AU2006207859A1

AU2006207859A1 - A coupling assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2006207859A1
Application number: AU2006207859A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Arthur Goddard
Original assignee: Vehicle Components Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Cruisemaster Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2005-09-21
Filing date: 2006-09-06
Publication date: 2007-04-05
Anticipated expiration: 2026-09-06
Also published as: AU2006207859C1; AU2006207859B2

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant: VEHICLE COMPONENTS PTY LTD Invention Title: A COUPLING ASSEMBLY The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 2 A COUPLING ASSEMBLY Field of the Invention e( SThe present invention relates to couplings and is particularly relevant to vehicles towing trailers.

Background of the Invention A typical method for coupling a trailer to a vehicle involves connecting a tow bar to the rear of the In 00 vehicle.

The tow bar includes a tow ball which is fitted \1 0 into the tow bar's tongue attachment. A trailer can then Sbe hitched to the tow ball by connecting a shackle to the tow ball.

Unfortunately it is not always easy to attach the shackle of the trailer to the tow ball of the vehicle.

For example if the shackle and tow ball are not correctly aligned considerable strength may be required to manoeuvre the shackle over the tow ball and orient it correctly so that it can be dropped over the top of the tow ball. For example if the trailer happens to sit at an angle with respect to the vehicle, there may be considerable difficultly in coupling the two together.

In addition to the above there are a number of "off-road" type couplings which incorporate a universal joint type arrangement which is difficult to align.

The present invention provides an alternative coupling assembly which at least to some extent alleviates the above identified problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a coupling assembly comprising a first coupling and a second coupling, the first coupling having an upper portion with a sloping peripheral surface and a lower portion with a sloping peripheral surface, the second coupling comprising a first portion with a coupling hole configured to receive the first coupling upper and lower portions and wherein the width of the lower end of the lower portion is greater than the width of a lower end of the upper portion.

H: \SueB\Keep\speci\P62081 .SPEC.doc 5/09/06 3 Preferably the first coupling includes a neck portion located between the upper and lower portions, Swhich have a substantially constant width.

IDThe sloping peripheral surface of the upper portion preferably comprises a conical outer surface.

Preferably the upper portion comprises a frusto conical outer surface.

00 It is preferred that the first coupling upper portion slopes outwardly to the lower end.

It is preferred that the slope of the upper portion is substantially constant.

C According to one embodiment of the invention the first coupling comprises a neck portion with a cylindrical region.

The neck region preferably has a width less than the width of the lower end of the upper portion.

It is preferred that the lower portion has a sloping region comprising a substantially frusto conical peripheral surface.

The upper end of the lower portion may have a greater width than the upper end of the upper portion.

The first coupling portion neck portion may have a width less than the width of the lower end of the upper portion.

Preferably the first coupling portion comprises a middle portion having a substantially constant peripheral width.

The middle portion may have a peripheral width substantially the same as the lower end of the upper portion.

According to one embodiment the width of the middle part is greater than the width of the neck portion.

It is preferred that the width of any of the above portions corresponds to the diameter of the portions.

The upper portion may have a periphery of constant gradient.

H: \SueD\Keep\apeci\P62081 .SPBC.d 5/09/06 I-4- The lower portion may have a periphery of constant gradient.

The lower portion may have a lower region of Csubstantially constant width.

The lower region may be substantially cylindrical.

Preferably the first coupling includes a collar.

00 Preferably the collar is located below the lower region.

The second coupling may comprise a link coupled to a third coupling for pivotal movement relative thereto.

C Preferably the hole has a lower entry with a width greater than the upper exit.

The hole may extend through an upper and lower surface of the link.

Preferably the link has a back wall, side walls and a base wall extending therebetween.

It is preferred that the hole extends through the base wall.

The hole may be narrower at a top end and widest at a lower end.

The hole may comprise a first wide section, a second intermediate section and a third narrow section.

Preferably the second section reduces in width from the first to the second section.

The second section may have a constant tapering gradient.

The second section may be substantially frusto conical in shape.

The first section may comprise a cylindrical passage.

The second section may comprise a frusto conical passage.

The third section preferably comprises a cylindrical passage.

The width of the third section may be slightly longer than the width of the widest part of the upper H:\SueB\Keep\speci\P62081 .SPEC.doc 5/09/06 5 portion.

Preferably the width of the first section is slightly larger than the width of the widest part of the lower portion.

Preferably the shape of the intermediate section is similar to the shape of the sloping region of the lower portion.

00 The width of the middle portion may be slightly smaller than the width of the first section.

The external shape of the middle and lower Sportions preferably matches the shape of the inner wall C surfaces of the hole.

Preferably side walls of the link are rectangular and extend from the rear wall.

The rear wall may include a central aperture.

A cylindrical shaft of the third coupling preferably extends through the central aperture.

The cylindrical shaft may include a head portion which acts as a stopper to prevent withdrawal of the shaft from the aperture.

Preferably the third coupling comprises a cylindrical body coaxial with the shaft and greater in diameter than the shaft.

A proximal end of the cylindrical body and head portion preferably limit axial movement of the shaft through the aperture.

The third coupling may include a bracket for fixing it to a carriage.

The cylindrical body may include the bracket.

Preferably the third coupling is able to rotate with respect to the second coupling.

Preferably the configuration of the peripheral surface of the upper portion, middle portion and lower portion and the shape of the hole provide a self centering capability for the second coupling with respect to the first coupling.

Preferably the base surface comprises a generally H: \SueB\Keep\peci\P62081 .SPEC.doc 5/09/06 6

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horizontally oriented body such a plate of steel.

According to another aspect of the present Sinvention there is provided a coupling component comprising an upper portion with a sloping peripheral surface and a lower portion with a sloping peripheral surface and wherein the width of the lower end of the lower portion is greater than the width of a lower end of 00 the upper portion.

Preferably the slope of the upper and lower portions are substantially the same.

SAccording to another aspect of the present C1 invention there is provided a coupling comprising a coupling link having a rear wall, side walls and a base wall with a hole therethrough and a shaft coupled to the link and rotatable relative to the link and wherein the hole has a profile comprising an upper opening of smaller width than a lower opening and a sloping region between the upper and lower openings.

According to one embodiment the hole comprises an upper region of substantially constant diameter, a lower region of substantially constant diameter greater than the upper region diameter and an intermediate region which slopes substantially constantly from the upper region to the lower region.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an angled view of a coupling in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention; and Figures 2 to 6 show different stages of coupling between a coupling element and a coupling link in accordance with the preferred embodiment.

As shown in Figure 1 coupling 10 consists of coupling element 11 which is in the form of a specially configured upright shaft and a link 12 pivotally connected H: \SueB\Keep\peci\P6281. SPEC.doc 5/09/06 7 to a rotatable shaft 13 with a fixing bracket 14 fixed thereto.

The shape of the coupling element 11 can be seen in all of the figures. It consists of a conical shaped head 20 with an apex 21. Below the head 20 a cylindrical neck region 22 is provided of diameter which is approximately the same as the diameter of the head 20 at a 00 mid vertical point thereof.

The neck region 22 extends into a stepped cylindrical section 23 of wider diameter and this in turn Sextends into a frusto conical region 24 which tapers C outwardly at a constant gradient similar to that for the head The frusto conical region 24 extends into a lower cylindrical region 25 which terminates in a collar 26.

Below the collar 26 a cylindrical shaft 27 is provided of slightly narrower width than the cylindrical region 25 but larger in width than the cylindrical region 22.

The link 12 consists of a rectangular rear wall and two forwardly extending side walls 31 and 32 which are similarly rectangular in shape. A base wall 33 interconnects 30, 31 and 32 and incorporates an enlarged region 34 with a central hole The central hole 35 has an inner peripheral surface which closely approximates the external profile of the shaft element 11 of regions 23, 24 and 25. Thus a top region 36 of the hole 35 has a narrow cylindrical profile, an intermediate region below this 37 has a frusto conical profile and a lower region 37 has a cylindrical profile with a diameter similar slightly larger than the width of region As shown in Figures 2 to 6, the shape of the hole 26 is designed to accommodate the external profile of the shaft element 11.

The link 12 is coupled to a cylindrical shaft 13 which incorporates a central shaft 40 of small diameter H:\SueB\Keep\speci\P62081.SPEC.doc 5/09/06 8 which extends through a central rearward aperture in the central vertical wall of rear wall 30. A cylindrically e( Sshaped stopper or head 41 prevents the shaft pulled all the way through the hole and a large

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cylindrical element 42 coaxial with shaft 40 prevents the shaft 40 from being pushed too far through the hole in the wall In 00 Bracket 14 attached to shaft 42 enables coupling element 13 to be attached to a trailer.

1 0 In operation coupling link 12 and its connected Scoupling element 13 can be coupled to the shaft element 11 CI by locating the hole 35 over the top end of the shaft element 11. As shown in Figure 2 if the link 12 happens to be oriented at an angle with respect to the vertically oriented shaft element 11, the top or apex 21 of the head will contact an inner surface of the hole 35 as for example shown in Figure 2. Because of the sloping surface 37 and corresponding sloping surface of the head 20, the link 12 slides over the head 20 to the position shown in Figure 3 where the sloping side wall of the head contacts the sloping region 37 and the link therefore slides over the top of the shaft element as shown in Figure 4. As the width of the lower end of the head closely approximates the inside width of the hole at region 36, the head 20 effectively prevents the link from dropping completely onto the shaft element in one dropping movement. Instead the head 20 aligns centrally into the hole region 36 at the same time aligning the lower edge of the link 12 so that it slides along the outer surface of region 24 causing the lower region 37 to slide over the region 24 and then align with region 25 at its top end.

As the external diameter of region 25 and lower end of head 20 are slightly smaller than the corresponding diameters of the hole at regions 37 and 36, the link is able to gradually drop onto the shaft element and rest on the flange/collar 26. As can be seen from the drawing as part of this process the link 12 reorientates from an H:\SueB\Keep\peciP62081.SPEC.doC 5/09/06 9

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angled position of say 450 in the example shown to a horizontal orientation and coupling is complete as shown Sin Figure 5 with the head 20 protruding beyond the upper end of the hole region 36 so that the neck 22 is exposed.

A cover or key component can then be placed over the head to ensure uncoupling cannot occur.

With the coupling described above alignment 00 between the link 12 and coupling element 11 is assisted by the shaft 40 allowing the link to rotate with respect to shaft 42 and bracket 14 which is fixed to part of a trailer. Thus regardless of the orientation of the C coupling component of the trailer (identified by items 12 and 13), once the hole 35 has been located over the top end of the coupling element 11, self alignment centering of the link due to the shape of the internal and external surfaces of the hole and coupling element 11 respectively allows easy coupling of a trailer to a vehicle.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or in any other country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

H:\SueB\Keep\BpeCi\P62081.SPEC.doc 5/09/06

Claims

1. A coupling assembly comprising a first Scoupling and a second coupling, the first coupling having an upper portion with a sloping peripheral surface and a lower portion with a sloping peripheral surface, the second coupling comprising a first portion with a coupling hole configured to receive the first coupling upper and 00 lower portions and wherein the width of a lower end of the lower portion is greater than the width of a lower end of the upper portion.

2. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim C1 i, wherein the first coupling includes a neck portion of substantially constant width located between the upper and lower portions.

3. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sloping peripheral surface of the upper portion comprises a conical outer surface.

4. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper portion comprises a frusto conical outer surface.

The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first coupling upper portion slopes outwardly to the lower end.

6. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim wherein the slope of the upper portion is substantially constant.

7. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first coupling portion comprises a neck portion with a cylindrical region.

8. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the neck region has a width less than the width of the lower end of the upper portion.

9. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein the lower portion has a sloping region comprising a substantially frusto conical peripheral surface.

The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper end of the lower portion has a greater H:\SueB\Keep\5peci\P620B1.SPEC.doc 5/09/06 11 \O width than the upper end of the upper portion.

11. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 8 Swherein the first coupling neck portion has a width less than the width of the lower end of the upper portion.

12. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the first coupling portion comprises a middle portion having a substantially constant peripheral width.

0013. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein the middle portion has a peripheral width substantially the same as the lower end of the upper Sportion. C1

14. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein the width of the middle part is greater than the width of the neck portion.

15. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 14 wherein the upper portion has a periphery of constant gradient.

16. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim wherein the lower portion has a periphery of constant gradient.

17. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 16 wherein the lower portion has a region of substantially constant width.

18. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first coupling includes a collar.

19. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 18 wherein the collar is located below the lower region.

The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second coupling comprises a link coupled to a third coupling for pivotal movement relative thereto.

21. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first portion of the second coupling comprises a lower entry to the coupling hole which lower entry has a width greater than an upper exit region of the hole.

22. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 21 wherein the hole extends through an upper and lower surface of the link. H:\SueB\Keep\spcci\P62OB1.SPEC.doc 5/09/06 12

23. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 22 wherein the link has a back wall, side walls and a base wall extending therebetween.

24. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 23 wherein the hole extends through the base wall and is narrower at a top end and widest at a lower end.

The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 00 24 wherein the hole comprises a first wide section, a second intermediate section and a third narrow.

26. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim wherein the second section reduces in width from the CI first to the second section.

27. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 26 wherein the second section has a constant tapering gradient.

28. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 27 wherein the first section comprises a cylindrical passage.

29. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 28 wherein the third section comprises a cylindrical passage.

The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 29 wherein the width of the third section is slightly longer than the width of the widest part of the upper portion.

31. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim wherein the width of the first section is slightly larger than the width of the widest part of the lower portion.

32. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 31 wherein the shape of the intermediate section is similar to the shape of the sloping region of the lower portion.

33. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 32 wherein the width of the middle portion is slightly smaller than the width of the first section.

34. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim H: \SueB\Keep\apeci\P620 1.SPEC.doc 5/09/06 13 33 wherein the external shape of the middle and lower c-I portions matches the shape of the inner wall surfaces of e( the hole.

The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 34 wherein the side walls of the link are rectangular and extend from the back wall which includes a central aperture. 00

36. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim wherein a cylindrical shaft of the third coupling extends through the central aperture.

37. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim C1 36 wherein the cylindrical shaft includes a head portion which acts as a stopper to prevent withdrawal of the shaft from the aperture.

38. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 37 wherein the third coupling means comprises a cylindrical body coaxial with a shaft and greater in diameter than the shaft with a proximal end of the cylindrical body and a head portion limiting axial movement of the shaft through the aperture.

39. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 38 wherein the third coupling includes a bracket for fixing it to a carriage.

The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 1 including a third coupling which is able to rotate with respect to the second coupling.

41. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim wherein the third coupling comprises a cylindrical body with a cylindrical shaft which extends through a hole in a rear wall portion of the second coupling.

42. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 41 wherein the third coupling comprises a bracket for fixing it to a carriage.

43. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the configuration of the peripheral surface of the upper portion, a middle portion and lower portion of the first coupling and the shape of the hole provide a self- H: \SUeB\Keep\epeci\P62081. SPEC.doc 5/09/06 14 centering capability for the second coupling with respect to the first coupling.

44. A coupling component comprising an upper portion with a sloping peripheral surface and a lower portion with a sloping peripheral surface and wherein the width of the lower end of the lower portion is greater than the width of a lower end of the upper portion and the 00 coupling is configured to couple with a second coupling portion comprising a hole having a matching configuration C1 0 to the coupling.

A coupling comprising a coupling link Cl having a rear wall, side walls and a base wall with a hole therethrough and a shaft coupled to the link and rotatable relative to the link and wherein the hole has a profile comprising an upper opening of smaller width than the lower opening and a sloping region between the upper and lower openings and wherein the coupling is adapted to couple with a coupling component as claimed in claim

46. A coupling substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

47. A coupling component substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. VEHICLE COMPONENTS PTY LTD By its Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia H:\SueB\Keep\speci\P62081.SPC.doc 5/09/06