GB2358009A - Device for attaching manoeuvring wheels to trailer couplings - Google Patents
Device for attaching manoeuvring wheels to trailer couplings Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2358009A GB2358009A GB0000268A GB0000268A GB2358009A GB 2358009 A GB2358009 A GB 2358009A GB 0000268 A GB0000268 A GB 0000268A GB 0000268 A GB0000268 A GB 0000268A GB 2358009 A GB2358009 A GB 2358009A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- trailer
- base
- coupling
- attached
- coupling device
- 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
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 27
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 26
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 26
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
- B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
- B60D1/01—Traction couplings or hitches characterised by their type
- B60D1/06—Ball-and-socket hitches, e.g. constructional details, auxiliary devices, their arrangement on the vehicle
-
- 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
- B60D1/36—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions for facilitating connection, e.g. hitch catchers, visual guide means, signalling aids
- B60D1/363—Hitch guiding or catching elements, e.g. V-shaped plates partially surrounding a coupling member for guiding the other coupling member
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
- B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
- B60D1/58—Auxiliary devices
- B60D1/66—Props
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Transmission Of Braking Force In Braking Systems (AREA)
- Handcart (AREA)
- Tires In General (AREA)
Abstract
A coupling device comprises a base (1), onto which powered tugs, motorised jockey wheels or other wheeled units may be attached. The base (1) has a tow ball (2) at one end and a hinged tongue (3) at the other end. The hinged tongue (3) is a sliding fit within a bracket (9) on the trailer chassis and allows the tow ball to be installed within a trailer coupling (10). When the device is installed on the trailer, movement of the tongue (3) and the base (1) in all directions other than sliding backwards and forwards horizontal directions is prevented. Backwards sliding movement is restricted to prevent the application of the trailer brakes.
Description
1 2358009 DEVICE FOR ATTACHING MANOEUVERING WHEELS TO TRAILER COUPLINGS
This invention relates to a device for attaching manoeuvering wheels to the ball hitch coupling of towed trailers such as caravans. These manoeuvering wheels may be in the form of self propelled tugs, jockey wheels or motorised jockey wheels and are used to spot the trailer when it is not possible to use a motor vehicle either because of driver limitations or constraints of space.
The female part or socket of a ball coupling is usually attached to the trailer in such a way that it is lowered onto the ball coupling of the tractor, where it is located by a hand controlled catch which when engaged prevents the ball part of the coupling disengaging from the socket part of the coupling. It is a feature of this sort of coupling that the female part or socket of the coupling is free to rotate round the ball in pitch, yaw and roll for the obvious reason that when being towed by a motor vehicle the combination must be able to turn and negotiate slopes.
The problems arises when it is required to tow the trailer using a ball coupling with a motorised jockey wheel or self propelled tractor where the weight of the tractor is considerably less than the trailer. The first problem is caused by the fact that the ball couplings freedom of movement in pitch and roll causes the wheeled unit to move out of the vertical position whenever any change is made in power or direction. The extent of this positional change makes control over the trailer difficult and fine positional movements almost impossible to achieve, there is also a high probability of grounding the structure of the manoeuvring devise. The second problem is that should the trailer be braked, when the tractor pushes the trailer in the reverse direction the coupling slides backwards relative to the chassis and applies the trailer's brakes, thus causing the tractor's drive wheel to spin and the trailer to stop.
The nature of this invention is that it allows motorised jockey wheels or tugs or other manoeuvering devices to be attached to the trailer using the ball coupling method so that all movement of the ball in the socket except in horizontal rotation is prevented and in the case 2 of braked trailers rearward movement of the female coupling relative to the chassis is prevented.
The accompanying illustrations are:
Figure 1 is a side view of the device.
Figure 2 is a top view of the device.
Figure 3 is a side view of the device illustrating the function of the hinge when installing the device to the socket part of the coupling.
Figure 4 is a side view of the device with a tug unit installed on the underside of the base.
Figure 5 is a side view of the device with a motorised jockey wheel installed in the clamp bracket.
With reference to the accompanying illustrations the device consists of a base 1 with a tow ball 2 attached generally to a first end portion with a hinged tongue 3 of narrower cord attached at the second end portion able to move up and down in the vertical plane fig 3. On a side of the base may be attached a mounting plate 4 for a jockey wheel support bracket 5, which is used for attaching a motorised jockey wheel 12. The tow ball shaft 6 may be free to rotate in the base in yaw only with the other end 8 fixed to the chassis of the tug unit 7 or the shaft may be fixed to the base with a second coupling on the underside of the base where the tug unit is attached so it is free to move in yaw. Bolted to the front of the trailer chassis is a bracket 9 incorporating a slot in the horizontal plane with the same vertical and horizontal dimensions, allowing for clearance, as the tongue 3 with an unobscured opening facing the coupling. This bracket may be attached to the chassis using the bolts already in existence holding the coupling assembly onto the trailer chassis.
The device is attached to the trailer while the coupling end of the trailer is supported by its jockey wheel or corner steadies by firstly inserting the hinged tongue 3 into the slot 9 on the chassis mounted bracket where the tongue is only free to slide in and out horizontally all other movement other than clearance is prevented by virtue of binding with the slot, and 3 secondly the base with the ball at the other end is hinged upwards as shown in Figure 3 so that the ball is located into the socket 10 of the trailers coupling. The tug unit may then be attached to the device in any one of the methods described above, and once the trailer supports are removed, the tug is able to operate.
Should the tug be reversing a braked trailer, as the trailer's coupling 10 slides back in order to apply the trailer's brakes the wider shoulder of the base 11 comes into contact with the edges of the slot 9 and any further rearward travel of the coupling is mechanically prevented.
4
Claims (5)
1. A coupling device including a base with a tow ball attached generally to a first end portion and a hinged tongue of narrower cord attached at the second end portion with a slotted bracket with suitable attaching points and with a push sliding fit around the hinged tongue.
2. A coupling device as described in Claim 1 where a mounting plate is attached to a side of the base for fixing a wheeled unit.
3. A coupling device as described in Claim 1 with the tow ball shaft continuing through the base is attached to a wheeled unit.
4. A coupling device as described in Claim 1 where a mounting attachment is fitted under the base for fixing a wheeled unit.
5. A device substantially as described herein with reference to one or more of the accompanying figures.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0000268A GB2358009B (en) | 2000-01-08 | 2000-01-08 | Device for attaching manoeuvering wheels to trailer couplings |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0000268A GB2358009B (en) | 2000-01-08 | 2000-01-08 | Device for attaching manoeuvering wheels to trailer couplings |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0000268D0 GB0000268D0 (en) | 2000-03-01 |
| GB2358009A true GB2358009A (en) | 2001-07-11 |
| GB2358009B GB2358009B (en) | 2003-04-23 |
Family
ID=9883288
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0000268A Expired - Fee Related GB2358009B (en) | 2000-01-08 | 2000-01-08 | Device for attaching manoeuvering wheels to trailer couplings |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2358009B (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8840129B2 (en) | 2012-07-31 | 2014-09-23 | Clark Equipment Company | Mechanism for automatically lifting a trailer drawbar support |
-
2000
- 2000-01-08 GB GB0000268A patent/GB2358009B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8840129B2 (en) | 2012-07-31 | 2014-09-23 | Clark Equipment Company | Mechanism for automatically lifting a trailer drawbar support |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2358009B (en) | 2003-04-23 |
| GB0000268D0 (en) | 2000-03-01 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20130108 |