Coupling for controlling the angular offset between two road transport units connected to one another by a self-supporting intermediate unit

Claim 2

A composite articulated coupling for coupling a front module (A) and a successive module (B), said composite articulated coupling comprising: an intermediate module (C) being coupled to the front module (A) by a first pivoting articulation (D) and the intermediate module (C) and the front module (A) forming a first angle (β) therebetween, and the intermediate module (C) being coupled to the successive module (B) by a second pivoting articulation (E) and the intermediate module (C) and the successive module (B) forming a second angle (α) therebetween; wherein the composite articulated coupling further includes an angular offset control coupling which is at least partially supported by the intermediate module (C), the angular offset control coupling controls an angular orientation of the front module (A) relative to the successive module (B) according to a law of angular correction having a characteristic angular relationship curve, and the curve has a desensitized region (38) at a center thereof such that-when the second angle (α) is within a predetermined range the first angle (β) has a lower rate of change, and at least one transition zone such that when the second angle (α) is in the at least one transition zone the first angle (β) has a rate of change greater than the rate of change in the desensitized region.

Claim 3

The coupling for controlling angular offset according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined range is about 0° and the desensitized region (38) in the center is a region which is substantially flat.

Claim 4

The coupling for controlling angular offset according to claim 1, wherein extremities of the central region (38) are defined by at least opposed two transitional zones (39 and 40).

Claim 5

A composite articulated coupling for coupling a front module (A) and a successive module (B), said composite articulated coupling comprising: an intermediate module (C) being coupled to the front module (A) by a first pivoting articulation (D) and the intermediate module (C) and the front module (A) forming a first angle (β) therebetween, and the intermediate module (C) being coupled to the successive module (B) by a second pivoting articulation (E) and the intermediate module (C) and the successive module (B) forming a second angle (a) therebetween; wherein the composite articulated coupling further includes an angular offset control coupling which is at least partially supported by the intermediate module (C), the angular offset control coupling controls an angular orientation of the front module (A) relative to the successive module (B) according to a law of angular correction having a characteristic angular relationship curve, and the curve has a desensitized region (38) at a center thereof such that when the second angle (α) is within a predetermined range the first angle (β) has a lower rate of change, and at least one transition zone such that when the second angle (α) is in the at least one transition zone the first angle (β) has a rate of change greater than the rate of change in the desensitized region, and the angular offset control coupling also comprises an oblique rod (F) and a diverter (H) attached to a first one of the modules and controlled by an actuator (I) attached to a second one of modules.

Claim 6

A composite articulated coupling for coupling a front module (A) and a successive module (B), said composite articulated coupling comprising: an intermediate module (C) being coupled to the front module (A) by a first pivoting articulation (D) and the intermediate module (C) and the front module (A) forming a first angle (β) therebetween, and the intermediate module (C) being coupled to the successive module (B) by a second pivoting articulation (E) and the intermediate module (C) and the successive module (B) forming a second angle (a) therebetween; wherein the composite articulated coupling further includes an angular offset control coupling which is at least partially supported by the intermediate module (C), the angular offset control coupling controls an angular orientation of the front module (A) relative to the successive module (B) according to a law of angular correction having a characteristic angular relationship curve, and the curve has a desensitized region (38) at a center thereof such that when the second angle (α) is within a predetermined range the first angle (β) has a lower rate of change, and at least one transition zone such that when the second angle (α) is in the at least one transition zone the first angle (β) has a rate of change greater than the rate of change in the desensitized region, and the angular offset control coupling also comprises an oblique rod (F) and a diverter (H) attached to a first one of the modules and controlled by an actuator (I) attached to a second one of modules.

Claim 7

The coupling for controlling angular offset according to claim 4, wherein the actuator (I) is integral with the successive module (B).

Claim 8

The coupling for controlling angular offset according to claim 4, wherein the diverter (H) is a tilting unit pivotally articulated to a pivoting axle (L), and the diverter (H) cooperates with a controlling means for controlling the actuator (I).

Claim 9

The coupling for controlling angular offset according to claim 6, wherein the pivoting axle (L) between the pivoting articulations (D and E) is supported by the intermediate module (C).

Claim 10

The coupling for controlling angular offset according to claim 6, wherein the oblique control rod (F) is articulated between the front module (A) and the pivoting articulated tilting unit (diverter H).

Claim 11

The coupling for controlling angular offset according to claim 6, wherein the actuator (I) is a cam (13) and the control means for controlling the actuator (I) is a surface (5) of the cam (13).

Claim 12

The coupling for controlling angular offset according to claim 6, wherein the tilting articulated unit is triangular in shape.

Claim 13

The coupling for controlling angular offset according to claim 10, wherein the triangular shaped tilting articulated unit is a triangular element.

Claim 14

The coupling for controlling angular offset according to the claim 11, wherein a portion of the triangular element is displaced along the surface (5) of, the cam (13) by rolling elements (2, 3).

Claim 15

The coupling for controlling angular offset according to claim 12, wherein the rolling elements (2, 3) are on the base angles of the tilting element, and apexes of the rolling elements (2, ,3) comprise an articulation point (K) with one end of the oblique rod (F).

Claim 16

The coupling for controlling angular offset according to, claim 13, wherein the surface (5) of the cam (13) has two essentially symmetrical half-portions (15, 16) separated by a generally V-shaped central hollow (18), and each half-portion (15, 16) is formed successively, from the central hollow portion (18) toward an opposed end, of a sloped portion (19, 20) and a rounded circular portion (21, 22).

Claim 17

The coupling for controlling angular offset according to claim 14, wherein each rounded circular portion (21, 22) has a common center with an adjacent pivoting articulation (E).

Claim 18

The-coupling for controlling angular offset according to claim 12, wherein the articulated vehicle includes a series of coupled modules and each pair of coupled modules has an actuator (I) which is a surface (5) of the cam (13), and the exterior surface (5) of the cam (13) varies from one actuator (I) to another actuator (I) conveyed by the articulated vehicle.

Claim 19

The coupling for controlling angular offset according to claim 4, wherein the end of the oblique rod (F) articulated to one of the modules is articulated to the portion of a body of the pivoting articulation that is integral with said module.

Claim 20

The coupling for controlling angular offset according to claim 4, wherein the diverter (H) is formed by a pivoting rod (8) articulated about a pivoting axle (L) and an annexed rod (10) also pivotally attached to the axle (L).

Claim 21

The coupling for controlling angular offset according to claim 18, wherein one end of the pivoting rod (8) is equipped with rolling means (9) while an opposed end is connected to the articulated extremity (K) of the oblique transmission rod (F).

Claim 22

The coupling for controlling angular offset according to claim 18, wherein the pivoting rod (8) and the annexed rod (10) are coupled by a spring (12).

Claim 23

The coupling for controlling angular offset according to claim 14, wherein the diverter (H) is a pivoting plate (31) with an element which follows a guide path formed in the actuator.

Claim 24

The coupling for controlling angular offset according to claim 21, wherein the guide is a slot (34) and the guide element is a pin (33) held by the diverter (H).

Claim 25

The coupling for controlling angular offset according to claim 22, wherein a contour of the guide path is one of the generally symmetrical half-portions of the surface (5) of the cam (13).

Claim 26

The coupling for controlling angular offset according to claim 14, wherein the oblique rod (F) is a telescoping rod which has a length that can be controlled to activate the angular offset control coupling.