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WO1990010550A1 - Trailer coupling means - Google Patents

Trailer coupling means Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1990010550A1
WO1990010550A1 PCT/GB1990/000383 GB9000383W WO9010550A1 WO 1990010550 A1 WO1990010550 A1 WO 1990010550A1 GB 9000383 W GB9000383 W GB 9000383W WO 9010550 A1 WO9010550 A1 WO 9010550A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
mounting plate
reel
hitch
cable
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.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/GB1990/000383
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Robert Suitor
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
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of WO1990010550A1 publication Critical patent/WO1990010550A1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • B60D1/38—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 involving auxiliary cables for drawing the trailer to the tractor before coupling

Definitions

  • This invention relates to trailer coupling means, particularly to a winch arrangement for use between the parts of a two part vehicle coupling primarily, but not necessarily, formed of a ball hitch and a socket hitch coupling between vehicles, for example between a towing vehicle such as a car, and a trailer vehicle such as a goods (open-topped or van) trailer, a horse box trailer, or a caravan or tent trailer.
  • a towing vehicle such as a car
  • trailer vehicle such as a goods (open-topped or van) trailer, a horse box trailer, or a caravan or tent trailer.
  • the present invention is trailer coupling means comprising a mounting plate for securing to a drawbar of a trailer vehicle, the drawbar carrying a socket hitch, a winch arrangement mounted on the mounting plate, the winch arrangement having a reel on which a length of cable is wound, the free end of which is provided with a fastening to be engagable over a ball of a ball hitch mounted on a towing vehicle, and means for operating the winch arrangement.
  • the mounting plate is of angular shape with one limb to be sandwiched between the fixing of the socket hitch to the drawbar, and the other limb to extend downwardly therefrom.
  • the winch arrangement is preferably mounted on the other limb.
  • a casing is desirably provided to house the reel.
  • the casing preferably forms an extension of the mounting plate.
  • an eye mounting is provided to be secured to the socket hitch near to the socket, the eye mounting being positioned in a depending attitude and through the eye of which the cable from the reel extends.
  • the eye mounting may desirably be formed by an aperture provided in the front face of the casing.
  • the fastening is a hook or a loop provided on the end of the cable and has a protective covering.
  • the cable may be of wire or rope.
  • the means for operating the winch is preferably by a manually-operable cranked handle, the reel having on one side a first gear wheel whose teeth mesh with the teeth of a second gear wheel mounted on the inner end of the handle.
  • Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a trailer coupling means according to the present invention
  • a trailer coupling means comprises a mounting plate 10 for securing to a drawbar 8 of a trailer vehicle.
  • the drawbar carries a socket hitch 6.
  • the mounting plate 10 is of angular shape with one limb 10A to be sandwiched between the fixing of the socket hitch 6 to the drawbar 8, and the other limb 10B to extend downwardly therefrom at a forward end in the direction of forward movement of the vehicles.
  • a winch arrangement is mounted on the other limb 10B of mounting plate 10.
  • the winch arrangement has a U-bracket 12 secured at its web 12A to limb 10B and between the limbs 12B of which a reel 14 is low frictionly mounted and on which a length of cable 16 is wound.
  • the free end of the cable 16 is provided with a fastening 18 to be engagable over a ball of a ball hitch 4 mounted on a towing vehicle.
  • the fastening 18 can be in the form of a loop as shown in Fig. 1 or in the form of a hook as shown in Fig. 2.
  • the fastening 18 provided on the end of the cable 16 has a protective covering 19.
  • the cable 16 may be of wire, particularly stainless steel wire, or rope.
  • An eye mounting constituted by a bolt 20 as shown in Fig. 1 is provided to be secured to the socket hitch 6 near to the socket.
  • the eye mounting 20 is positioned in a depending attitude and through the eye of which the cable 16 from the reel 14 extends.
  • Means for operating the winch is by a manually- operable cranked handle 22.
  • the reel 14 has on one side a first gear wheel 24 whose teeth mesh with the teeth of a second gear wheel 26 mounted on the inner end of the handle 22 between the limbs 12B as shown.
  • a ' free wheel arrangement is provided to enable the cable to be pulled out and a locking mechanism is provided to prevent unintentional extension of the cable 16.
  • a casing 30 is provided to house the reel 14 and forms an extension to the mounting plate 10 as shown.
  • the casing 30 has a top and a depending side wall surround, part of which is cut-away on one side to allow for cranking action of the handle 22.
  • a removable bottom fitting is provided for tight fitment with the bottom edge of the surround to close off the bottom of the casing 30.
  • the eye mounting in this modification is constituted by an aperture 32 provided in the front wall of the wall surround.
  • the invention When fitted in the above-described manner, the invention is used to winch the trailer vehicle to the towing vehicle such as to enable the socket hitch to be located over the ball hitch. This is achieved by the fastening 18 being hooked over the ball and the reel wound using handle 22 to wind on the cable 16.
  • the fastening 18 can be left on over the ball and can act as a safety device during travel.
  • the means for operating the winch may be a battery operated electric motor.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Handcart (AREA)
  • Accessories Of Cameras (AREA)

Abstract

Trailer coupling means comprises a mounting plate (10) for securing to a drawbar (8) of a trailer vehicle. The drawbar (8) carries a socket hitch (6) with the mounting plate (10) sandwiched therebetween. A winch arrangement is mounted on the mounting plate (10). The winch arrangement has a reel (14) on which a length of cable (16) is wound, the free end of which is provided with a fastening (18) to be engageable over a ball (4) of a ball hitch mounted on a towing vehicle. Means in the form of a cranked handle (22) is provided for operating the winch arrangement.

Description

TRAILER COUPLING MEA S.
This invention relates to trailer coupling means, particularly to a winch arrangement for use between the parts of a two part vehicle coupling primarily, but not necessarily, formed of a ball hitch and a socket hitch coupling between vehicles, for example between a towing vehicle such as a car, and a trailer vehicle such as a goods (open-topped or van) trailer, a horse box trailer, or a caravan or tent trailer.
There are problems, particularly single-handedly in coupling a trailer vehicle to a towing vehicle ie. in reversing a towing vehicle to adjacent to the socket on the trailer, and normally it is required to position manhandle the trailer so that the socket hitch can engage over the ball hitch provided at the rear end of the towing vehicle.
Heretofore, it has been proposed to overcome this problem by providing on the towing vehicle a retractable tow hitch in which the ball hitch reels out on a cable to the trailer and winches it to the towing bracket from whatever angle the trailer may be relative to the towing vehicle. A disadvantage with this proposal is the bulk of the retractable tow hitch to be fitted to the towing vehicle and the cost.
It is an object of the present invention to provide means for use in connecting a trailer vehicle to a towing vehicle and which obviates or mitigates the disadvantage of the proposal.
Accordingly, the present invention is trailer coupling means comprising a mounting plate for securing to a drawbar of a trailer vehicle, the drawbar carrying a socket hitch, a winch arrangement mounted on the mounting plate, the winch arrangement having a reel on which a length of cable is wound, the free end of which is provided with a fastening to be engagable over a ball of a ball hitch mounted on a towing vehicle, and means for operating the winch arrangement.
Preferably, the mounting plate is of angular shape with one limb to be sandwiched between the fixing of the socket hitch to the drawbar, and the other limb to extend downwardly therefrom. The winch arrangement is preferably mounted on the other limb. A casing is desirably provided to house the reel. The casing preferably forms an extension of the mounting plate. Preferably also, an eye mounting is provided to be secured to the socket hitch near to the socket, the eye mounting being positioned in a depending attitude and through the eye of which the cable from the reel extends. The eye mounting may desirably be formed by an aperture provided in the front face of the casing.
Preferably further, the fastening is a hook or a loop provided on the end of the cable and has a protective covering. The cable may be of wire or rope.
The means for operating the winch is preferably by a manually-operable cranked handle, the reel having on one side a first gear wheel whose teeth mesh with the teeth of a second gear wheel mounted on the inner end of the handle.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a trailer coupling means according to the present invention; and
Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a modified trailer coupling means. Referring to the drawings, a trailer coupling means comprises a mounting plate 10 for securing to a drawbar 8 of a trailer vehicle. The drawbar carries a socket hitch 6. The mounting plate 10 is of angular shape with one limb 10A to be sandwiched between the fixing of the socket hitch 6 to the drawbar 8, and the other limb 10B to extend downwardly therefrom at a forward end in the direction of forward movement of the vehicles.
A winch arrangement is mounted on the other limb 10B of mounting plate 10. The winch arrangement has a U-bracket 12 secured at its web 12A to limb 10B and between the limbs 12B of which a reel 14 is low frictionly mounted and on which a length of cable 16 is wound. The free end of the cable 16 is provided with a fastening 18 to be engagable over a ball of a ball hitch 4 mounted on a towing vehicle. The fastening 18 can be in the form of a loop as shown in Fig. 1 or in the form of a hook as shown in Fig. 2. The fastening 18 provided on the end of the cable 16 has a protective covering 19. The cable 16 may be of wire, particularly stainless steel wire, or rope. An eye mounting constituted by a bolt 20 as shown in Fig. 1 is provided to be secured to the socket hitch 6 near to the socket. The eye mounting 20 is positioned in a depending attitude and through the eye of which the cable 16 from the reel 14 extends. Means for operating the winch is by a manually- operable cranked handle 22. The reel 14 has on one side a first gear wheel 24 whose teeth mesh with the teeth of a second gear wheel 26 mounted on the inner end of the handle 22 between the limbs 12B as shown. A'free wheel arrangement is provided to enable the cable to be pulled out and a locking mechanism is provided to prevent unintentional extension of the cable 16.
In a modification as shown in Fig. 2, a casing 30 is provided to house the reel 14 and forms an extension to the mounting plate 10 as shown. The casing 30 has a top and a depending side wall surround, part of which is cut-away on one side to allow for cranking action of the handle 22. A removable bottom fitting is provided for tight fitment with the bottom edge of the surround to close off the bottom of the casing 30. The eye mounting in this modification is constituted by an aperture 32 provided in the front wall of the wall surround.
When fitted in the above-described manner, the invention is used to winch the trailer vehicle to the towing vehicle such as to enable the socket hitch to be located over the ball hitch. This is achieved by the fastening 18 being hooked over the ball and the reel wound using handle 22 to wind on the cable 16.
The fastening 18 can be left on over the ball and can act as a safety device during travel. In a first modification, the means for operating the winch may be a battery operated electric motor.
Variations and other modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described above.

Claims

CLAIMS :
1. Trailer coupling means comprising a mounting plate for securing to a drawbar of a trailer vehicle, the drawbar carrying a socket hitch, a winch arrangement mounted on the mounting plate, the winch arrangement having a reel on which a length of cable is wound, the free end of which is provided with a fastening to be engagable over a ball of a ball hitch mounted on a towing vehicle, and means for operating the winch arrangement.
2. Means as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate is of angular shape with one limb to be sandwiched between the fixing of the socket hitch to the drawbar, and the other limb to extend downwardly therefrom.
3. Means as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the winch arrangement is mounted on the other limb.
4. Means as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a casing is provided to house the reel.
5. Means as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the casing forms an extension of the mounting plate.
6. Means as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, wherein an eye mounting is provided to be secured to the socket hitch near to the socket, the eye mounting being positioned in a depending attitude and through the eye of which the cable from the reel extends.
7. Means as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the eye mounting is formed by an aperture provided in the front face of the casing.
8. Means as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the fastening is a hook or a loop provided on the end of the cable.
9. Means as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the fastening has a protective covering.
10. Means as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the means for operating the winch is by a manually-operable cranked handle, the reel having on one side a first gear wheel whose teeth mesh with the teeth of a second gear wheel mounted on the inner end of the handle.
11. Trailer coupling means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.
12. Trailer coupling means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.
PCT/GB1990/000383 1989-03-14 1990-03-14 Trailer coupling means Ceased WO1990010550A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8905862.2 1989-03-14
GB898905862A GB8905862D0 (en) 1989-03-14 1989-03-14 Trailer coupling means

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1990010550A1 true WO1990010550A1 (en) 1990-09-20

Family

ID=10653314

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1990/000383 Ceased WO1990010550A1 (en) 1989-03-14 1990-03-14 Trailer coupling means

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (2) GB8905862D0 (en)
WO (1) WO1990010550A1 (en)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL9002879A (en) * 1990-12-27 1992-07-16 Ingbureau Sanders POSITIONING DEVICE.
WO1993017886A1 (en) * 1992-03-13 1993-09-16 Ezi Hitch Ltd. Towbar coupling guide assembly
US5277446A (en) * 1993-04-09 1994-01-11 Hamel Russell E Trailer hitch coupling device
US5405160A (en) * 1992-06-10 1995-04-11 Weaver; David A. Trailer hitch attachment apparatus
US5882029A (en) * 1997-08-18 1999-03-16 Charles F. Leonard Trailer hitch alignment and lifting device
US6086083A (en) * 1998-01-26 2000-07-11 Wilks; David J. Trailer hitch and method of coupling
US6193258B1 (en) 1997-08-18 2001-02-27 Charles F. And Shirley Lee Leonard Swiveling trailer hitch alignment and lifting device with multiple pivoting points
WO2001056816A1 (en) * 2000-02-01 2001-08-09 Ulle Svensson Hitch accessory

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9602922D0 (en) * 1996-02-13 1996-04-10 Barit Liverpool Ltd Lifting apparatus
GB2527110A (en) * 2014-06-12 2015-12-16 Richard John Olley Winch for assisting vehicle coupling

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1022099B (en) * 1955-03-28 1958-01-02 Rudolf Steinborn Auxiliary device for bringing the coupling parts of two vehicles together
GB1253811A (en) * 1967-09-05 1971-11-17 John Clifford Phillips Trailer vehicle winching apparatus
GB2092536A (en) * 1980-12-23 1982-08-18 Godwin John Henry Trailer vehicle winching apparatus
GB2210837A (en) * 1987-10-13 1989-06-21 Cornelius Chapman Device for aligning vehicle couplings

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1022099B (en) * 1955-03-28 1958-01-02 Rudolf Steinborn Auxiliary device for bringing the coupling parts of two vehicles together
GB1253811A (en) * 1967-09-05 1971-11-17 John Clifford Phillips Trailer vehicle winching apparatus
GB2092536A (en) * 1980-12-23 1982-08-18 Godwin John Henry Trailer vehicle winching apparatus
GB2210837A (en) * 1987-10-13 1989-06-21 Cornelius Chapman Device for aligning vehicle couplings

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL9002879A (en) * 1990-12-27 1992-07-16 Ingbureau Sanders POSITIONING DEVICE.
WO1993017886A1 (en) * 1992-03-13 1993-09-16 Ezi Hitch Ltd. Towbar coupling guide assembly
US5405160A (en) * 1992-06-10 1995-04-11 Weaver; David A. Trailer hitch attachment apparatus
US5277446A (en) * 1993-04-09 1994-01-11 Hamel Russell E Trailer hitch coupling device
US5882029A (en) * 1997-08-18 1999-03-16 Charles F. Leonard Trailer hitch alignment and lifting device
US6193258B1 (en) 1997-08-18 2001-02-27 Charles F. And Shirley Lee Leonard Swiveling trailer hitch alignment and lifting device with multiple pivoting points
US6086083A (en) * 1998-01-26 2000-07-11 Wilks; David J. Trailer hitch and method of coupling
WO2001056816A1 (en) * 2000-02-01 2001-08-09 Ulle Svensson Hitch accessory

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8905862D0 (en) 1989-04-26
GB2253824A (en) 1992-09-23
GB9119628D0 (en) 1992-06-24

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