Abstract This apparatus embodies equipment to produce in front of the driver of a tow car two signal devices in the form of lamps which show the driver of the car whether or not it is backing directly toward the hook-up position to attach a trailer coupling when it is close to this position and when it reaches hook-up position. The signal devices are right-hand and left-hand lamps, mounted on the dash or the instrument panel of the car. At the rear end of the car two spring contactors are mounted on the car side by side. A cable passes between the contactors and is wound on a spring take-up reel that is spaced in front of the spring contactors on the car. The cable is an electricity conductor and has means, insulated from the cable at its free end to attach it to the trailer coupling. The lamps each have one terminal connected to the ungrounded side of the car battery and the other terminal connected to one of the spring contactors so that so long as the cable engages both contactors there is a circuit completed from the battery through each lamp then through its conductor to the spring contactor, then through the cable to ground and the grounded side of the battery. If the cable pushes either contactor away from the other one then the lamp connected to the other one has its circuit broken, and shows dark to the driver. The cable has an insulation, covering it adjacent to its free end to darken both lamps when the car is in close proximity to hook-up position.
In a tow car having on its rear end a central coupling unit connectable to a complementary coupling unit on the front of a trailer vehicle, apparatus on the tow car operable to signal the tow car driver to guide his backing of the tow car to bring its coupling unit into position to hook up to the trailer coupling unit, said apparatus comprising: an electrically conductive cable operatively connected to a first terminal of a source of electrical current and having one end mounted in the tow car forwardly of and in alignment longitudinally of the car with the tow car coupling unit; a pair of side-by-side electrical contactors with means supporting and insulating them on the tow car in alignment with and between the tow car coupling unit and the mounted end of the cable; said contactors being mounted to yieldingly oppose separation and being each engageable with the cable therebetween; spring means in the mounting of the cable end to the tow car urging the cable forwardly between the contactors; said cable having means at its free end attachable to the trailer coupling unit; signal means mountable in the tow car connecting each contactor to the remaining terminal of the source of electrical current; and surface insulation on the cable adjacent to its free end operable to insulate the cable from the contactors when engaged by the contactors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
In a tow car having on its rear end a central coupling unit connectable to a complementary coupling unit on the front of a trailer vehicle, apparatus on the tow car operable to signal the tow car driver to guide his backing of the tow car to bring its coupling unit into position to hook up to the trailer coupling unit, said apparatus comprising: an electrically conductive cable operatively connected to a first terminal of a source of electrical current and having one end mounted in the tow car forwardly of and in alignment longitudinally of the car with the tow car coupling unit; a pair of side-by-side electrical contactors with means supporting and insulating them on the tow car in alignment with and between the tow car coupling unit and the mounted end of the cable; said contactors being mounted to yieldingly oppose separation and being each engageable with the cable therebetween; spring means in the mounting of the cable end to the tow car urging the cable forwardly between the contactors; said cable having means at its free end attachable to the trailer coupling unit; signal means mountable in the tow car connecting each contactor to the remaining terminal of the source of electrical current; and surface insulation on the cable adjacent to its free end operable to insulate the cable from the contactors when engaged by the contactors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the means at the free end of the cable for attaching the cable to the trailer coupling unit comprises surface insulation material operable to insulate it from the contactors when engaged by the contactors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the contactors comprise coiled springs side-by-side and a casing of insulation in which said springs are supported in upright positions, said casing having means to mount it on the tow car.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the signal means comprises a pair of lamps, a casing in which said lamps are mounted, said casing having laterally spaced windows, one for each lamp; and means to secure the casing on the tow car dash.