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CA1295603C - Device for maneuvering of trailers - Google Patents

Device for maneuvering of trailers

Info

Publication number
CA1295603C
CA1295603C CA000558066A CA558066A CA1295603C CA 1295603 C CA1295603 C CA 1295603C CA 000558066 A CA000558066 A CA 000558066A CA 558066 A CA558066 A CA 558066A CA 1295603 C CA1295603 C CA 1295603C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
wheel
shaft
driving
trailers
trailer
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
CA000558066A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Angelo Sacco
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from BE8700111A external-priority patent/BE1000300A7/en
Priority claimed from BE8700325A external-priority patent/BE1000429A6/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1295603C publication Critical patent/CA1295603C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60DVEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/58Auxiliary devices
    • B60D1/66Props
    • B60D1/665Props comprising supporting wheels, e.g. dollies
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60DVEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/24Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions
    • B60D1/246Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions for actuating the hitch by powered means
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60DVEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/58Auxiliary devices
    • B60D1/66Props
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60SSERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60S9/00Ground-engaging vehicle fittings for supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring the vehicle, wholly or in part, e.g. built-in jacks
    • B60S9/14Ground-engaging vehicle fittings for supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring the vehicle, wholly or in part, e.g. built-in jacks for both lifting and manoeuvring
    • B60S9/205Power driven manoeuvring fittings, e.g. reciprocably driven steppers or rotatably driven cams
    • B60S9/21Power driven manoeuvring fittings, e.g. reciprocably driven steppers or rotatably driven cams comprising a rotatably driven auxiliary wheel or endless track, e.g. driven by ground wheel
    • B60S9/215Power driven manoeuvring fittings, e.g. reciprocably driven steppers or rotatably driven cams comprising a rotatably driven auxiliary wheel or endless track, e.g. driven by ground wheel driven by an auxiliary motor

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Arrangement Or Mounting Of Propulsion Units For Vehicles (AREA)
  • Tires In General (AREA)
  • Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)
  • Handcart (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Device for maneuvering of trailers A motorized device intended to aid the maneuvers of trailers detached from the towing vehicle, which comprises essentially a shaft (1) arranged on the drawbar of the trailer and adjustable for height at the end of which at least one wheel (9) is mounted whose axis is perpendicular to said shaft (1), at least one means of driving (13) said wheel in rotation around its axis and a means of swivelling (15) said wheel (9).

(Figure 1)

Description

3L. 3 Device for Maneuvering Trailers _ _ . _ _ _ Field of the Invention-. . _ The present invention concerns a motorized device for aiding the maneuvering of trailers such as caravans, horse boxes or boat trailers and others, when they are detached from the towing vehicle.
Prior Art:
The Conventional trailers generally comprise a retractable device which aids the manual maneuvers when they are detached from the towing vehicle and which generally comprises a wheel mounted on a pivoting shaft or on a pivoting fork.
However, it becomes difficult to steer the trailers by hand and to push them for the purpose of changing their position when their weight and their dimensions become relatively large. This task becomes all the more arduous when the ground is uneven.
Objects of the Invention .
The present invention has for its principal object to provide a device for trailer maneuvering which particularly aids the maneuvering of trailers when they are detached from the towing vehicle.
Another object of the present invention i5 to provide a device of the abovementioned type which comprises at least one driving motor and which aids the operator in movements from place to place, without the operator being obliged to exert considerable muscular effort.

~: :

Definition of the Invention-In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a motorized device for maneuvering trailers detached from a towing vehicle, the trailers including a drawbar, comprising:
a vertically adjustable shaft attachable to the drawbar of a trailer, said shaft having opposed upper and lower ends;
at least one wheel mounted on said lower end of said shaft, said wheel having an axis perpendicular to said shaft;
at least one driving means for driving said wheel in rotation about said wheel axis, said driving means comprising driving motor means and speed reducer means mounted on said upper end of said shaft wherein said speed reducer means transmits rotary movement to said wheel;
swivelling means for swivelling said wheel, said swivelling means comprising a handle or manual steering wheel operatively connected to said driving motor means: and said shaft further comprising:
a hollow casing vertically adjustable and adapted for attachment to the trailer drawbar; and a rotatable pin in said casing, said pin transmitting the rotary movement of said driving means to said at least one wheel.
The means for driving the wheel may comprise an electric or internal combustion motor, which together with the speed reducer, is mounted on the top free end of the shaft which ensures the transmission of the rotary movement to the wheel.

: ~:

The shaft consists of a hollow casing adjustable for height, depending for example on a simple rack and pinion assembly~ in which the pin is located which transmits the rotary movement of the means of driving to at least one wheel. Thus the wheel may be raised or lowered in relation to the drawbar of the trailer according to whether the operator has hooked the trailer onto the towing vehicle or whether he has the intention of moving it independently of the towing vehicle.
A remote control may be provided that enables the swivelling of the wheel and the turning of it to be controlled in such a manner that the trailer may be steered easily.
At least one of the means of driving comprises, advantageously, an additional power take-off which permits various accessories like a hydraulic pump, a winch or others to be coupled up.

Brief Description of the Figures:
The invention is described below in more detail supported by drawings, in which:
Figure l is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment ~conformlng to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of another embodiment conforming to the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Figures:
The identical reference numbers in the figures represent . .

:~

i6~3 The device of Figure l comprises a hollow casing l mounted on the drawbar of a trailer (not shown) such as a caravan, boat trailer or others. Said hollow casing l is able to slide in a sleeve 3 made integral with the drawbar (not shown) and be adjusted for height by the mounting of a rack and pinion assem~ly 5 shown diagrammatically.
The bottom end 7 of said hollow casing has two wheels 9 mounted on a common axis 7 substantially perpendicular to said casing 1~
A means of driving such as an internal combustion motor followed by a reducer, combined together in a casing 13, is arranged on the top part. Said means of driving transmits ;ts turning movement to a pin 2 mounted inside the hollow casing 1 and then, depending on suitable gearing, to the wheels 9.
The device conforming to the present invention comprises a means of swivelling the wheels 9 in order to be able to steer ~the trailer in the desired directions.
In the case of Figure 1, this is composed advantageously ;of a handle 15 integral w;th the casing 13 which ~ransmits the pivoting movement exerted manually by the operator to the ~heels 9.
Advantageausly, the device of the present invention is also fitted uith a safety device which stops the means :~`

:
~ ~ .

~s~a3 s of driving immediately as soon as the operator is no longer in a position to control the device. Said safety device may be composed of a declutching lever 17 ~ which the operator must hold at the same time as the handle 15.
The device conforming to the present invention may also offer an auxiliary power take-off 19 possibly engageable with the aid of a lever 21. This power take-off permits various accessories to be coupled up. For example, mention may be made of a hydraulic pump to work a hydraulic installation, such as a tipping trailer or a traction winch intended for example, for boat trailers or again trailers intended for vehicle recovery.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, said shaft 1 is arranged in slideable and adjustabLe manner in a sleeve 3 made integral with the drawbar of a trailer. With advantage, the height adjustment is made with the aid of :~ :
a lever 5 whose rotation enables a threaded rod 6 to mesh ~` ~ 20 with an internal thread made in the shaft 1.
The means of driving 13 of the wheel 9 in rotation . around its a~is 11 is with advantage mounted on the end of~the shaft 1, preferably more or less on the same axis 11 as that of the wheel 9.
The means of swivelling of the wheel evidently may also comprise a handle of the abovementioned type.
However, it may equally comprise a motor 15, preferably ~ an eLectric motor, fo(Lowed by a sPeed reducer which is :;`
:
:
:

integral with said sleeve and which a~cts on a longitudinal key 31 This key permits a reducing action over the whole length of the shaft 1, that is to say even if the shaft 1 is adjusted for height. Of course, other means may also be provided such as a splined shaft together with a toothed belt.
This embcdiment is particularly well suited to a remote control with the aid of a control board 33.
An extremely simple maneuver is made by the operator on pressing the key arcording to the easily understood symbols; the control enables the machine to steer the trailer in every direction; forwards, backwards, to the right and to the left, without any effort on the part of the user.
When the symbol keys "front" and "to the right" are pressed simultaneously, the two motors 13 and 15 are actuated, the motor 13 moves the trailer forward and the motor 13 makes the shaft 1 pivot to the right. The advantage of the remote control rests on the fact that the user may control the maneuvers of all the positions uhile having complete visibility all round the trailer.

~ ~ :
~ In the~case where the electric cable which connects : :
the remote control to the machine becomes detached, a safety system is switched on, causing the machine to stop automatically.
: ~
; The energy required for the operation of the device may be supplied by a 12 or 24 volt automobile type battery located on the trailer and recharged, for example, by the alternator of the towing vehicle.

.

':~:

.

;6~3 As an alternative, it could also be planned to replace the electric motor 13 by an internal combustion engine of which a second power take-off has to be coupled to the reducer 15, possibly with the aid of a flexible drive.
S It has been established that the desired objectives are achieved by the present invention.
The maneuvering device according to the present invention, guided by the driver, is able to push, to pull the trailer in all directions without great effort on the part of the driver. The speed is adjusted advantageously, to a value near that of walking pace.
Other accessories may also be provided such as a headlight 51 or similar.
In similar manner, various methods of fixing or of attachment of the device of the invention to the trailer ~::
;~ drawbar may be foreseen.
.
: : :

~: :

-: , ~

Claims (8)

1. A motorized device for maneuvering trailers detached from a towing vehicle, the trailers including a drawbar, comprising:
a vertically adjustable shaft attachable to the drawbar of a trailer, said shaft having opposed upper and lower ends;
at least one wheel mounted on said lower end of said shaft, said wheel having an axis perpendicular to said shaft;
at least one driving means for driving said wheel in rotation about said wheel axis, said driving means comprising driving motor means and speed reducer means mounted on said upper end of said shaft wherein said speed reducer means transmits rotary movement to said wheel;
swivelling means for swivelling said wheel, said swivelling means comprising a handle or manual steering wheel operatively connected to said driving motor means; and said shaft further comprising:
a hollow casing vertically adjustable and adapted for attachment to the trailer drawbar; and a rotatable pin in said casing, said pin transmitting the rotary movement of said driving means to said at least one wheel.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said driving motor means is electric.
3 The device of claim 1 wherein said driving motor means is an internal combustion motor.
4. The device as claimed in claim 1 including:
auxiliary power take-off means.
5. The device as claimed in claim 2 including:
auxiliary power take-off means.
6. The device as claimed in claim 3 including:
auxiliary power take-off means.
7. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 including:
a headlight on said shaft.
8. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 , which is fitted with a remote control.
CA000558066A 1987-02-12 1988-02-03 Device for maneuvering of trailers Expired - Lifetime CA1295603C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
BE08700111 1987-02-12
BE8700111A BE1000300A7 (en) 1987-02-12 1987-02-12 THE INVENTION RELATES TO A MACHINE FOR FACILITATING THE MANEUVERING OF TRAILERS INDEPENDENT OF THE TRACTOR VEHICLE.
BE8700325A BE1000429A6 (en) 1987-03-31 1987-03-31 Trailer manoeuvring unit for caravan or boat - has driven steerable wheels on lower end of vertical telescopic shaft which couples to trailer hitch
BE08700325 1987-03-31

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1295603C true CA1295603C (en) 1992-02-11

Family

ID=25662256

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000558066A Expired - Lifetime CA1295603C (en) 1987-02-12 1988-02-03 Device for maneuvering of trailers

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0278943B1 (en)
CA (1) CA1295603C (en)
DE (1) DE3871543T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2034398T3 (en)
GR (1) GR3005560T3 (en)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2229150B (en) * 1989-01-27 1992-06-03 Eurotech Int Ltd A jockey wheel drive assembly
DE4410344A1 (en) * 1994-03-25 1995-09-28 Bertram Hans Joachim Towing device for vehicle trailer
GB2316922B (en) * 1996-09-04 2000-10-25 Carver Plc Apparatus for moving vehicles such as trailers and trolleys
US7275907B1 (en) 2004-01-27 2007-10-02 Donald Reichard Boat trailer tug
DE202009005185U1 (en) * 2009-08-26 2011-01-20 Al-Ko Kober Ag auxiliary drive
CN103863268A (en) * 2014-01-16 2014-06-18 周斌 Automobile turn-round, warehouse shifting and lateral parking auxiliary device

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1095463A (en) * 1953-12-05 1955-06-03 Vehicules Ind Titan Mechanism for actuating jacks with mixed manual and electric actuation, in particular for semi-trailers
US3117766A (en) * 1961-06-29 1964-01-14 Ketel Luwrence Remotely controlled landing gear
US3356172A (en) * 1965-10-21 1967-12-05 Phillip D Peckham Motor driven dolly for trailers
US3826322A (en) * 1972-09-28 1974-07-30 S Williams Accessory wheel and drive device for a motor vehicle
KR880000562B1 (en) * 1985-04-13 1988-04-15 김세웅 Auto direction changer for vehicle

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0278943A3 (en) 1989-09-20
ES2034398T3 (en) 1993-04-01
DE3871543T2 (en) 1993-01-28
EP0278943B1 (en) 1992-06-03
EP0278943A2 (en) 1988-08-17
GR3005560T3 (en) 1993-06-07
DE3871543D1 (en) 1992-07-09

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
MKLA Lapsed