Trailer coupling comprising a sensor
First Claim
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1. A sensor module for a trailer coupling for a motor vehicle, which has a coupling arm for attaching a trailer or for supporting a load carrier, wherein the sensor module comprises:
- a sensor module housing for mounting on the coupling arm to detect deformation of the coupling arm by a load acting on the coupling arm, wherein the sensor module housing has an outer peripheral contour which is matched to at least one inner peripheral contour of a recess, provided on an outer peripheral contour of the coupling arm, in or on which the sensor module housing is mounted or held;
a first sensor part contained within the sensor module housing; and
a second sensor part contained within the sensor module housing, wherein the first and second sensor parts are disposed at a distance from one another, but are movable with respect to one another within the sensor module housing during deformation of the coupling arm.
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Abstract
A trailer coupling for a motor vehicle for attaching a trailer or for supporting a load carrier, including a coupling arm provided for coupling a coupling piece of the trailer or load carrier, and at least one sensor arranged on the coupling arm for detecting a deformation of the coupling arm caused by a load on the coupling arm. For the trailer coupling, at least one recess is provided on an outer circumferential contour of the coupling arm, in which or on which recess the at least one sensor is arranged or held.
27 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A sensor module for a trailer coupling for a motor vehicle, which has a coupling arm for attaching a trailer or for supporting a load carrier, wherein the sensor module comprises:
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a sensor module housing for mounting on the coupling arm to detect deformation of the coupling arm by a load acting on the coupling arm, wherein the sensor module housing has an outer peripheral contour which is matched to at least one inner peripheral contour of a recess, provided on an outer peripheral contour of the coupling arm, in or on which the sensor module housing is mounted or held; a first sensor part contained within the sensor module housing; and a second sensor part contained within the sensor module housing, wherein the first and second sensor parts are disposed at a distance from one another, but are movable with respect to one another within the sensor module housing during deformation of the coupling arm.
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2. A trailer coupling for a motor vehicle for attaching a trailer or supporting a load carrier, the trailer coupling comprising:
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a coupling arm provided with a coupling element for coupling-on the trailer or load carrier, the coupling arm having an outer peripheral contour and at least one recess formed in the outer peripheral contour; and a sensor mounted within the at least one recess on the coupling arm for detecting a deformation of the coupling arm due to a load acting on the coupling arm, wherein the sensor has a first sensor part and a second sensor part, wherein the first and second sensor parts are each connected to the coupling arm at a distance from one another, and making a relative movement towards one another during deformation of the coupling arm, wherein the sensor is not in contact with the coupling arm between the sensor parts, wherein the first and second sensor parts are contained within a common sensor housing for protecting the first and second sensor parts from environmental influences. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A trailer coupling for a motor vehicle for attaching a trailer or supporting a load carrier, the trailer coupling comprising:
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a coupling arm provided with a coupling element for coupling-on the trailer or load carrier, the coupling arm having an outer peripheral contour and at least one recess formed through the coupling arm such that the at least one recess is open on opposite surfaces of the outer peripheral contour to form a through opening in the coupling arm; a sensor mounted within the at least one recess on the coupling arm for detecting a deformation of the coupling arm due to a load acting on the coupling arm; and at least one connecting element inserted from the outer peripheral contour of the coupling element into the at least one recess in a direction perpendicular to a central axis of the through opening for clamping the sensor to a contact face of the through opening. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification