PRIMARY COUPLING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONNECTING A PRIMARY COUPLING DEVICE

Abstract

A fifth-wheel coupling arrangement includes a primary coupling device of a fifth wheel coupling arrangement or a trailer, in particular a semi-trailer, wherein the primary coupling device includes a base body, a drive and a connector element, wherein the base body is configured to be fixed to the fifth wheel coupling arrangement or the trailer, and wherein the connector element (is configured to be displaceable relative to the base body by the drive in a displacement direction

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. A fifth wheel coupling arrangement, comprising: a primary coupling device comprising a base body, a first drive and a connector element; and a fifth wheel coupling plate having a semitrailer surface and an entry opening; wherein the base body is configured to be fixed to the fifth wheel coupling arrangement and/or the trailer; wherein the connector element is displaceable relative to the base body by the first drive in a displacement direction; and wherein the displacement direction is oriented such that the displacement direction is parallel to a direction of extension of the entry opening of the fifth wheel coupling plate.

16. The fifth wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the drive has an energy connection.

17. The fifth wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the first drive comprises a hydraulic drive, an electric drive or a pneumatic drive.

18. The fifth wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the first drive comprises a compressed air cylinder.

19. The fifth wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the first drive comprises a single-acting cylinder.

20. The fifth wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the primary coupling device comprises a second drive.

21. The fifth wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the first and second drives are arranged in parallel.

22. The fifth wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the connector element is displaceable only by the drive and/or by the second drive and/or by spring elements.

23. The fifth wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the connector element comprises hydraulic contacts and/or pneumatic contacts and/or electrical contacts.

24. The fifth wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the connector element and/or the base body is/are mounted movably in a direction perpendicular to the displacement direction.

25. The fifth wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 24, wherein the direction perpendicular to the displacement direction is normal to the semitrailer surface.

26. The fifth wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 25, wherein the connector element and/or the base body are movable by 5 mm.

27. The fifth wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 25, wherein the connector element and/or the base body is/are mounted pivotably in one direction about the normal.

28. The fifth wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 27, wherein the connector element and/or the base element is pivotable about the normal by a maximum of +/−10°.

29. The fifth wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 28, wherein the connector element and/or the base element is pivotable about the normal by a maximum of +/−5°.

30. A method for connecting power lines of a fifth wheel coupling arrangement and lines of a trailer, comprising: providing the fifth wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 15; providing the semitrailer with a king pin and a secondary coupling device; displacing the king pin from an uncoupled position to a coupled position relative to the fifth wheel coupling plate; and connecting the primary coupling device to the secondary coupling device.

31. The method according to claim 30, further comprising: connecting the primary coupling device to the secondary coupling device, by actuating the drive, subsequent to displacing the king pin to the coupled position.

32. The method according to claim 30, wherein 0.1 to 0.5 seconds before the king pin is placed in the coupled position, the drive is activated and/or the primary coupling device is connected to the secondary coupling device.

Description

[0020] Further advantages and features of the present invention result from the following description with reference to the figures. Individual features of the embodiments shown can also be used in other embodiments, unless this has been expressly excluded.

[0021] FIG. 1: Shows an automatic coupling system with a primary coupling device according to the invention;

[0022] FIG. 2: Shows another view of an automatic coupling system with a primary coupling device according to the invention;

[0023] FIG. 3: Shows a fifth wheel coupling arrangement and king pin in the coupled condition; and

[0024] FIG. 4: Shows a section through an automatic coupling system comprising a primary coupling device according to the invention.

[0025] FIG. 1 shows an automatic coupling system comprising a primary coupling device 1 and a secondary coupling device 20. The primary coupling device 1 comprises a base body 10 which encloses a drive 12. The primary coupling device 1 also has a connector element 14. This connector element 14 is displaceable by the drive 12, so that the contacts present in the connector element 14 can be brought into engagement, in an energy-conducting and/or information-transmitting manner, with the contacts, in particular of corresponding design, of the connector device 22 of the secondary coupling device 20. The connector device 22 of the secondary coupling device 20 is rotatably mounted about the king pin 8 via the support arm 24. The primary coupling device 1 is arranged below the entry opening 5 of the fifth wheel coupling plate 4 and is reversibly arranged on a transverse connector 7 of the fifth wheel coupling plate 4. Below the entry opening 5 means in particular that the primary coupling device 1 is arranged opposite the outwardly pointing normal N of the semitrailer surface 6 below the entry opening 5 of the fifth wheel coupling plate 4. The semitrailer surface 6 of the fifth wheel coupling plate 4 is, in particular, the surface on which the semitrailer rests when the trailer is coupled.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows the same embodiment as in FIG. 1, wherein in FIG. 2 the connector element 14 is connected to the connector device 22 (coupled state with connected connector element 14). This connection is effected in that the connector element 14 is (has been) displaced along the displacement direction V by the drive 12 relative to the base body 10. The connector element 14 is mounted in such a way that it can be displaced in the displacement direction V and/or in the direction of the normal N of the semitrailer surface 6, in particular by +/−3 mm. Alternatively or additionally preferably, the connector element 14 can also be mounted so that it can be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the displacement direction V and perpendicular to the normal N, in particular by +/−3 mm. It is particularly preferred if the connector element 14 is alternatively or additionally preferably also rotatably mounted about this direction.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a section through the automatic coupling system in the engaged state. As can be seen from FIG. 3, in the embodiment shown, the king pin 8 is fully inserted into the entry opening 5. In addition, the support structure 24 also extends into the entry opening 5 of the fifth wheel coupling plate 4. The entry opening 5 extends along the displacement direction V, which in turn is perpendicular to the normal N of the semitrailer surface 6.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a further sectional view through an automatic coupling system for a commercial vehicle system consisting of a commercial vehicle trailer and a commercial vehicle tractor. In the situation shown, the automatic coupling system is in the coupled state. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the king pin 8 is prevented from exiting the entry opening 5 of the fifth wheel coupling plate 4 in a positive-locking manner. The drive 12 of the primary coupling device 1 is arranged within the base body 10, the base body 10 being realised by a sheet metal construction. In the state shown, the connector element 14 is connected to the connector device 22, the connector device 22 being rotatably mounted about the king pin 8 by the support structure 24.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0029] 1 primary coupling device

[0030] 2 fifth wheel coupling arrangement

[0031] 4 fifth wheel coupling plate

[0032] 5 entry opening

[0033] 6 semitrailer surface

[0034] 7 transverse connector

[0035] 8 king pin

[0036] 10 base body

[0037] 12 drive

[0038] 14 connector element

[0039] 20 secondary coupling device

[0040] 22 connector device

[0041] 24 support structure/support arm

[0042] N normal of the semitrailer surface (6)

[0043] V displacement direction