Tow hitch assembly comprising a one-way wrap spring clutch
AssigneeBrink Towing Systems B.V.
InventorsMaarten KEIJER, Daniel MOTZET, Friedrich KLEEBERGER, Winfried SCHMIDT
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tow hitch assembly for attachment to a vehicle, said tow hitch assembly comprising a hitch arm, a housing attachable to the vehicle, and an actuator assembly (4) attached to the housing. The hitch arm is attached to a first shaft rotatably supported by the housing. The tow hitch assembly further comprises a one-way wrap spring clutch operatively connecting the first shaft and the actuator assembly. The wrap spring clutch is connected to the first shaft without gears.
Claims6
A tow hitch assembly for attachment to a vehicle, said tow hitch assembly comprising a hitch arm, a housing attachable to the vehicle, and an actuator assembly attached to the housing,
- said hitch arm being attached to a first shaft rotatably supported in a cylindrical cavity of a support means attached to, or integrated with, the housing for rotation about a first rotational axis,
- said tow hitch assembly further comprising a one-way wrap spring clutch,
- said one-way wrap spring clutch comprising a first member rotatable about the first rotational axis, and a second member rotatable about the first rotational axis,
- said first member being operatively connected to the actuator assembly such that the actuator assembly is able to control rotation of the first member,
- said one-way wrap spring clutch being configured such that the first member is able to drive the second member in any rotational direction about the first rotational axis, and such that a wrap spring of the one-way wrap spring clutch prevents the second member from driving the first member upon rotation of the second member in any rotational direction about the first rotational axis,
- wherein the second member is operatively connected to the first shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.