Sensor device having a pivot bearing arrangement

Abstract

A sensor device for a towing vehicle coupling with which a trailer vehicle is coupleable to a towing vehicle wherein the towing vehicle coupling has a coupling element for releasably coupling a coupling mating element, which elements are secured to the towing vehicle and the trailer vehicle, and when coupled rotate relative to each another about at least one joint rotational axis, forming a joint, wherein the sensor device has a follower which: is mounted on a bearing body such that it can rotate relative to the coupling element about a follower rotational axis; can be rotatably carried about the follower rotational axis by the rotation of the coupling mating element about the at least one joint rotational axis in order to sense a rotation of the coupling mating element relative to the coupling element about the at least one joint rotational axis, and wherein the sensor device has at least one sensor for sensing a respective rotational position of the follower relative to the bearing body in relation to the follower rotational axis.

Claims

1. A sensor device for a towing vehicle coupling or forming part of a towing vehicle coupling with which a trailer vehicle is configured to be coupled to a towing vehicle wherein the towing vehicle coupling has a coupling element for releasably coupling a coupling mating element, which elements are securable to the towing vehicle and the trailer vehicle, and when coupled can rotate relative to each another about at least one joint rotational axis, forming a joint, wherein the sensor device has a follower which is mounted on a bearing body such that it can rotate relative to the coupling element about a follower rotational axis and can be rotatably carried about the follower rotational axis by the rotation of the coupling mating element about the at least one joint rotational axis in order to sense a rotation of the coupling mating element relative to the coupling element about the at least one joint rotational axis, and wherein the sensor device has at least one sensor for sensing a respective rotational position of the follower relative to the bearing body in relation to the follower rotational axis, wherein the follower is mounted, with a degree of translatory freedom of movement achieved by a pivot bearing arrangement, for movement in relation to the coupling element, in order to provide or maintain the coupling of the follower relative to the coupling mating element, wherein for said movement the follower pivots about at least one pivot axis with said degree of translatory freedom of movement.

2. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the follower pivots about at least two pivot axes of the pivot bearing arrangement, for the adjustment and/or during the adjustment with the translational degree of freedom of movement.

3. The sensor device according to claim 2, characterised wherein at least two pivot axes of the pivot bearing arrangement are parallel pivot axes to provide the translational degree of freedom of movement to one another.

4. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the follower is adjusted during adjustment with the translational freedom of movement along a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axis runs transversely to the at least one pivot axis of the pivot bearing arrangement.

5. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the translational degree of freedom of movement is a linear degree of freedom of movement.

6. The sensor device according to claim 5, wherein the linear degree of freedom of movement comprises at least one linear movement component parallel to the follower rotational axis or runs parallel to the follower rotational axis.

7. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the follower is mounted exclusively by means of pivot bearings so as to move relative to the coupling mating element, wherein at least two pivot bearings are provided.

8. The sensor device according to any one of the preceding claim 1, wherein the pivot bearing arrangement comprises at least one pivot bearing pivoting only about an axis of rotation and/or at least one pivoting joint pivoting on several axes.

9. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the follower is movably mounted relative to the coupling mating element by at least one four-joint link and/or a joint parallel diagram.

10. The sensor device according to claim 1, further comprising a magnet arrangement with at least one magnet providing a magnetic attraction force exerted on the follower in the direction of the coupling element, wherein the follower is held exclusively or substantially by the at least one magnet when using the sensor device on the coupling element and the sensor and/or the bearing body is held on the coupling mating element by the magnet.

11. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the bearing body is movably mounted with three translational or linear degrees of freedom of movement at an angle to one another as well as with two degrees of freedom of movement relative to the coupling element that differ from the rotatability about the follower rotational axis and is rotationally fixed relative to the follower rotational axis relative to the coupling element.

12. The sensor device according to claim 1, further comprising an actuator for adjusting at least the follower between a follower position moved closer to the coupling mating element and a release position further away from the coupling mating element, wherein the actuator can be actuated by a control device for adjusting the follower.

13. The sensor device according to claim 12, wherein the control device for actuating the actuator moves the follower between the release position and the follower position when the coupling element is engaged with the coupling mating element.

14. The sensor device according to claim 12, wherein the follower is applied in the follower position in contact with the coupling mating element and in the release position except in contact with the coupling mating element or with less force in the direction of the coupling mating element than in the follower position.

15. The sensor device according to claim 12 wherein the actuator has a positioning element comprising one adjusting arm for adjusting the follower and/or the bearing body between the follower position and the release position.

16. The sensor device according to claim 15, wherein the positioning element is adjustable after the adjustment of the follower or the bearing body to a rest position away from the follower or the bearing body, in which the positioning element does not impede movement of the follower or the bearing body.

17. The sensor device according to claim 12, wherein the actuator comprises or is formed by an electric drive motor and/or a fluid drive and/or a spring drive and/or in that the actuator permanently loads the follower and/or the bearing body by a spring arrangement in the direction of the follower position.

18. The sensor device according claim 12, wherein the control device comprises a latching device or is formed by a latching device, which activates the actuator by actuation for the adjustment of at least the follower between the follower position and the release position.

19. The sensor device according to claim 12, wherein the control device comprises or is formed by an electrical control device for actuating the actuator and/or in that the control device has at least one sensor, wherein the control device actuates the actuator by a sensor signal from the at least one sensor.

20. The sensor device according to claim 12, wherein the actuator adjusts the bearing body held on the holding device between the release position and the follower position.

21. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the follower is mounted such that it moves relative to the coupling element for providing or maintaining a follower coupling to the coupling mating element with a plurality of degrees of freedom of movement different from the rotatability about the follower rotational axis.

22. The sensor device according to claim 21, wherein at least one degree of freedom of movement different from the rotatability about the follower rotational axis comprises at least one degree of freedom of rotation and/or at least one linear degree of freedom of movement and/or in that the follower is mounted so as to displace relative to the coupling element along at least one displacement axis or linear axis.

23. The sensor device according to claim 1, further comprising a holding device for holding the bearing body against rotation with respect to the follower rotational axis on the coupling element.

24. The sensor device according to claim 22, wherein the holding device supports the bearing body with at least one degree of freedom of movement suitable for providing or maintaining the follower coupling of the follower to the coupling mating element, which is different from the rotatability about the follower rotational axis, with respect to the coupling element.

25. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the follower comprises an end face penetrated by the follower rotational axis, which is provided for following, by the coupling mating element.

26. The sensor device according to claim 25, wherein the end face of the follower is a flat surface.

27. The sensor device according to claim 25, wherein the end face of the follower and a follower surface lie flat against one another on a front side of the coupling element in the follower position.

28. The sensor device according to claim 25, wherein the end face of the follower in the follower position is arranged for contact on a follower surface, which is provided on a front side of the coupling mating element opposite the follower, and is exclusively in contact with such surface sections with the follower surface, the normal direction of which is parallel to the follower rotational axis.

29. The sensor device according claim 1, wherein the follower has an end face penetrated by the follower rotational axis, which is provided for following, exclusively in a frictional and/or magnetic manner, by a follower surface on a front side of the coupling mating element.

30. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein an end face of the follower penetrated by the follower rotational axis comprises at least one ring or is formed by the ring.

31. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the follower is designed for frictional rotational following by the coupling mating element and/or has no positive-locking contour for rotational following by the coupling mating element and/or has frictional engagement surfaces for friction-locking following by the coupling element.

32. The sensor device according to claim 1, further comprising a force-applying mechanism that applies force to the follower in the direction of the coupling mating element.

33. Sensor device according to claim 1, further comprising a magnet arrangement with at least one magnet for providing a magnetic attraction force impinging on the follower in the direction of the coupling mating element.

34. The sensor device according to claim 1, characterised in that the or further comprising a magnet arrangement configured for actuating or exciting the at least one sensor and/or further comprising a screening device for screening the at least one sensor against magnetic influences of the magnet arrangement.

35. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein at least one frictional engagement surface for a frictional contact with the coupling mating element and/or at least one positive locking contour for a positive engagement of the coupling mating element and the follower is arranged on the follower.

36. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the towing vehicle coupling is a fifth wheel coupling and the coupling element has a coupling receptacle for receiving a king pin of the coupling mating element or that the coupling element has a coupling ball or a coupling projection for engagement in a coupling receptacle of the coupling mating element.

37. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the joint rotational axis and the follower rotational axis are coaxial and/or aligned with one another when the coupling element and the coupling mating element are coupled to one another.

38. A towing vehicle coupling with a sensor device according to claim 1.

Description

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below using the drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective side view of a sensor device with an actuator,

(3) FIG. 2 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 1 diagonally from above,

(4) FIG. 3 shows the sensor device with its holding device,

(5) FIG. 4 shows the sensor device according to FIG. 3 with positioning elements of the actuator according to FIGS. 1, 2,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective diagonal view of the towing vehicle coupling of FIG. 1 diagonally from above, wherein the trailer coupling is coupled to the vehicle coupling,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a sectional view through a follower of the sensor device shown in FIG. 5, approximately along a line of intersection along an axis GX,

(8) FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of a sensor device with an actuator with a control device in the form of a latching device in the release position,

(9) FIG. 8 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 7 in the follower position

(10) In the exemplary embodiments explained below, components are partly similar or identical in their functionality. In that regard, reference numerals are used which are different by 100 or also in some instances identical.

(11) A towing vehicle coupling 60 is configured as a fifth-wheel coupling 60A. The fifth-wheel coupling 60A has a coupling element 61 in the form of what is known as a mounting plate 61A. On the mounting plate 61A, and thus on the coupling element 61, an insertion recess 62 is provided, which can also be referred to as an insertion opening. The insertion recess 62 facilitates the insertion of a coupling mating element 81 of a trailer coupling 80, which has what is known as a pin 82 or a king pin 82. The pin 82 is used to couple the trailer coupling 80 with the towing vehicle coupling 60.

(12) The towing vehicle coupling 60 is or can be arranged on a towing vehicle Z. The towing vehicle Z is, by way of example, what is known as a semi-trailer or another truck.

(13) By contrast, the trailer coupling 80 is or can be fastened to a trailer A, by way of example what is known as a semi-trailer.

(14) For coupling the trailer coupling 80 to the towing vehicle coupling 60, the king pin or pin 82 is brought, by way of example, from a rear side of the towing vehicle Z or from an end face 63 of the coupling element 61 to the coupling element 61, wherein in practice the towing vehicle Z moves backwards to couple the semi-trailer and thus the trailer vehicle A.

(15) The trailer vehicle A is supported on an upper side 83 of the trailer coupling 80 or the pin 82. The upper side 83 is connected, by way of example, to an underside of the trailer vehicle A, by way of example, welded or screwed.

(16) The upper side 83 is provided on a flange body 84, the underside of which facing away from the upper side 83 forms a support surface 85 for supporting on the towing vehicle coupling 60. The support surface 85 serves to rest on a bearing surface 65 on the upper side 64 of the mounting plate 61A or the coupling element 61. The bearing surface 65 and the support surface 85 are preferably flat surfaces. Therefore, the trailer coupling 80 is supported over a large area on the bearing surface 65 in a horizontal plane, so that substantial supporting forces do not act on the actual king pin 82, which for instance engages with a pin section 91 in a coupling recess 70 of the towing vehicle coupling 60.

(17) On the end face 63 a slide-on slope 66 is arranged, onto which the support surface 85 can slide when coupling the trailer coupling 80 to the towing vehicle coupiing 60. The insertion of the king pin 82 into the coupling recess 70 is facilitated by insertion bevels 68, which laterally delimit the insertion recess 62 and extend towards the coupling recess 70 in the direction of a narrowing. The insertion bevels 68 extend from the end face 63 in the direction of a front side 69 of the coupling element 61 or the mounting plate 61A.

(18) The coupling recess 70 has a substantially cylindrical inner contour 71, wherein this inner contour 71 does not have to be completely cylindrical, but merely represents a so-to-speak enveloping inner contour. Thus, the pin section 91 is at least partially supported on the inner periphery of the coupling recess 70 with its likewise essentially cylindrical outer peripheral contour 86 so that the king pin 82 can essentially rotate about a joint rotational axis GZ relative to the towing vehicle coupling 60.

(19) On an underside 74 of the coupling element 61 or the mounting plate 61A, a support body 72 is arranged. The support body 72 is provided next to and/or below the coupling recess 70. The support body 72 may be plate-like. The king pin 82 is to be inserted past the support body 72 into the coupling recess 70 when the trailer coupling 80 is coupled to the towing vehicle coupling 60.

(20) The trailer coupling 80 can be locked on the towing vehicle coupling 60 by a locking device 75 of the towing vehicle coupling 60. The locking device 75 comprises a locking body 76, which engages in a locking recess 87 of the pin 82, which is provided on the outer periphery 86 thereof.

(21) The pin 82 can be easily inserted into the coupling recess 70 in that, by way of example, on its end face 88, i.e. on the side of the pin 82 opposite the flange body 84, a slide bevel 89 is present. The slide bevel 89 is provided, by way of example, by a rounded or conical edge section between the outer periphery 86 and the end face 88 or end surface of the pin 82.

(22) The locking body 76 is expediently driven by a manual or motorised locking drive 77, so that it engages in its locking position into the locking recess 87 and is moved out of the locking recess 87 in its release position, so that the pin 82 can be moved out of the coupling recess 70.

(23) The trailer coupling 80 can rotate with respect to the towing vehicle coupling 60 preferably about the joint rotational axis GZ, i.e. about a rotational axis which is generally vertical in driving mode, but also joint rotational axes GX and GY, i.e. about a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, which extend in particular in the vehicle longitudinal direction of the towing vehicle Z or orthogonally at right angles to the vehicle longitudinal direction of the towing vehicle Z.

(24) When the trailer coupling 80 is coupled to the towing vehicle coupling 60, the coupling mating element 81 can pivot relative to the coupling member 61 with respect to the joint axes GX, GY and GZ, so that the coupling element 61 and the coupling mating element 81 form a joint 95. The coupling mating element 81 and the coupling element 61 are in engagement with each other in a bearing region 96. The bearing region 96 is preferably approximately cylindrical.

(25) By way of example, when cornering, the trailer vehicle A may pivot relative to the towing vehicle Z substantially about the joint axis GZ. However, the trailer vehicle A can also pivot or rotate relative to the towing vehicle Z during a rolling motion or rolling movement about the joint rotational axis GX and/or during a pitching movement about the joint rotational axis GY.

(26) In all these cases, it is possible to determine a pivoting or rotation of the trailer vehicle A relative to the towing vehicle Z about the joint rotational axis GZ, namely by means of a sensor device 10.

(27) The sensor device 10 is accommodated in a receiving space 67 below the coupling recess 70. The receiving space 67 is a receiving space already present in a standard fifth-wheel coupling 60A, meaning that a structural modification is unnecessary.

(28) The sensor device 10 is provided for rotational drive by the coupling mating element 81, which has a follower surface 90 for this purpose. The follower surface 90 is formed by way of example by the end face 88 or provided thereon. However, the slide bevel 89 or any other region of the outer peripheral contour 86 can form the follower surface 90 wholly or partially, as will become clearer.

(29) The sensor device 10 has a follower 20, which can be rotated by the coupling mating element 81, namely the pin or king pin 82, and about a follower rotational axis M.

(30) The follower 20 has a follower surface 21 for producing a follower contact or a follower connection with the pin 82. The follower surface 21 is provided on a free end face of the follower 20. A peripheral wall 22 extends away from the follower surface 21 and, by way of example, runs substantially conically or cylindrically.

(31) The follower surface 21 is provided on an end wall 21A, which is designed essentially as a plane or flat wall. The peripheral wall 22 extends away from the end wall 21A.

(32) The sensor device 10 comprises a sensor 11, by way of example a magnetic sensor. Signals generated by the sensor 11 are evaluated by an evaluation device 12, which includes, by way of example, a processor 13 and a memory 14. The processor 13 executes program code from at least one program which processes the sensor signals of the sensor 11 and provides them, by way of example, to an interface 15, in particular a bus coupler, for a vehicle electrical system N of the towing vehicle Z. The interface 15 is, by way of example, a CAN bus interface, but may also easily be or include another digital or analogue interface.

(33) The follower 20 is mounted so that it is rotatable about the follower rotational axis M on a bearing body 30. The bearing body 30 comprises for example a cylindrical protective housing 29 in which a rotational axis body 31 is rotatably mounted on one or a plurality of rotary bearings 32. A section of the rotational axis body 31 protruding from the protective housing 29 is connected to the follower 20 in a rotationally fixed manner. Thus, the follower 20 can rotate relative to the bearing body 30 about the follower rotational axis M.

(34) One or a plurality of sensor transmitters 25, for example magnets, are connected to the rotational axis body 31 in a rotationally stable manner, which serve to excite the sensor 11.

(35) The follower 20 is movably mounted with respect to the coupling element 61, in particular the coupling recess 70, by a holding device 40.

(36) The follower 20 can be deflected by degrees of freedom of rotation DX and DY and/or linear degrees of freedom of movement LX, LY and LZ from its central position. The pivoting degrees of freedom or rotational degrees of freedom DX, DY are orthogonal to the follower rotational axis M and orthogonal to each other. By way of example, the follower 20 may pivot with the degree of freedom of rotation DX about an axis SX which is parallel to the joint rotational axis GX. During deflection or displacement with the linear degree of freedom of movement LX, the follower 20 can be deflected linearly about the axis SX parallel to the joint rotational axis GX, i.e. moved at right angles to the follower rotational axis M.

(37) The further linear degree of freedom of movement LY permits a deflection or displacement of the follower 20 transversely to the degree of freedom of movement LX or to the X axis and/or along an axis SY which is parallel to the rotational axis GY. When rotated by the degree of freedom of rotation DY the follower 20 rotates about this axis SY parallel to the joint rotational axis GY.

(38) The displaceability with the degree of freedom LZ is provided parallel or coaxially to the follower rotational axis M.

(39) All of the aforementioned degrees of freedom of rotation DX, DY or linear degrees of freedom of movement LX, LY or LZ make it possible for the follower 20 to be deflected out of its central position when the trailer coupling 80 is coupled to the towing vehicle coupling 60, by way of example, so that its end wall 21A on the end face 88 or the support surface or follower surface of the pin 82 comes to rest flat and parallel. In addition, the rotational follower coupling of the follower 20 is also possible with a deflection transverse to the follower rotational axis M. Thus, by way of example, the follower 20 pivots by the degree of freedom of rotation DX or DY, but still remains in follower contact with the pin 82.

(40) In a transition region or edge region between the end wall 21A and the peripheral wall 22, an inclined surface or insertion bevel is preferably provided onto which the coupling mating element 81 can slide when coupling to the coupling element 61, i.e. when inserted into the coupling recess 70, for example. In this case, the coupling element 61 can, by way of example, tilt or pivot the follower 20 transversely to the follower rotational axis M and/or adjust it along the follower rotational axis M.

(41) The mobility of the follower 20 by the degrees of freedom of movement DX, DY, LX, LY and LZ is provided by the holding device 40, on which the bearing body 30 is arranged in a fixed, i.e. immovable, manner.

(42) The holding device 40 holds the bearing body 30 non-rotatably in relation to the follower rotational axis M, but allows movements of the bearing body 30 and thus also of the follower 20 by the degrees of freedom of movement DX, DY as well as the translational degrees of freedom of movement or linear degrees of freedom of movement LX, LY and LZ.

(43) The holding device 40 comprises a pivot bearing 41, which comprises a bearing base 42 that is fixed relative to the towing vehicle coupling 60. The bearing blocks are for example penetrated by an axle body 43, on which a pivot body 44 is pivotably mounted. For example, the axle body 43 is pivotably mounted on the pivot body 44 and/or the bearing base 42.

(44) A further pivot bearing 45 is provided on the pivot body 44. The pivot axes R1Y and R2Y of the pivot bearings 41, 45 run parallel to one another. Consequently, the longitudinal axes of the axle bodies 43, 46 are parallel to one another.

(45) The pivot bearing 45 is used for pivotable mounting of two joint rods 47, which protrude from the pivot body 44 in the direction of the bearing body 30 and hold the bearing body 30.

(46) The joint rods 47 carry an axle body 48, which supports a carrier 35 of the holding device 40, on which the bearing body 30 is arranged, so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis which corresponds to the pivot degree of freedom DY. Thus, the bearing body 30 can pivot about the pivot axis DY, but is held in a rotationally fixed manner by the carrier 35 in relation to the follower rotational axis M. To provide the further degrees of freedom of movement LX, LY and LZ, the joint rods 47 are connected in a ball joint to the axle bodies 46 and 48, namely on the basis of ball joints 47A, 47B, 47C and 47D. The ball joints 47A-47D allow further rotational degrees of freedom of movement or pivoting degrees of freedom R2X, R3X, R4X, R5X as well as R2Z, R3Z, R4Z and R5Z.

(47) At this point, however, it should be noted that, for example, a cardanic articulated bearing would also be possible instead of the ball joints 47A-47D.

(48) The joint rods 47 and the axle bodies 46, 48 define with their pivot joints, namely the ball joints 47A-47D at their connecting areas, a four-joint link 147 and/or a joint parallelogram.

(49) It should also be mentioned that the pivot bearing 45 and a pivot bearing 49, which includes the axle body 48, are sufficient for the pivoting degrees of freedom or rotation degrees of freedom DY and R2Y. In addition, it is possible for the pivot bearings 45, 49 to allow a displaceability and thus a translational degree of freedom of movement. If, for example, the axle bodies 46, 48 are displaceable relative to the component on which they are arranged in a rotatable manner, namely relative to the pivot body 44 and relative to the carrier 35, translational degrees of freedom of movement LY can thus be easily realised.

(50) The pivot bearings 41, 45, 49 form a pivot bearing arrangement 141, allowing a translational movement or a translational degree of freedom of movement of the follower 20, namely the degree of freedom of movement LX. The follower 20 is thus pivotably mounted only by means of pivot bearings 41, 45, 49, in order to realise a translational degree of freedom of movement. The pivot axes of the pivot bearings 41, 45, 49 are parallel to one another.

(51) The translational degree of freedom of movement LY is also realised exclusively by pivot bearings, namely by the ball joints 47A-47D.

(52) It should be mentioned at this point, however, that the magnetic measuring principles or sensor principles of the sensor device 10 are not the only embodiment. In a sensor device according to the invention, by way of example, inductive, capacitive or optical sensors, also in combination, may be provided. By way of example, instead of the sensor transmitters 25, designed as magnets, optical markings, in particular lines or similar, can be provided, which can be detected by an optical sensor 11. Capacitive detection is also easily possible if, by way of example, corresponding electric fields are provided by the sensor transmitters.

(53) Instead of sensor transmitters 25, other sensor elements or sensors may also be provided. Thus, the sensory detection of a relative position of a follower relative to a carrier or bearing body can also be realised by at least one sensor, which is arranged on the follower and thus rotates relative to the bearing body or carrier about the follower rotational axis.

(54) The followers 20, may be wholly or partly made of an elastic material, by way of example a flexible plastic, rubber or similar. An elastic resilience in the region of the follower surface 21 is particularly advantageous.

(55) The end wall 21A is preferably designed as a frictional engagement surface or has a frictional engagement surface. For example, corundum, quartz, rock particles or the like are provided on the frictional engagement surface with sharp breaking edges and in any case tips or the like.

(56) The follower 20 preferably has a magnet 23 or another magnet arrangement for providing a magnetic attractive force acting on the follower 20 in the direction of the coupling mating element 81. It is possible for the follower 20 as a whole to be formed by the magnet 23 or for the magnet 23 to be embedded in a main body of the follower 20.

(57) Additionally possible, but not shown in the drawing, is a cushioning of the follower 20 is in a direction away from the bearing body 30 and/or in the direction of the coupling mating element 81.

(58) In a follower position, the follower 20 is in follower contact with the coupling mating element 81. In a release position, on the other hand, the follower 20 is removed from the coupling mating element 81 such that the coupling mating element 81 cannot take the follower 20 with it. The release position is provided in particular for coupling the trailer coupling 80 to the towing vehicle coupling 60, while the follower position of the follower 20 is set when the coupling mating element 81 engages with the coupling element 61, i.e. is coupled.

(59) An actuator 50 is provided for adjusting the follower 20 between the follower position and the release position. The actuator 50 comprises positioning element 51, for example adjusting arms or fork arms, which are pivotably mounted on a pivot bearing 52. The pivot bearing 52 is for example arranged next to the pivot body 44. The pivot arms or adjusting arms of the positioning elements 51 run in a fork-like manner laterally next to the joint rods 47 and can, so to speak, engage the bearing body 30 to lift it in the direction of the coupling mating element 81.

(60) The pivot bearing 52 comprises a bearing base 52A, which for example comprises one or a plurality of bearing blocks, on which a bearing axis element 52B is held. The positioning elements 51, i.e. the adjusting arms, are connected to the bearing axis element 52B with bearing ends, for example rotatably connected. It is also possible for the bearing axis element 52B to be pivotably mounted on the bearing base 52A.

(61) A spring arrangement 53 loads the positioning elements 52 in the direction of the follower position of the follower 20, i.e. for example vertically upwards. The spring arrangement 53 comprises a spring 53A, which is for example supported on the bearing base 52A or a body supporting the bearing base 52A and is also supported on a support body 53B, which extends between the positioning elements 51 or the adjusting arms.

(62) The carrier 35 has legs 36, 37 between which the bearing body 30 is held. The pivot bearing 49 is provided on the leg furthest away from the follower 20, i.e. in the drawing the lower leg 36. The leg 36 also forms a coupling section for coupling the actuator 50. Drive bodies 38, 39 are arranged on the leg 36. The drive body 38 forms a support drive body, so to speak, which is provided for support on the positioning elements 51. Recesses or follower recesses 51A are provided on the positioning elements 51 for the drive body 38, into which the drive body 38 can engage when the controlling bodies 58 lift the carrier 35 in the direction of the coupling mating element 81.

(63) The drive body 39 forms, so to speak, a traction drive body for the actuator 50, by means of which the actuator 50 can move, in particular pull, the carrier 35 away from the coupling mating element 81 in the direction of the release position.

(64) The drive bodies 38, 39 are for example designed in the manner of support rods or support elements. The drive body 38 projects on opposite sides in front of the leg 36 in the direction of the positioning elements 51. The drive body 38 protrudes, for example, in the direction of the spring arrangement 52 into an intermediate space between the positioning elements 51.

(65) The actuator 50 comprises a drive train 55 with an electric drive motor 55A, which drives an output 55C via a gearbox 55B. The drive motor 55A can be moved in opposite directions, oscillating back and forth. The output 55C is for example designed in the manner of an output shaft. The output 55C is rotatably mounted and supported on a support 55D at a distance from the gearbox 55B.

(66) The output 55C drives a cable traction gear or belt transmission 58. The belt gear 58 comprises traction elements 58A and 58B, each of which is connected to the output 55C. At the other longitudinal end, the traction element 58A is connected to the traction drive body 39, and the traction element 58B is connected to one or both positioning elements 51.

(67) If the traction element 58B is wound up onto the output 55C, the traction element 58B exerts a tensile force on the at least one positioning element 51 such that it is actuated in the direction of the release position contrary to the force of the spring arrangement 53.

(68) However, if the traction element 58B is unwound from the output 55C, it releases the positioning elements 51, so to speak, so that the spring arrangement 53 can adjust the positioning elements 51 in the direction of the follower position, so that ultimately the carrier 35 and thus the follower 20 are moved into the follower position.

(69) To adjust the follower 20 and the bearing body 30 from the follower position to the release position, i.e. away from the coupling mating element 81, the output 55C rotates in such a way that it winds up the traction element 58A, simultaneously unwinding the traction element 58B so that it actuates the carrier 35 and thus the bearing body 30 from the follower position in the direction of the release position. In addition, the carrier 35 acts on the positioning elements 51 via the support drive bodies 38 in a sense a direction from the follower position to the release position.

(70) It is advantageous for the actuator 50 to be able to adjust the follower 20 between the follower position and the release position, even if the coupling mating element 81 is engaged with the coupling element 61. A control device 56 is provided to control the actuator 50.

(71) The control device 56 is for example a microprocessor controller, wherein an analogue controller, for example comprising logical switching elements, would also be easily possible. A processor 56A and a memory 56B of the control device are internally connected to one another, wherein at least one control program 56C stored in memory 56B can be executed by the processor 56A such that it performs the functions explained below.

(72) An input/output interface 56D of the control device 56 serves for communication with for example the actuator 50, in particular the servo motor or drive motor 55A, as well as with a sensor 57.

(73) For example, the sensor 57 detects a position of the coupling element 81 relative to the coupling element 61 in order to determine in this way that the coupling mating element 81 engages with the coupling element 61, namely in a coupling position. However, it is also possible for the sensor 57, for example, to detect a position of the locking body 76, for example its closing position. For example, when the locking body 76 is moved from its release position to its locking position, the control device 56 can then move the follower 20 and the bearing body 30 from the release position to the follower position. However, when the locking body 76 is moved from its locking position in the direction of a release position provided for uncoupling the trailer A, the control device 56 actuates the drive motor 55A for adjustment from the follower position to the release position.

(74) However, it would also be easily possible, for example, for the locking drive 77 to be coupled with the control device 56, i.e. this signals by means of a signal line not represented in the drawing whether the locking drive 77 is actuated from the locking position to the release position or vice versa.

(75) In an actuator 150, the bearing body 30 and thus also the follower 20 is loaded by a spring arrangement 155 in the direction of the follower position. A spring 155A is for example supported on a vehicle-mounted support 155B, for example the support body 72, and loads the bearing body 30 in the direction of the coupling mating element 81. A latching recess 156D is provided on the bearing body 30 in which a latching body 156B engages with a latching projection 156C. The latching body 156B forms a component of a latching device 156A, which simultaneously represents a control device 156 for the actuator 150.

(76) If the coupling mating element 81 is brought into engagement with the coupling element 61, the coupling mating element actuates the locking device 156 in a position releasing the actuator 150 in which it actuates the follower 20 from the release position to the follower position. For example, the coupling mating element 81, in particular its flange body 84, glides along an actuating surface or actuating bevel 156E, as a result of which the latching body 1566 is brought out of engagement with the latching recess 156D. Preferably, the latching body 156B is loaded by means of a spring 156F into the locking position, i.e. the engagement position of the locking projection 156C in the latching recess 156D. The spring 156F is, for example, securely supported on a support 156G relative to the towing vehicle coupling 60.