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US 9,878,728 B2Granted
Coupler
AssigneeT A Savery & Co., LTD
InventorEdward Stroud
Life of this patent
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AssigneeT A Savery & Co., LTD
InventorEdward Stroud
Estimating the term…
A coupler pivot. A coupler (10) comprises at least a first gimbal (31; 32) defining a pivot that is secured to a mounting (41) for securing to a frame member of a vehicle, the pivot also being secured to a buffer column (39) part of which protrudes on an opposite side of the pivot to the mounting (41) such that the buffer column (39) is moveable relative to the mounting (41) with at least two degrees of freedom. The buffer column (39) defines a free (42) end that is remote from the mounting (41) and that is securable to a further member. The buffer column (39) also includes both a reversible buffer that attenuates buff and draft forces acting between the free end (42) and the mounting (41) and also a non-reversible buffer that attenuates buff forces acting between the free end (42) and the mounting (41) and attaining or exceeding a predetermined energy threshold, the reversible and non-reversible buffers overlapping over at least part of their lengths in the buffer column (39) which in turn overlaps at least one of the pivots.
A coupler comprising at least a first gimbal defining a pivot that is secured to a mounting for securing to a frame member of a vehicle, wherein the pivot additionally includes a second gimbal and wherein the axes of the gimbals are mutually orthogonal, the pivot also being secured to a buffer column that protrudes on an opposite side of the pivot to the mounting such that the buffer column is moveable relative to the mounting with at least two degrees of freedom, the buffer column defining a free end that is remote from the mounting and that is securable to a further member and the buffer column including both a reversible buffer that attenuates buff and draft forces acting between the free end and the mounting and also a non-reversible buffer that attenuates buff forces acting between the free end and the mounting and attaining or exceeding a predetermined energy threshold, the reversible and non-reversible buffers overlapping over at least part of their lengths in the buffer column that also overlaps at least one of the pivots.
A coupler according to any preceding claim wherein the non-reversible buffer includes a plastically deformable, hollow tube defined by at least one tube wall having formed therein a tube taper that tapers in a direction towards the mounting;
A coupler according to any preceding claim wherein the non-reversible buffer includes or is operatively connected to a tell-tale that provides a visible indication of whether the non-reversible buffer has been activated.
A coupler according to any preceding claim wherein the reversible buffer includes two or more relatively moveable draft attenuation members such that the reversible buffer is moveable between an intermediate and an extended configuration, the reversible buffer including between the draft attenuation members one or more resiliently deformable members that attenuate draft forces.
A coupler according to any preceding claim the free end of which includes one or more coupler formations for securing the coupler pivot to a said further member.
A vehicle including secured thereto the mounting of a coupler pivot according to any preceding claim.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.