TOWING CARRIAGE

Abstract: The invention relates to a tow carriage, especially for towing motorcars with the aid of a motor-cycle (2) or some other small vehicle. The carriage (1) comprises at least two wheels (3, 4 and 5, 6) which supported are steerable by means of a steering device (22, 23) and via articulated pulling rods (7-10) can be coupled to preferably, the rear frame portion (11) of the motor-cycle. On said pulling rods (7-10) there is, at each respective joint (16, 17), mounted an angle information transmitter (18, 19) which, when the rods (7, 9 and 8, 10) turn relatively each other in response to the motor-cycle (2) turning, actuate the steering device (22, 23) steering the wheels or, alternatively, said steering device (22, 23) being actuated by a direction sensor mounted on the motor-cycle (2) in order to detect acceleration and turning/banking, the wheels (3, 4 and 5, 6) always assuming a correct steering a ngle as determined by the route of the motor-cycle (2).

Description: Towing carriage The present invention relates to a tow carriage for towing in the first place motorcars with the aid of a motor-cycle or some other small vehicle. Today special break-down lorries are usually used to tow vehicles which have being hit by a failure or for some other reason requires towing. These break-down lorries occupy much space on the road and often find it difficult to proceed which can be troublesome, especially when the traffic is jamming. When a private passenger car has suffered a engine failure in a traffic queue it is accordingly practically impossible for an ordinary break-down lorry quickly to reach the correspon- ding place and to carry out a towing operation. The object of the present invention is, as a towing vehicle, to use a motor-cycle or some other small vehicle. In contrast to an ordinary break-down lorry, a motor-cycle can convenien- tly and rapidly reach the position of the car. According to the invention use is made of a motor-cycle and a tow carriage, the car being towed by the motor-cycle. The features characterising the invention are set out in the claims. Thanks to the invention there has now been provided a tow carriage for towing motorcars with the aid of a motor-cycle or some other small vehicle, this carriage satisfying the requirement in an excellent way and being at same time cheap and easy to manufacture. The tow carriage does solve the traf- ficability problems to which the traditional break-down lorries are exposed. The tow carriage can assume a transport position which is used when the motor-cycle is on its way to the stationary car. In that context it is important that the, transverse measures of the carriage are not much greater than those of the motor-cycle so that the trafficability of the vehicle combination is not reduced. When in its used position the tow carriage is arranged in a way making it possible for it to absorb the forces caused by Ω fD ϋ 03 $ H- rt tr rt tr CD SD H- Pi o Ml SD 3 0 rt 0 H 1 Ω ^ Ω CD -• Fig. 2 illustrates the carriage in Fig. 1 in lateral view but without the motor-cycle ; Fig. 3 is a top view of the carriage; Fig. 4 is a rear view of the carriage; Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the carriage as seen obliquely from above; Fig. 6 is a view similar to that in Fig. 5 and more clearly illustrating the turning angle between the pulling rods and the wheels of the carriage; Fig. 7 does on an enlarged scale show one of the wheel pairs used in the carriage and shown in Fig. 6 and; Fig. 8-11 are four views showing the carriage during the operation collapsing it to the transport state. The figures illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, a carriage 1 for towing motorcars with the aid of motor-cycle 2. The carriage 1 comprises at least two wheels 3- 6 which support it and can be steered with the aid of steering devices 22 and 23. Via articulated pulling rods 7-10 they can be coupled to the motor-cycle 2, preferably its rear frame portion 11. Thanks to this solution all vertical forces generated during the towing with the aid of the motor-cycle will be absorbed by the carriage 1 instead of by the motor- cycle 2. In the example illustrated the tow carriage comprises two wheel pairs both of which are pivoted. The pulling rods are secured to a transverse beam which at its outer portions include the respective wheel pairs 12, 13 and in those there are support means 14, 15 for the wheels of the motorcar. At each joint 16, 17 on the pulling rods there is an angle information transmitter 18, 19 which, when the rods 7, 9 and 8, 10 turn relatively each other because the motor-cycle is turning, though via the steering devices 22, 23 control the steering of the wheels 3-6 so that those do always assume a correct steering angle as determined by the route of the motor-cycle 2. As an alternative the motor-cycle can be provided with a direction transmitter 24 controlling the steering devices 22, 23 via a cable or via radio signals. Further, each of the wheels of the carriage 1 can be braked individually without exerting any pressure against the motor- cycle 2. The carriage 1 does also include a lifting device 20, 21 at each wheel pair 12, 13 with the aid of which the vehicle to be towed can be lifted vertically. Figs. 8-11 do more in detail illustrate the appearance of the carriage 1 during the collapsing operation to the transport state.

Claims: Claims 1. A tow carriage, especially for towing cars with the aid of a motor-cycle (2.) or some other small vehicle, characterized in that said carriage (1) comprises at least two wheels (3,4 and 5,6) which support it, are steerable by means of a steering device (22,23) and via articulated pulling rods (7,10) can be coupled to, preferably, the rear portion (11) of the motor-cycle frame having, at each individual joint (16, 17) an angle position transmitter which, when the rods (7,9 and 8,10) turn relatively each other in response to the motor-cycle (2) turning, actuates the steering device (22,23). steering the wheels or, alternatively, said steering device (22,23) being actuated by a direction sensor (24) attached to the motor- cycle (2) and detecting acceleration and turning/banking, said wheels (3,4 and 5,6) always assuming a correct steering angle as determined by the route of the motor-cycle. 2. A tow carriage according to claim 1, characterized in that each wheel (3-6) can be braked individually without exerting any pressure against the motor-cycle. 3. A tow carriage according to claim 1, characterized in that the carriage 1 can be collapsed to a transport state not comprising exhibiting any projecting parts forming an obstacle against the passage of the motor-cycle. 4. A" tow carriage according to claim 1, characterized in that at the respective wheel pairs (12, 13) there is arranged a lifting device (20, 21) for vertical lifting of the vehicle to be towed. 5. A tow carriage according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection with the motor-cycle 2 is flexible permitting the motor-cycle (2) to bank.

Inventors: LILJEBERG MATTIAS, LILJEBERG MICHAEL, LILJEBERG, MATTIAS, LILJEBERG, MICHAEL
Applicants: LILJEBERG MATTIAS, LILJEBERG MICHAEL, LILJEBERG, MATTIAS, LILJEBERG, MICHAEL
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B60P3
IPC codes: B60P3, B62D53