An automated trailer coupling arrangement includes a receiver member supported on a towed vehicle and including pneumatic and electrical couplers, a shuttle member including pneumatic and electrical couplers configured to couple to pneumatic and electrical supply sources and a control arm assembly supported on a towing vehicle and including a carrier member configured to operably couple and uncouple with the shuttle member, and an actuator coupled to the carrier member configured to move the carrier between a first position where the carrier member is coupled with the shuttle member and the shuttle member is spaced from the receiver member, and a second position where the second pneumatic coupler is coupled with the first pneumatic coupler and the second electrical coupler is coupled with the first electrical coupler and the carrier is uncoupled and spaced from the shuttle member.

The technology relates to autonomous vehicles having hitched or towed trailers for transporting cargo and other items between locations. Aspects of the technology provide a smart hitch connection between the fifth-wheel of a tractor unit and the kingpin of a trailer. This avoids requiring a person to make physical pneumatic and electrical connections between the fifth-wheel and kingpin using external hoses and cables. Instead, the necessary connections are made internally, autonomously. For instance, the fifth-wheel may provide air pressure via one or more slots arranged on a connection surface, and the trailer is configured to receive the air pressure through one or more openings on a contact surface of the kingpin. An electrical connection section of the fifth-wheel may also provide electrical signals and/or power to an electrical contact interface of the kingpin. Rotational information about relative alignment of the trailer to the tractor unit may also be provided.

An automated trailer coupling arrangement includes a receiver member fixed to a towed vehicle and including pneumatic and electrical couplers, a shuttle member including pneumatic and electrical couplers, a control arm assembly supported on a towing vehicle and including a carrier member configured to operably couple and uncouple with the shuttle member, and an actuator coupled to the carrier member configured to move the carrier member between a first position where the carrier member is coupled with the shuttle member and the shuttle member is spaced from the receiver member, and a second position where the pneumatic and electrical couplers are respectively coupled and the carrier member is uncoupled and spaced from the shuttle member, wherein the control arm is configured to move a vertical and horizontal directions as the carrier member is moved between the first and second positions.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for determining and verifying operational states of fifth wheels. Certain methods for determining the operational state of the fifth wheel may include sensing, with at least one sensor, magnetic flux caused by a magnet on a movable component movable to lock the fifth wheel to a kingpin of a towed vehicle and determining an end position of the movable component based on the magnetic flux. The end position of the movable component is then compared to a threshold position and an operational state of the fifth wheel is determined based on the comparison of the end position of the movable component to the threshold position.

A cast load cell comprising a load sensing portion integrally cast with a first mounting portion. The load sensing portion has a flexure portion spaced apart from the first mounting portion by a flexure gap. The load sensing portion has at least one sensor cavity above at least a portion of the flexure gap. A second mounting portion is integrally cast with the load sensing portion above the flexure gap. A load sensor is connected to the load sensor portion and positioned within the sensor cavity above a portion of the flexure gap. The first mounting portion, the load sensing portion, and the second mounting portion define an integral, low-profile, weld-free, substantially homogenous unitary cast member.

An underbed hitch mounting system is described. The mounting system may be utilized for towing vehicles wherein the mounting system may selectively accommodate either a fifth wheel hitch or a gooseneck hitch. The mounting system may include at least one rail capable of being connected to a vehicle frame, wherein the rail includes at least one socket. The socket may be engaged with a receiving member, wherein the receiving member may be engaged with a leg of a fifth wheel hitch. A mid rail may be connected to the rails and may include a hitch ball socket that is capable of engagement with a hitch.

A king pin coupler assembly of a fifth wheel coupling. A coupler plate has a king pin aperture therein. A king pin is positioned to extend axially through the king pin aperture of the coupler plate. The king pin has a first portion with a neck for engaging a fifth wheel of the fifth wheel coupling, the first portion extending to a first side of the coupler plate. The king pin has a second portion on a second side of the coupler plate and welded to the coupler plate. A shielding apparatus is secured to one or both of the king pin and the coupler plate. The shielding apparatus includes a cover sealed to the first side of the coupler plate. The cover extends over the first portion of the king pin to shield the first portion of the king pin during liquid immersion of the king pin coupler assembly.

A road tractor semi-trailer combination 1 is equipped with a system for detecting the position of a road tractor relative to a semi-trailer. This system comprises a magnet 13 which is accommodated in the center of the bottom of the kingpin and a sensor unit 11 which is fixed to the bottom of the fifth wheel 9. The sensor unit can be displaced between a resting position at a distance from the magnet where the position of the magnet cannot be detected, and an operating position at a distance from the magnet where the position of the magnet can be detected indeed. The fifth wheel is equipped with a handle for displacing a locking pawl which locks the kingpin in the fifth wheel in coupled state of the road tractor and the semi-trailer. This handle is connected via a pulling cable to the sensor unit for displacing the sensor unit to the operating position simultaneously with the displacement of the locking pawl.

The present invention relates in general to a fifth wheel hitch and method of using a fifth wheel hitch that is mounted to a bed of a towing vehicle, and more specifically, to a fifth wheel hitch that is vertically secured to a kingpin of a fifth wheel trailer without requiring the use of adapters or extensions. One aspect of the fifth wheel hitch and method of use includes a hitch head assembly that is adjustable in height such that the fifth wheel hitch is compatible with different sizes of towing vehicles and fifth wheel trailers. The hitch head assembly also incorporates a funnel shaped design for receiving the kingpin of the fifth wheel trailer in a vertical fashion to prevent the kingpin from sliding horizontally out of the hitch head after being pulled forward by the towing vehicle. A four-way pivot joint accommodates instantaneous variations in pitch and/or roll attitudes between the towing vehicle and the fifth wheel trailer connected by the fifth wheel hitch. The hitch head assembly further includes a latching and locking mechanism that indicates whether or not a secure connection has been properly executed between the fifth wheel hitch and fifth wheel trailer to assure an operator that the towing vehicle is ready for travel.

A shock absorbing pin box system includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and an upper wall. The first sidewall defines at least a first plurality of apertures arranged in first column, and the second sidewall defines at least a second plurality of apertures arranged in a second column. A plurality of tubes extend from each of the first plurality of apertures and the second plurality of apertures. A plurality of flexible and resilient tubular bushings are received in a corresponding one of the plurality of tubes. A plurality of bolts are received within corresponding ones of the pluralities of apertures of the pin box and the plurality of tubes.