ES1276055U - REMOVABLE TOWING MECHANISM FOR VEHICLES. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Detachable hitch mechanism for vehicles, of the type made from a body or ball joint in the shape of an "L", with one branch horizontal and the other branch forming an obtuse angle with the first, so that the inclined branch It is finished in a ball (2), characterized in that the free end of the horizontal branch of the patella (1) is finished in an annular recess (18) next to which a flat faceting (19) tangent to said annular recess is established, the ball joint being capable of being coupled and uncoupled by plugging and turning it into a tubular support (3) that incorporates inside a key complementary to this faceted-annular recess set, having provided that the support (3) has two facing holes (20), diametrically opposed, in which a pin (4) can be inserted, linked to a locking handle (5) as a ratchet mechanism, lockable by means of a trigger (9), pin (4) which is formed by two sect Other cylindrical ends (6-6') of different diameter, according to the facing holes (20) of the tubular support (3), including a central sector materialized in an eccentric (7), which in the release position of the mechanism positionally coincides with a through hole (23) provided in the ball joint and defining a means for wedging the ball joint with respect to the tubular support (3). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Detachable Vehicle Hitch Mechanism

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The present invention refers to a removable hitch mechanism for vehicles, of the type used to couple a trailer, caravan or similar to a vehicle through the classic "ball" system.

The object of the invention is to provide a mechanism that, being valid for this type of standardized hooks, has a removable character.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a hitch that, in addition to the conventional features that this type of hitches offer, and the removable character described above, improves safety, ease of hooking to the vehicle, as well as stability when fixing against vibrations or other movements that may occur while the vehicle is running.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of practical application of the invention, different kinds of hitches for vehicles for towing trailers, caravans or the like are known.

Most of this type of mechanism is permanent, which can sometimes be an inconvenience, since its need is usually limited to very specific periods of time, such as vacation periods, so that the rest of the time that it is not being used, these devices represent a prominent element susceptible to damaging other vehicles during parking maneuvers.

Although there are removable coupling mechanisms that are coupled to a support or part that is adequately fixed to the vehicle's structure, allowing it to be uncoupled when it is not going to be used, they present problems regarding the coupling system between the parts that make up said hitch.

More specifically, so that the aforementioned coupling between the elements that make up the coupling is carried out easily and simply, without the need for great efforts, the pieces have a certain clearance between them, which can be a drawback in regarding the stability and safety of said hitch when the vehicle is operating, due to the constant movements to which the assembly is going to be subjected, which can endanger the coupling of the different elements of the hitch.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The removable hitch mechanism for vehicles that is recommended solves the aforementioned problems, based on a simple but effective solution, offering a simple to use mechanism that is extremely safe and stable at the same time.

For this, and more specifically, the mechanism of the invention is constituted from a body with an "L" configuration, which is finished off at one of its ends in a ball, a body whose branches form an obtuse angle, ending the opposite end of said body, that is to say the horizontal branch and of greater length in an annular recess and a flat faceting, as well as with and a through hole.

This "L" body is coupled at the end of the longer branch in a tubular ball joint support that constitutes the second main structural element of the mechanism.

In said support, a key is established internally for locking and positioning said annular recess by means of plugging and turning, making said flat faceting coincide with the key so that once the body is turned, the key is inserted in the annular recess.

From this structuring, when the "L" body or ball joint is in the operative position, the through hole made in its largest branch faces another through hole that has the ball joint support, so that between both holes a pin is inserted that is linked to an actuating handle of the locking mechanism, this being the third main part of the device.

This pin is formed by two cylindrical end portions between which an eccentric is positioned, so that by means of a rotation of said eccentric in the closed position, it causes the patella to lock on the support, fixing said lock by collaboration of a fork attached to a wire rope, cable or chain.

This wire rope will be attached at its other end to the locking handle, linking at its other end to a hole made in said handle.

Furthermore, it has another hole so that, by means of a fixing system, embodied for example in a screw with a nut, a component constituting a locking trigger is positioned.

The locking trigger is partially coupled to the inside of the lever, so that it is in this internal area where it has a recess intended to engage on a toothed area that appears on the cylindrical end of the pin that is coupled to the inside of the lever. lock. In this way, this trigger acts on the pin, in this toothed area, preventing the mechanism from turning by the action of the handle towards the open position, and therefore preventing the uncoupling of the parts if the locking trigger is not activated first. .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is going to be made below and with the aim of helping a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of a practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description. where, with an illustrative and non-limiting nature, the following has been represented:

Figure 1. Shows a side elevation view of a removable hitch mechanism for vehicles made in accordance with the object of the invention.

Figure 2.- Shows a perspective view of the assembly of figure 1.

Figure 3.- Shows a view similar to that of figure 2, but in which the mechanism appears in a disassembly situation.

Figure 4. Shows a perspective view of the set of elements that form the hooking system of the ball joint to the support, according to the invention.

Figure 5. Shows an elevation view of the pin that appears in the locking system of the previous figure.

Figure 6. Finally, shows an elevation view of the trigger that collaborates in the locking system of Figure 4.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the outlined figures, and especially of figure 1, it can be seen how the removable hitch mechanism for vehicles that the invention proposes is formed from a ball joint (1) in the shape of an "L" with a branch horizontal and the other branch forming an obtuse angle with the first, so that the inclined branch ends in a ball (2), while the horizontal branch ends in correspondence with its free end in an annular recess (18) parallel to its free end, in which a flat faceting (19) tangent to said annular recess is established.

The ball joint (1) is intended to be coupled inside a tubular support (3) that incorporates inside a key whose angular relative position with the flat faceting (19) allows the removable coupling of the body or ball joint (1), of so that the ball joint (1) is plugged into a 90 ° rotated position with respect to its operative position, in which the flat faceting (19) coincides with said key, allowing the ball joint to pass to the end of the support, so that after stopping and rotating the ball joint 90 °, the key will be arranged inside the annular recess (18) preventing its extraction.

However, this fixing is not stable enough, in addition to not preventing the rotation of the ball joint, and its consequent disassembly, for which it has been foreseen that the support (3) has two facing holes (20), diametrically opposed, in which a pin (4) is inserted, the one shown in figure 4, linked as a lateral projection of a handle (5) lock. These facing holes (20) will have different diameter, according to the reduction in diameter provided at both ends (6-6 ') of the pin (4).

More specifically, the locking handle (5) incorporates, as a ratchet mechanism, a pin (4) that is formed by two cylindrical end sectors (6-6 ') of different diameter and an intermediate eccentric (7), incorporating in the end destined to be housed inside the handle (5) a toothed area (8), visible in figure 5.

The handle also incorporates a trigger (9) coupled to it by means of a fixing system whose movement is limited by an elastic element, such as a strap (21), associated with a set screw (10) and nut (11) strap whose end It is linked to a slot (22) of the trigger, visible in figure 6.

This trigger (9) incorporates a recess (12) to hook onto the toothed area (8) of the pin (4). Said trigger (9) is partially coupled inside the lever (5), a part of the latter protruding outside said lever (5), to be actuated in the locking and unlocking operations of the system by manual pressing.

From this structure, the eccentric (7) of the pin (4), allows the tightening of the handle (5) by turning on the inner surface of the through hole (23) of the ball joint (1), producing the fixation of said tightening by means of the collaboration of the locking trigger (9), which when hooked into the toothed area (8) of the pin (4), blocks the turning movement of the eccentric (7), preventing the positioning of the lever (5) in opening situation.

The eccentricity of the axis of the eccentric (7) itself causes the ball joint (1) to wedge when its through hole (23), of identical diameter as said eccentric (7), deviates from the holes (20) by the actuation of the handle (5).

That is to say, in the release situation, the elements (6-7-6 ') positionally coincide with the set formed by the holes (20-23-20), the pin (4) being able to be introduced effortlessly through said set, while when the pin is rotated, the eccentricity of the eccentric (7) causes wedging of the assembly.

To release the mechanism, it is necessary to actuate the trigger (9), so that it releases the pin (4), and thus be able to place the handle (5) in an open position to disengage the hitch.

As an additional security element, the locking handle (5) is equipped with a fork (13) to insert into a hole (14) made in the free end (6) of the pin (4), thus fixing the lock of the hitch.

The fork (13) is attached to a wire rope (15), chain or cable, which at its other end is attached to the lever (5), through a hole (17) made in said lever (5).

In this way, it is possible to obtain a removable hitch for cars, in which the coupling of the different parts is done with great ease, while the very constitution of the elements that make up said hitch make it a safe and stable system in every moment.

Claims (2)

1st.- Detachable hitch mechanism for vehicles, of the type made from a body or ball joint in the shape of an "L", with a horizontal branch and the other branch forming an obtuse angle with the first, so that the branch inclined is finished off in a ball (2), characterized in that the free end of the horizontal branch of the patella (1) is finished off in an annular recess (18) next to which a flat faceting (19) tangent to said recess is established annular, the ball joint being capable of being coupled and uncoupled by plugging and turning it into a tubular support (3) that incorporates inside a key complementary to this faceted set-annular recess, having provided that the support (3) has two facing holes (20), diametrically opposed, in which a pin (4) can be inserted, linked to a locking handle (5) as a ratchet mechanism, lockable by means of a trigger (9), pin (4 ) which is made up of two se cylindrical end cors (6-6 ') of different diameter, according to the facing holes (20) of the tubular support (3), including a central sector materialized in an eccentric (7), which in the release position of the mechanism positionally coincides with a through hole (23) provided in the ball joint and defining a means for wedging the ball joint with respect to the tubular support (3). 2.- Detachable hitch mechanism for vehicles, according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking handle (5) is equipped with a fork (13) to insert into a hole (14) made in the free end (6) of the pin (4), has a fork (13) attached to a wire rope (15), chain or cable, which at its other end is attached to the handle (5), through a hole (17) provided in it.