US 6,179,319 B2Granted

Tractor-trailer

AssigneeRockinger Spezialfabrik f{umlaut over (u)}r Anhangerkupplungen GmbH & Co.

InventorsRoman Malisch, Alois Knopf, Udo Szczepanek, Gottfried Ogris

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Abstract

A tractor-trailer (10) comprises a tractor (12) and a trailer (14), a trailer coupling (12b) and a supply coupling (16/18) between the two component vehicles (12, 14) with a tractor-side coupling half (16) and a trailer-side coupling half (18), which can be coupled together by bringing them together along a predefined coupling axis (K). One of the coupling halves (16) is connected to the supply unit of the associated first component vehicle (12) through a flexible supply line (16d). To establish the coupled state between the two coupling halves (16, 18), an actuator (20) is arranged on the first component vehicle (12) that moves the first coupling half (16) toward the second coupling half (18) and joins the one to the other along the predefined coupling axis (K). The first coupling half (16) is arranged on the actuator (20) such that it can be oriented in all spatial directions at least within predetermined limits.

Claims54

Dependent claims

A tractor-trailer comprising:

first and second component vehicles,
a trailer coupling forming an articulated push/pull connection between the first and second component vehicles;
a supply coupling between the first and second component vehicles having a first coupling half and a second coupling half that are adapted to be coupled together by bringing the coupling halves together along a predefined coupling axis, the first coupling half being connected to a supply unit of the first component vehicle through a flexible supply line and, when coupled to the second coupling half, being movable relative to the first component vehicle in such a way that relative motions of the first and second component vehicles are essentially unhindered;
an actuator arranged on the first component vehicle that moves the first coupling half toward the second coupling half and joins the coupling halves one to the other along the predefined coupling axis, the first coupling half being arranged on the actuator such that it can be oriented in all spatial directions within predetermined limits;
and
first securing means for making it more difficult to remove the first coupling half from the coupling axis in at least one direction after said coupling half has been positioned on the coupling axis.

3 more elements

A tractor-trailer comprising:

first and second component vehicles,
a trailer coupling forming an articulated push/pull connection between the first and second component vehicles;
a supply coupling between the first and second component vehicles having a first coupling half and a second coupling half that are adapted to be coupled together by bringing the coupling halves together along a predefined coupling axis, the first coupling half being connected to a supply unit of the first component vehicle through a flexible supply line and, when coupled to the second coupling half, being movable relative to the first component vehicle in such a way that relative motions of the first and second component vehicles are essentially unhindered;
and
an actuator arranged on the first component vehicle that moves the first coupling half toward the second coupling half and joins the coupling halves one to the other along the predefined coupling axis, the first coupling half being arranged on the actuator such that it can be oriented in all spatial directions within predetermined limits, the actuator comprising a robot arm articulated from the first component vehicle and having at least two arm sections that can rotate relative to one another, the first coupling half being receivable on the free end of the robot arm.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.