Towing device for tractor vehicle
The coupling device addresses the complexity and cost issues of existing towing hooks by introducing a simplified locking mechanism for secure engagement and disengagement of different coupling types, enhancing usability and reducing costs.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2020014027
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2020-12-23
- Publication Date
- 2024-12-13
- Estimated Expiration
- 2040-12-23
AI Technical Summary
Existing towing hooks for vehicles are complex and expensive, particularly those designed for both ring and coupling head types, making them difficult to use and costly.
A simplified coupling device with a locking mechanism comprising a movable lock, a locking pin, and a safety flap, allowing secure engagement and disengagement of coupling members using a ball joint or ring type, featuring a locking head with a housing and guide grooves for smooth operation.
The device provides a simpler, less expensive, and more secure coupling solution for towing vehicles, ensuring easy engagement and disengagement of various coupling types with enhanced security features.
Smart Images
Figure 00000012_0000 
Figure 00000012_0001 
Figure 00000013_0000
Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Tractor vehicle hitching device FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a tow hitch for a tractor vehicle. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] To tow a trailer or any other type of non-motorized road vehicle pulled by a towing vehicle, it is necessary to equip that vehicle with a coupling solution. Such a solution usually consists of a rear crossmember connected to the chassis of the towing vehicle, the crossmember carrying a hook for engaging the coupling device of the towed vehicle.
[0003] The coupling device of the towed vehicle can be of various types, for example, a ring type or a hitch head type (also commonly called a "rabbit head"). Consequently, the towing vehicle must be equipped with the hook adapted to the coupling device of the towed vehicle. This may, in particular, be a hook ending in a ball joint, in the case of a hitch head type, or a hook having a jaw that secures the ring onto the hook.
[0004] When a coupling solution is required that can tow either a ring-type or a ball-type coupling, a hybrid hook can be used. Such a hybrid hook is known from document EP2556974, consisting of a ball joint and a removable, rotating shackle to secure the connection between the towed vehicle and the towing vehicle. However, this type of hybrid hook is complex to manufacture and operate, and can be expensive. SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0005] One object of the invention is to propose a coupling device that is simpler in its structure and use and less expensive than those of the prior art. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] To achieve this goal, the object of the invention proposes a coupling device for a tractor vehicle comprising: - a main body comprising a fastening device carrying a locking head and a hook, the hook being formed of a free end, for receiving a coupling element of a driven vehicle, and a hook foot; - a locking mechanism comprising a movable lock between an open position, in which the lock is moved away from the free end of the hook to allow the coupling element to be positioned there, and a closed position, in which the lock is moved closer to the free end of the hook to secure the coupling element to the hook.
[0007] According to the invention, the locking head includes a housing to accommodate at least a portion of the lock and the lock is movable in translation within the housing of the locking head, along a locking axis, to pass between the open position and the closed position.
[0008] According to other advantageous and non-limiting features of the invention, taken alone or in any technically feasible combination: - the free end of the hook is a ball joint; - the lock includes a through hole so that it can be padlocked; - the lock has a gripping stop on the hook side; - the locking mechanism includes a locking pin disposed in an opening in the locking head leading into the housing, the locking pin being able to be moved between a locking position, where it occupies at least a portion of the housing and blocks the lock, and an unlocking position, where it is outside the housing and does not block the lock; - the locking pin is held in the locking position by a pin spring arranged in compression around the pin between a shoulder of the pin and a wall of the housing; - the lock has a locking geometry, for example a circular machining or a groove, allowing to accommodate, at least in part, the locking pin when the lock is in the open position; - the locking mechanism includes a longitudinal guide groove formed on an internal surface of the housing to accommodate a guide pin for the lock to guide the translational movement of the lock in the housing; - the locking mechanism includes a removable safety flap to selectively release or block the movement of the locking pin; - the safety flap is elastically deformable to engage in a groove of the locking pin; - the flap positions itself by gravity behind the locking pin. - the locking head includes a cleaning channel opening into the accommodation ; - the housing forms a through opening of the locking head and in which the locking mechanism includes a housing closure cover on the side of the fixing device; - the locking mechanism includes a locking spring arranged in compression in the housing, between the closing cover and the lock. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0009] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention which follows with reference to the accompanying figures in which:
[0010] [Fig.1] Fig.1 represents an exploded view of a coupling device according to the invention in a first embodiment;
[0011] [Fig.2a]
[0012] [Fig. 2b] Figures 2a and 2b show an overview of a device coupling, conforming to a first embodiment, in which the lock is respectively in the open position and in the closed position;
[0013] [Fig.3a]
[0014] [Fig. 3b] Figures 3a and 3b show a cross-sectional view of a coupling device, conforming to a first embodiment, in which the lock is respectively in the open position and in the closed position;
[0015] [Fig.4a]
[0016] [Fig. 4b] Figures 4a and 4b show an overview of a device coupling, conforming to a second embodiment, in which the lock is respectively in the open position and in the closed position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION General presentation
[0017] Fig. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a coupling device 100 according to the invention comprising a main body 1 and a locking mechanism.
[0018] The main body 1 is intended to connect the driven vehicle to the tractor vehicle. It is typically made of metal. It may be a forged part.
[0019] The locking mechanism is intended to secure the coupling element to the main body 1 of the coupling device 100. The locking mechanism includes in particular a lock 50 movable between two positions to allow respectively the engagement and locking of the coupling element, in particular a ring, of the vehicle being driven to the coupling device 100.
[0020] Detailed description of the coupling device according to a first embodiment
[0021] With reference to Figures 2a, 2b, the main body 1 comprises a device for a fixing 2 carrying a locking head 3 and a hook 4. These elements 2,3,4 can form a single main body 1 or be added elements assembled together to form this main body 1. It is in particular possible, for example, that the fixing device 2 and the hook 4 form a single unit while the locking head 3 forms an added element screwed to this unit.
[0022] The fastening device 2 allows the coupling device 100 to be assembled to the chassis of the towing vehicle, typically to a rear crossmember connected to said chassis. The The fastening device 2 is shown here as a plate 2 with a plurality of openings 21 to accommodate screws for fastening to the towing vehicle. Of course, other types of fastening device 2 could be imagined, for example, a one-piece or attached mounting shank (also called a "gooseneck"), this shank being designed to be bolted onto mounting brackets located on the chassis.
[0023] The main body 1 also includes a hook 4 formed by a free end 40 and a hook foot 41. The hook foot connects the free end 40 to the fastening device 2. The free end 40 is designed to receive the coupling device of the towed vehicle. Advantageously, this end is in the form of a ball joint 40 to allow the engagement of either a coupling head type or a ring type coupling device. In the latter case, the ring is engaged around the ball-shaped free end 40 and secured by the locking mechanism of the coupling device. This forms a so-called "hybrid" hook.
[0024] The locking head 3 includes a housing 30 opening at least on the side of the free end 40 to accommodate at least a portion of the lock 50. The internal dimensions of the housing 30 are conformed to the dimensions of the lock 50 in order to limit the play between these two parts. For reasons of simplicity of construction, the housing 30 and the lock 50 are advantageously cylindrical in shape. The lock 50 has a length substantially equal to that of the housing 30. The housing 30 here forms an opening extending longitudinally through the locking head 3, in particular to facilitate the mounting of the lock 50 as well as that of the other elements of the locking mechanism on the main body 1. The locking mechanism includes a closing cover 51, assembled to the main body by two screws 51', closing the housing 30 on the side of the fastening device 2 once the lock 50 is engaged in this housing.This closing cover 51 also helps to limit the depth to which the lock 50 is inserted into the housing 30.
[0025] The peripheral surface of the lock 50 carries a guide pin 56 designed to slide in a longitudinal guide groove 57 formed on an internal surface of the housing 30 and thus guide the translational movement of the lock 50 within the housing. This arrangement also allows the lock 50 to be angularly indexed within the housing. The guide groove opens from the housing on the side of the fastening device 2 of the main body 1, which allows the guide pin 57 to be engaged when the lock is mounted in the housing 20. Optionally, the guide groove 57 does not extend from one open end of the housing to the other, so that the non-open end of the guide groove 57, on the side of the hook 4, forms a stop for the guide pin, which allows a portion of the lock 50 to be retained in the housing 30. In the absence of such a stop integrated into the housing, the end the hook forms the natural stop of the lock, thus preventing it from being completely removed from its housing when it moves towards its closed position.
[0026] Optionally, the locking head 3 may include a cleaning channel 32 opening into the housing 30. As is conventional, the channel 32 allows a fluid, for example a penetrating oil, to be introduced into the housing 30, or for this fluid to flow out of the housing. The cleaning channel 32 is advantageously closed by a cap 32' to prevent dirt from entering the housing 30.
[0027] According to an important feature of the invention, the lock 50 is disposed at least partially within the housing 30 of the locking head 3 and is translationally movable along a longitudinal locking axis A to pass between an open position ([Fig. 2a] and 3a) and a closed position ([Fig. 2b] and 3b). In the open position, the lock 50 is moved away from the free end 40 to allow the coupling device of the towed vehicle to be positioned on the hook. In the closed position, the lock 50 is moved closer to the free end 40 to secure the coupling device to the hook 4, particularly in the case of a ring-type coupling device.
[0028] Optionally, the face of the lock 50 intended to approach the free end 40 of the hook 4 can be beveled to conform and bring the lock 50 as close as possible to this end, and avoid any risk of disengagement of the coupling element.
[0029] The locking mechanism also includes a locking spring 52 arranged in compression in the housing 30, between the closing cover 51 and the lock 50. The first locking spring 52 has the function of placing the lock 50 in the closed position in the absence of any other stress by exerting a permanent pressure force forcing it to move along the locking axis A in the direction of the free end 40 of the hook 4.
[0030] Advantageously, the lock 50 is hollow to accommodate at least part of the lock spring 52 within it. The lock 50 can thus, in the open position, be pressed against the closing cover 51 to sink as far as possible into the housing 30.
[0031] The locking mechanism also includes a locking pin 53, intended to engage in an opening 31 in the locking head, this opening leading into the housing 30. The locking pin 53 can be moved by a user between a locking position, where it occupies at least a portion of the housing 30 and blocks the lock 50, and an unlocking position, where it does not occupy the housing 30 and therefore does not block the lock 50.
[0032] The locking pin 53, in the locked position, prevents any translational movement of the lock 50 along axis A, thus maintaining it in the open or closed position. When the pin 53 is in the unlocked position, the Lock 50 can be freely placed in the open or closed position by sliding it into the housing.
[0033] In the closed position of the lock 50, the pin 53 is located at the rear of the lock, preventing any translational movement that would cause the lock 50 to move to the open position. The lock 50 also has a locking geometry 54, here implemented as a locking groove 54, designed to accommodate, at least partially, the locking pin 53 when the lock 50 is in the open position. In this position, the opening 31 of the locking head is aligned with the locking groove 54, this positioning being ensured in particular by the indexing of the lock 50 in the housing 30 provided by the pin 56 and the guide groove 57. Of course, other types of locking geometries 54 could be imagined, for example, a simple bore formed on the surface of the lock 50.
[0034] The pin 53 includes, at one end, a handling cap 53a, here connected to a loop, to facilitate its manual movement between its locking and unlocking positions. The pin 53 includes, at its other end, a shoulder 53c to prevent the pin 53 from being completely withdrawn from the locking head 3, the shoulder abutting against the inner wall of the housing 30 if an attempt is made to completely remove the pin 53. The housing 30 includes, on its inner surface around the opening 31, a provision to fully accommodate the shoulder 53c when the pin 53 is in the unlocking position, so that the shoulder 53c is no longer located in the housing 30 and cannot obstruct the movement of the lock 50.
[0035] Advantageously, the pin 53 is held in the locking position, in the absence of any external stresses, by a pin spring 53b arranged in compression around the pin 53 between the shoulder 53c and a wall of the housing 30, the pin spring 53b exerting a permanent pressure tending to return the pin 53 to its locking position.
[0036] Also advantageously, the locking mechanism includes a removable safety flap 55, for selectively releasing or blocking the movement of the pin 53 and thus preventing it from unintentionally moving into the unlocked position, which could lead to the release of the lock 50. In the first embodiment, the flap 55 naturally positions itself, by simple gravity, behind the locking pin, preventing its movement and the release of the lock. The safety flap 55 can be moved manually, here by rotating it around a screw 55', to provide access to the pin 53 and allow its manual movement into the unlocked position. The presence of this safety flap 55 also provides additional security in the event that the pin spring 53b is defective. It also serves as a visual indicator of the pin 53's locking position.
[0037] Detailed description of the coupling device according to a second embodiment
[0038] Figures 4a and 4b show an overview of a coupling device, according to a second embodiment, in which the lock is respectively in the open position and in the closed position
[0039] For the sake of brevity, only the differences of this second embodiment with the first embodiment are described here in detail.
[0040] In this second embodiment, the locking mechanism does not include a locking spring 52. The lock 50 can be manually moved between its open and closed positions. For this purpose, the lock 50 is provided at its end facing the hook 4 with a gripping stop 58. This stop 58 has a lateral tab to facilitate handling of the lock 50. The tab also forms the stop that limits the depth to which the lock is inserted into the housing 30.
[0041] In this embodiment, the housing 30 for the latch 50 is not necessarily open on the side of the fastening device, and consequently, a closing cover 51 is not required either. The latch 50 can be inserted into the housing 30, and then the gripping stop 58 assembled to the end of the latch 50. In this assembled configuration, the latch 50 cannot be fully removed from the housing 30, as the gripping stop 58 prevents the release of the latch 50 by abutting against the free end of the hook.
[0042] The locking geometry 54 is formed here by a circular machining 54 of the lock 4, creating a groove in which the pin 53 can be housed when the lock 50 is in the open position. It should be noted that this groove arrangement is functional regardless of the angular orientation of the lock 50 within the housing 30. Its angular indexing is therefore unnecessary; the lock 50 can be left free to rotate about the axis A within the housing. In other words, the longitudinal guide groove 57 and the guide pin 56 of the first embodiment are not required.
[0043] It is further noted that in the closed position of the lock 50, this circular machining 54 allows to accommodate a portion of a coupling ring, to allow it a greater freedom of movement when the lock is in the closed position.
[0044] In this second embodiment, the lock 50 also includes a through hole 59 to allow a padlock to be attached to the lock 50 when it is in the closed position. This is a security feature against theft, as the coupling element cannot be disengaged from the hook 3 when the padlock is present.
[0045] The pin's handling cap 53a here includes a groove 53a' to accommodate a portion of the safety flap 55. In this embodiment, the safety flap 55 is housed in the groove 53a' of the handling cap 53a to to block the movement of the pin 53. The safety flap 55 is advantageously made of an elastically deformable material, such as metal or a plastic, allowing such deformation. It takes the form of a deformable tab 55 that can be manually deformed to disengage the safety flap 55 from the groove 53a', in order to move the locking pin 53. The tab 55 naturally returns to engage in the groove 53a' when the locking pin returns to its rest position.
[0046] Use of the coupling device according to the first embodiment:
[0047] In the configuration of Figures 2a, 3a in which the lock is in the open position, it is thus possible to engage the coupling element of the driven vehicle with the hook 40. The lock 50 is held in the open position by the pin 53 which is disposed in the locking groove 54 of the lock 50. The pin 53 is held in the locked position by the pin spring 53b as well as by the safety flap 55 when it is lowered.
[0048] When it is desired to move the lock 50 to the closed position to secure the coupling to the hook 4, the flap 55 ([Fig. 2a]) is raised to expose the handling cap 53a, and the latter is pulled to place the pin 53 in the unlocking position. The lock spring 52 exerts a pressure force on the lock 50 to move it to the closed position on the free end 40 of the hook 4. The pin 53 is released and, by the action of the pin spring 53b, automatically returns to the locking position. The safety flap 55 naturally repositions itself, by the simple effect of gravity, behind the pin 53 to lock it. When the lock 50 is in such a closed position, the pin 53 is located at the rear of the lock 50, between the lock 50 itself and the closing cover 51, and blocks any recoil movement if an attempt is made to push it manually back into the housing 30.The coupling device, particularly in the case of a ring-type device, is secured. It can then no longer disengage from the hook 4, which is locked by the lock 50.
[0049] It should be noted that if the coupling element is of the coupling head type, it is not necessary to position the lock 50 in the closed position, this type of coupling element remaining assembled to the ball joint 40 without the need to close the hook 4.
[0050] To move the lock 50 to the open position, the reverse steps are performed. The safety flap 55 is lifted, the operating cap 53a is pulled to place the pin 53 in the unlocked position, and then the lock 50 is manually pressed, while holding the pin 53 in the unlocked position, to fully depress the lock 50 into the housing. The pin 53 is then released and automatically moves, by the action of the pin spring 53b in the locked position, into the locking groove 54 of the lock 50. The safety flap 55 is positioned behind the pin 53 to again block any unwanted movement of this part.
[0051] Use of the coupling device according to the second embodiment:
[0052] According to the second embodiment, it is necessary to manually move the lock 50 between its open position and its closed position.
[0053] When it is desired to move the lock 50 from its open position ([Fig. 4a]) to its closed position ([Fig. 4b]), the flap 55 is deformed to extract it from the groove 53a' and free the movement of the pin to place it in the unlocked position. The lock 50 can then be moved manually to the closed position by pulling on the gripping stop 58. The pin 53 is then released and, by the action of the pin spring 53b, automatically returns to the locking position at the rear of the lock 50. The safety flap 55 also automatically repositions itself, by elastic effect, to engage again in the groove 53a'.
[0054] To move the lock 50 to the open position, the reverse steps are performed. The safety flap 55 is moved out of the groove 53a' to allow the pin 53 to move to the unlocking position. The lock 50 is then manually pressed until the gripping stop 58 approaches the locking head 3 sufficiently, and the pin 53 is released, automatically returning to the locking position and engaging in the circular recess 54. The safety flap 55 then returns to its position in the groove 53a'.
[0055] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described, and alternative embodiments may be introduced without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. In particular, certain features of the two embodiments described in detail may be combined without departing from this scope.
[0056] It is thus possible to form a hole to accommodate a padlock and / or to create a locking geometry in the form of a circular machining on the lock of the first embodiment.
Claims
Claims
1. A coupling device (100) for a towing vehicle comprising: - a main body (1) comprising a fixing device (2) carrying a locking head (3) and a hook (4), the hook (4) being formed of a free end (40), for receiving a coupling ring of a driven vehicle, and a hook foot (41); - a locking mechanism comprising a latch (50) movable between an open position, in which the latch (50) is moved away from the free end (40) of the hook (4) to allow the coupling ring to be engaged therein, and a closed position, in which the latch (50) is moved towards the free end (40) of the hook (4) to secure the coupling ring to the hook (4); the coupling device (100) being characterized in that: - the locking head (3) comprises a housing (30) for receiving at least a portion of the lock (50);- the lock (50) is movable in translation in the housing (30) of the locking head (3), along a locking axis (A), to pass between the open position and the closed position.;
2. Coupling device (100) according to the preceding claim in which the free end (40) of the hook (4) is a ball joint (40).
3. Coupling device (100) according to one of the preceding claims in which the lock (50) comprises a bore (59) opening out to be able to padlock it.
4. Coupling device (100) according to one of the preceding claims in which the lock (50) carries a gripping stop (58) on the side of the hook (4).
5. A coupling device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the locking mechanism comprises a locking pin (53) arranged in an opening (31) of the locking head (3) opening into the housing (30), the locking pin (53) being movable between a locking position, where it occupies at least a portion of the housing (30) and blocks the lock (50), and an unlocking position, where it is outside the housing (30) and does not block the lock (50).
6. A coupling device (100) according to the preceding claim wherein the locking pin (53) is held in the locking position by a pin spring (53b) arranged in compression around the pin (53) between a shoulder (53c) of the pin (53) and a wall of the housing (30).
7. Coupling device (100) according to one of claims 5 to 6 wherein the lock (50) has a locking geometry (54) making it possible to accommodate, at least in part, the locking pin (53) when the lock (50) is in the open position.
8. A coupling device (100) according to the preceding claim wherein the locking geometry (54) is a circular machining.
9. A coupling device (100) according to claim 7 wherein the locking geometry (54) is a groove.
10. A coupling device (100) according to one of the preceding claims wherein the locking mechanism comprises a longitudinal guide groove (57) formed on an internal surface of the housing (30) to accommodate a guide stud (56) of the lock (50) to guide the translational movement of the lock (50) in the housing (30).
11. A coupling device (100) according to one of claims 5 to 9 wherein the locking mechanism comprises a removable safety flap (55) for selectively releasing or blocking the movement of the locking pin.
12. Coupling device (100) according to the preceding claim in which the safety flap (55) is elastically deformable to engage in a groove (53a') of the locking pin (53).
13. A coupling device (100) according to claim 11 wherein the flap is positioned by gravity behind the locking pin.
14. Coupling device (100) according to one of the preceding claims in which the locking head (3) comprises a cleaning channel (32) opening into the housing (30).
15. Coupling device (100) according to one of the preceding claims in which the housing (30) forms an opening passing through the locking head (3) and in which the locking mechanism comprises a closing cover (51) of the housing (30) on the side of the fixing device (2).
16. Coupling device (100) according to the preceding claim in which the locking mechanism comprises a lock spring (52) arranged in compression in the housing (30), between the closing cover (51) and the lock (50).