GB2128567A

GB2128567A - A coupling device for passenger cars

Info

Publication number: GB2128567A
Application number: GB08313389A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hans Riehle
Original assignee: ORIS METALLBAU KG RIEHLE H
Current assignee: ORIS METALLBAU KG RIEHLE H
Priority date: 1982-10-14
Filing date: 1983-05-16
Publication date: 1984-05-02
Also published as: DE3238094A1; DK19983A; NL181569C; DK156506C; ZA833956B; SE8300438D0; CH659435A5; GB2128567B; FR2534532B1; DK156506B; DE3238094C2; NL181569B; GB8313389D0; IT8347755A0; SE454667B; NL8300234A; DK19983D0; FR2534532A1; IT1197580B; BE895833A

Abstract

A coupling device particularly for passenger cars consists of a receiving part 2 and of a ball neck 3, detachably retained therein, and a coupling ball. The ball neck 3 is retained in the receiving part 2 by an interlocking bar or bolt 7 which, when the ball neck 3 is inserted, engages automatically under spring action in a tangential groove 8 on the ball neck 3 and which can be disengaged from the ball neck by a cable pull. The cable pull may be connected to an operating handle located in the car boot. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A coupling device for passenger cars The invention relates to a coupling device for passenger cars, wherein a receiving part for detachably holding and supporting a ball neck and coupling ball is adapted to be mounted, in use, on the rear of the vehicle, the end part of the ball neck being inserted into the said receiving part and wherein there are provided locking means which secure the ball neck in the receiving part and which, upon insertion of the ball neck into the receiving part, automatically effect the locking action under spring force.

The invention seeks to provide a coupling device of this type having locking means which are of particularly simple construction and which, despite this, meet all requirements regarding the stresses occurring during use.

According to the present invention there is provided a coupling device for passenger cars, wherein a receiving part for detachably holding and supporting a ball neck and coupling ball is adapted to be mounted on the rear of the vehicle, an end part of the ball neck being inserted into the said receiving part, locking means adapted to secure the ball neck in the receiving part and which, upon insertion of the ball neck into the receiving part, automatically secure the ball neck in a locking position through a resilient force and the locking means comprising an interlocking bolt connected to a cable pull by which the bolt is disengageable from the locking position, the bolt being arranged at right angles to the axis of the ball neck and in said locking position engaging under said resilient force, in a generally tangential groove on the ball neck, the said groove being arranged so as to be inclined slightly in the direction of insertion of the interlocking bolt. The number of parts of the locking means is substantially reduced by the provision of a single interlocking bolt which engages in a tangential groove on the ball neck. Both the interlocking bolt and the groove which receives it can be manufactured simply. Moreover, only one cable pull is required for releasing the locking means.

Finally, the special arrangement of the groove in the ball neck ensures that the locking means always remains free from play.

In an advantageous embodiment of the device there can be provided on the receiving part latch means consisting of a catch and which, under spring action, locks the interlocking bolt in a position for releasing the ball neck when the locking means is released and which, upon insertion of the ball neck into the receiving part, is pivoted so as to be disengaged from the interlocking bolt by a pin arranged on the ball neck.

The pin arranged on the ball neck may engage in a groove on the receiving part two prevent pivoting of the ball neck upon its insertion so that the pin fulfils two functions at the same time.

In order that it may be possible for the interlocking bolt to be securely mounted and that the interlocking bolt does not have to make excessively great movement during locking and unlocking of the locking means, the interlocking bolt may, to release the ball neck, be provided with a recess facing the ball neck and having a length which is advantageously greater than the length of the groove in the ball neck. The part of the interlocking bolt which engages in the groove of the ball neck may be designed so as to be rounded in the area of the recess in order to facilitate engagement in the groove.

To limit the movement of the interlocking bolt and, at the same time, to prevent pivoting of the interlocking bolt, there may be provided on the receiving part a straight pin which engages in the recess on the interlocking bolt.

The cable pull connected to the interlocking bolt can be connected to a removable, but captive hand lever in a vehicle interior, for example in the boot. Instead, it is also possible to connect the cable pull to a scissors-type operating handle in such a manner that, when the locking means is released the said operating handle can be removed, for example, from the boot. The operating handle may advantageously have a latch bar to prevent operation of the handle to release the ball neck.

An embodiment of a coupling device according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a view of the coupling device, Figure 2 shows a side view in the direction of arrow 11 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a side view in the direction of arrow Ill in Figure 1, Figure 4 shows a section along the line IV--IV in Figure 1, and Figure 5 shows an operating handle for the cable pull.

Figures 1 to 3 show a cross member 1 which, in cross section, is in the form of a rectangular tube and, in use, is mounted on the rear of a passenger car (not shown). A receiving part 2 for receiving the end part 3 of a ball neck 4 and a coupling ball 5 is fastened to the said cross member. A projection in the form of a pin 6, is provided on the end part 3 and engages in a corresponding groove 6a on the receiving part 2, so as to prevent rotation of the ball neck 4 in the receiving part. The end part 3 of the ball neck 4 is detachably locked to the receiving part 2 by an interlocking bar or bolt 7 which is mounted in a guideway in the receiving part 2 and lies at right angles to the axis of the end part 3 and which, with a part of its circumference, engages in a corresponding generally tangential groove 8 on the end part.

As shown in more detail in Figure 4, the interlocking bar 7 has a recess 9 facing the end part 3 and having a length greater than the length of the groove 8. The recess 9 divides the interlocking bar 7 into a front cylindrical part 10 and a rear cylindrical part 11. At the point where the recess 9 passes into the rear cylindrical part, the interlocking bar 7 is sharply rounded by providing a narrower section 12. A straight pin 13 provided on the receiving part 2 lies in the recess 9 and serves, on the one hand, to prevent axial rotation of the interlocking bar 7 and, on the other hand, to limit-the movement of the interlocking bar which can be pulled in the direction of arrow 16 by means of a cable pull 14 in opposition to the action of a compression spring 1 5.

When the interlocking bar 7 is in the position shown in Figure 4, the end part 3 of the ball neck and the receiving part 2 are locked together so as to be free from play, the freedom from play being ensured because the interlocking bar 7, through the rounded area on the cylindrical part 11, engages in the groove 8 which is designed so as to be inclined slightly in the direction of engagement of the interlocking bar to provide a wedging engagement. To release the locking means, the interlocking bar 7 is pulled in the direction of arrow 1 6 by means of the cable pull 1 4 until the straight pin 13 bears against the end of the recess 9 on the cylindrical part 10 of the interlocking bar. When the interlocking bar is in this position, its recess 9 is situated in the area of the end part 3.The recess 9 is dimensioned to enable the ball neck to fall out or be drawn out of the receiving part 2. A catch 17, which is pivotally mounted on the outside of the receiving part 2 and which, under the action of a spring t8 (Figure 1), is moved in front of the cylindrical part 10 of the interlocking bar 7, serves to secure the bar 7 in this, unlocked, position. As shown in Figure 3 the catch 1 7 is connected to a lever 19 which lies in the path of the pin 6. Upon insertion of the end part 3 into the receiving part 2, when the pin 6 is introduced into the groove 6a, the pin 6 forces, through the lever 19, the catch 1 7 out of the path of the interlocking bar 7 so that the latter can occupy the position shown in Figure 4.

The cable pull 14 leads away from the coupling device into a closable space in the vehicie, for example into the boot, where a forked operating handle, as shown in Figure 5, is situated. The operating handle is provided with a latch 21.

Instead of the operating handle, it is also possible to provide a hand lever which can be removable, but captive.

In order to terminate the locking action of the end part 3 of the ball neck 4 in the receiving part 2, the latch 21 on the operating handle 20 shown in Figure 5 is moved out of the locking position and the operating handle is actuated. As a result, the cable pull 14, together with the interlocking bar 7, is drawn in the direction of arrow 16 in opposition to the action of the compression spring 15 until the straight pin 13 prevents further - movement of the interlocking bar 7. In this position the cylindrical part 11 of the interlocking bar 7 has moved out of the groove 8 and the ball neck is able to fall downwards out of the receiving part 2. The catch 1 7 moves in front of the face of the interlocking bar 7, on the cylindrical part 9, under the action of the volute spring 18 and thus ensures that the interlocking bar 7 remains in the unlocked position.

If the coupling device is required, the end part 3 of the ball neck 4 needs to be merely inserted into the receiving part 2. During the insertion operation the catch 17 is pivoted out of the path of the interlocking bar 7, through the pin 6 engaging in the groove 6a and contacting the lever 19, in opposition to the action of the volute spring 1 8.

Thus, under the influence of the dompression spring 15, the interlocking bar is automatically pushed into the groove 8 and locks the end part 3 in the receiving part 2. The operating handle 20 then closes and the latch 21 occupies its locking position.

Claims

-1.A A coupling device for passenger cars, wherein a receiving part for detachably holding and supporting a ball neck and coupling ball is adapted to be mounted on the rear of the vehicle, an end part of the ball neck being inserted into the said receiving part, locking means adapted to secure the ball neck in the receiving part and which, upon insertion of the ball neck into the receiving part, automatically secure the ball neck in a locking position through a resilient force, the locking means comprising an interlocking bolt connected to a cable pull by which the bolt is disengageable from the locking position, the bolt being arranged at right angles to the axis of the ball neck in said locking position and engaging, under said resilient force, in a generally tangential groove on the ball neck, the said groove being arranged so as to be inclined slightly in the direction of insertion of the interlocking bolt.
2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein latch means consisting of a catch is provided on the receiving part and which, under a spring action, locks the interlocking bolt in a position for releasing the ball neck when said locking means is released by the cable pull and which, upon insertion of the ball neck into the receiving part, is pivoted so as to be disengaged from the interlocking bolt by a pin arranged on the ball neck.
3. A device according to Claim 2, wherein the pin arranged on the ball neck engages in a groove on the receiving part to prevent pivoting of the ball neck relative to the receiving part.
4. A device according to Claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein to release the ball neck, the-interlocking bolt is provided with a recess facing the ball neck.
5. A device according to Claim 4, wherein the part of the interlocking bolt which engages in the groove of the ball neck is formed in the area of the recess.
6. A device according to Claims 4 or 5, wherein there is provided on the receiving part a straight pin which engages in the recess on the interlocking bolt and prevents both the movement of the interlocking bolt and pivoting thereof.
7. A device according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein in the installed condition, the cable pull is connected to a removable, but captive, hand lever in the interior of the vehicle.
8. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the cable pull is connected to a scissors-type operating handle.
9. A device according to Claim 8, wherein the operating handle is provided with a latch, which when closed prevents operation of the handle to release the ball neck.
10. A coupling device for passenger cars substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.