The present invention relates to a drive unit in the form of a caravan mover 10 comprising a motor 12 (drive means) and a head 14 which are linked together by a gear mechanism 16. The head 14 provides a roller 15 which is rotatably mounted on a shaft. The roller 15 is arranged, in use, to be urged or pressed against the tread portion (surface) of a tyre. The drive unit is controlled by a control unit (ECU) which controls the movement of the driven roller 15 between the disengaged position and the engaged position and also controls the rotation (and direction) of the driven roller 15. The caravan mover 10 of the present invention includes an integral power supply such that the unit comprises a single integral system which is easily installed on the caravan and does not require the routing of cables from a remote power supply. The battery 30 comprises securement means in order to quickly and easily secure the battery 30 to the drive unit housing and, in particular, to the housing 20 of the motor 12. The securement of the battery 30 to the motor 16 also automatically and simultaneously aligns and connects terminals of the battery 30 to power receiving terminals of the motor 16. Such a quick and simply securement mechanism provides a battery 30 can be quickly and easily removed, for example, in order to be charged. Accordingly, the drive unit/caravan mover 10 (including the motor, roller, battery, control unit and mounting means) forms a single self-supporting component which is solely secured to the caravan/trailer at a single location by the mounting means.
Improvements relating to drive units for trailers
2019-08-07
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B60S SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR , Warten, Reinigen, Instandsetzen, Unterstützen, Anheben oder Rangieren von Fahrzeugen, soweit nicht anderweitig vorgesehen / B60D Fahrzeugverbindungen , VEHICLE CONNECTIONS / B62D MOTOR VEHICLES , Motorfahrzeuge |