Abstract:
The invention relates to a coupling system for connecting at least one supply line between a towing vehicle and a trailer, the first end of said at least one supply line being attached to the towing vehicle in a fixed manner, and the second end thereof comprising a connector that can be connected to a supply line interface of the trailer. The aim of the invention is to provide a coupling system for the supply lines, by which means a complicated operation between the trailer and the driver&#39;s cab of the towing vehicle is avoided. To this end, a coupling system is provided, whereby the supply line interface can be displaced out of a traveling position into an operating position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a coupling system to connect at least one supply line between a tractor vehicle and a semi-trailer, wherewith the at least one supply line has one end fixedly disposed at the tractor and has on its other end a plug or similar connector, which plug can be connected to a supply line interface associated with the semi-trailer. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In practice, typically, the tractor vehicle is moved below the semi-trailer and the main pivot of the semi-trailer is caused to engage with the “fifth wheel coupling” of the tractor. After this mechanical hitching of the trailer to the tractor, typically the supply lines, e.g. for compressed air and electricity, and possibly pressurized hydraulic fluid, from the tractor are plugged into corresponding connectors on the semi-trailer, which receiving connectors are disposed in a supply line interface. 
         [0003]    A storage module is disposed on the rear side of the tractor, whereby when the tractor is running dry with no semi-trailer the plugs can be accommodated in said storage module. Such a storage module is disclosed, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,728. The connections of the supply lines to the tractor occur through the storage module or near the storage module. A certain amount of reserve length of the supply lines is needed, approximately the same reserve length for each such supply line, to accommodate situations when the front end of the semi-trailer swings to one side or another when negotiating curves; wherewith typically the supply lines have a spiral configuration. Ordinarily the supply line interface is disposed at the longitudinal center axis of the vehicle. 
         [0004]    The driver manually connects the supply lines to the supply line interface. For this, the driver must climb onto the tractor in the free space between the tractor cab and the semi-trailer, must remove the plugs from the storage module, and must plug the plugs into the supply line interface. The same procedure must be performed in reverse before the semi-trailer is separated from the tractor. 
         [0005]    An essential disadvantage of this arrangement is that the driver is at appreciable risk of injury when he climbs onto the tractor. As an incentive for the industry to devise means of reducing this risk, the regulatory authorities, e.g. CRAM in France, provide for reduced fees for vehicles for which maneuvers by the driver on the vehicle are minimized. It is noted also that frequently the region between the tractor and trailer is dirty and wet, so that the driver&#39;s clothing also becomes soiled and wet during the coupling process, and he needs to change clothes. 
         [0006]    Efforts have been made in the past to move the supply line interface to a location away from the free space between the tractor and semi-trailer. E.g., the semi-trailer has been provided with horizontal guide rails on its front side, with a supply line interface being slidably mounted on said rails. To connect the supply lines from the tractor to this supply line interface, said interface can be moved to the side, allowing lateral access to perform the connections. When the vehicle is negotiating curves, the supply line interface travels on the guide rails and takes a position with respect to the semi-trailer which position is shifted in the direction toward the interior of the curve. However, this solution leads to uncontrolled back and forth swinging of the supply line interface, particularly when the vehicle is negotiating curves, which mechanically stresses the supply lines themselves and may in fact damage them. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a coupling system for the supply lines which avoids extensive manipulations between the tractor cab and the semi-trailer, and which coupling system ensures a long service life of the system. 
         [0008]    This object is achieved according to the invention by a coupling system in which the supply line interface is movable from a “driving position”, in which position preferably said interface is held in place by catch means, into a “servicing position”. In the driving position the supply line interface is fixedly held at a generally central location near the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, directly opposite the (also fixedly held) point of attachment of the supply lines to the tractor. This allows approximately equal lateral swinging of the supply lines to one or the other side at their connection point to the semi-trailer when the vehicle is negotiating a curve. This driving position corresponds to the customary position of the supply line interface according to the state of the art, viz. in the region of the said longitudinal axis, but the invention eliminates the disadvantage of poor accessibility by the driver. According to the invention, when it comes time to connect or disconnect the supply lines the supply line interface is moved into a “servicing position”, which may be on the front side of the semi-trailer within easy reach of a driver standing next to the side of the tractor. 
         [0009]    Preferably, in the driving position the supply line interface is located in the region of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and in the servicing position said interface is located at one side of the semi-trailer, wherewith for safety reasons the servicing position should be located on the side of the semi-trailer which is opposite to the side on which traffic passes. 
         [0010]    Advantageously, the supply line interface is mounted on the semi-trailer by the intermediary of, or so as to be acted on by forcing and guiding means, which forcing and guiding means may have any of numerous practicable forms. 
         [0011]    According to a first preferred embodiment, the forcing and guiding means comprise a swing bearing which engages a swing arm which swing arm bears the supply line interface at its [distant] end. With this embodiment, the supply line interface is swung between the driving position and the servicing position, in a swinging excursion around a rigid swing axis, which axis is provided by the swing bearing. 
         [0012]    The movement of the supply line interface may be accomplished, e.g., manually. In this connection it is advantageous if the swing arm has associated with it a pull handle which the driver can grab when the supply line interface is in the driving position, said handle being, e.g., at a location easily accessible to the driver on the side of the semi-trailer. 
         [0013]    In order to achieve defined swinging of the supply line interface and to avoid damaging the pull handle during operation of the handle mechanism, the pull handle should be laterally movable in a pull handle guide which is fixedly mounted on the semi-trailer. 
         [0014]    It has also been found to be advantageous if the pull handle is connected to the swing arm by articulation means. This enables the driver to be in a convenient position while the swinging movement is being effected, because the pull handle is “de-coupled” from the swinging movement of the swing arm. 
         [0015]    In order to reduce the exertion by the driver and to ensure safe and reliable swinging-back of the supply line interface from the servicing position into the driving position, the swing arm and/or pulling handle may be engaged by a restoring spring which is fixedly but possibly swingably mounted to the semi-trailer. As the supply line interface is swung laterally outwardly into the servicing position, the spring comes under increasing tension; after the servicing is performed, connection or disconnection of the supply lines, the spring pulls the interface back into the driving position. 
         [0016]    In addition to or in lieu of the restoring spring, a positioning cylinder may be provided for the swing arm. According to an advantageous arrangement, the first end of the positioning cylinder is swingably mounted on the semi-trailer, and the second end of said cylinder swingably or articulatedly engages the swing arm. The swing arm may be moved between the driving position and servicing position with the aid of the positioning cylinder, which may be actuated manually by the driver via valve means, or may be completely automated. 
         [0017]    According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a particularly compact solution is provided by forcing and guiding means comprising a swing drive which engages the swing arm. This obviates the possibly cumbersome presence of a positioning cylinder on the front wall of the semi-trailer facing the tractor; instead, the swing drive is provided in a compact coaxial disposition around the swing bearing. The fact that a swing drive so disposed has a low moment arm is not an important consideration, because the torque required is relatively low. 
         [0018]    The types of forcing and guiding means described above enable the supply line interface and/or the swing arm and/or the swing bearing to be laterally displaceable into the servicing position. This lateral displaceability allows the supply line interface to be displaced farther to reach a suitable servicing position, thereby providing for particularly convenient conditions for connection and disconnection of the supply lines. 
         [0019]    According to an alternative embodiment, a swing arm is not employed but rather the forcing and guiding means comprise at least one slide rail or guide rail on which the supply line interface is slidably disposed. 
         [0020]    The length of the guide rail should be such that the rail extends from the region of the longitudinal center axis of the vehicle to a lateral region of the semi-trailer. 
         [0021]    In all embodiments it is advantageous if the supply line interface and/or swing arm has at least one catch element which cooperates with at least one second catch element, which second catch element is associated with the semi-trailer. The first catch element may comprise, e.g., at least one pronged clip member formed on the supply line interface, which clip member at least partially surrounds a fixed second catch element when the final driving position is reached. The second catch element may comprise, e.g., a projecting pin element. 
         [0022]    To ensure that the supply lines do not swing back and forth uncontrollably when the tractor is running dry without a semi-trailer, a storage module may be supplied which is disposed non-centrally on the tractor, namely at a position at which the driver can readily plug in or unplug the plugs without mechanical assistance while the driver is standing next to the tractor. Preferably the storage module is disposed on the rear wall of the cab of the tractor. 
         [0023]    It may be more advantageous to leave the storage module in its customarily central location and provide another holding means non-centrally on the tractor, namely a holding bracket, disposed at a position readily accessible by a person standing at the side of the tractor. Thereby the option is provided of either plugging the aforementioned semi-trailer-side plug connectors into the centrally located storage module or into the laterally located holding bracket, depending on whether the next hitch operation will be to hitch the tractor to a semi-trailer with a movable supply line interface or to a semi-trailer with a conventional fixed supply line interface. 
         [0024]    Advantageously, sensors are provided for detecting the driving position and/or the servicing position. Such sensors are particularly advantageous if the supply line interface is moved by automated means, wherewith the position and movements of said interface are displayed on a display device in the tractor cab. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    The invention will be described in more detail hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying 13 drawings. 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  is a lateral view of a tractor and semi-trailer combination; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of a tractor and semi-trailer combination, and a detail view of the storage module and supply line interface; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a lateral view of a tractor arranged for driving without an attached trailer, and having the plug connectors of the supply lines supported on a holding bracket; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a tractor arranged for driving without an attached trailer, and having the plug connectors of the supply lines supported on a holding bracket; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a semi-trailer having forcing and guiding means according to a first embodiment, and a restoring spring, in the driving position; 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of a semi-trailer having forcing and guiding means according to a first embodiment, in the servicing position; 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a front view of a semi-trailer having forcing and guiding means according to a first embodiment, and a positioning cylinder, in the driving position; 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  is a rear view of a semi-trailer having forcing and guiding means according to a first embodiment, and a positioning cylinder, in the servicing position; 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  is a view according to claim  5 , with a laterally displaceable supply line interface laterally displaceable with respect to the swing arm; 
           [0035]      FIG. 10  is a view according to  FIG. 8 , with a laterally displaceable supply line interface laterally displaceable with respect to the swing arm; 
           [0036]      FIG. 11  is a rear view of a semi-trailer having forcing and guiding means according to a first embodiment, and a swing drive for accomplishing the described swinging movement; 
           [0037]      FIG. 12  is a rear view of a semi-trailer having forcing and guiding means according to a second embodiment, in the driving position; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 13  is a rear view of a semi-trailer having forcing and guiding means according to a second embodiment, in the servicing position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0039]      FIG. 1  is a schematic lateral view of a tractor vehicle  2  with a semi-trailer  3  coupled to it, in travel-ready condition. The semi-trailer  3  is mechanically coupled to the tractor  2  via a conventional fifth wheel coupling  30 . A plurality of utility supply lines  1  extend between the cab  31  of the tractor and the front wall  32  of the semi-trailer  3  only one of these,  1 , is visible in the lateral view shown in  FIG. 1 . The supply lines  1  comprise compressed air lines and electrical lines. 
         [0040]    The supply lines  1  emerge from the rear of the tractor cab  31  below a storage module  7 , and are reversibly plugged into a supply line interface  8  of the semi-trailer  3 . The supply line interface  8  is connected to forcing and guiding means  12  which will be described in more detail in connection with  FIGS. 5 to 13 . 
         [0041]    Laterally and below the storage module  7 , an auxiliary holding bracket  27  is mounted which is unused when the tractor and semi-trailer combination  2 ,  3  is in the travel-ready condition with the supply lines connected to the semi-trailer. 
         [0042]    The laterally displaced location of the mounting position of the holding bracket  27  with respect to the storage module  7  is readily seen in the plan view of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  also presents an enlarged detail view of the five supply lines  1  which exit at their first ends  4  from a position below the storage module  7  which module is fixedly mounted on the tractor cab  31 , and which bear plugs  6  on their second ends  5 . The plugs  6  are all plugged into the supply line interface  8 . The interface  8  is disposed generally along the longitudinal center axis  11  of the vehicle, at a location which will be referred to as the “driving position”  9 , used when the vehicle is ready to be driven, or is being driven. Under these circumstances, the supply line interface  8  is disposed directly opposite to the storage module  7 . 
         [0043]    In  FIGS. 3 and 4  the tractor  2  is shown without the semi-trailer  3 . The supply lines  1  are connected to the holding bracket  27  via their plugs  6 . When it comes time to connect with a semi-trailer  3  employing an inventive coupling system, these supply lines  1  can be easily reached by the driver standing on the side  28  of the tractor  2 . In this situation, the storage module  7  is unused. 
         [0044]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a semi-trailer  3  having forcing and guiding or manipulation means  12  for the supply line interface  8  according to a first embodiment. The supply line interface  8  is shown in the driving position  9 . 
         [0045]    The first embodiment illustrated comprises a swing arm  14  which is swingably mounted on the front wall  32  of the semi-trailer  3 , via a swing bearing  13 . The swing bearing  13  is disposed close to the longitudinal center axis  11  of the vehicle. In the illustrated driving position  9  of the supply line interface  8 , the swing arm  14  is disposed generally vertically upright. For reinforcement, the swing arm  14  comprises three interconnected bar elements which form a right triangle. In the configuration according to  FIG. 5 , the supply line interface  8  is disposed at the end of the swing arm  14 , extending toward the side of the angular leg  15  of the right-triangle structure. The supply line interface  8  bears five plug sockets  35 , disposed symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center axis  11  of the vehicle. 
         [0046]    A middle region of the swing arm  14  is engaged by a restoring spring  19  and also by a pulling handle  16 . 
         [0047]    When the supply line interface  8  is in its driving position  9 , the pulling handle  16  is oriented horizontally, with the end of handle  16  which is oppositely disposed to the swing arm  14  being disposed approximately at the side  17  of the semi-trailer  3 . The pulling handle  16  which has its end disposed in the region of the side  17  is held, releasably, against the pulling handle guide  18  which is fixed to the front wall  32 . 
         [0048]    The restoring spring  19  is fixed, possibly swingably, to the semi-trailer  3  at its end oppositely disposed to the swing arm  14 , and when [the swing arm is] in the “driving position”  9  said spring is in a nearly relaxed condition. When one pulls on the pulling handle  16 , the swing arm  14  and the supply line interface  8  which it bears are swung sideward toward the side  17 , into the “servicing position”  10 , see  FIG. 6 . During the swinging excursion, the restoring force in the restoring spring  19  increases steadily, wherewith after the supply lines  1  are plugged in, see  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the spring facilitates a defined return of the swing arm  14  from the servicing position  10  into the driving position  9 . Generally any type of spring element is suitable for use as the restoring spring  19 , for the embodiment according to  FIG. 5  a helical spring is suggested. 
         [0049]    In the driving position  9 , the swing arm  14  bearing the supply line interface  8  can be held in place on the semi-trailer  3  by catch means. A V-shaped catch element  25  is provided on the supply line interface  8 , for this purpose; element  25  cooperates with a pin-shaped second catch element  26  mounted on the front wall  32 . The catch elements  25 ,  26  are practicable means of preventing uncontrolled swinging of the swing arm  14  in the driving position  9 , particularly when the vehicle is negotiating curves in the road, which might cause various types of damage as well as premature wear of the swing bearing  13 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 6  shows the swing arm  14  in the “servicing position”  10 , in which the arm is swung laterally by 90° C. To bring about the servicing position  10 , the pulling handle  16  is pulled in the pulling direction  36 , causing the supply line interface  8  to be moved toward the side  17  of the semi-trailer  3 , along the swing path  33 . The supply line interface  8  is now close to the pulling handle guide  18 , and is readily accessible by the driver standing next to the semi-trailer  3 , for plugging in the plugs  6  in  FIG. 2 . In the servicing position  10 , the lower border of the swing arm  14  is disposed at the lower end of the front wall  32  of the semi-trailer  3 . 
         [0051]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show, in analogous views to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , an alternative embodiment of the invention, with an identically configured forcing and guiding means  12 , but instead of a restoring spring  19  a positioning cylinder  20  is provided. The first end  21  of the positioning cylinder  20  engages the semi-trailer  3 , and the second end  22  of cylinder  20  engages the swing arm  14 . 
         [0052]    In  FIG. 7 , the swing arm  14  bearing the supply line interface  8  is in the driving position  9  wherein the first catch element  25  of the supply line interface  8  partially surrounds the second catch element  26  mounted on the front wall  32 . The positioning cylinder  20  is fully retracted in the driving position  9 , and is oriented perpendicularly to the axial extent of the swing arm  14  and parallel to the lower side of the front wall  32  of the semi-trailer  3 . 
         [0053]    To move the supply line interface  8  into the servicing position  10  in  FIG. 8  an actuating fluid is applied to the positioning cylinder  20 , and the cylinder  20  is moved to its extended position. This causes the supply line interface  8  with the swing arm  14  to be swung around the swing bearing  13 . The actuating fluid may be any suitable liquid, vapor, or gas. In reaching the servicing position  10 , there is some swinging of the positioning cylinder  20  around i.e. at its first and second ends  21 ,  22 . In the process, the supply line interface  8  is moved through the swing path  33  of 90° C., and in this embodiment as well the interface  8  comes to a position near the side  17  of the semi-trailer  3 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 9  shows an embodiment according to  FIGS. 5 and 6  with a restoring spring  19  and a pulling handle  16  which engages the swing arm  14 . With this embodiment, not only is pure swinging movement in the swing path  33  possible, but also the pulling handle  16  can be pulled an additional distance in the pulling direction  36 , thereby moving the supply line interface  8  laterally out past the side  17 . Thus the supply line interface  8  is caused to undergo an excursion through the swing path  33  as well as a lateral excursion  34 , into a position which particularly facilitates the plugging-in of the plugs  6 , see  FIG. 2 , by the driver standing near the semi-trailer  3 . 
         [0055]    This additional lateral excursion  34  can also be achieved with a positioning cylinder  20 , as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . With this embodiment, the pulling handle  16  can be dispensed with, and the lateral excursion  34  can be brought about solely by further extension of the positioning cylinder  20 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 11  shows a swing arm  14  in the driving position  9 , with a swing drive means  23  disposed in the area of the swing bearing  13 , which drive  23  is capable of driving the swing arm. The swing drive  23  coaxially surrounds to the swing bearing  13 . When the swing drive  23  is actuated, the supply line interface  8  is swung into the servicing position  10 . 
         [0057]      FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrate an alternative embodiment which does not employ a swing arm  14 . Instead, the forcing and guiding means  12  comprise two parallel slide rails or guide rails  24   a ,  24   b  which have a first end  37 ,  37  on opposite sides of the longitudinal center axis of  11  of the vehicle, and have a second end  38 ,  38  in the region of the side  17  of the semi-trailer  3 . The rails  24   a ,  24   b  extend in a downwardly inclined path from the center axis  11  to the side  17 . The supply line interface  8  is slidably guided on said rails  24   a ,  24   b  and can be moved between a central driving position  9  and a lateral servicing position  10 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 12  shows the supply line interface  8  in the driving position  9 . With the aid of the first catch element  25  disposed on the supply line interface  8 , the interface  8  is held against the second catch element  26 . To move the supply line interface  8 , one may employ, e.g., a pulling handle  16  and restoring spring  19  combination, or a positioning cylinder  20 , analogously to the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 11 , these motive components are not shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . 
         [0059]      FIG. 13  shows the supply line interface  8  in the servicing position  10 , in which a part of the interface  8  extends beyond the side  17  of the semi-trailer  3 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 13  also shows sensors  29   a  and  29   b . Sensor  29   a  detects the driving position  9 , and sensor  29   b  detects the servicing position  10 . 
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
           1  supply lines 
           2  tractor vehicle 
           3  semi-trailer 
           4  first end of supply line(s) 
           5  second end of supply line(s) 
           6  plug connector(s) or the like 
           7  storage module 
           8  supply line interface 
           9  “driving position” of the supply line interface 
           10  “servicing position” of the supply line interface 
           11  longitudinal center axis of the vehicle 
           12  forcing and guiding means for the supply line interface 
           13  swing bearing 
           14  swing arm 
           15  end of swing arm 
           16  pulling handle 
           17  side of the semi-trailer 
           18  guide for the pulling handle 
           19  restoring spring 
           20  positioning cylinder 
           21  first end of the positioning cylinder 
           22  second end of the positioning cylinder 
           23  swing drive means 
           24   a,   24   b  slide rails (guide rails) 
           25  first catch element 
           26  second catch element 
           27  holding bracket 
           28  side of the tractor 
           29   a,   29   b  sensors 
           30  “fifth wheel coupling” 
           31  cab of the tractor 
           32  front wall of the semi-trailer 
           33  swing path 
           34  lateral movement path 
           35  sockets for plug connectors or the like 
           36  direction of pull of the pulling handle 
           37  first end of the slide rails 
           38  second end of the slide rails