Short hitch with variable geometry and linkage support bearings movable in a circular arc for so-called balanced trailers and semi-trailers
AssigneeLohr Industrie
InventorJean L. Andre
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Hitch characterized by the fact that on the one hand, an extensible drawbar (5) has an associated means of continuous elastic return to a position of minimum separation of the trailer from the truck, and on the other hand, it has two associated symmetrical linkage support bearings (20) and (21) each movable in a circular path around a vertical pivot axis located on the truck and appropriate for each side. This invention is of interest to the manufacturers of road vehicles and more particularly of trucks and their equipment.
Claims10
A hitch system for interconnecting a tractor vehicle having a longitudinally extending axis, and a trailer vehicle having a longitudinally extending axis, wherein said longitudinal axes of said tractor and trailer vehicles are normally coaxially disposed with respect to each other under straight-line operating conditions of said tractor-trailer vehicles so as to define a common longitudinal axis between said vehicle, comprising:
- an elongated drawbar, having a longitudinal axis and which is axially extensible along said longitudinal axis, fixedly secured to said trailer vehicle such that said longitudinal axis of said elongated drawbar is always coaxially disposed with respect to said longitudinal axis of said trailer vehicle during both said straightline and turning operating conditions of said tractor and trailer vehicles, and pivotably connected to said tractor vehicle;
- a first longitudinally extensible bar pivotably connected at one end thereof to said tractor vehicle at a location located upon a first lateral side of said longitudinal axis of said tractor vehicle and upon a first lateral side of said common axis defined between said tractor and trailer vehicles, and pivotably connected at a second end thereof to said trailer vehicle at a location located upon a first lateral side of said longitudinal axis of said trailer vehicle and upon said first lateral side of said common axis defined between said tractor and trailer vehicles;
- and
- a second longitudinally extensible bar pivotably connected at one end thereof to said tractor vehicle at a location located upon a second lateral side of said longitudinal axis of said tractor vehicle and upon a second lateral side of said common axis defined between said tractor and trailer vehicles, and pivotably connected at a second end thereof to said trailer vehicle at a location located upon a second lateral side of said longitudinal axis of said trailer vehicle and upon said second lateral side of said common axis defined between said tractor and trailer vehicles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.