US4093080A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicular train
Assignee: INTERFUN HOLDING AG
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Filing: 1977-02-25
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Granted: 1978-06-06
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Expires: 1997-02-25
Abstract
Abstract A lead vehicle is hitched to a semitrailer-type follower vehicle by a universal coupling including a pair of generally horizontal arms, rigid with the respective vehicle bodies, which terminate in interfitted knuckles with part-spherical surfaces. The outer knuckle forms a pair of prongs firmly embraced by inner wall surfaces of a surrounding split housing whose halves, meeting in a vertical plane, are interconnected by a bolt carrying a spherically convex boss supporting the inner knuckle. The vehicles ride on a track transverse to the bolt axis, two sets of wheels of the lead vehicle being mounted on a pair of wheel mountings that are swingable about that axis and have extensions forming the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Anton Schwarzkopf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:28
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/08; B62D53/0807; B62D53/0835; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/01; B60D1/06; B60D1/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
In a vehicular train including a lead vehicle and a follower vehicle hitched to said lead vehicle by a universal coupling, each of said vehicles being provided with a wheeled body, the improvement wherein said coupling comprises: a pair of wheel mountings pivoted to the body of said lead vehicle on opposite sides thereof for swinging about a common axis transverse to the direction of vehicular motion; and a pair of generally horizontal arms rigid with the bodies of said vehicles, said arms extending in said direction and terminating in interfitted knuckles of spherical curvature centered on said axis, one of said knuckles forming a pair of spherically curved prongs resiliently embracing the other of said knuckles, said prongs being separated by a gap accommodating with clearance the arm of said other of said knuckles; and bracing means independent of said arms forming a spherically concave guide surface around said prongs, thereby preventing same from spreading.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
In a vehicular train including a lead vehicle and a follower vehicle hitched to said lead vehicle by a universal coupling, each of said vehicles being provided with a wheeled body, the improvement wherein said coupling comprises: a pair of wheel mountings pivoted to the body of said lead vehicle on opposite sides thereof for swinging about a common axis transverse to the direction of vehicular motion; and a pair of generally horizontal arms rigid with the bodies of said vehicles, said arms extending in said direction and terminating in interfitted knuckles of spherical curvature centered on said axis, one of said knuckles forming a pair of spherically curved prongs resiliently embracing the other of said knuckles, said prongs being separated by a gap accommodating with clearance the arm of said other of said knuckles; and bracing means independent of said arms forming a spherically concave guide surface around said prongs, thereby preventing same from spreading.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said wheel mountings are provided with extensions forming a housing about said knuckles, said bracing means being part of said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improvement defined in claim 2 wherein said other of said knuckles forms a ring with part-spherical internal and external peripheries, further comrising a spherically convex supporting member in said housing engaging the internal periphery of said ring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement defined in claim 3, further comprising a bolt traversing said housing, said supporting member being a boss on said bolt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement defined in claim 4 wherein said bolt is aligned with said axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improvement defined in claim 5 wherein said extensions form respective halves of said housing meeting in a substantially vertical plane, said halves being rigidly interconnected by said bolt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improvement defined in claim 8 further comprising ancillary spring-loaded tie means yieldably interconnecting said halves.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement defined in claim 1, further comprising ancillary flexible link means interconnecting said bodies.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said vehicles are railborne, said wheel mountings carrying rail-engaging support and guide wheels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
145 words
In a vehicular train including a lead vehicle and a follower vehicle hitched to said lead vehicle by a universal coupling, each of said vehicles being provided with a wheeled body, the improvement wherein said coupling comprises: a pair of wheel mountings pivoted to the body of said lead vehicle on opposite sides thereof for swinging about a common axis transverse to the direction of vehicular motion; a bolt centered on said axis interconnecting said wheel mountings with freedom of relative rotation about said axis; and a pair of generally horizontal arms rigid with the bodies of said vehicles extending in said direction, one of said arms terminating in an annular inner knuckle traversed by said bolt and provided with a spherically curved outer surface, the other of said arms terminating in an outer knuckle with a spherically curved inner surface surrounding said inner knuckle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
145 words
In a vehicular train including a lead vehicle and a follower vehicle hitched to said lead vehicle by a universal coupling, each of said vehicles being provided with a wheeled body, the improvement wherein said coupling comprises: a pair of wheel mountings pivoted to the body of said lead vehicle on opposite sides thereof for swinging about a common axis transverse to the direction of vehicular motion; a bolt centered on said axis interconnecting said wheel mountings with freedom of relative rotation about said axis; and a pair of generally horizontal arms rigid with the bodies of said vehicles extending in said direction, one of said arms terminating in an annular inner knuckle traversed by said bolt and provided with a spherically curved outer surface, the other of said arms terminating in an outer knuckle with a spherically curved inner surface surrounding said inner knuckle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improvement defined in claim 10 wherein said outer knuckle forms a pair of spherically curved prongs resiliently embracing said inner knuckles, said prongs being separated by a gap accommodating with clearance said one of said arms.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improvement defined in claim 11, further comprising bracing means rigid with said wheel mountings forming a spherically concave guide surface around said prongs for preventing same from spreading.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement defined in claim 10 wherein said inner knuckle has a part-spherical internal periphery, further comprising a spherically convex boss on said bolt engaging said internal periphery.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The improvement defined in claim 10, further comprising ancillary flexible link means interconnecting said bodies, said wheel mountings having eyes traversed by said link means for guiding the latter and limiting a separation of said wheel mountings upon failure of said bolt.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-06-05 | 1981-12-05 | 1982-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-06-05 | 1985-12-05 | 1986-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-06-05 | 1989-12-05 | 1990-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |