Automated guided vehicle top disposed towing apparatus

• US 5,109,940 A
• Filed: 03/05/1991
• Issued: 05/05/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HK Systems Incorporated (KION GROUP AG)
• Original Assignee: Eaton-Kenway Incorporated
• Inventors: Yardley, James V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAR, MICHAEL Y
• Application Number:
  US07/664,702
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 180/168, 180/235, 180/6.5, 280/433, 280/492, 280/511, 280/496, 280/901
• US Class Current: 180/168
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/06 Ball-and-socket hitches , e.g. constructional details, auxiliary devices, their arrangement on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 2001/005 for carts, scooters, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 49/007 Tractors for handling trailers, e.g. roll-trailers in terminals
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/546 Systems with spaced apart rolling bearings including at least one angular contact bearing

Abstract

A novel trailer towing apparatus for an AGV whereby downwardly applied, vertically oriented towing loads are substantially, directly imposed upon the drive wheels of the AGV, thereby increasing wheel to ground frictional forces and resulting towed load capacity. The towing apparatus is attached to the top of the AGV thereby allowing the AGV to turn through a 360° radius without moving the trailer.

Claims

1. In combination, a trailer and an unmanned automated guided vehicle:

the vehicle comprising a main body having a front portion, a rear portion, opposed side portions, and a top surface, remotely controlled steering means, a pair of front floor engaging wheels disposed along respective sides of the vehicle, a pair of rear floor engaging wheels disposed along respective sides of the vehicle, individual means for bidirectionally driving each of said floor-engaging wheels, a mounting plate attached to said top surface, and hitch means attached to said plate in a centrally disposed location between said side portions and said front and rear pairs of wheels;

the trailer comprising two bar means which comprise means for releasibly coupling to said centrally disposed hitch means;

the centrally disposed hitch means being rotatably connected to said releasible coupling means for movement about a vertical axis extending through said hitch means;

whereby, responsive to the remotely controlled steering means, rotational movement of 360 degrees of the vehicle about said vertical axis without displacement of said trailer is possible as a result of selective directional driving of each of said wheels.

2. A trailer and an unmanned automated guided vehicle according to claim 1 including means for vertically displacing said hitch means relative to said main body of the vehicle.