GB2348859A - Lifting device for a recovery vehicle towing fork - Google Patents
Lifting device for a recovery vehicle towing fork Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2348859A GB2348859A GB0004560A GB0004560A GB2348859A GB 2348859 A GB2348859 A GB 2348859A GB 0004560 A GB0004560 A GB 0004560A GB 0004560 A GB0004560 A GB 0004560A GB 2348859 A GB2348859 A GB 2348859A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- lifting device
- fork
- pin
- recovery
- vehicle
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 51
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 2
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F41—WEAPONS
- F41H—ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
- F41H7/00—Armoured or armed vehicles
- F41H7/02—Land vehicles with enclosing armour, e.g. tanks
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
- B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
- B60D1/24—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions
- B60D1/42—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions for being adjustable
- B60D1/46—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions for being adjustable vertically
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
- B60P3/00—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects
- B60P3/12—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects for salvaging damaged vehicles
- B60P3/125—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects for salvaging damaged vehicles by supporting only part of the vehicle, e.g. front- or rear-axle
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Forklifts And Lifting Vehicles (AREA)
Abstract
A lifting device (4) mounted on a recovery vehicle (1) lifts and lowers a towing fork (7) by means of a ram (8) in order to adjust the position of the fork (7) in relation to a damaged vehicle. The lifting device (4) engages a cross beam (6) of the fork (7) through a pin (12) which can be extended or retracted. After positioning the fork (7), the pin (12) is retracted to enable the fork (7) to move freely about an axle (11) and to allow the lifting device (4) to be raised to a stowed position.
Description
41991pb.doc 2348859 TITLE Apparatus for Lifting and Lowering a Towing or
Recovery Fork This invention relates to an apparatus for lifting and lowering a towing or recovery fork.
Such apparatus may be fitted to a recovery vehicle and comprises, for example, a lifting device operated by external power.
During manoeuvres and on the battlefield, troops have the task of towing io away and retrieving immobilised and damaged vehicles so that they may be taken for repair outside the combat zone. During said operation, the crew of the recovery vehicle remains in the vehicle so as not to be exposed to danger. For this reason, the recovery fork is to be operated from the interior of the recovery vehicle. The fork should be free-floating and mobile enough to enable coupling and uncoupling of the damaged vehicle given variations in the level of the terrain.
It is known to arrange on the front of the recovery vehicle a recovery fork, which is designed with a cable-operated coupling apparatus. A similar device for mounting on the rear of the recovery vehicle is also known.
With the previously known solutions, the free-floating action of the recovery fork with regard to height adjustment is not guaranteed and so manual follow-up control of the free-floating action during towing or cable length compensation is required. As a result, the towing speed is dramatically reduced and the towing fork may become damaged.
One object of this invention is to provide an apparatus which, as a lifting 2 device, enables the coupling and uncoupling of the recovery fork in the coupling to the damaged vehicle and, during towing, ensures a complete separation between the lifting device and the recovery fork.
According to this invention there is provided apparatus for lifting and lowering a towing or recovery fork primarily for heavy military vehicles or offroad applications, the apparatus comprising a lifting device operated by an external force and a recovery fork, which may be manually or automatically coupled to and uncoupled from the towing vehicle and a vehicle being recovered, the lifting device comprising a lever coupled at one end to the io towing vehicle so as to be capable of swivelling up and down about an axle by means of a power drive, the lever having a displaceable pin which can be engaged with a cross-member of the recovery fork so that the said fork may be lifted and lowered by means of the lifting device, the recovery fork after coupling with a vehicle and after displacement of the pin on the lifting device being disengaged from the lifting device.
One form of apparatus according to this invention comprises, for example, a hydraulically driven lifting device for lifting and lowering the recovery fork. The lifting device forming an operating lever for the recovery fork, is supported rotatably in the swivelling axle of the recovery fork on the rear of the vehicle, where the recovery fork is also supported. A hydraulic cylinder is movably connected by one end to the top of the rear of the vehicle and by the other end to the lifting device at a distance from the swivelling axle so that the lifting device may be swivelled up and down through an angle of around 80o about the horizontal swivelling axle. The triangular recovery fork comprising two arms is provided with a cross-member, which is fastened between the fork arms.
3 Situated in a bearing arrangement at the front of the lifting device is a pin, which is hydraulically displaceable longitudinally in the direction of the lifting device and which, during lifting and lowering of the recovery fork, is extended underneath the cross-member so that the recovery fork is carried along by the lifting device.
After coupling the recovery fork to the damaged vehicle, the pin is moved rearwards hydraulically, thereby releasing the connection between the lifting device and recovery fork. The lifting device is moved into an upper position and locked there. During retrieval the recovery fork may then move, totally free of the lifting device, in accordance with the vehicle movements during travel.
To separate the recovery fork from the damaged vehicle, the lifting device is lowered again and the pin is moved outwards so that it extends under the cross-member of the recovery fork, with the result that the recovery fork, after disengagement of the fork from the damaged vehicle, may be lifted once more with the lifting device in an upward direction and away from the damaged vehicle.
It is advantageous that no winch cable is needed for the apparatus according to this invention. Electromotive spindle drives or hydraulic cylinders may be used as a drive for the lifting device and for operation of the pin. A particular advantage is the complete separation of lifting device and recovery fork during towing. By means of the lifting device the recovery fork may be swivelled vertically about the horizontal swivelling axle and adjusted within a wide range.
This invention is described further and in more detail by way of embodiments diagrammatically illustrated in the drawings as example.
In the drawings:- 4 Figure 1: shows a side view of the lifting device in an idle position, Figure 2: shows a side view of the lifting device in an operating position, and Figure 3: shows a plan view of the lifting device.
Figures 1 and 3 show a lifting device 4, which is supported on a coupling bracket 5 at the rear 1 of a recovery vehicle so as to be capable of swivelling vertically about a horizontal axle 11 - On the same axle 11 the recovery fork 7 is also supported by further bearing points on the recovery vehicle so as to be capable of swivelling in a vertical plane. A hydraulic cylinder 8 is pivotally lo connected by one end 9 to the top of the rear of the vehicle and by the other end to the bearing point 10 of the lifting device 4 and in the illustrated position is fully retracted, with the result that the lifting device 4 is swivelled into the upper position. A hydraulic cylinder 2 is fastened laterally to the lifting device 4 in such a way that a movable pin 12, which is connected to the cylinder, may be moved in a longitudinally displaceable manner in a guide 3 (shown in cross section).
The cylinder with the pin is fully retracted in the illustrated position. The recovery fork 7 has a cross-member 6 disposed at a specific distance from the axle 11. In the illustrated position, the recovery fork is in the operating position and is coupled to a damaged vehicle (not shown).
Figure 2 shows the lifting device 4 in a position, in which it has been moved downwards by means of the hydraulic cylinder 8, while the pin 12 has been extended by means of the hydraulic cylinder 2 so that the pin 12 then lies under the cross-member 6. Thus, when the lifting device 4 is lifted again, the recovery fork 7 is lifted simultaneously by the action of the pin 12 upon the cross-member 6. The recovery fork may therefore be lifted and/or lowered into the operating positions A, B or C into any desired intermediate positions to allow the recovery fork to be suitably adjusted to the coupling point of a damaged vehicle (not shown). The recovery fork is swivelled upwards and locked in position A as the transport position for the journey to the point of use.
Claims (7)
1. Apparatus for lifting and lowering a towing or recovery fork primarily for heavy military vehicles or off-road applications, the apparatus comprising a s lifting device operated by an external force and a recovery fork, which may be manually or automatically coupled to and uncoupled from the towing vehicle and a vehicle being recovered, the lifting device comprising a lever coupled at one end to the towing vehicle so as to be capable of swivelling up and down about an axle by means of a power drive, the lever having a displaceable pin which io can be engaged with a Gross-member of the recovery fork so that the said fork may be lifted and lowered by means of the lifting device, the recovery fork after coupling with a vehicle and after displacement of the pin on the lifting device being disengaged from the lifting device.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the pin (12) is supported in a longitudinally displaceable manner within a guide and is displaceable by means of a remotely controllable pin drive.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the pin is displaceable by means of a pin drive radially of the swivelling axis and in the direction of extension of the lifting device.
4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the power drive comprises a linear drive means and is rotatably connected through one end with the rear of the vehicle and through the other end with the lifting device so that 7 the lifting device may be swivelled up and down by means of the power drive.
5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the swivelling axle is horizontal and forms both the swivelling axle for the lifting device and the s swivelling axle for the recovery fork or said axles extend parallel and are spaced a small distance apart.
6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the lifting device may be swivelled by means of the power drive to the level of, or below the position lo of, the recovery fork and the pin is extendible by means of the pin drive so that the pin acts underneath a cross-member of the recovery fork whereby the recovery fork, upon lifting of the lifting device by means of the power drive, may be lifted simultaneously in an upward diredion.
7. Apparatus primarily for recovery of vehicles constructed and arranged as described herein and exemplified with reference to the drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE1999116711 DE19916711C1 (en) | 1999-04-13 | 1999-04-13 | Device for lifting and lowering a towing or recovery fork |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0004560D0 GB0004560D0 (en) | 2000-04-19 |
| GB2348859A true GB2348859A (en) | 2000-10-18 |
| GB2348859B GB2348859B (en) | 2002-06-12 |
Family
ID=7904449
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0004560A Expired - Fee Related GB2348859B (en) | 1999-04-13 | 2000-02-25 | Apparatus for lifting and lowering a towing or recovery fork |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| DE (1) | DE19916711C1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2792253B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2348859B (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1317606B1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE10144370A1 (en) * | 2001-09-10 | 2003-11-20 | Rheinmetall Landsysteme Gmbh | Storage of a towing device for an armored transport vehicle |
Family Cites Families (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2549734A (en) * | 1947-07-08 | 1951-04-17 | Case Co J I | Drawbar pickup |
| US2791443A (en) * | 1955-02-14 | 1957-05-07 | Dean E Allard | Tractor-trailer hitching mechanism with collapsible guide means |
| DE1555419A1 (en) * | 1967-03-25 | 1971-01-14 | France Motoculture S A | Device for coupling a trailer |
| GB1345521A (en) * | 1971-04-26 | 1974-01-30 | Int Harvester Co | Tractor coupling linkages |
| GB1470941A (en) * | 1975-01-14 | 1977-04-21 | Int Harvester Co | Industrial and agricultural tractors |
| DE3407896A1 (en) * | 1984-03-03 | 1985-09-05 | Porsche Ag | Device for recovering an armoured vehicle with armoured protection |
| US4953883A (en) * | 1989-04-26 | 1990-09-04 | Simon Helie | Truck trailer hitch |
| US5772230A (en) * | 1994-08-31 | 1998-06-30 | Kemnitz; Myron A. | Towing apparatus |
-
1999
- 1999-04-13 DE DE1999116711 patent/DE19916711C1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2000
- 2000-02-25 GB GB0004560A patent/GB2348859B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2000-03-01 FR FR0002595A patent/FR2792253B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2000-03-14 IT IT2000MI000515 patent/IT1317606B1/en active
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE19916711C1 (en) | 2000-09-28 |
| FR2792253A1 (en) | 2000-10-20 |
| GB2348859B (en) | 2002-06-12 |
| ITMI20000515A1 (en) | 2001-09-14 |
| FR2792253B1 (en) | 2002-12-27 |
| IT1317606B1 (en) | 2003-07-15 |
| GB0004560D0 (en) | 2000-04-19 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20170225 |