Mr Schauer welcomed the participants and thanked Mr Pagliarani and FEDERUNACOMA for the invitation and the hosting of the meeting. He opened the meeting at 11:00 hrs.

As Mr Schauer and Mr Pagliarani have to join a WGAT meeting in Brussels on 6 February 2014, Mr Rehm agreed to chair the meeting the following day.

The participants introduced themselves (see also Document TFAC 04-06).

3.1 Review common proposal based on TFAC 03-06 from the small group (Doc. TFAC-04-04 and TFAC-03-06)

The small group held its first meeting on 18 December 2013 (minutes see TFAC-04-04). There are still some open issues which will be discussed and solved during a second meeting on 6 March 2014.

TFAC-03-06 | Agricultural vehicle couplings UN R55 revision: Definitions and tests

TFAC-04-04 | Minutes of the small group meeting on formulas and test procedure for agricultural towing devices Special group meeting to develop proposals for the definition of specific values to be used in the formulas to evaluate the performance of agricultural vehicle towing hitches and related devices under UN R55.

3.2 6.1 of TFAC 03-10 on the basis of the Proposal from Mr. Westphäling (Doc. TFAC-03-10/Rev 1)

The group does not see any need for an amendment. The text therefore remains unchanged.

TFAC-03-10/Rev.1 | Proposal of new class definitions for Annex 5 - chapter 6 of Regulation No. 55

3.3 Review requirement for the mounting height of couplings on tractors to chapter 5 (Doc. TFAC-03-14)

The proposal was accepted.

TFAC-03-14 | Proposal for Chapter 5 of the Draft ECE R 55 "agricultural couplings" Proposed requirement for the mounting height of couplings on tractors under chapter 5 of UN Regulation No. 55.

3.4 Discussion and decision on TFAC-03-13

Mr Duffy explained TFAC 04-07 with regard to the Sewdish proposals (TFAC-03-13). It was decided to continue the discussion in the IWG R55.

TFAC-03-13 | Proposal of changes to the draft TFAC amendments to Regulation No. 55 Proposals to align the proposed agricultural tractor couplings text with other provisions of the UN R55 text regarding locked and open positions.

TFAC-04-07 | Discussion document on Swedish proposal for connector indicator Comments on a Swedish proposal to require an indicator within the operator's field of vision to confirm whether safety latches are engaged and the system fully locked (or not).

3.5 Review of present R 55.01 including Corr. 1 and Amend. 1–3 and the proposals for amendment and conclusions for these amendments (GRRF/2013/16, GRRF-75-21 and GRRF/2014/14)

The following results of TFAC are presently achieved:

• TFAC 02-13 (Basic document)
• TFAC 03-04 Rev. 1 (CUNA-Couplings, Class q and r)
• TFAC 03-08 Rev. 1 (Drawbar, Class i)
• TFAC 03-10 Rev. 1 (Class j to become a, Class k to become b, Towing brackets)
• TFAC 03-14 (Mounting height of coupling on the tractor)

Still open and further need for discussion concerns:

• TFAC 03-13 (Swedish proposals)
• TFAC 04-09 (Italian Proposal for Annex 5)
• TFAC 04-04 and TFAC … (Results of the small group)

Mr Schauer is asked to prepare a complete document with the agreed changes on the basis on R 55 until End of April (to become TFAC 04-11). Members of TFAC are invited to submit their comments four weeks after submission of that document.

It was agreed to present the results of TFAC to the IWG R 55 in the next meeting to be held in Poznan beginning of June by Mr Schauer and Mr Pagliarani.

TFAC-02-13 | Draft text for mechanical couplings of agricultural vehicles (version 25 June 2013)

TFAC-03-04/Rev.1 | Agricultural vehicle couplings: Class q and r (CUNA couplings)

TFAC-03-08/Rev.1 | Agricutural vehicle couplings UN R55 revision: Tractor drawbars

TFAC-03-10/Rev.1 | Proposal of new class definitions for Annex 5 - chapter 6 of Regulation No. 55

TFAC-03-13 | Proposal of changes to the draft TFAC amendments to Regulation No. 55 Proposals to align the proposed agricultural tractor couplings text with other provisions of the UN R55 text regarding locked and open positions.

TFAC-03-14 | Proposal for Chapter 5 of the Draft ECE R 55 "agricultural couplings" Proposed requirement for the mounting height of couplings on tractors under chapter 5 of UN Regulation No. 55.

TFAC-04-04 | Minutes of the small group meeting on formulas and test procedure for agricultural towing devices Special group meeting to develop proposals for the definition of specific values to be used in the formulas to evaluate the performance of agricultural vehicle towing hitches and related devices under UN R55.

TFAC-04-09 | Italian proposal for Annex 5 of UN R55 concerning Clevis-type drawbar couplings and drawbar eyes

The following activities were agreed:

Agreed activities	Date	Responsible
Submit Comments on TFAC 04-09 to Mr Schauer	asap	All
Static vs. dynamic testing: Prepare document with arguments for both options	asap	Pagliarani, Comments by all
Prepare complete document with agreed changes on the basis on R 55	End of April	Schauer
Comments on the a. m. document	4 weeks after distribution	All

5.1 Next meeting

The date of the 5th meeting was not yet determined.

5.2 Italian Proposal for Annex 5 (TFAC 04-09)

Mr Pagliarani explained the background and the Italian proposal on Annex 5. It was agreed to upload the document to the TFAC website and to ask for comments on it by the members of TFAC.

For information, the comments of Italy on the draft EU-Regulation RVFSR are given in TFAC 04-10.

TFAC-04-09 | Italian proposal for Annex 5 of UN R55 concerning Clevis-type drawbar couplings and drawbar eyes

TFAC-04-10 | Italian comments on the vehicle functional safety requirements for mechanical couplings

5.3 Discussion static versus dynamic testing

With a presentation (TFAC 04-08) Mr Westphäling explained the reasons why according to his opinion a static testing of coupling devices should not be permitted.

Mr Rehm and Mr Pagliarani expressed the opinion that a static testing should be permitted for the “CUNA-Couplings” and the drawbar up to 40 km/h max. speed as these devices are tested statically for decades in Europe and no failures or accidents are known so far.

Mr Gunneriusson supported the opinion of Mr Westphäling.

After a detailed discussion, the majority of the participant could accept the position of Mr Rehm and Mr Pagliarani. It was decided that the IWG R 55 should discuss this topic during one of their next meetings.

TFAC-04-08 | Agricultural coupling devices: Static or dynamic testing? Presentation opposing static testing of mechanical couplings for agricultural tractors.

At the end of the meeting, Mr Rehm thanked Mr Pagliarani again for hosting the meeting and providing meeting location for the 4th meeting of TFAC. Mr Rehm closed the meeting at approx. 13:00 hrs.