that the engagement end (22) of the locking body (21) has at least a partially flattened shape with opposing flattened outer support surfaces (22a, 22b) between which a connecting surface (22c) is arranged, and for the insertion of the engagement end (22) of the locking element (21) the outer bearing ring (8) has a radial recess (9) with inner opposing lateral support surfaces (9a, 9b) for force contact with the flattened outer support surfaces (22a, 22b) of the engagement end (22) of the locking element (21) and an axially aligned stop surface (27) for engagement with the connecting surface (22c) of the engagement end (22) of the locking element (21).

Description

Technical Department

[0001] The invention relates to a swiveling trailer coupling comprising a coupling ball at one end of a support arm, the other end of which is provided with a suspension eyelet forming an outer bearing ring of the bearing, pivotably mounted on a cylindrical guide sleeve which is provided with an end-face suspension flange which is rigidly connected to a support plate of a vehicle, wherein the angular position of the outer bearing ring can be locked with the engagement end of the locking element which passes through the cylindrical guide sleeve and engages with the inner radial recess (9) of the outer bearing ring and the locking element can be actuated by a control element slidably mounted in the guide sleeve. State of the art

[0002] According to the state of the art, swiveling trailer couplings have a support arm with a suspension ball at one end and a suspension eye at the other end with an opening for pivoting mounting on a fixed body part. The suspension eye forms an outer bearing ring that is pivotably attached to a cylindrical guide sleeve. This guide sleeve has a front-facing suspension flange that is rigidly connected to the vehicle's mounting plate. This flange allows the support arm to rotate between the operating position for coupling a trailer to the coupling ball and the rest position for pivoting the support arm under the vehicle's bumper.

[0003] According to document DE19 848 487, the body of the slewing bearing is fixed relative to the vehicle. It surrounds the slewing bearing unit with the locking mechanism, which is movable in the radial direction to the axis of rotation of the slewing bearing, and with a control element that has a wedge-shaped surface extending perpendicular to the direction of movement for locking rotation. Document EP2 261 066 discloses a swiveling trailer coupling which, unlike the device according to DE19 848 487, has a guide body in the form of a hollow cylinder with radial passages in its wall for guiding the locking mechanism. This arrangement of the slewing bearing body results in a simple spatial design of the slewing bearing unit and a simple seal for the slewing bearing, since the outer slewing bearing body does not move in the axial direction of the axis of rotation.However, the swiveling trailer hitch consists of a large number of parts, and significant control forces are required to operate it due to friction between these parts. The device is also quite heavy. According to these documents, the main disadvantage of swiveling trailer hitches is the need to overcome frictional forces that occur between the wedge surfaces of the control body and other parts, which make operating the locking mechanism more difficult. Further disadvantages of swiveling trailer hitches according to the prior art include their complexity and weight.

[0004] The aforementioned defects are remedied by the swiveling trailer coupling according to document CZ 309084, in which the position of the outer bearing ring can be locked by a locking element. This locking element is movably arranged in a continuous radial guide formed in the wall of the cylindrical guide sleeve for engagement with the inner radial recess of the outer bearing ring and can be actuated by a control element movably mounted in the guide sleeve. The locking element has an elongated shape with one end engaging the inner radial recess of the outer bearing ring and the other end rotatably mounted in the control element. Due to the rotatable mounting of the base of the locking element in the control element, the locking element is extended or retracted into the radial guide during the axial sliding movement of the control element in the radial direction.The disadvantage of the swiveling trailer coupling according to document CZ 309084 is the large play between the engagement end of the locking element and the radial guide formed in the wall of the guide sleeve, as well as between the engagement end of the locking element and the inner radial recess of the outer bearing ring. Nature of the invention

[0005] The aim of the invention is a swiveling trailer coupling of the type mentioned above with an exact rotation of the arm, with precise stop positions and without operating play.

[0006] The disadvantages of the prior art are eliminated and the objective of the invention is achieved by a swiveling trailer coupling comprising a coupling ball at one end of the support arm, the other end of which is provided with a suspension eyelet forming an outer bearing ring of the bearing, rotatably mounted on a cylindrical guide sleeve which is provided with an end-face suspension flange that is fixedly connected to the vehicle's mounting plate, wherein the angular position of the outer bearing ring can be locked by the engagement end of the locking element, which passes through the cylindrical guide sleeve and engages with the inner radial recess of the outer ring of the bearing, and the locking element can be controlled by the control element slidably mounted in the guide sleeve, according to the invention, the essence of which consists inthat the engagement end of the locking element has at least a partially flattened shape with opposing flattened outer support surfaces, between which a connecting surface is arranged, and the outer bearing ring for inserting the engagement end of the locking element has a radial recess with internal opposing lateral support surfaces for force transmission with the flattened outer support surfaces of the engagement end of the locking element and an axially aligned stop surface for engagement with the connecting surface of the engagement end of the locking element.

[0007] Preferably, the contact surface of the engagement end of the locking element can have at least a partially convex surface curvature for engagement with the rounded, convex stop surface of the outer bearing ring. Preferably, the surface curvature of the contact surface of the engagement end of the locking element can have a radius that is smaller than the radius of the axially oriented rounded stop surface of the outer bearing ring at the contact point of the engagement end of the locking element. Preferably, the axially oriented rounded stop surface for engagement with the surface curvature of the contact surface of the engagement end of the locking element can be formed in the end wall of a ring firmly pressed into the outer ring of the bearing.Preferably, the guide sleeve can be provided with radial through holes for the radial passage of the engagement end of the locking element into the inner radial recess of the outer bearing ring, which have opposing inner guide surfaces arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the guide sleeve for guiding the flattened outer support surfaces of the engagement end of the locking element. Explanation of drawings

[0008] A swiveling trailer hitch according to the invention is shown in the drawings, which show Fig. 1 View of the swiveling trailer hitch Fig. 2 View of the suspension eye of the swiveling trailer hitch Fig. 3 View of the guide sleeve of the swiveling trailer hitch Fig. 4 View of the control body and drive shaft of the swiveling trailer hitch Fig. 5 Longitudinal section through the swiveling trailer coupling in the unlocked position of the locking device Fig. 6 Longitudinal section through the swiveling trailer coupling in the locked position of the locking device Exemplary embodiments of the invention

[0009] After Fig. 1 The trailer coupling 3 has a support arm 5 which terminates on one side in a coupling ball 4 for attaching a motor vehicle trailer and on the other side in a suspension eye 6. The suspension eye 6 is rotatably mounted with its opening 7 on the guide sleeve 12 and forms an outer bearing ring 8. The guide sleeve 12 is closed by a suspension flange 14, which is fastened by screws to the support plate 2 connected to the fixed body part. Longitudinally, inner radial recesses 9 are formed in the outer bearing ring 8.

[0010] After Fig. 2 The support arm 5 is integrally formed with the suspension eyelet 6, which forms the outer bearing ring 8 of the locking device. Inner radial recesses 9 are formed on the inner circumference of the outer bearing ring 8. The inner radial recesses 9 have axially directed, opposing lateral support surfaces 9a, 9b, which are connected by a base 9c, preferably with a rounded shape. The outer bearing ring 8 has an axially oriented stop surface. The stop surface 27 of the outer bearing ring 8 can preferably be formed on the end wall 29 of the stop ring 28, which is pressed into and rigidly connected to the outer bearing ring 8. The stop ring 28 itself can be made of a durable steel, so that the outer bearing ring 8, in which the stop ring 28 is mounted, can be manufactured as a casting from a less durable material.The figure shows the locking elements 21, whose engagement ends 22 are shaped to allow insertion into the inner radial recesses 9. The engagement end 22 of the locking element 21 has a shape that is at least partially flattened, with opposing flattened outer support surfaces 22a, 22b, between which the connecting surface 22c is arranged. The engagement end 22 of the locking element 21 can have a convex surface radius 26 on at least part of its surface. Preferably, the stop surface 27 can be rounded and convex in part. The surface radius 26 of the connecting surface 22c of the engagement end 22 of the locking element 21 preferably has a radius that is smaller than the radius of the axially oriented rounded stop surface 27 of the outer bearing ring 8 at the contact point of the engagement end 22 of the locking element 21.In the locked position of the locking device, a force-fit occurs between the flattened outer support surfaces 22a, 22b of the engagement end 22 of the locking element 21 and the opposing lateral support surfaces 9a, 9b. When the surface rounding 26 of the connecting surface 25 engages with the rounded stop surface 27 of the outer bearing ring 8, point contact is established between the two components. This eliminates any play between the moving parts in the locked position of the locking device. The locking device, in the backlash-free locked position, has a precise position, which contributes to the reliable function of the pivoting device. The bearing ring 8 is rotatable on the surface in the... Fig. 3 shown cylindrical guide sleeve 12 is mounted.

[0011] In the Fig. 3 The guide sleeve 12 is fixedly connected to the support plate 2 of the swiveling trailer coupling by means of a suspension flange 14. The guide sleeve 12 is provided with radial through-openings 16 for radially advancing the engagement ends 22 of the locking elements 21 into the inner radial recess (not shown) of the outer bearing ring. The radial through-openings 16 have opposing inner guide surfaces 16a, 16b arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the guide sleeve 12 for guiding the flattened outer support surfaces of the engagement ends 22 of the locking elements 21 during their radial extension and retraction. The drive shaft 38 of the locking device 11, which is axially displaceable within the guide sleeve 12, projects axially from one side of the guide sleeve 12 and penetrates the support plate 2.

[0012] As in the Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the control body 31 is connected to the support ring 32, and the locking elements 21 are pivotably arranged with their bearing ends 24 in the storage space formed between the control body 31 and the support ring 32. The control body 31 and the support ring 32 are rigidly connected to each other by a threaded connection (not shown). The engagement ends 22 of the locking elements 21 have opposing outer support surfaces 22a, 22b, between which connecting surfaces 22c, here with a convex surface rounding 26, are formed. A drive shaft 38 for the axial movement of the control body 31 together with the support ring 32 runs through the control body 31 and the support ring 32, as shown in the Fig. 5 is shown.

[0013] After Fig. Figure 5 shows the locking device 11 in the unlocked position. The outer bearing ring 8 is provided with inner radial recesses 9 in the form of inner longitudinal grooves. A stop ring 28, provided with a stop surface 27, can be inserted into the outer bearing ring 8 and pressed firmly into place, aligning itself with the inner longitudinal grooves of the radial recesses 9. The stop ring 28 can be formed from the outer bearing ring 8 as a single piece. The outer bearing ring 8 is rotatably mounted on the guide sleeve 12 between the position in which the coupling ball is retracted under the body and the position in which the coupling ball is extended for coupling the trailer. The guide sleeve 12 is fixedly connected at one end to a support plate (not shown) by a suspension flange 14. At the other end, the guide sleeve 12 is enclosed by a cover 41.The guide sleeve 12 is cylindrical and has radial through-openings 16 in its wall into which the engagement ends 22 of the locking elements 21 project. The radial through-openings 16 have inner guide surfaces arranged opposite each other parallel to the longitudinal axis x of the guide sleeve 12, of which guide surface 16b is visible. The inner guide surfaces are designed to radially guide the flattened outer support surfaces of the engagement ends 22 of the locking elements 21, of which support surface 22a is visible. An axially displaceable cylindrical control body 31 is arranged in the guide sleeve 12. At one end of the control body, the control body has a bearing assembly 35, which forms a storage space 33 for pivotally receiving the bearing end 24 of the locking element 21.The bearing end 24 of the locking element 21 rests axially against the support ring 32 in the storage space 31. The support ring 32 is connected to the control body 31 via a thread, allowing the size of the storage space 31 and the play of the bearing end 24 of the locking element 21 in the storage space 33 to be adjusted. At the other end, the cylindrical control body 31 has a cylindrical recess 36 on its end face, into which a spring 37 engages. One end of the spring is in frictional contact with the cylindrical recess 36 on its end face, and the other end is in frictional contact with the support plate (not shown). In the axially inclined position of the locking element 21 shown, the spring 37 exerts a force on the control body 31. The control body 31 is mounted axially displaceably on the drive shaft 38. The cylindrical control body 31 on its inner cylindrical surface and the drive shaft 38 on its outer cylindrical surface are provided with a motion thread 39.The rotation of the drive shaft 38 thus causes an axial movement of the control body 31. Due to the axial advance of the control body 31 to force-fit the bearing assembly 35 with the bearing end 24, the locking element 21 is tilted from the axially inclined position to the radially upright position in a plane that runs through the x-axis of the control body 31, and the engagement end 22 engages in the inner radial recess 9 of the outer bearing ring 8 and causes the position of the outer bearing ring 8 to be locked relative to the guide sleeve 12, as shown in the figure. Fig. 6 is shown.

[0014] After Fig.Figure 6 shows the locking device 11 in the unlocked position. Due to the radial position of the control body 31, the locking element 21 engages with its engagement end 22 in the inner radial recess 9 of the outer bearing ring 8. In the illustrated radial position of the locking element 21, the connecting surface 22c of the engagement end 22 rests against the stop surface 27 of the stop ring 28. The illustrated outer support surface 22a of the engagement end 22 of the locking element 21 engages with the (not shown) lateral support surface of the inner radial recess 9, and the position of the locking element 21 is locked without any operating clearance between the contacting components. Reference symbol list 2 Carrier plate 3 Towbar 4 coupling balls 5 support arm 6 suspension eyelets 7 Opening 8 outer bearing ring 9 inner radial recess 9a lateral support surface 9b lateral support surface 9c Floor 11 Locking device 12 Guide sleeve (console) 13 Flange holes 14 Suspension flange 16 radial through-holes 16a Guide surface 16a Guide surface 21 locking elements 22 End of procedure 22a outer support surface 22b outer support surface 22c Connection surface 23 bodies 24 End of stock 26 Surface rounding 27 Stop surface 28 Stop ring 29 Front wall 31 Control bodies 32 Support ring 33 storage spaces 35 warehouse stock 36 cylindrical recesses on the front 37 spring 38 Drive shaft 39 motion threads 41 Cover x Longitudinal axis (axis of rotation of the drive shaft and the outer bearing ring) 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] DE 19 848 487

[0003]

Claims

[1] Swiveling trailer coupling, in particular for a trailer of a motor vehicle, comprising a coupling ball (4) at one end of a support arm (5), the other end of which is provided with a suspension eye (6) forming an outer bearing ring (8) of the bearing, rotatably mounted on a cylindrical guide sleeve (12) which is provided with an end-face suspension flange (14) which is rigidly connected to a support plate (2) of a vehicle, wherein the angular position of the outer bearing ring (8) can be locked by an engagement end (22) of a locking element (21) which passes through the cylindrical guide sleeve (12) and engages with an inner radial recess (9) of the outer bearing ring (8) of the bearing, and the locking element (21) can be actuated by a control element (31) slidably mounted in the guide sleeve (12), characterized by , that the engagement end (22) of the locking body (21) has at least a partially flattened shape with opposing flattened outer support surfaces (22a, 22b) between which a connecting surface (22c) is arranged, and for the insertion of the engagement end (22) of the locking element (21) the outer bearing ring (8) has a radial recess (9) with inner opposing lateral support surfaces (9a, 9b) for force contact with the flattened outer support surfaces (22a, 22b) of the engagement end (22) of the locking element (21) and an axially aligned stop surface (27) for engagement with the connecting surface (22c) of the engagement end (22) of the locking element (21). [2] Swiveling trailer coupling according to claim 1, characterized by , that the connecting surface (22c) of the engagement end (22) of the locking body (21) has at least a convex surface rounding (26) on a part thereof, for engagement with a rounded hollow stop surface (27) of the outer bearing ring (8). [3] Swiveling trailer coupling according to claim 2, characterized by , that the surface rounding (26) of the connecting surface (22c) of the engagement end (22) of the locking body (21) has a radius that is smaller than the radius of the axially oriented rounded stop surface (27) of the outer bearing ring (8) at the contact point of the engagement end (22) of the locking body (21). [4] Swiveling trailer coupling according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by , that an axially oriented rounded stop surface (27) is formed for engagement with the surface rounding (26) of the connecting surface (22c) of the engagement end (22) of the locking body (21) in the end wall (29) of the ring (28) which is pressed firmly into the outer ring (8) of the bearing. [5] Swiveling trailer coupling according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by, that the guide sleeve (12) is provided with radial through-openings (16) for the radial feeding of the engagement end (22) of the locking element (21) into the inner radial recess (9) of the outer bearing ring (8), which have inner guide surfaces (16a, 16b) arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the guide sleeve (12) opposite each other for guiding the flattened outer support surfaces (22a, 22b) of the engagement end (22) of the locking element (21).

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