Vehicle connecting device

• US 4,019,754 A
• Filed: 01/22/1973
• Issued: 04/26/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John A. Hinckley
• Original Assignee: John A. Hinckley
• Inventors: Hinckley, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Robert R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schrecengost, R.
• Application Number:
  US05/325,540
• Time in Patent Office: 1,555 Days
• Field of Search: 280/446, 280/447, 280/456, 280/461 RA, 280/497, 280/499, 180/14, 172/677
• US Class Current: 280/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/173 consisting of at least two bars which are not connected or articulated to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/44 horizontally
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/46 vertically
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/0871 with stabilising means, e.g. to prevent jack-knifing, pitching, rolling, buck jumping stabilising in general B62D37/00; tractors B62D49/08

Abstract

Connecting devices are disclosed for connecting a second vehicle to a motor vehicle. Certain of these devices attach at or near the rear of a motor vehicle and cause at least certain portions of yawing or pitching rotation of the second vehicle with respect to the motor vehicle to be about axes which come close to or intersect the center of mass of the motor vehicle. Thus the second vehicle will remain stable behind the motor vehicle when towed.

Claims

1. A device which is for connecting a second vehicle to a first vehicle and which comprises:

a. a second vehicle;

b. connecting means for rotatably connecting said second vehicle to a first vehicle which connecting means includes means for causing at least a portion of rotational movement between a first vehicle and said second vehicle to be about an axis which does not intersect said connecting means; and

c. said connecting means including;

1. first and second pivot means each for allowing pivoting of a first element with respect to a second element, each of said first and second pivot means having only 1°

of rotational freedom;

2.

4. with said second element of said eighth pivot means. 2. The device of claim 1 in which the distance between the axes of rotation of said fifth and seventh pivot means is equal to the distance between the said axes or rotation of the sixth and eighth pivot means.

5. The device of claim 1 in which the axes of rotation of said first and second, pivot means are oriented such that a line perpendicular to both of the axes of said first and second pivot means will be parallel to the axes of said seventh and eighth pivot means.

6. The device of claim 1 which includes;

a. means maintaining the axes of rotation of said first, second, third and fourth pivot means parallel;

b. means maintaining the axes of rotation of said fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth pivot means parallel;

c. a rotary joint providing only 1°

of rotational freedom;

d. means connecting said second means for maintaining to one side of said rotary joint; and

e. means connecting said second vehicle to the other side of said rotary joint.

9. means. 6. The device of claim 5 in which said further pivot means allowing for rolling includes:

1. a rotary joint providing only 1°

of rotational freedom;

2. means connecting said second means for maintaining to one side of said rotary joint and

3. means connecting said second vehicle to the other side of said rotary joint.

10. The device of claim 6 in which said rotary joint has an axis of rotation parallel to the longitudinal axis of said second vehicle.

11. The device of claim 5 in which said second element of said first pivot means connects to said second element of said third pivot means through first and second connecting pieces which each pivotally attach with only 1°

of freedom to each of said second elements of said first and third pivot means, the axes of rotation in said second elements of said first and third pivot means being parallel, not collinear and a different distance apart in one of said second elements of said first and third pivot means than in the other of said second elements of said first and third pivot means, and said second element of said second pivot means connects to said second element of said fourth pivot means through third and fourth connecting pieces which each pivotally attach with only 1°

of freedom to each of said second elements of said second and fourth pivot means, the axes of rotation in said second elements of said second and fourth pivot means being parallel, not collinear and a different distance apart in one of said second elements of said second and fourth pivot means than in the other of said second elements of said second and fourth pivot means.

2. first maintaining means for maintaining the axes of rotation of said first and second pivot means parallel and not collinear;

3. means for connection of each of said first elements of said first and second pivot means to a first vehicle;

4. third and fourth pivot means each for allowintg pivoting of a first element with respect to a second element, each of said third and fourth pivot means having only 1°

of rotational freedom;

5. second maintaining means for maintaining the axes of rotation of said third and fourth pivot means parallel, not collinear, and at a different distance apart than said first and second pivot means;

6. means for connecting each of said first elements of said third and fourth pivot means to said second vehicle;

7. said second element of said first pivot means connecting to or being integral with said second element of said third pivot means and said second element of said second pivot means connecting to or being integral with said second element of said fourth pivot means;

d. said means for connection to a first vehicle including;

1. fifth and sixth pivot means for allowing pivoting of a first element with respect to a second element, each of said fifth and sixth pivot means having only 1°

of rotational freedom;

2. means for maintaining the axes of rotation of said fifth and sixth pivot means parallel and not collinear;

3. means for connection of each of said first elements of said fifth and sixth pivot means to a first vehicle;

3. seventh and eighth pivot means for allowing pivoting of a first element with respect to a second element, each of said seventh and eighth pivot means havig only 1°

of rotational freedom;

5. means for maintaining the axes of rotation of said seventh and eighth pivot means parallel, not collinear, and at a different distance apart than said fifth and sixth pivot means, each of said first elements of said seventh and eighth pivot means being connected to said first elements of said first and second pivot means;

6. said second element of said fifth pivot means connecting to or being integral with said second element of said seventh pivot means and said second element of said sixth pivot means connecting to or being integral

7. A device which is for connecting a second vehicle to a first vehicle and which comprises:

a. a second vehicle;

b. connecting means for rotatably connecting said second vehicle to a first vehicle which connecting means includes means for causing at least a portion of rotational movement between a first vehicle and said second vehicle to be about a vertical axis which does not intersect said connecting means; and

c. said connecting means including;

1. first and second pivot means each for allowing pivoting of a first element with respect to a second element, each of said first and second pivot means having only 1°

of rotational freedom;

2. first maintaining means for maintaining the axes of rotaion of said first and second pivot means parallel and not collinear;

3. means for connection of each of said first elements of said first and second pivot means to a first vehicle;

4. third and fourth pivot means each for allowing pivoting of a first element with respect to a second element, each of said third and fourth pivot means having only 1°

of rotational freedom.

5. second maintaining means for maintaining the axes of rotation of said third and fourth pivot means parallel, not collinear, and at a different distance apart than said first and second pivot means;

6.

8. means for connecting each of said first elements of said third and fourth pivot means to said second vehicle;

7. said second element of said first pivot means connecting to or being integral with said second element of said third pivot means and said second element of said second pivot means connecting to or being integral with said second element of said fourth pivot means; and

d. said connecting means also including a further pivot means allowing for rolling of said second vehicle with respect to said second maintaining

12. The combination comprising:

a. a motor vehicle;

b. a second vehicle;

c. connecting means for rotatably connecting said second vehicle to said motor vehicle which connecting means includes;

1. means for causing at least a portion of rotational movement between said motor vehicle and said second vehicle to be about a first axis which does not intersect said connecting means;

2. means for causing at least a portion of rotational movement between said motor vehicle and said second vehicle to be about a second axis which does not intersect said connecting means and which is perpendicular to said first axis;

3. means for causing at least a portion of rotational movement between said motor vehicle and said second vehicle to be about a third axis which intersects said connecting means, and which is parallel to said first axis; and

13. said connecting means including:

a. a rotary joint providing only 1°

of rotational freedom;

b. means connecting one side of said rotary joit to said motor vehicle nd the other side of said rotary joint to said second vehicle and

c. the axis of rotation for said rotary joint being aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of said motor vehicle and said second vehicle when such vehicles are in longitudinal alignment one with the other.

14. The combination comprising:

a. a motor vehicle;

b. a second vehicle;

c. connecting means for rotatably connecting said second vehicle to said motor vehicle which connecting means includes;

1. means for causing at least a portion of pitch rotational movement between said motor vehicle and said second vehicle to be about a lateral axis which does not intersect said connecting means, but comes close to or intersects the center of mass of said motor vehicle;

2. means for causing at least a portion of yaw rotational movement between said motor vehicle and said second vehicle to be about a first vertical axis which does not intersect said connecting means but comes close to or intersects the center of mass of said motor vehicle;

3. said connecting means including means for causing at least a portion of yaw rotational movement between said motor vehicle and said second vehicle to be about a second vertical axis which comes close to or intersects said connecting means, and which is parallel to said first vertical axis; and

15. said connecting means including means for allowing rolling of said second vehicle with respect to said first vehicle, said means for allowing rolling including:

a. a rotary joint providing only 1°

of rotational freedom, and

b. means for connecting said second vehicle to one side of said rotary joint and for maintaining alignment of said rotary joint with its axis of rotation parallel to the longitudinal axis of said second vehicle.