Patent ID: 12194797

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the case of the preferred embodiment of the connection system in accordance with the invention illustrated inFIG.1, a first connection unit2is fixed to a fifth-wheel coupling plate, not illustrated, of a fifth-wheel coupling, not illustrated, and a second connection unit4is fixed in the region of the kingpin, a section of said kingpin being illustrated in the figure. The first connection unit2comprises in this case a first carrier unit21to which a first plug-in unit22is fixed in such a manner that said first plug-in unit is able to pivot about a first pivot axis. The first plug-in unit22comprises a base section26and a connector head24, wherein the connector head is pre-stressed along the first coupling axis K1by means of a first restoring means27. The first restoring means27is embodied in this preferred embodiment as a coil spring and is used in particular for the purpose of providing a spacing between the connector head24and the first base section26. The first plug-in unit22comprises in this case its greatest extension and thus its length parallel to the first coupling axis K1.FIG.1illustrates the first plug-in unit22in this case in two positions: once in its idle position in which the first coupling axis K1is oriented in an essentially horizontal manner and on the other hand in a pivoted position in which the coupling axis K1is pivoted about an angle of approx. 20° to 30° upwards out of the horizontal position. A stop6is provided on the face of the first plug-in unit22, said face being remote from the connector head24and the plug-in unit22comes to lie against said stop when said plug-in unit is located in its idle position. In the case of this preferred embodiment, the first plug-in unit22can thus not be pivoted downwards out of the horizontal position or it is held in an at least horizontal position. It is hereby particularly preferred that it is possible without a pivot movement to perform a horizontal coupling to a second plug-in unit4that is fixed to the semi-trailer B. Furthermore, the figure also illustrates the center of gravity P1of the first plug-in unit22that in the figure is offset to the right spaced apart from the first pivot axis S1. The weight force of the first plug-in unit22is considered simply at this point and thus pivots the first plug-in unit22in the direction of its idle position, in other words in the direction of a horizontal position. The stop6is advantageously fixed to the first carrier unit21or is embodied as one piece with said first carrier unit. The second plug-in unit42is likewise illustrated in two pivot positions, wherein the section plug-in unit42can be pivoted both upwards and also downwards and the second plug-in unit42is adjusted into the idle position by way of a restoring element (cf. in this regardFIG.5). A guiding geometric shape46is embodied on the second carrier unit41and said guiding geometric shape renders it possible for the second plug-in unit42to be displaced along a guide path F. In the present illustrated example, the guide path F is a straight line and the guiding geometric shape46is embodied as an elongated hole in the sheet metal-like vertically-oriented part of the carrier unit41. The guiding geometric shape46renders it possible in this case for the second plug-in unit42to perform a transversal movement in an oblique manner upwards or in an oblique manner downwards, wherein in particular the vertical portion of this displacement contributes to the fact that the second plug-in unit42can be displaced relative to the first plug-in unit22in such a manner that the connector head24can engage with the second coupling region45on the second plug-in unit42without thereby considerable transverse forces occurring, in other words without forces occurring in a transverse manner with respect to the coupling axes K1and K2. In the case of the embodiment illustrated inFIG.1, the first pivot axis S1is in this case preferably arranged at approximately the same height with regard to the horizontal as the second pivot axis S2. This leads to the fact that only a slight pivot movement of the first plug-in unit22and of the second plug-in unit42is necessary in order to realize a corresponding collinear orientation of the first coupling axis K1with respect to the second coupling axis K2.

FIG.2finally illustrates the embodiment shown inFIG.1of the connection system in accordance with the invention in the coupled-together state. In this case, the first coupling axis K1is oriented in a collinear manner with respect to the second coupling axis K2and the connector head24of the first plug-in unit22engages with the coupling region45on the second plug-in unit42. The first plug-in unit22is advantageously located in this case in its idle position, in other words in the present example essentially in a horizontal position, and lies against its stop6.

FIG.3illustrates an alternative to the embodiment shown inFIGS.1and2, wherein so as to couple the first plug-in unit22and the second plug-in unit42in particular an oblique orientation of the first coupling axis K1and the second coupling axis K2is provided. The first connection unit2is constructed and arranged in an identical manner in this case to the first connection unit2that is illustrated in theFIGS.1and2. The second connection unit4comprises a second carrier unit41that comprises a shorter extension in the vertical direction. In the case of this embodiment, an insertion aid5is advantageously fixed to the second connection unit4, in particular as one piece directly to the second carrier unit41. During the procedure of coupling the fifth-wheel coupling pin of the semi-trailer B, the first plug-in unit22is pivoted upwards along the insertion aid5in such a manner that said first plug-in unit can engage with the second plug-in unit42. A similar insertion aid is preferably also arranged on the towing vehicle A and ensures that the second plug-in unit42of the embodiments of theFIGS.1-3is pivoted accordingly downwards with the result that finally a collinear orientation of the first coupling axis K1and the second coupling axis K2is realized, and the first plug-in unit22and the second plug-in unit42can be inserted one inside the other in a low-resistance and low-stress manner as possible.

FIG.4illustrates a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the second connection unit4, wherein it is apparent that the second connection unit4advantageously comprises three second plug-in units42that are each equipped with accordingly one coupling region45. The second plug-in units42can in this case pivot preferably cohesively about the second pivot axis S2and render it possible to produce multiple connections to the first connection unit2(not illustrated here) and to connect a multiplicity of individual line elements. It goes without saying that in addition to the embodiment illustrated inFIG.4, further embodiments can be preferred in which at least two, advantageously up to six, plug-in units can be provided both on the first connection unit and also on the second connection unit in order to be able to transmit a multiplicity of electrical signals, electrical signals and power, and also fluid pressure.

FIG.5illustrates a detailed view of a preferred embodiment of the second connection unit4in which the second plug-in unit42is pre-stressed and held in its idle position that is illustrated inFIG.5by way of a second restoring means47, wherein a pivot movement of the second plug-in unit42is possible both upwards and also downwards and in this case the second restoring means47generates a corresponding restoring force. The second restoring means47supports itself advantageously in this case on the inner face of the guiding geometric shape46and transmits via two corresponding resilient sections in each case a restoring force to the schematically illustrated rectangular geometric shape of the second plug-in unit42. In an alternative embodiment that is not illustrated here, the second restoring means47can also be embodied as a rubber element that comprises an elongated section that in turn engages with the guiding geometric shape46and accordingly generates a corresponding restoring force by way of an elastic deformation of the rubber element as the second plug-in unit42pivots relative to the guiding geometric shape46and thus relative to the carrier unit41. A rubber element has the advantage that this can in addition still have a damping effect on a pivot movement of the second plug-in unit.

FIG.6illustrates a detailed view of the floating mounting arrangement on one of the plug-in units22,42. By way of example, this figure illustrates the first plug-in unit22that is arranged and fixed below the fifth-wheel coupling plate on the towing vehicle A. In this case, the connector head24illustrated inFIG.1that is mounted on the base part26(indicated by the broken line) by way of guide pins28is illustrated in this view as seen from above. In this case, a clearance of 1 mm to 5 mm is provided between the receiving bore holes on the connector head24and the guide pins28, which renders it possible to offset the connector head24in a transverse manner with respect to the first coupling axis K1and thus facilitates a coupling with the opposite-lying plug-in unit42if this is slightly oblique and/or offset. In this case, a slight rotation about the longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle can occur in the millimeter range, for example up to 2° deflection. Advantageously, the previously described delimited floating mounting arrangement on the plug-in unit, in the present example on the first plug-in unit22, is realized by means of the connector head24being mounted in a floating manner.

Reference Numerals2 - First connection unit21 - First carrier unit22 - First plug-in unit24 - First connector head25 - First coupling region26 - First base part27 - First restoring means28 - Guide pins4 - Second connection unit41 - Second carrier unit42 - Second plug-in unit45 - Second coupling region46 - Guiding geometric shape47 - Second restoring means5 - Insertion aid6 - StopA - Towing vehicleB - Semi-trailerF - Guide pathK1- First coupling axisK2- Second coupling axisP1- First center of gravityS1- First pivot axisS2- Second pivot axisS3- Third pivot axis