Coupling device for a towing vehicle and vehicle comprising it.

Abstract

Coupling device (1) configured to be fixed under the body and to the rear of a traction vehicle comprising a transverse bar (10), a coupling means (11) extending to the rear of said bar (10) and a support (12) of said coupling means (11) which is mounted on said transverse bar (10) and which comprises projecting front parts directed towards the front of said bar, characterized in that it comprises a front plate (13) covering at least a front part of the surface defined by said projecting front parts. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Coupling device for a traction vehicle and vehicle comprising it.

[0001] The invention relates to a coupling device configured to be fixed under the body and at the rear of a traction vehicle, in particular near a fuel tank, in particular a liquefied petroleum gas tank.

[0002] It is common to use a coupling device, mounted at the rear of a vehicle, in particular to couple a trailer to be towed by the vehicle.

[0003] The coupling device generally comprises a crossbar supporting a towing hook. In addition, for example, lateral fixing elements on either side of the crossbar make it possible to fix the device to the underbody of the vehicle.

[0004] The towing hook mounted projecting from the rear of the crossbar to make it easily accessible, can be supported by a support secured to said crossbar and comprising projecting front parts. This is for example the case of a yoke type support, the cheeks of the yoke having faces at the front of the crossbar which are projecting, with a capacity to be sharp under stress.

[0005] A disadvantage of such devices is their proximity to the fuel tanks located at the rear of the vehicles, and more particularly in the case of large underbody tanks, such as those containing liquefied petroleum gas, commonly called by its acronym "LPG". LPG is composed of a mixture of light hydrocarbons, often butane and propane.

[0006] Indeed, during a rear impact which generally impacts the towing hook due to its prominence at the rear of the crossbar, this bar is deformed substantially in a V shape pointing forwards, and consequently the hook support, which is included in this forward deformation, can then strike a part of the fuel tank which is proximal to it. Rear impact tests at 50 km / h show that an LPG tank can be pierced by the front faces of a clevis-type tow hook bracket. Such damage to the tank can cause problems with LPG leaks, pressure in the tank, and therefore safety due to the presence of highly flammable gases contained in the tank.

[0007] There is therefore a need to resolve this drawback.

[0008] To this end, the invention provides a coupling device configured to be fixed under the body and to the rear of a towing vehicle comprising a transverse bar, a coupling means extending to the rear of said bar and a support for said means. coupling device which is mounted on said crossbar. Said support comprises projecting front portions directed towards the front of said bar. According to the invention, said coupling device comprises at least one front plate covering at least a front portion of the surface defined by said projecting front portions.

[0009] Preferably, said front plate comprises a flat central part and lateral edges extending beyond said projecting front parts.

[0010] In particular, said side edges are curved with a convex shape of curvature facing forward.

[0011] Preferably, said front plate is made of steel.

[0012] Preferably, said front plate has a thickness of the order of 10 millimeters.

[0013] Advantageously, said front plate is permanently fixed to the support, in particular to the projecting front parts. Preferably it is fixed by welds. The plate thus permanently fixed allows the coupling device to be safely secured, said device being able to be marketed separately from the vehicle to be equipped.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said support of the coupling means comprises a yoke having cheeks directed towards the front of said bar and comprising said projecting front parts. In particular, said front plate covers at least a front portion of the surface defined by said protruding front portions, which extends transversely at least from one cheek to the other.

[0015] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a coupling device, fixed under the body and to the rear of said vehicle, as described above.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the motor vehicle comprises a fuel tank, one area of which is proximal to the projecting front parts of the support of a coupling means of said coupling device, the front plate being positioned so as to be opposite this area of the tank. More particularly, said fuel tank is a container capable of containing liquefied petroleum gas.

[0017] Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from reading the description given below of a particular embodiment of the invention, given for informational purposes but not as a limitation, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0018] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of a coupling device of one embodiment of the invention.

[0019] [Fig.2] is a partial bottom view of a motor vehicle comprising the coupling device shown in [Fig.l] mounted in the rear part of said vehicle.

[0020] [Fig.3] is a bottom view, in detail, of a part of the mounted coupling device at the rear of the motor vehicle according to [Fig.2].

[0021] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of a classic orthonormal XYZ frame of a motor vehicle.

[0022] The orientations expressed in the description of the figures are given with reference to an orthonormal reference frame XYZ of a motor vehicle according to [Fig.4], in which X represents the longitudinal direction, oriented from the front to the rear of the vehicle, Y the transverse direction oriented towards the right of the vehicle, and Z the vertical direction oriented towards the top of the vehicle in the usual position, resting on its wheels.

[0023] The orientations of the described coupling device refer to these orientations, the terms front, rear, lower, upper, also being indicated with reference to these orientations of the motor vehicle on which the device is installed.

[0024] Figures 1 to 3 are commented on together.

[0025] [Fig. 1] represents a coupling device 1 comprising a transverse bar 10 and two lateral fixing parts 14, 15 making it possible to fix said device under the body and at the rear of a towing motor vehicle as represented in [Fig. 2]. In [Fig.2], only the rear part of the vehicle, which notably shows the rear wheels RI, R2, is shown in a view from below.

[0026] The towing hook 11, which extends to the rear of the crossbar 10, is accessible below the rear bumper of the vehicle, for example to attach a trailer to be towed.

[0027] The coupling device 1 comprises a support 12 supporting in particular the coupling hook 11. Said support 12 comprises a yoke 120 mounted on said transverse bar 10. Said yoke 120 comprises two vertical lateral cheeks 1201, 1202 directed towards the front of said bar 10 and which comprise projecting front parts.

[0028] A front plate 13 covers at least a front portion of the surface defined by said projecting front portions of the cheeks of the yoke, a surface which extends transversely at least from one cheek to the other. This plate is made of steel. It has a thickness of the order of 10 millimeters. It is welded to the front faces of the projecting front portions of said cheeks of the yoke, in the upper portion. Said plate 13 comprises a flat central portion and lateral edges 131, 132 projecting from said projecting front portions. These lateral edges 131, 132 are curved with a convex shape of curvature facing forward, in other words said edges form fallen edges, the lateral ends of the plate being directed towards the rear.

[0029] The vehicle is equipped under the body with a tank 3 containing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), one area of which is proximal to the projecting front parts of the yoke 120 of the support 12 of the towing hook 11.

[0030] The front plate 13 is welded to the front faces of the projecting front parts of said cheeks of the yoke 120 so as to cover approximately the upper third of the surface according to this example, depending on the height of the cheeks, the plate 13 being positioned so as to be opposite this area of the tank.

[0031] The invention makes it possible to protect the LPG tank from potential damage by the protruding front parts of the yoke, during a rear impact at 50 km / h. The front plate 13 welded to the front face of the cheeks of the yoke comes to bear against the tank in the event of an impact. At most, during the impact, the plate can cause a slight deformation of the wall of the tank in the impacted area, but the tank is not damaged, in particular it is not pierced.

Claims

Claims

1. Coupling device (1) configured to be fixed under the body and to the rear of a traction vehicle comprising a transverse bar (10), a coupling means (11) extending to the rear of said bar (10) and a support (12) of said coupling means (11) which is mounted on said transverse bar (10) and which comprises projecting front parts directed towards the front of said bar, characterized in that it comprises at least one front plate (13) covering at least a front part of the surface defined by said projecting front parts.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said front plate (13) comprises a flat central part and lateral edges (131, 132) projecting from said projecting front parts.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said lateral edges (131, 132) are curved with a convex shape of curvature facing forward.

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said front plate (13) is made of steel.

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said front plate (13) has a thickness of the order of 10 millimeters.

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said front plate (13) is permanently fixed to said support (12), in particular to the protruding front parts, preferably it is fixed by welds.

7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said support (12) of the coupling means (11) comprises a yoke (120) having cheeks (1201, 1202) directed towards the front of said transverse bar (10) and comprising said projecting front parts.

8. Motor vehicle comprising a coupling device (1), fixed under the body and at the rear of said vehicle, according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Motor vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a fuel tank (3) of which one zone is proximal to the projecting front parts of the support (12, 120) of a coupling means of said coupling device, the front plate being positioned so as to be opposite this zone of the tank.

10. Motor vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that said fuel tank (3) is a container capable of containing liquefied petroleum gas.

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