Connector Bracket of a Trailer

• US 20080100032A1
• Filed: 09/08/2005
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jost-Werke GmbH
• Original Assignee: Jost-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Alguera Gallego, Jose Manuel, Richter, Ernst Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,758,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/420
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/64 Couplings or joints therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/08 Fifth wheel traction couplings tractors for handling trailers in terminals B62D49/007

Abstract

The invention relates to a coupling system for connecting at least one supply line between a towing vehicle and a trailer, the first end of said at least one supply line being attached to the towing vehicle in a fixed manner, and the second end thereof comprising a connector that can be connected to a supply line interface of the trailer. The aim of the invention is to provide a coupling system for the supply lines, by which means a complicated operation between the trailer and the driver'"'"'s cab of the towing vehicle is avoided. To this end, a coupling system is provided, whereby the supply line interface can be displaced out of a traveling position into an operating position.

Claims

1. A coupling system to connect at least one supply line between a tractor vehicle and a semi-trailer, wherewith the at least one supply line has one end fixedly disposed at the tractor and has on its other end a plug or similar connector, said coupling system comprising:

a supply line interface disposed on the semi-trailer for connecting to the at least one plug when the tractor and semi-trailer are hitched together;

wherein at least one storage module is disposed on the tractor which module can releasably accommodate the at least one plug; and

wherein the supply line interface can be moved from a “

driving position”

to a “

servicing position”

.

2. The coupling system according to claim 1, wherein the supply line interface when in the driving position is disposed in the region of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and when in the servicing position is disposed at one side of the semi-trailer.

3. The coupling system according to claim 1, wherein the supply line interface is engaged by forcing and guiding means.

4. The coupling system according to claim 3, wherein the forcing and guiding means comprise a swing bearing and an adjoining swing arm, wherewith the supply line interface is disposed at the end of said swing arm.

5. The coupling system according to claim 4, wherein a pulling handle is disposed at the swing arm.

6. The coupling system according to claim 5, wherein in the driving position the pulling handle can be grabbed from one side of the semi-trailer.

7. The coupling system according to claim 5, wherein the pulling handle is laterally slidable in a pulling handle guide which is disposed at a fixed location on the semi-trailer.

8. The coupling system according to claim 5, wherein the pulling handle is swingably connected to the swing arm.

9. The coupling system according to claim 4, wherein the swing arm or the pulling handle or both are engaged by a restoring spring which spring is mounted, optionally swingably, on the semi-trailer at a fixed place on said semi-trailer.

10. The coupling system according to claim 4, wherein a positioning cylinder engages the swing arm.

11. The coupling system according to claim 10, wherein one end of the positioning cylinder is swingably mounted to the semi-trailer, and the other end of said cylinder is swingably joined to the swing arm.

12. The coupling system according to claim 4, wherein a swing drive engages the swing arm.

13. The A coupling system according to claim 12, wherein the swing drive is disposed coaxially around the swing bearing.

14. The coupling system according to claim 1, wherein the supply line interface or the swing arm or the swing bearing or a combination thereof are laterally displaceable when in the servicing position.

15. The coupling system according to claim 3, wherein the forcing and guiding means comprises at least one slide rail on which rail(s) the supply line interface is slidably disposed.

16. The coupling system according to claim 15, wherein the slide rail(s) extend(s) from the region of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle to a side of the semi-trailer.

17. The coupling system according to claim 1, wherein the supply line interface or the swing arm or both has at least one first catch element which cooperates with at least one second catch element which catch element(s) are associated with the semi-trailer.

18. The coupling system according to claim 1, wherein the storage module is disposed at a non-central location on the tractor.

19. The coupling system according to claim 1, wherein a holding bracket is also provided which is disposed at a non-central location on the tractor.

20. The coupling system according to claim 18, wherein the storage module or holding bracket is accessible from one side of the tractor.

21. The coupling system according to claim 1, wherein sensors are provided which can detect the driving position or the servicing position or both.