Self aligning coupling apparatus

• US 4,893,829 A
• Filed: 03/03/1989
• Issued: 01/16/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Darrel B. Davis
• Original Assignee: Darrel B. Davis
• Inventors: Davis, Darrel B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOEHLER, ANNE MARIE M
• Application Number:
  US07/318,764
• Time in Patent Office: 319 Days
• Field of Search: 280/462, 280/472, 280/477, 280/478.1, 280/479.2, 280/479.3, 280/467, 280/456.1, 280/479.4, 280/479.1
• US Class Current: 280/479.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/40 involving a temporarily extensible or alignable member B60D1/38 takes precedence

Abstract

A self aligning coupling apparatus for mounting on a towing vehicle or a towed vehicle. Included is an extensible coupler mounted on gimbal axles adapted to tilt up and down and sideways in rotary motion in making a connection to an unaligned vehicle. The coupler telescopes inwardly into a funnel shaped device to complete the alignment as the vehicles are moved closer together.

Claims

1. A self aligning coupling apparatus for mounting on a towing vehicle or a towed vehicle whereby the self aligning means will apply equally as well on either vehicle to couple the other vehicle, comprising:

a funnel having an entrance and exit, a top, bottom and sides suspended longitudinally under a vehicle frame, including a first hole through the top side of the exit end for a latch connection,

a cradle-like strap support with the intermediate portion of the opposite ends secured to the bottom side of the exit and having the opposite end attached to the frame,

a pair of longitudinally extending straps with inner ends and outer ends secured to the opposite sides of the entrance end of the funnel,

a first housing comprising spaced L-shaped end plates having a horizontal portion attached to the outer ends of the longitudinal straps and the vertical portion extending upward to a straddled end attachment around said frame, and including spaced top and bottom plates having inner and outer side edges and opposite ends connected to the inside horizontal portion of the L-shaped ends, and a second hole bored centrally through the top and bottom plates,

a second housing mounted between said top and bottom plates comprising spaced horizontal plates joined at opposite ends to spaced vertical plates, the vertical plates having a third hole bored centrally therethrough and including a pair of opposite gimbal axles mounted on the horizontal plates rotatably inserted in the second holes provided in the first housing,

an elongated sleeve constructed similarly to the second housing with horizontal and vertical plates having an outer end secured within said second housing and an inner end extending beyond the inner edges of said top and bottom plates, and including a gimbal axle mounted centrally on each vertical plate inserted rotatably in the third holes,

an elongated coupler slidably enclosed in the sleeve having a hitch connection on an outer end and a hole through the top side of an inner end, the inner end adapted to slide angularly into the entrance of said funnel for a locking engagement therein urged by the direction of thrust applied by the backing vehicle on the coupled hitch of the towing vehicle and towed vehicles,

a latch pin enclosed in the fourth hole having an end portion with a rounded tip projecting outside of said hole adapted to plunge in to the first hole in said funnel when said inner end of said coupler enters said exit end to lock each together,

a coiled spring attached in said fourth hole adopted to exert upward end pressure on the latch pin,

a lever having a fifth hole on the upright end, the lower end being secured in a pivot mounted on the top side of said funnel exit, and including an arcuate extension having a lower end arranged to enter said first hole,

a drive rod extending from an inner end connection in the fifth hole to an outer end on a side of one of said housing end plates, said end plate including an eyebolt fastened thereto for receiving the outer end of the rod therethrough, and

a handle attached to said outer end for pushing or pulling the rod whereby in pulling said rod the lever pivots to drive the arcuate extension into said first hole to purge the tip portion of the latch pin therefrom to release said coupling from said funnel.

2. A self aligning coupling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said funnel has a rectangular entrance tapering to a square exit.

3. A self aligning coupling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said first housing has a rectangular opening therethrough approximately of the same dimension as that of said funnel entrance.

4. A self aligning coupling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said second housing is constructed so as to allow adequate space between adjacent parallel surfaces in said first housing to enable it to rotate freely about the vertical gimbal axis.

5. A self aligning coupling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said sleeve is constructed so as to insure sufficient space between adjacent surfaces in said second housing to enable it to rotate freely about the horizontal gimbal axis and has a length equivalent to the distance between diagonal corners of said top and bottom plates.

6. A self aligning coupling apparatus for mounting on a towing vehicle or a towed vehicle whereby the self aligning means will apply equally as well on either vehicle to couple the other vehicle, comprising:

a funnel having a rectangular entrance end sloping to a square exit end, a top, bottom and opposite sides, suspended longitudinally under a vehicle frame, and a first hole through a top side of the exit,

a cradle-like strap adapted to support the bottomside of said exit with the intermediate portion of the opposite ends extending upward to an attachment at spaced sections of the frame,

a second pair of longitudinally extending straps with inner ends and outer ends attached to the opposite sides adjacent to entrance opening of the funnel,

a first housing comprising spaced L-shaped end plates having a horizontal portion attached to the outer ends of the longitudinal straps whereas the vertical portion extends upward to a straddled end attachment around said frame, and including therewith a top plate and a bottom plate connected at their ends to the inside horizontal portion of the L-shaped ends and a second hole extending centrally between inner and outer edges of said top and bottom plates,

a second housing mounted loosely within the first housing consisting of spaced connected horizontal plates and vertical plates including an aligned third hole extending centrally through each of the vertical plates together with a gimbal axle mounted centrally on each horizontal plate rotatably inserted in the second holes provided in said first housing adapted to slide sideways between said top and bottom plates,

a sleeve constructed similarly in cross section to the second housing having an outer end portion of elongated horizontal and vertical plates loosely secured within the second housing and an inner end extending beyond the inner edges of said top and bottom plates, the sleeve including a gimbal axle mounted centrally on each of the vertical plates inserted rotatably in the third holes,

an elongated coupler slidably enclosed in the sleeve including a hitch connection on an outer end for coupling with a towing vehicle or a towed vehicle and an inner end provided with a fourth hole through the upper side for a latch connection adapted to be urged angularly toward the entrance of said funnel for a locking engagement therein by the angle of thrust applied by the backing vehicle on the coupled hitch of the towing and towed vehicles,

a latch pin having a central bore slidably enclosed in the fourth hole with a rounded tip portion projecting out of said hole adapted to plunge into the first hole in said funnel when the inner end of the coupler enters said exit end to lock each together,

a coiled spring having a lower end secured in said fourth hole and an upper end enclosed in the bore adapted to exert end pressure on the latch pin,

a pivotal lever having a lower end connected in a pivot mounted on the top side of said funnel exit end and an arcuate extension having an end shaped to enter said first hole, and including a fifth hole in an upper end for a drive connection therein,

a drive rod extending from an inner end attachment in the fifth hole to an outer end connection to a side of one of said -shaped end plates, said end plate including

an eye bolt fastened thereto for receiving the outer end of the rod slidably therethrough, and

a knob mounted on said outer end of said rod adapted to be pushed and pulled whereby, when pulled to pivot the lever the arcuate end plunges into said first hole on said funnel to purge the tip portion of the latch pin therefrom and release said coupler from said latch.

7. A self aligning coupling apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein:

said first housing further includes a stop member mounted adjacent to each end plate having an upright central wall connected at the ends to spaced diverging side walls extending inwardly to said inner and outer side edges of said top and bottom plates a small distance from said end plates.

8. A self aligning coupling apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein:

said sleeve consists of a square tube having a length approximately equivalent to a length defined by the distance between diagonal corners of said end plates connection to said bottom plate.

9. A self aligning coupling apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein:

said coupler comprises an elongated square tube whereby if the approach of its inner end toward said funnel is urged in angular extension by the rotary motion of said sleeve, the extension is limited by the boundary wherein said sleeve is adapted to swing about in contact with said inner and outer edges of said top and bottom plates and the side edges of the side walls of said stop members.

10. A self aligning coupling apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein:

said latch pin includes stop means adapted to prevent said coupler from withdrawing outward from said sleeve wherein said tip portion upon retracting from said funnel abuts against said inner end of said sleeve.