Coupling assembly
AssigneeRockinger Spezialfabrik fur Anhangerkupplungen GmbH & Co.
InventorGerhard Wohlhuter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coupling assembly has two coupling elements arranged to interlock in a coupled position and release in a release position. A displaceable securing element on one of the coupling elements engages and holds the other coupling element in the coupled position, the securing element being biassed into such engagement. When the coupling elements are being coupled to each other, the securing element is displaced against the bias to enable movement of the coupling elements to the interlocking coupled position. When the coupling elements reach the coupled position, the securing element is displaced automatically under the bias to the engaging position to prevent unintentional release of the coupling elements from the coupled position.
Claims15
A coupling assembly, comprising:
- a first coupling element and a second coupling element releasably couplable with each other;
- said first and second coupling elements each having a respective contact face and, in a coupled position, are in mutual abutment with said respective contact faces in a coupling plane;
- said first coupling element having on its respective contact face a recess provided with at least one undercut;
- said second coupling element having on its respective contact face a trunnion provided with a plurality of spaced apart arresting projections;
- said plurality of arresting projections of the second coupling element, in the coupled position of said first and second coupling elements, positively cooperating with a wall section confining the undercut of the first coupling element towards the coupling plane;
- said first and second coupling elements, in a ready-for-coupling rotational position with respect to an axis of rotation orthogonal to the coupling plane, being approachable towards each other in the direction of the axis of rotation until the respective contact faces abut each other, in which ready-for-coupling rotational position the plurality of arresting projections of the second coupling element and the wall section of the first coupling element do not overlap, and being rotatable relative to each other about the axis of rotation for establishing a positive overlapping of the plurality of arresting projections of the second coupling element and the wall section of the first coupling element, for bringing about the coupled position of said first and second coupling elements;
- a securing element provided on one of the first and second coupling elements, said securing element having a spring, said securing element being displaceable between a securing position and a non-securing position and, in the securing position, securing the first and second coupling elements in the coupled position against uncoupling relative rotation;
- the securing element having an abutment face which, in the course of an approaching motion of the first and second coupling elements in the direction of the axis of rotation, is engaged by the other of the first and second coupling elements and, following the further course of the approaching motion, causes a transfer of the securing element from the securing position to the non-securing position against the force of the spring;
- said other coupling element being provided with a securing recess into which the securing element snaps due to the action of the force of the spring upon relative rotation of said first and second coupling elements about the axis of rotation to the coupled position;
- and
- a locking element mounted on the securing element and being movable between a locking position and a release position and being biased into the locking position, said locking element, in the coupled position of the first and second coupling elements, preventing the displacement of the securing element out of the securing position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.