A trailer coupler has a fixed frame portion that is connected to a moving frame portion with link arms. The link arms are attached to torsion components that are affixed to both the fixed frame portion and moving frame portion with the moving frame portion located between ends of the fixed frame portion. The moving frame portion has a resting position where the torsion components are at rest and a displaced position where external forces have caused the torsion components to move. The moving frame portion can be displaced through rotation or vertical movement by external forces.

A modular skid mounted oil production system, comprising multiple skid sections that are connectable via alignment pins coupled to the skid beam structure. The alignment pins having a fork connector that is connected to a knife connector. When the skid sections are connected, the piping, electrical, and pneumatic tubing connectors are connectable to the other corresponding skid piping, electrical, and pneumatic tubing connectors without the need for welding or field construction of connecting components. The modular skid oil production system is capable of expansion or contraction as required by the operation of the system. For example the system includes removing a skid section having a larger separator and replacing it with a skid section having a smaller separator, without the need of welding or field construction of connecting components.

A trailer coupler has a fixed frame portion that is connected to a moving frame portion with link arms. The link arms are attached to torsion components that are affixed to both the fixed frame portion and moving frame portion with the moving frame portion located between ends of the fixed frame portion. The moving frame portion has a resting position where the torsion components are at rest and a displaced position where external forces have caused the torsion components to move. The moving frame portion can be displaced through rotation or vertical movement by external forces.

The invention relates to a method for transforming between a long vehicle combination (10) and a platoon (12) on the move. The present invention also relates to vehicles (14a-b; 14b-c) for such a method.

This disclosure relates to systems and methods of towing, hitching, and connecting devices. In particular, this disclosure relates to tow devices, hitches, and connections for towing item containers behind vehicles, both autonomous and manually guided.

A coupling device of the type envisaged between a first vehicle (A) with at least two axes and a second vehicle (B) with at least two axes with the first vehicle (A) arranged to precede the second vehicle (B), in particular for the application to convoys of automatically guided vehicles, includes a hinge coupling section associated with the first vehicle (A) and a drawbar section associated with the second vehicle (B), connected to each other with the possibility of rotation through the relative distal sections. The drawbar section has an arc-shaped guide arranged horizontally in front of the second vehicle (B) to extend from the right side to the left side thereof, a slider sliding along the arc-shaped guide and a telescopic arm integral with one end of the slider and rotatably connected to the other end to the coupling section. The coupling device also advantageously include a steering assistance mechanism suitable for a redundancy of the steering members (S) of the second vehicle (B) by setting a steering angle which is a function of the position of the slider along the arc-shaped guide. The coupling device allows the automatic guide system to control the position and trajectories of the vehicles without any substantial exchange of forces through the device and enters into operation to allow the safe stop of the convoy when there are anomalies in the operation of the automatic guide system.

A device operatively couples a tractor ABS controller with TABS controllers in units towed by the tractor. A PLC interface circuit of the device communicates messages received from a PLC network of the towed units to a CAN network of the tractor via a CAN interface circuit. The device may also rebroadcast messages received from the PLC network back onto the PLC network, and may also wirelessly broadcast messages received from the PLC network back onto a wireless network. The device receives messages from the towed units at a message rate, determines a quantity of towed units from the message rate, and communicates the determined quantity of towed units on the CAN network of the tractor. The device receives messages indicating towed unit identification (ID) information, determines a quantity of towed units from the towed unit ID information, and communicates the determined quantity of towed units on the CAN network.

A tow bar apparatus for a motorized utility cart is provided. The apparatus allows a utility cart user to tow a shopping cart. The tow bar is adapted to attach to any shopping cart by way of a universal attachment member. The opposing end of the apparatus includes a pair of spaced of laterally spaced attachment arms which are joined to a transverse attachment bar having clamps adapted for connection to the shopping cart. The universal attachment member is removably attached and may be modified to accommodate a specific make and model of scooter. The apparatus is reconfigurable depending upon the physical layout of the utility cart. An articulating arm is connected between the attachment member and the attachment arms to allow for an articulating attachment to the shopping cart.

In an automated guided vehicle, a connection mechanism includes a connecting part and a movable part, and is connected to an object by the connecting part. When the connecting part is in a first state and the movable part is at a first position, an end portion on the other side in a first direction of the connecting part contacts a surface on one side in the first direction of the movable part or penetrates the movable part in the first direction to protrude toward the other side in the first direction with respect to the surface on one side in the first direction of the movable part. When the connecting part is in the first state and the movable part is at a second position, the movable part is away from the connecting part. A force applied to the movable part maintains the movable part at the first position.

A computer-implemented method includes determining a vehicle configuration indicative of a towing mode setting for the vehicle, which can include a neutral transmission gear setting, a battery conservation mode, or another towing mode setting. The method can include determining at least one vehicle operation characteristic that changes with time while the vehicle is in the towing mode setting, and performing, via a vehicle control module and based at least in part on the towing mode setting and the vehicle operation characteristic, one or more vehicle actions that include generating an alert signal indicative that vehicle damage may be imminent.