Remotely releasable coupler and hose retrieval mechanism for airbrake system

• US 20050189761A1
• Filed: 02/26/2004
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kalmar Industries USA LLC (Cargotec Oyj)
• Original Assignee: Kalmar Industries USA LLC (Cargotec Oyj)
• Inventors: Lehman, Gregory J., Halverson, Merlin B., King, Harold E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,401,801 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/38
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/043 Brake line couplings, air hoses and stopcocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/046 Devices for pipe guiding and fixing
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/002 which can be controlled at a distance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/92 Remotely controlled

Abstract

A remotely releasable brake hose coupler for pressure fluid operated brake systems, such as on a motor truck and semi-trailer unit, and a retrieval mechanism for retrieving flexible hoses connected to the coupler. Pressure air from the truck tractor brake system is conducted through a valve to an actuator for effecting movement of a coupler member to release engagement with a corresponding coupler fitting mounted on a trailer. One or more air brake hoses connected to respective remotely releasable couplers are connected to tensioning mechanisms and to a movable boom mounted on the truck tractor for extending the hoses during a remote release operation and then retracting the hoses and couplers to a stored position when the remotely releasable couplers are disconnected from the trailer fittings.

Claims

1. In a motor truck tractor for transporting a trailer having a pressure fluid operated brake system, a flexible pressure fluid conduit connected to a source of pressure fluid for conducting same between said tractor and a trailer;

and

a remotely releasable coupler for coupling said conduit to a fitting connected to said trailer.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said coupler includes a member engageable with a part of said fitting for retaining said coupler connected to said fitting, and an actuator on said coupler connected to said member and operable to move said member to a position to allow said coupler to decouple from said fitting.

3. The invention set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said actuator comprises a pressure fluid cylinder actuator responsive to pressure fluid supplied thereto to effect movement of said member to a position to release said coupler from said fitting.

4. The invention set forth in claim 2 including:

a linkage interconnecting said actuator with said member for holding said member in a position in forcible engagement with said fitting and responsive to actuation of said actuator to move said member to effect release of said member from said fitting.

5. The invention set forth in claim 4 wherein:

said linkage includes a first link connected to said member and mounted for pivotal movement on said coupler and overcenter links interconnecting said first link with said actuator.

6. The invention set forth in claim 4 wherein:

said actuator is mounted for limited pivotal movement on said coupler to accommodate movement of said linkage.

7. The invention set forth in claim 4 wherein:

said coupler includes a handgrip in which said actuator is disposed and formed by opposed housing members and including a conduit for conducting pressure air between said coupler and said fitting.

8. The invention set forth in claim 2 including:

a pressure fluid control circuit operably connected to said actuator including a tractor driver operable control valve for valving pressure fluid to effect actuation of said actuator to effect release of said coupler.

9. The invention set forth in claim 8 wherein:

said driver operable control valve is disposed in a cab of said tractor.

10. The invention set forth in claim 1 including:

a retrieval mechanism connected to said flexible conduit for retrieving said coupler away from said fitting.

11. The invention set forth in claim 10 wherein:

said retrieval mechanism includes a boom mounted for movement on said tractor and a pressure fluid actuator connected between said boom and a predetermined point on said tractor for extending and retracting said boom with respect to said trailer.

12. The invention set forth in claim 10 including:

at least one tensioning device connected to said flexible conduit for tensioning said flexible conduit to bias said flexible conduit to a position retracted away from said trailer.

13. The invention set forth in claim 10 wherein:

said tractor includes two flexible conduits and respective remotely releasable couplers connected thereto, respectively, and both of said flexible conduits are supported by said retrieval mechanism.

14. The invention set forth in claim 11 including:

a control system for operating said retrieval mechanism and said coupler including a control valve operable to be actuated by an operator of said tractor to supply pressure fluid to effect actuation of said actuator of said coupler to release from said fitting and retract to a storage position.

15. The invention set forth in claim 14 wherein:

said control system includes a conduit connected to said control valve and to said actuator for said retrieval mechanism and said control system is operable to extend said retrieval mechanism toward said trailer and decouple said coupler from said fitting followed by movement of said retrieval mechanism to a retracted position of said coupler.

16. The invention set forth in claim 15 including:

pressure fluid flow control means for controlling the speed of actuation of said actuator for said retrieval mechanism and said actuator for said coupler.

17. In a motor truck tractor for transporting a trailer having a pressure fluid operated brake system, a flexible pressure fluid conduit connected to a source of pressure fluid for conducting same between said tractor and a trailer;

a remotely releasable coupler for coupling said conduit to a fitting connected to said trailer, said coupler including a member engageable with a part of said fitting for retaining said coupler connected to said fitting, a pressure fluid actuator connected to said member and operable to move said member to a position to allow said coupler to decouple from said fitting, and a linkage interconnecting said actuator with said member for holding said member in a position in forcible engagement with said fitting and responsive to operation of said actuator to move said member to effect release of said member from said fitting.

18. The invention set forth in claim 17 including:

a pressure fluid control circuit operably connected to said actuator including a tractor driver operable control valve for valving pressure fluid to effect operation of said actuator to effect release of said coupler.

19. The invention set forth in claim 17 wherein:

said coupler includes a handgrip in which said actuator is disposed and including a conduit for conducting pressure air between said coupler and said fitting.

20. The invention set forth in claim 17 wherein:

said actuator is mounted for limited pivotal movement on said coupler to accommodate movement of said linkage.

21. The invention set forth in claim 20 wherein:

said linkage includes a first link connected to said member and mounted for pivotal movement on said coupler and overcenter links interconnecting said first link with said actuator.

22. In a motor truck tractor for transporting a trailer having a pressure fluid operated brake system, at least one flexible pressure fluid conduit connected to a source of pressure fluid for conducting same between said tractor and a trailer;

a coupler connected to said at least one flexible conduit for coupling said at least one flexible conduit to a fitting connected to said trailer, said coupler including an actuator operably connected to a control device for remotely controlling said coupler to disconnect from said fitting;

a retrieval mechanism connected to said at least one flexible conduit for retrieving said coupler away from said fitting; and

a control system for controlling actuation of said coupler and said mechanism to disconnect from said fitting and retrieve away from said fitting.

23. The invention set forth in claim 22 wherein:

said retrieval mechanism includes a boom mounted for movement on said tractor and a pressure fluid actuator connected between said boom and a predetermined point on said tractor for extending and retracting said boom with respect to said trailer.

24. The invention set forth in claim 23 including:

at least one tensioning device connected to said at least one flexible conduit for tensioning said at least one flexible conduit to bias said at least one flexible conduit to a position retracted away from said trailer.

25. The invention set forth in claim 22 wherein:

said control system includes a control valve operable to be actuated by an operator of said tractor to supply pressure fluid to effect operation of said retrieval mechanism to move said at least one flexible conduit and said coupler to a storage position.

26. The invention set forth in claim 25 wherein:

said coupler is remotely releasable by pressure fluid and said control system includes pressure fluid flow control means operable to control the speed of release of said coupler with respect to operation of said retrieval mechanism.

27. In a motor truck tractor for transporting a trailer having a pressure fluid operated brake system, at least one flexible pressure fluid conduit connected to a source of pressure fluid for conducting same between said tractor and a trailer, a coupler connected to said at least one flexible conduit for coupling said at least one flexible conduit to a fitting connected to said trailer, and a pressure fluid actuated retrieval mechanism connected to said at least one flexible conduit for retrieving said coupler away from said fitting.

28. The invention set forth in claim 27 wherein:

said retrieval mechanism includes a boom mounted for movement on said tractor and a pressure fluid actuator connected between said boom and a predetermined point on said tractor for extending and retracting said boom with respect to said trailer.

29. The invention set forth in claim 28 including:

at least one tensioning device connected to said at least one flexible conduit for tensioning said at least one flexible conduit to bias said at least one flexible conduit to a position retracted away from said trailer.

30. The invention set forth in claim 28 including:

a control system for operating said retrieval mechanism including a control valve operable to be actuated by an operator of said tractor to supply pressure fluid to effect operation of said pressure fluid actuator to retract said at least one flexible conduit and said coupler to a storage position.

31. The invention set forth in claim 30 wherein:

said control system includes a conduit connected to said control valve and to said actuator and said control system is operable to extend said boom toward said trailer followed by movement of said boom to a retracted position away from said trailer.

32. The invention set forth in claim 31 including:

pressure fluid flow control means for controlling the speed of actuation of said actuator.

33. The invention set forth in claim 32 wherein:

said coupler is remotely releasable by pressure fluid and said control system includes pressure fluid flow control means operable to control the speed of release of said coupler with respect to actuation of said boom.