DESCRIPTION Technical Field

The present invention relates to a mono-block tow coupler plate allowing a standard cylindrical tow coupler or a ball tow coupler to be attached to tow coupler area of the superstructure on tanker trailers carrying liquid manure in the agriculture and stockbreeding industry.

Background of the Invention

Tanker trailers fitted with a ball tow coupler carrying organic manure are treated as farming equipment and exempted from certain taxes in Europe. In the current art, when ball tow couplers are attached to tow plates with standard cylindrical tow couplers, tow coupler plates are deformed and cannot be used again due to the change in the location of the force applied by the truck on the trailer.

In current practice ball tow couplers are tried to be fabricated by welding struts to the tank and tank connections. However lacking analysis and verification, this practice involves risk for tankers.

A literature screening revealed similar applications related to structures allowing a standard cylindrical tow coupler or a ball tow coupler to be attached to the tow coupler area of the superstructure on tanker trailers carrying liquid manure in the agriculture and stockbreeding industry.

The invention semi-automatic car trailer coupler constituting the subject of utility model bearing application number TR2005/01306 operates as follows. Coupler shaft is first pulled upwards by exerting force. Then it is pushed forward. This operation moves the housing spring that presses the towing hitch. The spring releases the hitch housing and uncouples the hitch from the coupler body. Thus the trailer is uncoupled from the car. These steps shall be repeated to couple the trailer back with the car.

The patent with publication number EP2540573B1 , related to a load carrier with a coupler device to attachment to a towing hitch of a motor vehicle, is fitted with a rack gearbox and/or a bevel gearbox. A tensioning bow is tensioned on the towing hitch of the motor vehicle, pressing the pintle hook to secure the towing hitch. Towing hitch is rotated and tensioned by the pivoting movement of a lever which acts as a control level, forming and adjustment region. Pivoting movement of the lever can be transferred to the coupler mechanism through a transmission element. In conclusion, various improvements are made regarding mono-block tow coupler plates allowing a standard cylindrical tow coupler or a ball tow coupler to be attached to the tow coupler area of the superstructure on tanker trailers carrying liquid manure in the agriculture and stockbreeding industry. Thus new structures eliminating above mentioned disadvantages and improving current systems are needed. Objective of Invention

The present invention relates to a mono-block tow coupler plate allowing a standard cylindrical tow coupler or a ball tow coupler to be attached to the tow coupler area of the superstructure on tanker trailers carrying liquid manure in the agriculture and stockbreeding industry, that will meet all requirements and eliminate all disadvantages described in the foregoing and introduce additional advantages.

Primary objective of present invention is to fabricate a mono-block trailer tow coupler plate that is compatible both with a standard cylindrical tow coupler or a ball tow coupler. One other objective of present invention is to supply a tow coupler plate, compatible both with a standard cylindrical tow coupler or a ball tow coupler as well as adverse road conditions, designed to bear loads exerted by ball tow coupler.

Another objective of present invention is to avoid vertical loads to be exerted on standard tow couplers by plates on tractor trucks. Present invention allows loads exerted by plates on tractor trucks to be dispersed on the large surface of tow plate of the trailer.

A further objective of present invention is to direct loads exerted by the tractor truck to the ball tow coupler, when it is attached, to be transferred entirely to the center of the tow plate from the narrow surface of ball tow coupler. The tow plate shall not be deformed under this load. Tow coupler plate that constitutes the subject of present invention is strong enough to bear this entire load.

Another objective of present invention is to provide a high quality, serviceable structure. Present invention comprises a tow coupler plate incorporating a plate body with tow coupler housing, attached to the tow coupler area of the superstructure on tanker trailers carrying liquid manure in the agriculture and stockbreeding industry, with a view to fulfilling above mentioned objectives, as well as the following components to bear forces exerted on the plate body by ball tow couplers and cylindrical tow couplers;

• A minimum of two brackets located against each other on the upper surface of plate body, around tow coupler housing,

• A minimum of one upper housing bracket located between the aforementioned brackets, crossing the center of the housing,

• A minimum of one upper housing side bracket located between the aforementioned brackets, crossing the center of the housing,

• A minimum of two side guide plates, located between the end points of said brackets, in a way to enable their large surface to contact the end points of brackets and their narrow surface to contact upper surface of plate body.

Upper housing bracket and upper housing side bracket must be positioned perpendicularly or diagonally in order to achieve the objectives of present invention. The bracket, upper housing bracket and upper housing side bracket are fabricated of hollow profiles.

A metal sheet connecting upper housing side bracket to upper housing bracket is installed on upper housing side bracket in order to achieve the objectives of present invention.

Plate body incorporates a mounting hole to connect tow coupler plate to tow coupler area of the superstructure in order to achieve the objectives of present invention. Additionally, plate body incorporates more than one stopper, bearing the shear forces exerted on fasteners attaching plate body to tow coupler area of the superstructure.

Diagrams Describing Invention Diagram-1 , general perspective view of tow coupler plate.

Diagram-2, another general perspective view of tow coupler plate. Diagram-3, plan perspective view of tow coupler plate.

Diagram-4, plan view of tow coupler plate. Diagram-5, plan view of an alternative configuration of tow coupler plate.

Diagram-6, detailed view of tow coupler area of the superstructure and plate body that is located in that area.

Diagram-7, general view of the trailer and tow coupler area of the superstructure as well as the position of tow coupler plate on the trailer.

Drawings are not necessarily scaled and details that are not absolutely required to describe present invention might have been omitted. Additionally components that are substantially identical or that have substantially identical functions are referred to under the same number.

Description of References

A. Tow coupler plate

1. Plate body

1.1. Mounting hole

1.2. Upper surface

2. Stopper

3. Tow coupler housing

3.1 Center of housing

4. Side guide plate

4.1 Large surface

4.2 Narrow surface

5. Bracket

5.1 End point of bracket

6. Upper housing bracket

7. Upper housing side bracket

8. Metal sheet

9. Ball tow coupler

10. Cylindrical tow coupler

B. Tow coupler area of superstructure

C. Tanker trailer Detailed Description of Invention

Present invention relates to a mono-block tow coupler plate (A) allowing a standard cylindrical tow coupler (9) or a ball tow coupler (10) to be attached to the tow coupler area of the superstructure (B) on tanker trailers (C) carrying liquid manure in the agriculture and stockbreeding industry.

Present invention relates to a mono-block tow coupler plate (A) allowing a standard cylindrical tow coupler (9) or a ball tow coupler (10) to be attached to the tow coupler area of the superstructure (B) on tanker trailers (C) carrying liquid manure in the agriculture and stockbreeding industry, incorporating a plate body with a tow coupler housing (3), a minimum of two brackets (5) located against each other on the upper surface (1 .2) of plate body (1 ), around tow coupler housing (3) to bear forces exerted on the plate body (1 ) by ball tow couplers and cylindrical tow coupler s (9), a minimum of one upper housing bracket (6) located between the aforementioned brackets (5), crossing the center of the housing (3.1 ), a minimum of one upper housing side bracket (7) located between the aforementioned brackets (5), crossing the center of the housing (3.1 ) and a minimum of two side guide plates (4), located between the end points (5.1 ) of said brackets (5), in a way to enable their large surface (4.1 ) to contact the end points of brackets (5.1 ) and their narrow surface (4.2) to contact upper surface (1 .2) of plate body (1 ).

As seen in Diagram-1 , the tow coupler plate (A) that constitutes the subject of present invention incorporates a plate body (1 ) that is attached to tow coupler area of the superstructure (B). Multiple mounting holes (1 .1 ) are provided on the plate body (1 ) to fasten tow coupler plate (A) to tow coupler area of the superstructure detachably.

As seen in Diagram-1 , multiple stoppers (2) are provided on the plate body (1 ) to bear shear forces exerted on fasteners attaching plate body (1 ) to tow coupler area (B) of the superstructure. A tow coupler housing (3), attaching a ball tow coupler (9) or cylindrical tow coupler (10) to plate body (1 ) is welded under the plate body (1 ). A ball tow coupler (9) allowing a trailer (C) with ball tow housing to be towed by a tractor is located on the tow coupler housing (3). Instead of ball tow coupler (9), a cylindrical tow coupler (10) allowing a trailer (C) with cylindrical tow housing to be towed by a tractor may be used.

As seen in Diagram-1 , a minimum of one bracket (5) is located on the upper surface (1 .2) of plate body (1 ) to bear forces exerted on the plate body (1 ) by ball tow coupler s and cylindrical tow couplers (9, 10). Two brackets (5) are located on upper surface (1 .2) of plate body (1 ), preferably parallel to each other. A minimum of one upper housing bracket (6) is welded to tow coupler housing (3) from above and attached to said brackets (5) to bear forces exerted on the plate body (1 ) by ball tow couplers and cylindrical tow couplers (9, 10). This housing incorporates a minimum of one upper housing side bracket (7) positioned perpendicularly to upper bracket (6) to bear forces exerted on the plate body (1 ) by ball tow couplers and cylindrical tow couplers (9, 10). A metal sheet (8) is located on upper housing (7) side bracket, welded to upper housing side bracket (7) and upper housing bracket (6), attaching these two brackets to each other. Diagrams 3, 4 and 5 provide plan views of tow coupler plate (A).

As seen in Diagram-1 , a minimum of one side guide plate (4) is welded on plate body (1 ) of the tow coupler plate (A) constituting the subject of present invention, attaching brackets (5), upper housing side bracket (7) and/or upper housing bracket (6), that bear forces exerted on the plate body (1 ), to each other.

The tow coupler plate (A) constituting the subject of present invention operates as follows based on the information provided in the foregoing. As seen in Diagram-6 and Diagram-7, the tow coupler plate (A), constituting the subject of present invention incorporates a plate body (1 ) attached to tow coupler area of the superstructure (B). Tow coupler plate (A) is connected detachably to tow coupler area of the superstructure on tanker trailers (C) carrying liquid manure in the agriculture and stockbreeding industry through mounting holes (1 .1 ) located on said plate body (1 ). A tow coupler housing (3) is welded on the plate body (1 ), to which a ball tow coupler (9) or a cylindrical tow coupler (10) is attached. A ball tow coupler (9) allowing a trailer (C) with ball tow housing to be towed by a tractor is secured detachably to the tow coupler housing (3) by fasteners. Instead of ball tow coupler (9), a cylindrical tow coupler (10) allowing a trailer (C) with cylindrical tow housing to be towed by a tractor may be used.

Brackets (5), upper housing bracket (6) and upper housing side bracket (7) located on the upper surface (1 .2) of plate body (1 ) bear forces exerted on the plate body (1 ) by ball tow coupler (9) or cylindrical tow coupler (10).