UN R55 informal group proposal for:

1. An amendment for the separation of the procedures to verify towable mass from the procedure of setting and certifying performance values;
2. An amendment that adds procedures to verify towable mass for vehicle combinations that have hitherto not been accounted for in the Regulation;
3. Amendments that adds integrated fixing points for secondary couplings;
4. An amendment that clarifies the procedure to identify worst cases for certification testing;
5. Amendments that removes typos in the current Regulation.

Amendment to the proposal from the UN R55 informal group to allow the fitment of a secondary coupling and/or a brake away cable for un-braked O1 trailers or inertia braked trailers up to 3.5t which are equipped with class B coupling heads and class S drawbar eyes (38 mm, 40 mm, and others) and for the related use of integrated towing brackets.

Corrections to the proposal by the informal working group on Regulation No. 55 concerning vehicle combination applications to introduce:
(a) An amendment for the separation of requirement calculation procedures from the procedure of setting and certifying performance values.
(b) An amendment that adds procedures for requirement calculation for vehicle combinations that have hitherto not been accounted for in the Regulation.

Revised proposal superseding document GRRF/2016/31. Proposals in GRRF/2016/31 to regulate the articulation angles of couplings as installed have been removed. The informal group on UN R55 could not reach agreement on this subject. As a result, this revised proposal by the informal working group on Regulation No. 55:
a) Corrects an error in Annex 5, figures 12 and 17; and
b) Introduces an amendment concerning identification of worst cases for design assessment.

Explanation of proposals from the informal working group for corrections, restructuring, and amendments to UN R55.

Comments concerning failure modes in the event of a separation of the main coupling between a vehicle and a towed trailer in order to enable the trailer to be guided and/or stopped automatically.

Proposal from the UN R55 informal group to allow the fitment of a secondary coupling and/or a brake away cable for un-braked O1 trailers or inertia braked trailers up to 3.5t which are equipped with class B coupling heads and class S drawbar eyes (38 mm, 40 mm, and others) and for the related use of integrated towing brackets.

Proposal by the informal working group on Regulation No. 55 concerning vehicle combination applications to introduce:
(a) An amendment for the separation of requirement calculation procedures from the procedure of setting and certifying performance values.
(b) An amendment that adds procedures for requirement calculation for vehicle combinations that have hitherto not been accounted for in the Regulation.

Proposal by the informal working group on Regulation No. 55 and introduces a procedure to identify allowable combinations of performance values DC and V for drawbar coupling equipment.

Proposal by the informal working group on Regulation No. 55 to introduce:
a) Correction of an error in Annex 5, figures 12 and 17;
b) An amendment that concerns identification of worst cases for design assessment;
c) Clarifications on minimum articulation angles.

Proposal to restrict component type-approval for mechanical coupling devices dedicated to category M1 vehicles to use only on such M1 vehicles as are designed to tow trailers.

Working draft amendment to UN R55 to introduce:

• An amendment that concerns a separation of requirement calculation procedures from the procedure of setting and certifying performance values.
• An amendment that adds procedures for requirement calculation for vehicle combinations that have hitherto not been accounted for in the regulation.

Proposal to introduce a procedure to identify allowable combinations of performance values DC and V for drawbar coupling equipment.

Proposal to introduce amendments on the secondary coupling and the attachment points.

Proposal to introduce amendments on the secondary coupling and the attachment points.

UN R55 informal group working draft to introduce:

• Correction error in annex 5 figure 12 and 17
• An amendment that concerns identification of worst cases for design assessment
• Clarifications on minimum articulation angles.

Proposal to introduce amendments on the secondary coupling and the attachment points.

Working draft amendment to UN R55 to introduce:

• An amendment that concerns a separation of requirement calculation procedures from the procedure of setting and certifying performance values.
• An amendment that adds procedures for requirement calculation for vehicle combinations that have hitherto not been accounted for in the regulation.

UN R55 informal group working draft to introduce:

• Correction error in annex 5 figure 12 and 17
• An amendment that concerns identification of worst cases for design assessment
• Clarifications on minimum articulation angles.

Copy of the proposal by Poland to amend UN R55 to ensure that coupling devices are only approved for use on vehicles approved for towing trailers.

Draft proposal to introduce amendments on a procedure to dimension coupling equipment for heavy transports through speed reduction.

Draft proposal to introduce amendments on a procedure to dimension coupling equipment for heavy transports through speed reduction.

Proposal to introduce a procedure to identify allowable combinations of performance values DC and V for drawbar coupling equipment.

Proposal to ensure that coupling balls do not block rear lighting and/or registration plates.

Draft text to introduce provisions for minimum articulation of couplings in order to prevent damage from maneuvers that exceed coupling capacities.

Correspondence concerning the French position on this work item.

Information on TAAM discussions concerning cases where the sum of the mass of the towing vehicle (M) [T] and the mass of the towed vehicle (TM) [R or C] is higher than the maximum combination mass (MC) set for the towing vehicle.

Working draft proposal of the UN R55 informal group for a uniform procedure to rate couplings for extreme heavy transport configurations based upon a speed-reduction method. The intent is to address conditions where there are no coupling products with appropriate certified performance values.

Proposal for a higher vertical load for drawbar couplings with a jaw that pivots about the horizontal transverse axis.

Draft proposal of the informal group on UN Regulation No. 55 to modify Figure 17 – annex 5 – Dimensions of spring-mounted steering wedges.

Proposal to introduce provisions for minimum articulation of couplings in order to prevent damage from maneuvers that exceed coupling capacities.

Working draft proposal of the R55 informal group to introduce amendments concerning:
(a) Identification of worst cases for design assessment, and
(b) Procedures for COP.

Proposal to require the installation of a message routing function (per ISO 11992) on trailers that are:

• equipped with more than one brake electronic control unit,
• equipped with an electric control, and
• towing a trailer.

At the May 2015 Type Approval Authorities Meeting (TAAM), Poland raised concerns (attached with this submission) over small M₁ vehicles being equipped with aftermarket coupling devices where the vehicle in question is not designed for towing a trailer. In effect, these vehicles are not permitted to tow trailers, but are nonetheless enabled to be equipped for such a purpose by the aftermarket devices. Therefore, Poland proposes to amend UN R55 to ensure that coupling devices are only approved for use on vehicles approved for towing trailers.

One of the outcomes of the work on updating UN R55 was the recognition that agricultural couplings present a set of challenges distinct from other vehicles. This revised proposal takes into account comments received during the February 2016 GRRF session for the establishment of an informal working group to develop a new regulation (UN R55-A) to respond to the specific needs of agricultural vehicle couplings.

Revised proposal to ensure that coupling balls do not block rear lighting and/or registration plates. In line with the EU General Safety Rule, Annex IV specification for application of UN R55, couplings that might block lighting or plates must be removable, repositionable, and unlockable in order to make it easier for users to remove them or reposition them when not in use (e.g., towing a trailer.) Coupling balls that are so designed as to be unable to block lighting or plates may still incorporate locks and/or require tools to remove or reposition.

Pending requests and future items for changes to UN R55.

Proposal as developed by the UN R55 informal group during its 12th session. This proposal concerns a procedure to identify allowable combinations of performance values Dc and V for drawbar coupling equipment. This proposal would amend the Revision 2 proposal for UN R55.

Revised proposal developed by the UN R55 informal group to introduce provisions for mechanical couplings used in modular vehicle combinations (e.g., rigid truck + dolly + semi-trailer) presently not addressed within the regulation.

Proposed text for determining worst case conditions for physical testing of couplings.

Informal group schedule for finalizing amendments to update UN R55.

Revised version of document GRRF-80-41 pursuant to the 12th UN R55 informal group session. GRRF-80-41 was the revised formal proposal to GRRF to update UN R55 with respect to:
a) Requirements on remote indication,
b) Availability of information on coupling fixing points for A50X couplings,
c) On lateral strength of drawbars, and
d) a new class definition for fully automatic drawbar couplings.

Proposal from the informal group on UN Regulation No. 55 to introduce provisions for coupling applications in multi-vehicle combinations ( e.g. rigid truck + dolly + semi-trailer) presently not addressed by the regulation.

Further refinements from the informal group on UN Regulation No. 55 to introduce provisions for modular vehicle combinations (e.g., rigid truck + semi-trailer + dolly). This proposal concerns a procedure to identify allowable combinations of performance values Dc and V for drawbar coupling equipment.

Quick review of the informal group’s anticipated schedule for completing its work on updating the regulation on mechanical couplings.

One of the outcomes of the work on updating UN R55 was the recognition that agricultural couplings present a set of challenges distinct from other vehicles. Therefore, Germany proposes the establishment of an informal working group to develop a new regulations (UN R55-A) to respond to the specific needs of agricultural vehicle couplings.

Proposal to allow for a vertical load up to 80 kg for drawbar coupling designs with a jaw that pivots about the horizontal transverse axis because such configurations are commonly used in fire trucks and other special use vehicles in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Chronology summarizing the discussions held on agricultural coupling requirements under UN R55 since 2011.

Proposal as prepared by the UN R55 informal group and approved by the GRRF to update UN R55 with respect to:
a) Requirements on remote indication;
b) Availability of information on coupling fixing points for A50X couplings;
c) On lateral strength of drawbars; and
d) a new class definition for fully automatic drawbar couplings.