EP0161472A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for controlling the relative angle between two parts of a semitrailer vehicle
Assignee: AUTOTRASPORTI PADOVA ATP SpA
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Filing: 1985-04-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-04-05
Abstract
Abstract @ This device controls the relative angle between two parts of a semitrailer vehicle, particularly in the instance of a vehicle comprising a tractor (1) towing a semitrailer (4) connected to it by means of a vestibular swivel base (5), such as with large passenger transport road vehicles. The device comprises a pair of pistons (13,14) interconnecting the main frames of the parts or units (1, 4) which make up the vehicle, said pistons being located at the region of the swivel base symmetrically about the swivel axis thereof. A steering angle detecting system (8, 9; 22-26) controls the front steering wheels of the tractor (1) and those of the semitrailer (4) which are also of the steering type, and on detecting that the steering angle of the semitrailer (4) exceeds the tractor (1) steering angle, activates the hydraulic circuit connecting the two pistons (13; 14) to prevent said angle from increasing.
Inventors
- 👤 Guido Terranova
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:50
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/08; B62D53/0871
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A device for controlling the relative angle between two parts making up an articulated vehicle, includirsg a tractor unit puling an auto-steering semitrailer through a connection swivel base, characterised in that it comprises a pair of pistons (13,14) arranged symmetrically to the swivel base (5) between the tractor (1) and semitrailer (4), also provided being a surge tank (21) for accommodating the varying volumes of fluid being displaced, connection circuits between the pistons and surge tank including shutter valves (15-18) controlled by an electronic system (8,9; 22-26) for detecting the steering angle between the tractor and semitrailer, said shutter valves (15-18) being operated when the angle between the semitrailer (4) longitudinal direction and longitudinal directions of the semitrailer steering wheels has opposed sign value but a higher absolute value than the angle between the tractor longitudinal direction and longitudinal directions of the respective front wheels or when the two angles have the same sign.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
154 words
A device for controlling the relative angle between two parts making up an articulated vehicle, includirsg a tractor unit puling an auto-steering semitrailer through a connection swivel base, characterised in that it comprises a pair of pistons (13,14) arranged symmetrically to the swivel base (5) between the tractor (1) and semitrailer (4), also provided being a surge tank (21) for accommodating the varying volumes of fluid being displaced, connection circuits between the pistons and surge tank including shutter valves (15-18) controlled by an electronic system (8,9; 22-26) for detecting the steering angle between the tractor and semitrailer, said shutter valves (15-18) being operated when the angle between the semitrailer (4) longitudinal direction and longitudinal directions of the semitrailer steering wheels has opposed sign value but a higher absolute value than the angle between the tractor longitudinal direction and longitudinal directions of the respective front wheels or when the two angles have the same sign.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device according to Claim 1, characterised in that said pistons (13,14) are of the double-acting type and mounted such that the ends work, the one on the main frame (10) of the tractor (1) and the other on the main frame of the semitrailer (4).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device accordin.g to Claim 1, characterised in that said pistons (13,14) have a sufficient stroke length to never use up their stroke length for any relative angles between the tractor and semitrailer.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
18 words
A device according to the preeeding claims, characterised in that said pistons (13,14) are connected to ball joints.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the two chambers (13a,13b resp. 14a,14b) of each piston (13 resp. 14) are connected hydraulically to the chambers (14b,14a resp. 13b,13a) of the other piston (14 resp. 13) with cross connections.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device according to Claim 1, characterised in that for each hydraulic connection between the chambers, there are provided a pair of one-way valves (15,16 resp. 17,18) and one high pressure shutter valve (18 resp. 19), said valves being controlled by an electronic control errangement (25).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A device according to Claim 1, characterised in that said electronic arrangement comprises a pair of potentiometer transducers (8,9) respectively connected to the tractor (1) steering system and to the steering system for the semitrailer (4) rear wheels, said transducers being adapted to detect a signal proportional to said steering angles.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
43 words
A device according to Claims 1 and 7, characterised in that it comprises comparator members (25) connected to said transducer pair (8,9) and being input with said steering angles to check their signs and the difference in absolute value of the detected angles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the control effects substantially the blocking of that way of fluid flow between the two chambers of the two pistons in the direction which would enhance the phenomenon of increasing the difference in relative angle between the tractor and semitrailer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device according to Claim 1, characterised in that travel end stops are provided substantially mounted at the swivel base area (5) for disengagement of the device as the steering angle reaches a limit value, when the vehicle is moving at low speed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device according to Claim 1, characterised in that a manual bypass means is provided which may be operated by the driver.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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