Dr. Ing. H.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft

Gunter Helsper

Volker Kramer

A vehicle, especially an automotive utility vehicle, of the type having a motor driven vehicle unit and a towable complementary unit, such as the type utilized for fire fighting or rescue operations, is provided with an improved arrangement for coupling of the complementary unit to the vehicle unit which can be rapidly coupled to or disconnected, and which will minimize transmission of torsional forces to the vehicle frame when coupling of a vehicle that is out of alignment with the complementary unit. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the arrangement includes a centering device that has conically surfaced members on both the vehicle and complementary unit, an elastic member which enables pivoting of the conically surfaced member of the complementary unit and its draft element during introduction thereof into the centering member of the vehicle, and a securing arrangement for firmly retaining the centering member of the complementary unit in a fully connected, rigidly coupled configuration.

Growing community of inventors

Munchingen, Germany

Gunter Helsper