System for holding and storing disconnected lines

System for holding and storing disconnected lines of a tractor unit, each line comprising, at one end, a coupling configured to be coupled to a complementary coupling of a trailer so as to pneumatically or electrically connect the trailer to the tractor unit, the system for holding and storing comprising a first retaining mechanism comprising a bracket designed to be fixed on a rear wall of the tractor unit and at least one spring having a first extremity attached to the bracket and a second extremity on which at least one of the lines can be hung; and a second retaining mechanism for receiving and holding the couplings arranged at the end of the lines; the system for holding and storing further including a magnetic stabilizer configured for attracting and maintaining the spring in a rest position when the tractor unit is moving without trailer.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Indian patent application serial number IN 202041010042, filed Mar. 9, 2020, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a system for holding and storing disconnected lines of a tractor unit.

BACKGROUND

In the heavy-duty vehicles industry, it is well known that trailers have their own braking system. This braking system is usually powered by the tractor unit, meaning that when a trailer is mechanically attached at the back of the tractor unit, it is needed to electrically and/or pneumatically connect the trailer to the tractor unit as well. To this end, the tractor unit includes a plurality of lines (pneumatic and/or electric) to be connected to the trailer, in order to transfer pneumatic energy and/or electrical energy from the tractor unit to the trailer.

Precisely, the trailer includes connection ports to which the driver can connect the connecting lines of the tractor unit. In this respect, a coupling (or connector) is provided at the end of each connecting line. Typically, glad-hand couplings are used to connect pneumatic lines.

Generally, the tractor unit is provided with at least two lines, namely one pneumatic line to transfer pneumatic energy and one electric line (or cable) to transfer electrical energy.

When no trailer is attached at the back of the tractor unit, the connecting lines (to the trailer) are generally suspended from a bracket attached to the Back of the Cabin (BoC), such as a horizontal bar. Typically, the lines are suspended from the bracket by means of one or more springs, as described in US 2013/320156 A. In addition, the couplings provided at the end of the lines are kept stationary against the back of the cabin thanks to a holding device, or holder.

The combination of the springs and holder enables to maintain the first lines immobile while the truck is moving.

However, it has been reported that springs and lines hit the Back of the Cabin while the truck is moving, causing paint peel off and impacts on the back of the cabin. This further causes noise inside the cab, which disturbs the driver. This is especially true when the truck is moving on an incline or off-road.

The present invention aims to solve the disadvantages mentioned above.

SUMMARY

For this purpose, the present invention relates to a system for holding and storing disconnected lines of a tractor unit according to the subject matter of claim1.

This arrangement allows maintaining the at least one spring in the rest position as the tractor unit is driving without being connected to a trailer. Even if the road presents an uneven surface, the magnetic stabilizer prevents the moves of the at least one spring to protect the rear wall of the tractor unit against the knocking of the second extremity of the at least one spring.

In a coupled configuration, that is to say when the tractor unit is connected to a trailer, the at least one spring is extended to enable the extension of the lines.

By uncoupled configuration, it is therefore meant that the lines are disconnected from the trailer. In that case, the lines have to be maintained near the rear wall of the tractor unit so that the tractor unit can be driven independently.

According to an aspect of the invention, the at least one second extremity is distant from the rear wall in the uncoupled configuration. According to an aspect of the invention, the at least one spring is at least partially made of steel.

According to an aspect of the invention, the magnetic stabilizer comprises a body having at least one recess configured to receive a portion of a corresponding spring in the rest position.

Not only is the at least one spring attracted by the magnetic stabilizer in uncoupled configuration, but also the at least one corresponding recess defines precisely the rest position. Thus, when changing from the coupled configuration to the uncoupled configuration, the at least one spring is attracted to be maintained received in the corresponding at least one recess.

According to an aspect of the invention, the magnetic stabilizer is made in one piece or comprises several independent units, each being provided with at least one recess.

According to an aspect of the invention, the recess is an axial groove is configured to prevent lateral displacement of the corresponding spring in the rest position.

The term “lateral” is to be understood with respect to the longitudinal direction. As the or each spring is attracted towards the magnetic stabilizer and blocked laterally, there is a reliable position maintaining in rest position even if the tractor unit is driving on a difficult road.

According to an aspect of the invention, when there are several axial grooves, the axial grooves are aligned transversally to the longitudinal direction. This enables to arrange the springs distantly and aligned transversally to the longitudinal direction.

According to an aspect of the invention, the magnetic stabilizer is configured to be attached on the rear wall of the tractor unit, the magnetic stabilizer being located between the rear wall and the at least one spring transversally to the rear wall in the uncoupled configuration.

This provision allows keeping the plurality of lines near the rear wall in the uncoupled configuration while protecting the rear wall from knockings of the second extremity of the at least one spring.

According to an aspect of the invention, the second extremity comprises a hooking element to be attached around at least one line.

According to a possibility, the clamping element is configured to enable the extension of the at least one corresponding spring in the coupled configuration.

The at least one spring is configured to be at least partially extended in coupled configuration which prevents the second extremity to knock on the rear wall.

According to an aspect of the invention, the or each hooking element is configured to cooperate with a plurality of lines.

The lines are managed together as a bundle by the at least one second extremity. This enables to manage the plurality of lines with a limited amount of springs, preferably less than the amount of lines.

According to an aspect of the invention, the bracket comprises a bar on which the at least one spring is hinged so as to freely move along the bar.

As to each spring corresponds a recess, there is no need to fix each first extremity in the uncoupled configuration. According an aspect of the invention, the or each first extremity comprises a ring or hook configured to be secured on the bar.

According to an aspect of the invention, the second retaining mechanism comprises a plurality of holders configured to be attached on the rear wall, each holder being configured to receive a coupling of a corresponding line.

Each holder is configured to secure the corresponding coupling in the uncoupled configuration.

According to an aspect of the invention, the plurality of lines comprise at least one, and in particular two, pneumatic hoses. The or each pneumatic hose has a coupling that is a glad hand.

According to an aspect of the invention, the magnetic stabilizer comprises an electro-magnet that can be manually or automatically switched on.

According to an aspect of the invention, the system for holding and storing further includes at least one proximity sensor to detect whether the couplings are in a stored configuration in which they are held by the second retaining mechanism and in that the electro-magnet is turned on only when the couplings are in said stored configuration.

This use of an electro-magnet, which could be manual or automatically switched, enables to remove the magnetic constraints on the at least one spring in the coupled configuration. Preferably, the electro-magnet comprises a coil configured to be fed by the tractor unit, in particular from a battery or an auxiliary device located in the tractor unit.

According to an aspect of the invention, the proximity sensor or alternatively an open circuit detection device is configured to sense the couplings positioned in stored configuration.

According to an aspect of the invention, the magnetic stabilizer comprises an external shell. Preferably, the external shell is made of plastic and in particular of PA66. The coil is housed in said external shell.

According to an aspect of the invention, the magnetic stabilizer comprises a permanent magnet.

According to this possibility, there is no need to have an electrical feeding for the magnetic stabilizer, which simplifies the construction of the system for holding and storing.

According to an aspect of the invention, each line comprises an inlet connector at an extremity opposed to the extremity comprising the corresponding coupling, the inlet connectors being configured to be plugged on a dedicated feeding connector assembly of the tractor unit, the holders being located between said feeding connector assembly and the at least one second extremity so that the lines are arranged according to a looped trajectory in the uncoupled configuration.

Preferably, the looped trajectory is extending according to a plane sensibly parallel to the rear wall of the tractor unit. This enable to have the lines parked on the back of the tractor unit near the rear wall in the uncoupled configuration.

The present invention also concerns a tractor unit comprising a system for holding and storing disconnected lines. Preferably, the tractor unit comprises the lines.

The different aspects defined above that are not incompatible can be combined. Further advantages and advantageous features of the invention are disclosed in the following description and in the dependent claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of the figures defined above, the same elements or the elements that are fulfilling identical functions may retain the same references so as to simplify the understanding of the invention.

As illustrated inFIGS.1to3, a tractor unit1comprises a system for holding and storing3configured to pneumatically and/or electrically connect a braking system of a trailer4to the tractor unit1in a coupled configuration.

A plurality of lines5for pneumatic and/or electrical feeding are provided, each comprising a coupling7configured to cooperate with a complementary coupling8of the braking system in the coupled configuration.

Thus, the lines5are either disconnected from the trailer4in the uncoupled configuration or coupled to the trailer4in the coupled configuration.

As illustrated inFIGS.3to9, the system for holding and storing3comprises a first retaining mechanism9provided with a bracket11arranged to be fixed on a rear wall13of the tractor unit1and provided with a spring15, said spring15being a tension spring and having a first extremity17attached to the bracket11and a second extremity19cooperating with at least one of the plurality of lines5.

The second extremity19comprises a hooking element21configured for cooperating with a section of at least one line5so as to enable the movement and the extension of the spring15in the coupled configuration.

The spring15is configured to be at least partially extended in coupled configuration to prevent the second extremity19to knock on the rear wall13.

In the embodiment ofFIG.3, the hooking element21is configured to cooperate with the plurality of the lines5.

The system for holding and storing3comprises a magnetic stabilizer23configured for attracting and maintaining in a rest position the spring15when the trailer4and the tractor unit1are in an uncoupled configuration. The spring15is at least partially made of steel.

By uncoupled configuration, it is therefore meant that the lines5are disconnected from the trailer4. In that case, the lines5have to be maintained near the rear wall13of the tractor unit1so that the tractor unit can be driven independently.

The second extremity19is distant from the rear wall13in the uncoupled configuration.

The magnetic stabilizer23comprises a unique independent unit25or body that is provided with a recess27as shown inFIGS.6and7. InFIG.3, only one unit is represented.

The magnetic stabilizer23is configured to be attached on the rear wall13of the tractor unit1, the magnetic stabilizer23being located between the rear wall13and the spring15transversally to the rear wall13.

As illustrated inFIGS.6and7, the recess27is configured to receive a portion of the spring15in the uncoupled configuration.

The recess27is an axial groove29extending according to a longitudinal direction31and configured to prevent lateral displacement of the spring15in the uncoupled configuration. Lateral is to be understood with respect to the longitudinal direction31. Usually, the longitudinal direction31is vertical or substantially vertical.

The bracket11comprises a bar (also known as bracket)33on which the spring15is hinged so as to freely move along the bar (or bracket)33. The first extremity17comprises a ring35or hook configured to be secured on the bar (or bracket)33.

The system for holding and storing3further comprises a second retaining mechanism36provided with a plurality of holders37configured to be attached on the rear wall13, each holder37being configured to receive a coupling7of a corresponding line5due to complementary form in the uncoupled configuration.

Each holder37is configured to secure the corresponding coupling7in the uncoupled configuration.

The plurality of lines5comprise two pneumatic hoses. Each pneumatic hose has a coupling7that is preferably a glad hand coupling. Glad hand coupling arrangements are well known, that is why such arrangements are not described further herein.

According to the variant ofFIG.7, the magnetic stabilizer23comprises an electro-magnet and a switch39configured to turn on the electro-magnet, said switch39being provided with a manual command or being coupled to the plurality of holders37so as to be turned on when every coupling7is received on the corresponding holder37.

This use of an electro-magnet is configured for removing the magnetic constraints on the spring15in the coupled configuration. The electro-magnet comprises a coil configured to be powered by the tractor unit1, in particular from a battery or an auxiliary device (such as an alternator) located in the tractor unit1.

The system for holding and storing3further includes at least one proximity sensor to detect whether the couplings7are in a stored configuration in which they are held by the second retaining mechanism36and in that the electro-magnet is turned on only when the couplings7are in said stored configuration. Thus, a possibility is to implement an automatic mode in which the electro-magnet is automatically switched on depending on proximity sensor readings.

The switch39can comprise said proximity sensor configured to sense the couplings7positioned in stored configuration or alternatively an open circuit detection device that is open in the absence of the couplings7. Another alternative is that the switch39can be controlled by a software control system of the tractor unit1, for example following an input from the user or ECUs (electronic control units) available on vehicle.

The magnetic stabilizer23comprises an external shell41. The external shell41is made of plastic and in particular of PA66. The coil is housed in said external shell41.

According to another variant illustrated inFIG.6, the magnetic stabilizer23comprises a permanent magnet.

As illustrated inFIG.8, each line5comprises an inlet connector43at an extremity opposed to the extremity comprising the corresponding coupling7, the inlet connectors43being configured to be plugged on a dedicated feeding connector assembly45of the tractor unit1, the holders37being located between said feeding connector assembly45of the tractor unit1and the second extremities19so that the lines5are arranged according to a looped trajectory in the uncoupled configuration.

The looped trajectory is extending according to a plane sensibly parallel to the rear wall13of the tractor unit1.

The system for holding and storing3allows maintaining the spring15in the rest position as the tractor unit1is driving without being connected to a trailer4. Even if the road presents an uneven surface, the magnetic stabilizer23prevents the moves of the spring15to protect the rear wall13of the tractor unit1against the knocking of the second extremities19.

Not only the spring15is attracted by the magnetic stabilizer23in the uncoupled configuration, but also the corresponding recesses27define precisely the rest position. Thus, when changing from the coupled configuration to the uncoupled configuration, the spring15is attracted to be maintained received in the corresponding recesses27.

As the spring15is attracted toward the magnetic stabilizer23and blocked laterally, there is a reliable position maintaining in rest position even if the tractor unit1is driving on a difficult road.

This provision allows keeping the plurality of lines5near the rear wall13in the uncoupled configuration while protecting the rear wall from knockings of the second extremity of the spring15.

The lines5are managed together as a bundle by the at least one second extremity.