A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.

A hitch assist system is provided herein that includes a sensing system configured to detect a trailer and obstacles proximate the trailer. The hitch assist system also includes a controller in communication with the sensing system and configured to define a final vehicle heading direction relative to the trailer when a hitch ball of a vehicle is aligned with a coupler of the trailer; determine an uppermost/farthest position of the vehicle from the trailer; determine a lowermost/nearest position of the vehicle from the trailer; and determine a vehicle path that aligns the vehicle within the uppermost/farthest and lowermost/nearest positions.

A trailer includes a battery and an axle or a tandem axle with wheels driven by way of electric motors. The battery supplies electricity to the electric motors during trailer travel, and a sensor detects forces on a coupling of the trailer in at least one of the following directions: longitudinal direction of the trailer and/or transverse direction of the trailer and/or perpendicular direction, and a controller controls the electric motors, so that a minimum and/or a maximum limit value is adhered to.

A driving force distribution control system for a four-wheel drive vehicle is provided. The four-wheel drive vehicle uses front wheels as main driving wheels, and when a towed vehicle is coupled to a coupling part provided to a rear part of the four-wheel drive vehicle, the towed vehicle has the center of gravity position so that a downward load in a vehicle up-and-down direction is applied to the rear part of the vehicle through the coupling part. A driving force distribution control device includes a towing determination module configured to determine whether the vehicle is towing the towed vehicle, and when it is determined that the vehicle is towing the towed vehicle, a driving force distribution control device controls the driving force distributing device so that the driving force distributing amount to rear wheels becomes larger than that when the four-wheel drive vehicle is not towing the towed vehicle.

A driving force distribution control system for a four-wheel drive vehicle is provided. The four-wheel drive vehicle uses front wheels as main driving wheels, and when a towed vehicle is coupled to a coupling part provided to a rear part of the four-wheel drive vehicle, the towed vehicle has the center of gravity position so that a downward load in a vehicle up-and-down direction is applied to the rear part of the vehicle through the coupling part. A driving force distribution control device includes a towing determination module configured to determine whether the vehicle is towing the towed vehicle, and when it is determined that the vehicle is towing the towed vehicle, a driving force distribution control device controls the driving force distributing device so that the driving force distributing amount to rear wheels becomes larger than that when the four-wheel drive vehicle is not towing the towed vehicle.

A towing hook arranged on a mining machine, with a first end having a bent portion to allow a towing tool to be connected and a second end having a cylindrical rod. An intermediate part is located between the first and the second end. The towing hook is arranged to be mounted in a through hole in a frame of a machine in order for the first and second ends to be positioned on different sides of the machine frame. The intermediate part is mounted partly in the through hole of the frame, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical rod is generally parallel with a longitudinal axis defined through the towing hook representing the force transmitting direction when connecting the towing tool to the bent portion.

A method for exhaust braking includes monitoring, by a controller of a vehicle, an engine speed of an internal combustion engine; comparing, by the controller, the engine speed with the a predetermined braking speed threshold to determine whether the engine speed is greater than the a predetermined braking speed threshold; and, in response to determining that the engine speed is greater than the a predetermined braking speed threshold, switching the vehicle to an exhaust braking mode.

A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a truck, a tractor unit, a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, at a tandem, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.

A hitch assembly for coupling a trailer to a tow vehicle comprises a king ball including a base and a king pin extending vertically from a top surface of the base, the king pin including a ball positioned on a distal end opposite the base, the ball adapted to be pivotally received into a hitch of the trailer. A hitch block includes a draw bar and a housing, the drawbar adapted to be horizontally inserted into a receiver mounted onto the tow vehicle, the housing including a throat adapted to receive the base of the king ball. A locking mechanism is adapted to automatically engage the king pin when the base of the king ball is inserted into the throat of the housing to secure the base of the king ball within the throat of the housing and locking the king ball and the hitch block together.

A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a truck, a tractor unit, a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, at a tandem, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.