Abstract:
The invention relates to a supporting device of a vehicle, in particular of a semi-trailer or trailer, comprising an outer pipe which is designed to be attached to the vehicle in a stationary manner, an inner pipe which is arranged in the outer pipe so as to be movable in the insertion and extension direction, an actuating device for moving the inner pipe between a transport position and an operating position, and an engagement device which is designed, in a first operating state, to fix the inner pipe in the operating position in relation to the outer pipe in such a way that a movement of the inner pipe in the insertion direction is prevented.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a height-adjustable support for semi-trailers or the like or a supporting device of a vehicle, in particular of a semi-trailer or of a trailer. 
         [0002]    Such supports are arranged in pairs at the front of semi-trailers and can be brought telescopically into the support or transport positions. Such supports are known from EP 0 675 029 and EP 1 104 369 B2, for example. Said supports have drive mechanisms, which can be driven by means of hand cranks and which have a fast gear to be extended into the support position or to be retracted into the transport position, and a low gear, by means of which the front area of the semi-trailer can be lifted or lowered. In addition to the drive mechanisms, the mechanical outlay is further increased by spindle drives, bearing parts etc., which causes substantial manufacturing costs and unfavorably a high support weight. In practice, it is particularly disadvantageous that even in the so-called fast gear approx. 20 crank rotations are necessary to extend or retract the support, which is the case for all other such supports on the market. In order to save this onerous physical labor and the time required therefor for the driver, it was tried to provide a motor drive. This led to the solution proposed in DE 102 41 905 A1. Here, a motor unit is attached to each pair of the supports, which means additional attachment and securing elements and further mechanical outlay and, thus, an increase in weight. Modern tractor trailers with air-sprung rear axle assemblies can also lift or lower the front area of a semi-trailer via the fifth wheel during hitching and unhitching. Winding up or lowering by means of the semi-trailer supports is therefore not necessary. Instead, in practice, only a very fast load-free extension and retraction of the supports from the transport position into the support position and vice versa is of utmost priority. In addition, a support as a utility vehicle component and product of large-scale production should be as light-weight as is possible and be inexpensive to manufacture. 
         [0003]    The object underlying the invention is to provide a height-adjustable support or supporting device for semi-trailers, which can be brought into its support position and also back into the transport position very rapidly, i.e. with few crank rotations only or with an efficient power drive, wherein the support is light-weight, the manufacturing outlay is small and the manufacturing costs are low. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    According to the invention, there is provided a supporting device of a vehicle, in particular of a semi-trailer or trailer, comprising an outer pipe, which is adapted to be attached to the vehicle in a stationary manner, an inner pipe, which is arranged in the outer pipe so as to be movable in the insertion and extension direction, an actuating device for moving the inner pipe between a transport position and an operating position, and an engagement device, which is adapted, in a first operating state, to fix the inner pipe in the operating position in relation to the outer pipe in such a way that a movement or displacement of the inner pipe in the insertion direction is prevented. Due to these features both the unlocking and the retraction and extension of the inner pipe is solved by means of a simple hand-driven or power-driven mechanism. 
         [0005]    Thus, there is in particular provided an engagement device, which in a first operating state prevents a displacement of the inner pipe in the insertion direction. In an expedient embodiment, it may however be possible to displace the inner pipe in the extension direction. 
         [0006]    Advantageously, the engagement device can be brought into a second operating state, in which it is possible to displace the inner pipe in relation to the outer pipe in the insertion and extension direction. To put it differently, the engagement device can thus be changed or displaced between a first and a second operating state. 
         [0007]    Advantageously, the engagement device has an engagement means, such as an engaging pawl, with an engagement area, such as an engaging tooth, which is designed to engage into an outer pipe engagement area. 
         [0008]    Expediently, there is provided a plurality of outer pipe engagement areas, which expediently are shaped in the form of a gear rack piece or in the form of embossed or coined parts of the outer pipe. 
         [0009]    In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of outer pipe engagement areas is arranged in the insertion and extension direction, so that a plurality of engagement areas may engage therein simultaneously and/or the operating position of the inner pipe can be fixed in an operating area defined by the plurality of outer pipe engagement areas. Thus, there may be provided an engagement means, which has several engagement areas, which are arranged linearly in and/or transverse to the insertion and extension direction and which can engage into the plurality of outer pipe engagement areas. Due to the fact that there may be provided a plurality of outer pipe engagement areas, it is thus possible to fix the inner pipe in relation to the outer pipe in different positions along the insertion and extension direction. Said positions form the operating area. 
         [0010]    Advantageously, there is provided a plurality of engagement means, preferably two engagement means, which are in particular adapted to engage into opposing outer pipe engagement areas by means of their engagement areas. Thus, the engagement means can act in opposing directions and, thus, engage into respective outer pipe engagement areas formed in opposing walls of the outer pipe. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the engagement means on the inner pipe is mounted pivotably about an axis or translationally transverse, in particular perpendicular to the insertion and extension direction. Thus, the engagement means can be arranged in particular essentially stationarily in relation to the inner pipe and pivotably in relation to the inner pipe. In an alternative embodiment, the engagement means is arranged stationarily in relation to the inner pipe such that the inner pipe cannot be displaced in the insertion and extension direction, but is movable only transverse, in particular perpendicular to the insertion and extension direction in order to engage into respective outer pipe engagement areas. 
         [0012]    Particularly preferably, the engagement device—in particular most of it—is arranged within the inner pipe. Here, the engagement device may be designed such that only the engagement means thereof projects through and beyond the inner pipe during operation. 
         [0013]    Expediently, the engagement device has a pretensioning device such as an extension spring or a compression spring, by means of which the engagement means is pretensioned in the direction of the first operating state. 
         [0014]    Advantageously, the engagement device is operatively connected to the actuating device such that it can be actuated or controlled by means of the actuating device. 
         [0015]    Expediently, when the actuating device is actuated, the engagement device is brought into and/or held in a second operating state and preferably when there is a force in the insertion direction on the inner pipe, the engagement device is brought into the first operating state. The force acting in the insertion direction or the contact force is such that the inner pipe will not move further in the extension direction. This state occurs when the distal end of the inner pipe contacts the underground. 
         [0016]    Advantageously, the actuating device has an active/driven part, which by means of a preferably flexible tensile element such as a rope preferably is operatively connected to the preferably rotationally or pivotably mounted engagement means such as in particular the engaging pawl. The engagement means, in particular the engagement area thereof, is expediently connected to the tensile element, and by means of the latter it can be made to disengage the outer pipe, and consequently the inner pipe can be lifted or lowered. 
         [0017]    Expediently, the part of the tensile element oriented along the insertion and extension direction is shortened or made longer when the actuating device is actuated. 
         [0018]    Also expediently, the actuating device has a drive shaft in order to actuate the active/driven part. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the active/driven part has a locking element area for a load pressure brake, a winding area for the tensile element and preferably a driven spigot. 
         [0020]    In a further preferred embodiment, the active/driven part in a winding area for the tensile element has a locking element area, which is no longer hidden by the tensile element only after the tensile element has been completely unwound, so that a blocking element can come into engagement with the locking element area and prevents a further rotation of the active/driven part in the unwinding direction. Such an embodiment is particularly advantageous, since the support is extended by a rotation of the active/driven part in the unwinding direction, and when it is rotated further without such preferred embodiment—although the support foot already contacts the underground—there would be an undesired rewinding of the rope in the wrong direction so that the engagement area could not come into engagement. In order to prevent this, in particular the winding area has a locking element area, which can be formed as a partial recess, into which, when the tensile element has been completely unwound, engages a blocking element advantageously designed as a detent pawl, and which blocks a further rotation in the unwinding direction when the tensile element has been unwound. The blocking element preferably may be actuated by a spring. 
         [0021]    In a further preferred embodiment, the actuating device has a pneumatic cylinder, a motor spindle drive or another linear drive in order to drive a preferably flexible tensile element such as a rope, which is connected to the engagement means, wherein preferably at the bottom end of the drive mechanism there is provided a deflection roller for the tensile element, and the drive mechanism is preferably mounted at the top together with a belt tightener in the outer pipe. 
         [0022]    Expediently, the supporting device further has a display device adapted to display the operating state of the engagement device. Here, preferably in the second operating state a signal pin or the like protrudes beyond the outer wall of the outer pipe. 
         [0023]    In order that the display device or the signal pin may protrude beyond the outer pipe, the latter expediently has a vertical elongated hole oriented in the insertion/extension direction, through which hole the display device or the signal pin, respectively, can pass. 
         [0024]    Further advantageous and preferred features are as follows: 
         [0025]    When the outer pipe is provided with vertically displaced outer pipe engagement areas or engagement gaps in at least one side area, on a case-by-case basis an engagement means or blocking element movably mounted in the inner pipe can engage into said engagement areas or engagement gaps and prevent a movement of the inner pipe in relation to the outer pipe so that the support in the support position fulfills its function by transferring the load to the ground. For retracting the inner pipe into its transport position, advantageously at first the engagement means or blocking element is disengaged by means of a flexible tensile element fixed to the engagement means or blocking element and, as a result, the inner pipe is lifted or lowered. This results in a constructionally simple and user-friendly handling. It is advantageous to use as engagement gaps or outer pipe engagement areas for engagement preferably the tooth gaps, hereinafter referred to as engagement gaps, of at least one gear rack piece or the like, mounted in or on a wall area of the outer pipe, apart from other possible designs such as bores or the like. Here, the gear rack piece can be made in the usual manner from a semi-finished material corresponding to its cross-section or, in order to save weight, be a thinner flat material, which is embossed or coined in the shape of a gear rack. As blocking element preferably an engaging pawl having at least one tooth is provided, wherein also parts such as movable pins or bolts etc. can be used. A rope is preferred as flexible tensile element, however, also a tape or the like can be used. The vertical area of the rope fixed to the engaging pawl is shortened in a first design simply by winding it up, in order to lift the engaging pawl and to thus retract the inner pipe. The inner pipe is lowered, i.e. extended, by unwinding the rope. In order to wind up and unwind the rope there is provided a winding area about the axle of a shaft assembly. The shaft assembly consists of a driving shaft to be driven by a hand crank and an active/driven part, for example. Advantageously, the driving shaft and the active/driven part are in certain areas designed such that they form part of a load pressure brake and simultaneously serve to interconnect with each other. The load pressure brake allows for retracting and extending the inner pipe in a controlled manner and for securely holding the load in each position. Here, load means merely the weight of the mass of the inner pipe and of a foot attached thereto. Advantageously, only one load pressure brake arranged in the support to be driven takes over the holding function for both due to the fact that usually the supports are coupled in pairs via a connecting shaft. This offers an economic advantage, since in the also driven support only one winding area for the rope is required. From a manufacturing point of view it is also very favorable if the active/driven part in single-piece design has the winding area of the rope as well as the locking element area of the load pressure brake and a driven spigot. In a second embodiment of the support according to the invention, the pulling or releasing of the rope for lifting the engaging pawl or the retraction and extension of the inner pipe is done by a pneumatic differential cylinder, a motor spindle drive or the like. Here, at the free end of the downwards facing piston rod of a preferred pneumatic cylinder, there is provided a deflection roller for the rope, which is displaced upwards or downwards to achieve the respective desired movement of the rope. The above-described gear rack pieces can be fixed in the outer pipe, which preferably has a square cross-section, in the wall area such that the teeth will not project inside, wherein also the inner pipe can have a square cross-section. A preferred attachment of a gear rack piece is achieved when its teeth project on the inner wall in the outer pipe. This makes it advantageously possible to avoid a projection of the gear rack piece beyond the rear wall of the outer pipe, which possibly on a case-by-case basis might impede the attachment of the support. 
         [0026]    For this arrangement of the gear rack piece it is suggested to provide on the inner pipe a recessed wall area running in the insertion/extension direction or longitudinal direction, the width of which exceeds the width of the gear rack piece and the depth of which is larger than the projection of the teeth protruding into the outer pipe. For arranging the gear rack piece, preferably the rear wall area of the outer pipe is to be used since a signal pin can be attached to the engaging pawl coming into engagement there in such a manner that favorably on the front side of the support it can make visible for the driver the engaged or disengaged state of the engaging pawl. In order to monitor whether the detent pawl engages, it is also possible to use an end switch, which is advantageous in terms of control in particular for the power drive. The engaging pawl is pressure-operated by means of a spring pretensioned vis-à-vis the inner pipe, which in combination with the effect produced by the operating weight of the engaging pawls contributes to a safe engagement into the tooth gaps of the gear rack piece. Advantageously, the spring is placed on a limit stop preferably fixed to the engaging pawl. Pulling the rope at first causes the engaging pawl to become disengaged, wherein the limit stop in the inner pipe becomes effective, causing the inner pipe to be entrained upwards. When the inner pipe is lowered, i.e. extended, the limit stop in the inner pipe continues to abut and the weight of the inner pipe and of the foot is lowered in a controlled manner until the foot hits the underground. 
         [0027]    Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the claims. The invention allows for various embodiments. Two embodiments with area variants thereof will be shown and explained with reference to the Figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    The Figures show: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  shows schematically a longitudinal section (transverse to the travel direction) of a support according to the invention with manual drive, in the retracted state; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  shows schematically a longitudinal section, corresponding to  FIG. 1 , however in the extended state; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  shows a support according to  FIG. 1 , however with power drive, 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  shows the support according to  FIG. 3 , however extended; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  shows an enlarged longitudinal section of the area X in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  shows the area Y in  FIG. 2 , enlarged; 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  shows a cross-section along the line A-A in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 8  shows the area Y in  FIG. 2  as an alternative to  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 9  shows a cross-section along the line B-B in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 10  shows the area Y in  FIG. 2  as an alternative to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 8 ; and 
           [0039]      FIG. 11  shows the area Y as an extended alternative to  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0040]    The supports  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4  are mounted in pairs on a semi-trailer, and each pair is drivingly connected by means of a connecting shaft  11 . In the transport position, the supports are retracted, i.e. in their shortened state. Before the semi-trailer is decoupled from the truck tractor, they are extended. The support  10  has an outer pipe  12  and an inner pipe  13  arranged therein in such a manner that it is movable in the longitudinal direction. The outer pipe  12  and the inner pipe  13  have essentially square cross-sections. The support  10  is fixed to the chassis of a semi-trailer (not shown) by means of a screw-on plate  14  arranged on the outer pipe  12 . At the bottom end of the inner pipe  13 , there is a foot  15 , which can be placed on the ground. As is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in a manually driven embodiment, the support  10 , at its front side, has a hand crank  16  driving an active/driven part  18  via a driving shaft  17 . The active/driven part  18  is manufactured single-piece with a locking element area  18   a  ( FIG. 5 ) belonging to a load pressure brake  19  and a winding area  18   b  for a rope  20  as well as a driven spigot  18   c.  In the lower rear wall area of the outer pipe  12 , there is a gear rack piece  21  with teeth  21   a  and engagement gaps  21   b.  In the gear rack piece  21 , an engaging pawl  22  pivotably arranged on an axle  23  mounted transverse to the front side of the support  10  in the inner pipe  13  can engage with an engaging tooth  22   a.  The pivoting range of the engaging pawl  22  is limited relative to the inner pipe  13  and by means of a limit stop  24  sitting on the engaging pawl  22 . On the limit stop  24 , there is arranged a compression spring  25 . The compression spring  25  in addition to the effect of the weight component of the engaging pawl  22  contributes to a secure engagement of the engaging pawl  22  into one of the engagement gaps  21   b  of the gear rack piece  21 . The bottom end of the rope  20  is fixed at the upper area of the engaging pawl  22 , and the upper rope end is connected to the winding area  18   b  of the active/driven part  18 . A part of the rope  20  is wound up in the transport position of the support  10  ( FIG. 1 ) and is securely held by the load pressure brake  19 . By turning the hand crank  16  in the counter-clockwise direction in order to bring the support  10  into its support position, the rope  20  is unwound. As a result, the inner pipe  13  moves downwards until the foot  15  rests on the ground of the parking place. Thanks to the load pressure brake  19  the lowering takes place in a controlled manner, i.e. the inner pipe  13  cannot be dragged down by its weight. The engaging pawl  22  then already engages into the gear rack piece  21  or comes into full form-fitting engagement in an engagement gap  21   b  of the gear rack piece  21  in the moment when the load is picked up by the support  10  when the semi-trailer is unhitched or decoupled. During hitching, the front area of the semi-trailer is slightly lifted by the air suspension of the semi-trailer, such that the support  10  becomes load-free and the load pressure on the engaging pawl  22  is relieved. Now, the rope  20  can be wound up by turning the crank in the clockwise direction. As a result, the engaging pawl  22  is pivoted away from the gear rack piece  21 , wherein the limit stop  24  provided on the engaging pawl  22  abuts in the inner pipe  13 . And, as a result, the inner pipe  13  is lifted up to the transport position by the rope  20 . 
         [0041]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show the support  10  in an embodiment with power drive. Here, in the upper area of the outer pipe  12 , together with the bearing of a belt tightener  26  there is fixed a pneumatic cylinder  27 , with a piston rod  27   a,  which can be extended downwards and to which a deflection roller  28  is attached. A rope  29  guided over the belt tightener  26  and the deflection roller  28  is fixed at the bottom to the engaging pawl  22  and at the top in the outer pipe  12 . When the piston rod  27   a  of the pneumatic cylinder  27 , which piston rod  27   a  is extended in the transport position of the support  10 , is retracted, the inner pipe  13  moves downwards for unhitching the semi-trailer, and after hitching the inner pipe  13  is again brought into the transport position by extending the piston rod  27   a.  In each case, the engagement and disengagement of the engaging pawl  22  takes place as has been described above. 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  illustrates the upper area X of the support  10 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  shows an attachment of the gear rack piece  21  in the wall area of the outer pipe  12 , wherein the teeth  21   a  do not project in the outer pipe  12 . The engaging pawl  22  with its engaging tooth  22   a  sits in an engagement gap  21   b  of the gear rack piece  21  in a form-fitting manner, and the limit stop  24  is spaced apart from the inner pipe  13 . The disengaged state of the engaging pawl  22  is indicated by the dash-dotted line. 
         [0044]      FIG. 7  shows the attachment of the gear rack piece  21  in the section A-A of  FIG. 6 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 8  shows an arrangement of the gear rack piece  21 , wherein the teeth  21   a  thereof project in the outer pipe  12 . To this end, a recess  30  running in the longitudinal direction ( FIG. 9  as section B-B in  FIG. 8 ) is provided in the wall area of the inner pipe  13 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 10  shows the use of an accordingly embossed or coined part  31  instead of the gear rack piece  21 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 11  shows a signal pin  32  arranged above the engaging pawl  22 . When the engaging pawl  22  comes into engagement, the signal pin  32  is retracted by a fork piece  34  fixed to the engaging pawl  22  from its position projecting at the front through a vertical elongated hole  33  in the front wall of the outer pipe  12 . Thus, it is indicated to the driver that the engaging pawl  22  has come into engagement. This safeguard or acknowledgment may also be done by an end switch  35 , which is the case in particular in the power-driven embodiment of the support  10 . 
         [0048]    Further exemplary features and embodiments of the supporting device or support according to the invention are as follows: 
         [0049]    Preferably, engagement gaps in the outer area of the support  10  are not open. 
         [0050]    Expediently, there are provided as locking gaps the engagement gaps  21   b  of a gear rack piece  21  or an accordingly embossed or coined part  31  made from a flat material. 
         [0051]    Preferably, the blocking element is an engaging pawl  22  with at least one engaging tooth  22   a.    
         [0052]    Exemplary, the vertical area of the rope  20  for disengaging the engaging pawl  22  and for retracting and extending the inner pipe  13  is shortened or extended by winding up or unwinding. 
         [0053]    Advantageously, the winding up and unwinding of the rope  20  is done about the axle of a shaft assembly consisting of a driving shaft  17  and an active/driven part  18 . 
         [0054]    Preferably, the driving shaft  17  and the active/driven part  18  are coupled via a load pressure brake  19 . 
         [0055]    Further preferably, the active/driven part  18  in one-piece design has a locking element area  18   a  of the load pressure brake  19 , a winding area  18   b  for the rope  20  and a driven spigot  18   c.    
         [0056]    Expediently, the disengagement of the engaging pawl  22  and the insertion and extension of the inner pipe  13  is done via a rope  29  by a pneumatic cylinder  27 , a motor spindle drive or another linear drive mechanism, at the bottom end of which there is a deflection roller  28  for the rope  29  and which can be mounted at the top together with a belt tightener  20  in the outer pipe  12 . 
         [0057]    Exemplary, the engaging pawl  22  is pivotably mounted in the inner pipe  13  and is pushed against the respective element with engagement gaps by means of a spring. 
         [0058]    Preferably, there is provided a limit stop  24  limiting the pivoting range of the engaging pawl  22  in relation to the inner pipe, and after abutment against the inner pipe  13  causes the inner pipe to be entrained by the drag of the rope  20 ,  29  on the engaging pawl  22 . 
         [0059]    Advantageously, the limit stop  24  is attached to the engaging pawl  22 . Preferably, the limit stop  24  also serves for accommodating a compression spring  25 . 
         [0060]    Expediently, the gear rack piece  21  is fixed in the wall area of the outer pipe  12  such that the teeth  21   a  thereof will not project inside. 
         [0061]    Preferably, the gar rack piece  21  is fixed in the wall area of the outer pipe  12  such that the teeth  21   a  project inside. 
         [0062]    Advantageously, the inner pipe  13  in at least one wall area has a recess  30  running in the longitudinal direction, the width of which exceeds the width of the gear rack piece  21  and the depth of which is larger than the excess of the teeth  21   a  projecting into the outer pipe  12 . 
         [0063]    Preferably, the rear wall of the outer pipe  12  is used for arranging the gear rack piece  21 . 
         [0064]    Preferably, there is provided a signal pin  32 , which is moved away by the engaging pawl  22 , when the latter comes into engagement. 
         [0065]    Expediently, in the front wall area of the outer pipe  12  there is provided a vertical elongated hole  33 , through which the signal pin  22  enters and exits. 
         [0066]    Advantageously, the part  31  embossed or coined in the form of a gear rack partly sits in a vertical line of horizontal slits in the wall area of the outer pipe  12 . 
       List of Reference Signs 
       [0000]    
       
           10  support 
           11  connecting shaft 
           12  outer pipe 
           13  inner pipe 
           14  screw-on plate 
           15  foot 
           16  hand crank 
           17  driving shaft 
           18  active/driven part 
           18   a  locking element area 
           18   b  winding area 
           18   c  driven spigot 
           19  load pressure brake 
           20  rope 
           21   a  tooth 
           21   b  engagement gap 
           22  engaging pawl 
           22   a  engaging tooth 
           23  axle 
           24  limit stop 
           25  compression spring 
           26  belt tightener 
           27  pneumatic cylinder 
           27   a  piston rod 
           28  deflection roller 
           29  rope 
           30  recess 
           31  embossed or coined part 
           32  signal pin 
           33  elongated hole 
           34  fork piece 
           35  end switch