A buffer apparatus 200 for a heavy goods vehicle, such as a trailer, the apparatus comprising: a first housing 202; a second housing 204; at least one roller 206a,b rotatably attached to the second housing; and a damping element 208 disposed between the first and second housings. The second housing being slidably coupled to the first housing such that, when the at least one roller impacts an external object, the second housing slides relative to the first housing to thereby apply a compression force to the damping element. The coupling between the first and second housing may comprise at least one coupling element, each element comprising a sliding pin 232 and a longitudinal aperture or groove 310a,b. Two rollers may be provided, said rollers being disposed in line with the damping element. The damping element may allow the buffer to absorb a compressive force when the vehicle contacts an external structure, for example a loading dock, and the rollers may rotate to account for a vertical movement when the vehicle is loaded/unloaded
Buffer apparatus
2020-06-24
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
IPC: | B60R Fahrzeuge, Fahrzeugausstattung oder Fahrzeugteile, soweit nicht anderweitig vorgesehen , VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR / B65G TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS , Transport- oder Lagervorrichtungen, z.B. Förderer zum Laden oder Abladen |