Westfalia-automotive Gmbh

Stefan Röring

Bernhard Sielhorst

Hakan Cakici

Martin Düker

A sensor device for a towing vehicle coupling or as a component of a towing vehicle coupling, with which a trailer vehicle, in particular a semi-trailer, can be coupled to a towing vehicle wherein the towing vehicle coupling has a coupling element for detachably coupling a coupling counter element, which are/can be secured to the towing vehicle and the trailer vehicle, and in the coupled state forming a joint, where they can rotate relative to one another about at least one joint rotational axis, wherein the sensor device has a follower, which is mounted on a bearing body where it can rotate relative to the coupling element about a follower rotational axis, which can rotate about the follower rotational axis by rotationally following the coupling counter element in a rotation about the at least one joint rotational axis, and which is for detecting a rotation of the coupling counter element relative to the coupling element about the at least one joint rotational axis, and wherein the sensor device has at least one sensor for detecting a respective rotational position of the follower relative to the bearing body in relation to the follower rotational axis. The follower is mounted such that it moves relative to the coupling element for providing or maintaining a follower coupling to the coupling counter element with at least one degree of freedom of movement that is different to the rotatability about the follower rotational axis.

Sensor device for a towing vehicle coupling

The invention relates to a load carrier coupling () for the releasable securing of a rear load carrier (), which has a supporting base () for placing a load thereon, on a coupling body (), configured in particular as a coupling ball, of a motor vehicle trailer coupling (), wherein the load carrier coupling () has a base () which forms the supporting base () or is provided for holding the supporting base (), wherein a clamping device () comprising two clamping parts () is arranged on the base () and is adjustable by an actuating device () between an open position (O) provided for inserting the coupling body () into an intermediate space between the clamping parts () and for removing the coupling body () from the intermediate space and a clamping position (K) provided for clamping the coupling body (), wherein the clamping parts () are at a greater distance from each other in the open position (O) for the insertion and removal of the coupling body () than in the clamping position (K). At least one of the clamping parts () is mounted movably with respect to a stop surface () using a bearing arrangement () having at least two degrees of freedom of movement (S, S, S) which differ from one another, and therefore said clamping part is adjustable by the coupling body (), which is supported on the other clamping part (), for alignment with the coupling body () during a final portion of movement of the clamping device () in order to take up the clamping position (K) with respect to the stop surface ().

Load carrier coupling

Disclosed is a sensor device for a towing vehicle coupling or as a component of a towing vehicle coupling, in particular a fifth-wheel coupling, with which a trailer vehicle can be coupled to a towing vehicle wherein the towing vehicle coupling has a coupling element for detachably coupling to a coupling counter element, in particular a fifth-wheel king pin, wherein the coupling element is/can be secured to the towing vehicle and the coupling counter element is/can be secured to the trailer vehicle, and in the coupled state forming a joint, they can rotate relative to one another about at least one joint rotational axis, wherein the sensor device has a follower, mounted on a bearing body such that it can rotate about a follower rotational axis, for detecting a rotation of the coupling counter element relative to the coupling element about the at least one joint rotational axis wherein the follower can rotate about the follower rotational axis by rotationally following the coupling counter element in a rotation about the at least one joint rotational axis, and the sensor device has at least one sensor for detecting a respective rotational position of the follower relative to the bearing body in relation to the follower rotational axis. The follower is arranged outside a bearing region of the joint, in which the coupling element and the coupling counter element are engaged with one another in a bearing manner, and the at least one sensor is arranged inside the follower and/or the follower forms a protective housing for the at least one sensor.

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Bielefeld, Germany

Stefan Röring