APPARATUS FOR ALIGNING CO-ACTING HITCH MEMBERS ON RESPECTIVE SEPARATE VEHICLES

摘要

1406320 Apparatus for facilitating coupling of a towing vehicle to a trailer M I SALMI 3 Nov 1972 [3 Nov 1971] 48982/72 Heading B7T Apparatus for facilitating coupling of a towing vehicle 12 having a ball hitch member 14 to a trailer 16 having a socket hitch member 18 comprises on the trailer a housing 22 which contains a pulley 64 on an axle 62 and which is biased by a spring 66 to wind a line 24 thereonto, the line having at its free end an attachment member 26 for connection with a hook on vehicle 12 when coupling is to be carried out and which with the aid of sensing means 58 and 32 which detect the relative horizontal and vertical positions of the hitch members serves to guide the approach of the towing vehicle to the trailer. The means 32 consists of a parallelogram of pivoted members 34, 42, 46 and 52 which after spirit level member 42 has neen set to the horizontal and the members clamped to prevent pivoting detects movement of the line 24 from the horizontal and therefore vertical deviation between the towing vehicle and trailer. The movement from the horizontal is detected by mercury switch member 46 and conductors 48 to transmit a signal to indicating means in the drivers view and/or a jack 20 to raise or lower the trailer and return the line to the horizontal. Horizontal deviation between the hitch members is detected by means 58 due to movement of the line 24 in the horizontal plane which will cause either of pivoted arms 92, 94, to actuate a limit switch 114 or 116 and send a signal indicating the deviation to the drivers view. The sensitivity of means 58 is increased as the towing vehicle approaches the trailer since axle 62 drives a parallel axle 74 by belt 70 and causes the latter axle to move vertically, placing a V-shaped member 80 between the line 24 and levers 92, 94 Fig. 7 (not shown). The distance between the towing vehicle and trailer is detected by limitswitches 84, 86 having detectors 88, 90 which extend into the pulley, switch 84 being first actuated as the line is wound on to the pulley to give a warning to the driver, and switch 86 being actuated second to actuate a stop signal.