PRIMARY COUPLING APPARATUS, SECONDARY COUPLING APPARATUS, FIFTH-WHEEL COUPLING ARRANGEMENT AND AUTOMATIC COUPLING SYSTEM

Abstract

A fifth-wheel coupling arrangement includes a primary coupling apparatus and a fifth-wheel plate that includes a semitrailer surface having an outward-pointing normal, and an insertion opening that extends in an insertion direction, the primary coupling apparatus includes a main body, a drive mechanically connected to a cover apparatus via a coupling mechanism, and a plug element having energy conducting contacts that point in a plug-in direction, wherein the cover apparatus includes a cover element displaceable by the drive between a first position where the plug element is exposed, and a second position where the plug element is covered, and wherein the insertion direction is substantially parallel to the plug-in direction.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A fifth-wheel coupling arrangement comprising: a primary coupling apparatus; and a fifth-wheel plate; wherein the fifth-wheel plate has a semitrailer surface; wherein the semitrailer surface has an outward-pointing normal; wherein the fifth-wheel plate has an insertion opening that extends in an insertion direction; wherein the primary coupling apparatus comprises a main body, a drive, a coupling mechanism, a cover apparatus, and a plug element, and wherein the main body is configured to be fixed to the fifth-wheel coupling arrangement and/or the trailer; wherein the plug element has energy conducting contacts which point in a plug-in direction; wherein the drive is mechanically connected to the cover apparatus via the coupling mechanism; wherein the cover apparatus has at least one cover element that is configured to be displaced by the drive between a first position and a second position; wherein the plug element is exposed in the first position of the cover element and is covered in the second position of the cover element; and wherein the insertion direction is at least substantially parallel to the plug-in direction.

17. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the plug element is configured to be displaced relative to the main body by the drive.

18. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement as claimed in claim 17, wherein one plug contact is configured to be displaced in the plug-in direction.

19. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the coupling mechanism is configured to be displaced by the drive in the plug-in direction.

20. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the cover element is configured to be displaced from the first position relative to the second position at least partially in a vertical direction and wherein the vertical direction is substantially perpendicular to the plug-in direction.

21. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement as claimed in claim 20, wherein the cover apparatus has a plurality of cover elements.

22. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement as claimed in claim 21, wherein the plurality of cover elements includes two cover elements.

23. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the cover apparatus includes a seal.

24. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement as claimed in claim 23, wherein the seal comprises a sealing lip.

25. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the cover apparatus includes a spreading apparatus or a scissor joint.

26. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the cover element is preloaded into the first or into the second position by a preloader.

27. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement as claimed in claim 26, wherein the preloader comprises a tension strap and/or a spring.

28. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the plug element has an activator and/or a guide pin which, both in the first position and in the second position, project(s) in the plug-in direction beyond at least one cover element.

29. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the plug element and/or the main body are/is mounted so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of a normal to the semi-trailer surface and/or in a direction perpendicular to the plug-in direction and to the normal.

30. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement as claimed in claim 29, wherein the plug element and/or the main body are/is movable by +/−0.5 mm.

31. An automatic coupling system comprising the fifth-wheel coupling arrangement as claimed in claim 16, and further comprising: a secondary coupling apparatus; wherein the secondary coupling apparatus has a support arm, a plug connector, and a covering element; and wherein the covering element of the second coupling apparatus is configured to cover the plug connector of the second coupling apparatus in a covering position and to expose the plug connector of the second coupling apparatus in an exposed position.

32. The automatic coupling system as claimed in claim 31, wherein the plug element and the plug connector are arranged such that the plug element or the plug connector is configured to be displaced and/or rotated along or about three directions, and wherein the three directions are perpendicular to one another.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Further advantages and features of the present invention will be found in the following description with reference to the figures. Individual features of the illustrated embodiments can also be used in other embodiments, unless this has been expressly ruled out. In the drawings:

[0036] FIG. 1 is a side view of a primary coupling apparatus and of a secondary coupling apparatus;

[0037] FIG. 2 is a parametric view of a primary coupling apparatus and of a secondary coupling apparatus;

[0038] FIG. 3 is another view of a primary coupling apparatus and of a secondary coupling apparatus; and

[0039] FIG. 4 is a view of a fifth-wheel coupling arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a primary coupling apparatus 1 and a secondary coupling apparatus 2. The primary coupling apparatus 1 has a main body 10 and at least one drive 12, the drive 12 in the illustrated embodiment being at least partially surrounded by the main body 10 and being fixed to this main body 10. In this case, the main body 10 is designed to be fixed to a fifth-wheel coupling arrangement and/or to a trailer, it being possible for this fixing to take place directly or indirectly. The drive 12 is mechanically connected to the cover apparatus 20 via the coupling mechanism 24. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the coupling mechanism 24 is formed by a piston rod of the drive 12 and by a transmission element and a preloading means in the form of a spring 70 and makes contact with the scissor joint 26. The scissor joint 26 has two legs, which are connected to one another rotationally relative to one another at one point, the other end of the legs in each case being connected rotationally to a cover element 22. The cover elements 22 are mounted rotationally about the axis of rotation Q and the rotational axis R. In the embodiment illustrated, the cover elements 22 form a jaw flap mechanism with one another. The plug element 14 can be extended out of this jaw flap mechanism in the plug-in direction V by the drive 12 and the coupling mechanism 24. FIG. 1 shows the first position of the cover element 22, and therefore the plug element 14 is exposed in the illustrated embodiment or situation. In order to transfer the cover elements 22 from the first position (illustrated) into the second position (not illustrated), these cover elements 22 must be displaced relative to one another at least partially in the vertical direction H. The activator 28 projects beyond the cover elements 22 in the plug-in direction V, not only in the illustrated first position but also in the second position, which is not illustrated. The activator 28 serves to interact with the actuating piece 52 of the secondary coupling apparatus 2 in order in this way to achieve a displacement of the covering element 50. In this case, the covering element 50 is mounted rotationally about the transverse direction Q2, wherein, in the illustrated embodiment, the plug connector 40 of the secondary coupling apparatus 2 is mounted with respect to the support arm 30 in such a way as to be centered by means of the springs 70. Here, the transverse direction Q2 can be parallel to the axis of rotation Q and/or the rotational axis R.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a parametric view of a primary coupling apparatus 1 and of a secondary coupling apparatus 2 shortly before coupling. The primary coupling apparatus 1 has a main body 10, to which drives 12 and 13 are fixed. The primary coupling apparatus 1 has two cover elements 22, which form a jaw flap mechanism, which can be actuated by means of a scissor joint 26. Here, this actuation takes place in such a way that one of the drives 12, 13 interacts mechanically with the cover apparatus 20 and its scissor joint 26 via a coupling mechanism 24 (not illustrated).

[0042] FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a primary coupling apparatus 1 and a secondary coupling apparatus 2. In principle, this embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 is similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, however, the coupling mechanism 24 is formed by a piston rod which interacts mechanically directly with the scissor joint 26. Therefore, the coupling mechanism 24 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 is of single-part design. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the covering element 50 of the secondary coupling apparatus 2 is preloaded by means of a tension strap 72, with the result that this tension strap 72 preloads the covering element 50 into the covering position. In other words, this can mean that, if there were no further mechanical impediment, the tension strap 72 would transfer the covering element 50 into the covering position. The actuating piece 52 of the secondary coupling apparatus 2 has an engagement hollow and contact surfaces which are designed to make contact with the activator 28 of the primary coupling apparatus 1 in order in this way to achieve a displacement of the covering element 50 from the covering position into the exposed position. The secondary coupling apparatus 2 has at least one, preferably a plurality of, guide pins 54, which are designed to interact with guide structures of the primary coupling apparatus 1 in order in this way to achieve alignment of the primary coupling apparatus 1 relative to the secondary coupling apparatus 2.

[0043] FIG. 4 shows a basic embodiment of a fifth-wheel coupling arrangement 3 and a secondary coupling apparatus 2, as well as a primary coupling apparatus 1. In other words, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 can represent an automatic coupling system. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement 3 has a fifth-wheel plate 4, which has a semitrailer surface 6. This semitrailer surface 6 has an outward-pointing normal N. In the embodiment illustrated, this outward-pointing normal N is substantially parallel to the vertical direction H. The primary coupling apparatus 1 is arranged on the fifth-wheel coupling arrangement 3. The primary coupling apparatus 1 has a main body 10 and a plug element 14. Here, this plug element 14 is intended to be connected to a plug connector 40 in such a way that energy can be exchanged between the primary coupling apparatus 1 and the secondary coupling apparatus 2. In this case, the secondary coupling apparatus 2 is designed in such a way that the plug connector 40 is mounted in such a way as to be rotatable about the transverse direction Q2.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0044] 1—primary coupling apparatus [0045] 2—secondary coupling apparatus [0046] 3—fifth-wheel coupling arrangement [0047] 4—fifth-wheel plate [0048] 6—semitrailer surface [0049] 10—main body [0050] 12—drive [0051] 13—second drive [0052] 14—plug element [0053] 20—cover apparatus [0054] 22—cover element [0055] 24—coupling mechanism [0056] 26—scissor joint [0057] 28—activator [0058] 30—support arm [0059] 40—plug connector [0060] 50—covering element [0061] 52—actuating piece [0062] 54—guide pin [0063] 70—spring [0064] 72—tension strap [0065] H—vertical direction [0066] Q—axis of rotation [0067] Q2—transverse direction [0068] R—rotational axis [0069] V—plug-in direction