Mechanical coupling device between vehicles, in particular for convoys of automatic vehicles

A coupling device of the type envisaged between a first vehicle (A) with at least two axes and a second vehicle (B) with at least two axes and comprising steering members (S) with the first vehicle (A) arranged to precede the second vehicle (B), said coupling device being particularly suitable for the application to convoys of automatically guided vehicles, said coupling device comprising a hinge coupling section associated with said first vehicle (A) and a drawbar section associated with the second vehicle (B), said sections each having a proximal portion rigidly connected to the respective vehicle and a distal reciprocal connection portion with the possibility of rotation, wherein said drawbar section comprises:

• an arc-shaped guide integral with said second vehicle (B), said arc-shaped guide being extended horizontally between a right side and a left side of said second vehicle (B), the radius of curvature and the positioning of said arc-shaped guide being such that the centre of the relative radius of curvature is in a rear area of said second vehicle (B);
• a slider arranged to slide along said arc-shaped guide;
• a telescopic connecting arm rigidly connected at one end to said slider and rotatably connected at the other end thereof to said coupling section, said telescopic connecting arm having a maximum length and a minimum length such as to define a maximum distance and a minimum distance, respectively, between said first vehicle (A) and said second vehicle (B),
• wherein said telescopic connecting arm comprises a towing eye which constitutes the distal portion of said drawbar section provided at one end with an annular body for connecting with said coupling section, at the opposite end of the towing eye there being present a tubular element which is telescopically inserted into a bell-shaped element integral with said slider, said tubular element having a shoulder in a longitudinally intermediate section which constitutes an abutment element for a first compression spring which acts between said shoulder and said slider thus constituting resilient members arranged to oppose the shortening of the telescopic connecting arm with respect to a neutral configuration, and for a second compression spring which acts between said shoulder and said bell-shaped element thus constituting resilient members arranged to oppose the elongation of said telescopic connecting arm with respect to a neutral configuration.

A coupling device of the type envisaged between a first vehicle (A) with at least two axes and a second vehicle (B) with at least two axes and comprising steering members (S) with the first vehicle (A) arranged to precede the second vehicle (B), said coupling device being particularly suitable for the application to convoys of automatically guided vehicles, said coupling device comprising a hinge coupling section associated with said first vehicle (A) and a drawbar section associated with the second vehicle (B), said sections each having a proximal portion rigidly connected to the respective vehicle and a distal reciprocal connection portion with the possibility of rotation, wherein said drawbar section comprises:

• an arc-shaped guide integral with said second vehicle (B), said arc-shaped guide being extended horizontally between a right side and a left side of said second vehicle (B), the radius of curvature and the positioning of said arc-shaped guide being such that the centre of the relative radius of curvature is in a rear area of said second vehicle (B);
• a slider arranged to slide along said arc-shaped guide;
• a telescopic connecting arm rigidly connected at one end to said slider and rotatably connected at the other end thereof to said coupling section, said telescopic connecting arm having a maximum length and a minimum length such as to define a maximum distance and a minimum distance, respectively, between said first vehicle (A) and said second vehicle (B),
• wherein said second vehicle (B) comprises a front axle provided with said steering members (S) and at least one non-steering rear axle wherein the geometry of the arc-shaped guide and the relative connection methods to the frame of the second vehicle (B) are such that following the movement of the slider and therefore also of the telescopic connecting arm along the arc-shaped guide the point of application of force on the following vehicle (B) is maintained at the centreline of said at least one rear axle of the same second vehicle (B).