A CONTACT MEMBER

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a contact member for trucks/trailers, comprising a body member connected to a cord including conductors for pressurized air and also electrical power, said body including an ergonomic handle portion and a connector portion, said connector portion including a front face provided with connector devices, wherein a first set of said of said connector devices is in the form of at least one transfer opening to provide for interconnection of pressurized air and a second set of said connector devices is in the form of a plurality connecting devices provided for interconnection of power.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

When transferring electricity, electrical signals, pressurized gas, hydraulic fluid, or the like, different forms of elongated flexible conductors are used. Usually a separate conductor is used for each media to be transferred between two units. When there are several conductors it happens that the conductors become entangled with each other. In particular, this is a problem when the conductors extend between two units, which are movable or displaceable in relation to each other. In this case, the risk for entanglement increases, as well as the problems of entanglement, such as an increase of the mechanical wear of the conductors, but the conductors may also come off from the units, or a fluid conductor may for example be bent, such that the transfer of fluid is blocked. Entanglement of the conductors with each other also complicates connecting and disconnecting the conductors to the units.

The problem has been partially solved by the arrangement shown in WO 2005102744. However, also this known arrangement presents some disadvantages, especially relating to the contact member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a solution that minimizes disadvantages known in connection with use of known contact member.

This object is achieved with a contact member according to claim 1, whereby there is provided a contact member adapted to be used together with electrical conductors and fluid conductors between a truck and an associated trailer, that can meet very high user

demands regarding reliability, safety and ease of handle. Thus a faster and safer connection of the contact member is allowed. Furthermore the cost for manufacturing of the contact members may decreases, since it facilitates need of a smaller number of contact members for several conductors, that conventionally have a member each. Preferably one contact member is arranged to connect all conductors.

Further advantages of the invention may be achieved with the use of aspects of the dependent claim.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in connection with a number of non- limiting examples of the invention, and with reference to the attached drawings, wherein;.

Fig.1 shows a first embodiment of device according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of a device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In figures 1 and 2 there is shown a contact member according to the invention. The contact member comprises a rigid or semi rigid body 1 that is attached to a cord 2, comprising the different supply lines (not shown). The body 1 comprises a handle portion 11 and a connector portion 10. The handle portion 11 is formed to provide an ergonomically grip able handle for easy and exact handling of the contact member. In the preferred embodiment this resides in the handle portion 11 having a substantially circular cross- sectional outer surface with a diameter adapted to be ergonomically grip able and having a somewhat larger diameter adjacent the end portion 1 IA where the cord 2 is introduced. The contact member 10 has a front face 12 that is substantially flat and the normal of the plane of said flat surface forms an angle α in relation to the extension of the handle 11. The angle α is preferably in the range of 30 - 90°, more preferred 70 - 90°.

At one of the sides along the front face 12 there is a first attachment device 3, which protrudes to form a securable pivot point for the contact member in interaction with the other contact part (not shown). Along the opposite long side of the front face 12 there is provided a second attachment device 4, in the form of a forwardly extending, slightly curved, protruding wall member 4. The wall member 4 is shaped to form a releasable snap-in portion, here in the shape of a kind of a valley 40, that extends in parallel with

the long side of the wall member 4, and that is faced towards the center of the front face 12. Hence there is one portion 40 of the wall member 4 that is concave, seen from the center of the front face 12. Further out from that concavely shaped first portion 40 there is a second portion 42 that is curved in the opposite direction, such that the front edge 43 of said wall member 4 is positioned at a distance that is farther away from a center line L than an intermediate portion 44, forming a transition zone between the differently curved portions 40, 42 of the wall member 4. Thanks to this design the wall member 4 may be easily snapped onto and over a correspondingly formed object on the other contact member (not shown) to safely retain the contact member once in position. Accordingly the shape of the front wall member 4 provides a gap underneath the front edge 43 that will give some margin to easily connect the two members and thereafter the converging portion 42, from the edge 43 to the transition zone 44 will assist in steering the contact member into exact position, where after the resilient action of the protruding wall 4 will achieve an interlocking snapping-in in relation to the interacting attachment device (not shown) of the other contact member.

Within the area of front face 12 there are arranged two supply openings 5, 6 to supply pressurized air via the cord/cable 2. These openings 5, 6 are positioned within an area 12A that is delimited by a barrier device 7 that protrudes out from the surface 12. The barrier member 7 encloses/delimits more than 50% of the front facing surface 12, to form an inner, moisture and dust protected area 12 A.

Within this first moisture and dust protected inner area 12A there are also positioned a number of connector openings 8A, to provide for transmission of electrical signals, e.g. to/from sensors and other control means and to supply power. Contrary to conventional contact members the connectors 8 A are in the form of female members, which provides the advantage that the movable part of the contact member (i.e. the handle 1) will not present any protruding contact members that may be damaged during movement of the contact member 1. Instead the male contact members are arranged on the fixed unit of the contact member (not shown) which is more easily protected by suitable covers, due to the fact that it is not loosely movable. Further this also provides the advantage that connection of the contact member 1 with the fixed contact member (not shown) will more easily be achieved since the connector openings 8A are formed as longitudinal slits 8A which are extending in parallel with the plane within which the pivoting action is performed when the contact member 1 is pivoted around its first attachment device 3 to interconnect with the second attachment device 4. Accordingly the protruding contact members of the fixed device (not shown) will easily and successively slide into contact

with the slit formed openings 8A thanks to the pivoting motion around the first attachment device 3. Moreover as shown in the figures, it may be advantageous to apply a fewer number of connector openings 8A in a first row being closer to the pivot point 3 than in a second and/or third row being further away from the pivot point 3, since the first row of openings 8A will more easily assist in steering the contact member 1 into its correct position during the pivoting motion whereafter the second row with a larger number of connector openings 8 A will be exactly positioned to facilitate easy and exact fitting of the second row of protruding connectors into a second row of connector openings 8A.

Further there is shown a second moisture and dust protected inner area 12B, which also is encircled by barrier 7 A, that is positioned besides the first barrier 7. Within this second inner area 12B there are also positioned a number of connector openings 8B having the same shape of the openings as the first connector openings 8 A. Further there is shown that there are positioned two lamps 9 within this area 12B, which lamps 9 are intended to provide illumination, e.g. during attachment of the contact member 1.

In fig. 1 there is also shown that there is a number of control lamps 2A, 2B, 2C, which are intended to signal correct function of specifically chosen systems, e.g. the brake system, extra equipment and/or lights.

As can be noted when comparing Figs. 1 and 2 the positioning of the first attachment parts 3 may be chosen to be positioned either at the lower side (Fig.l) or the upper side (Fig. 2) along the long side of the front face 12. As is evident this provides for the possibility to either pivot from below and upwardly (Fig.l) or to pivot from above and downwards (Fig.2), which may be a matter of choice depending on the surrounding design of the trailer to which the contact member 1 is to be connected. Accordingly sometimes the surrounding design makes it more preferable to pivot from below and sometimes it may be more preferable to pivot from above. In any case there are many common features, e.g. that the attachment devices 3, 4 are positioned in parallel with the long sides of the front face 12 and that they provide for a pivoting motion in a plane perpendicular to the extension of said long sides to thereby provide easy interconnection with the connector openings 8 A, 8B.

In an example the invention is used with, a first vehicle unit in the form of a truck (not shown), a second vehicle unit in the form of a trailer (not shown) associated with the truck, and six conductor devices within the cord 2, namely three electrical cables, one

cable comprising control conduits and two conductors of pressurized air, are shown. The conductors thus transfer electrical power, control signals and pressurized air from the truck to the trailer in order for the trailer to be able to perform the desired functions. For trucks and trailers according to conventional prior art these five conductors are separate from each other and large problems have arisen with entanglement of the conductors with each other, and regarding connection of each one of the conductors.

The contact member 1 of the invention is arranged to connect all conductors to the trailer. The contact member 1 is thus a multi-contact member, connecting both the electrical conductors, signal conductors and the fluid conductors. The truck is thus adapted to the contact member of the device, such that the truck and the contact member fit together. This gives the advantage that the conductors may be held together by the cord body 2 the entire way to the truck, protecting the conductors for a longer distance, and that the risk for entanglement decreases further.

In an alternative embodiment the cord 2 may comprise two contact members arranged at each end of it, and which both are connecting all conductors.

The contact member further comprises lamps 9 arranged to illuminate the area in front of the contact member 1. The lamps 9 thus illuminate a corresponding second, complementing contact member of one of said units, to which the contact member 1 is to be connected. This is advantageous for example during the night or when the second contact member is situated in a narrow, dark space. The lamp 9 may be lighted through a pressure on a button, but the lamp may also be lighted automatically in dependent on desired criteria.

The contact member further comprises indicators 2A - 2C arranged to emit an information signal, e.g. upon established connection between the units via the conductors. In this example the indicators 2A - 2C are in the form of control lamps 2 A - 2C, arranged to become lighted when a predefined state occurs, e.g. the conductors are connected between the units. The user thus receives a confirmation that a connection has been established. An established connection may be detected by for example measuring the resistance or current of an electrical conductor or the pressure of a fluid conductor. Such sensors may be arranged both in connection with the two units and with the device itself. Thus the user connecting the contact member to the first or the second unit receives a confirmation that a secure connection has been established. Thus

the security increases for the user and the risk for leakage or disruption of signals decreases.

The contact member further comprises an indicator 2C of wear, or malfunction, of the connection for pressurized air. This comprises a lamp 2C and a pressure guard 13. The pressure guard 13 is in this example arranged inside the encircled area 12A of the body 1 for measuring the pressure on that surface. During leakage of a fluid from any of the openings 5, 6 the pressure guard 13 registers an increase in pressure, due to the barrier sealingly interacting with a corresponding seal (not shown) on the other contact member, and emits a signal to the indicator of wear 2C, wherein the lamp 2C is lighted. Thanks to the barrier 7 the area 12A may be tightly sealed, such that the limited space therein constitutes a tightly sealed chamber. In a known manner the arrangement also comprises a processor (not shown) for controlling control lamps and the pressure guard, 13 and also other desired control functions.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown herein but may be varied within the scope of the following claims. The detailed configurations indicated in the figures may be changed for other configurations with substantially similar function. The device need not be used in connection with vehicles only but may also be used for example between robot links or between portable units. The conductors may comprise a large number of conductors of different types, size and form, such as optical fibers and hydraulic conductors.

Further the invention encompasses an arrangement comprising at least two contact members arranged in connection with one end of a cord, wherein each of the contact members is arranged to connect at least one of said conductors to said units. This is advantageous if, for example, the original contacts of a unit are located at a distance from each other. Thus the device may be used for existing units without the need to adapt, or to reconstruct the units after the device. Of course, more than two contact members may be arranged in connection with the same end, and the contact members may connect more than one conductor.

Moreover the invention encompasses an arrangement, especially for trucks, wherein the contact member may be, preferably automatically, locked by means of a locking mechanism in its connected positions once the vehicle starts moving, e.g. using the same valve unit that releases the pneumatically controlled parking brake to activate/move the locking mechanism. A variety of different locking mechanisms, as

known per se, may be used. One advantage with such an arrangement is that it would improve safety, e.g. eliminate, or at least minimize, highjacking of trailers (and the like).