The present invention relates to an urban vehicle for transporting large volume and light weight cargo that is subdivided into two: a mini-tractor unit and a lightweight semi-platform. These are coupled by means of a fifth wheel with a kingpin, allowing transporting high cubic coefficient products including long formats. The mini-tractor unit of the invention is shorter between the steering and drive axles compared with a vehicle for transporting cargo of the common type. The wheelbase between the steering (front) and driving (rear) axles of the mini-tractor unit is 1.3 to 1.7 times the width of the steering axle. With these proportions, the wheelbases or measurements between the front steering axle and the rear drive axle are determined; the drive shaft between the gearbox output and the transmission crown where the semi-drive axles are located is shorter between 40% and 60% with respect to the common type vehicle drive shaft, which facilitates the reduction of the total length of the original chassis, including the elimination of the rear overhang, achieving a shorter total length in a range that varies from 15% to 25%.

A trailer configured to lower an overall center of gravity thereof. The trailer comprises a tank, a wheel assembly, a height and a length. The tank comprises a cavity contained within a lower body, a tilted body, a front end and a rear end. The lower body comprises a lower body height, a lower body length, a lower body ground clearance and a lower center of gravity. The tilted body comprises a tilted body ground clearance, a tilted body length, the height and a tilted portion center of gravity. The tank comprises the length, a height equal to the height of the tilted body, and a ground clearance equal to the lower body ground clearance.

A trailer configured to lower an overall center of gravity thereof. The trailer comprises a tank, a wheel assembly, a height and a length. The tank comprises a cavity contained within a lower body, a tilted body, a front end and a rear end. The lower body comprises a lower body height, a lower body length, a lower body ground clearance and a lower center of gravity. The tilted body comprises a tilted body ground clearance, a tilted body length, the height and a tilted portion center of gravity. The tank comprises the length, a height equal to the height of the tilted body, and a ground clearance equal to the lower body ground clearance.

A drive assist device installed in a tractor vehicle having a connection portion to be connected to a vehicle to be towed, includes: an image acquisition unit which acquires an image taken from a camera that shoots a scene in a shooting range including the connection portion; a position detection unit which detects a position of a counterpart connection portion, to be connected to the connection portion, of the vehicle to be towed; a predicted line generation unit which generates a predicted course line that the connection portion is expected to follow based on a steering angle of the tractor vehicle; a deviation calculation unit which calculates a deviation between the counterpart connection portion and the predicted course line as defined herein; a support image generation unit which generates a support image as defined herein; and an image synthesis unit which generates a synthesized image as defined herein.

A drive assist device installed in a tractor vehicle having a connection portion to be connected to a vehicle to be towed, includes: an image acquisition unit which acquires an image taken from a camera that shoots a scene in a shooting range including the connection portion; a position detection unit which detects a position of a counterpart connection portion, to be connected to the connection portion, of the vehicle to be towed; a predicted line generation unit which generates a predicted course line that the connection portion is expected to follow based on a steering angle of the tractor vehicle; a deviation calculation unit which calculates a deviation between the counterpart connection portion and the predicted course line as defined herein; a support image generation unit which generates a support image as defined herein; and an image synthesis unit which generates a synthesized image as defined herein.

A dump trailer comprising an open bed having first and second side walls for partially forming a cargo area to receive construction material and a rear opening for emptying the construction material from the cargo area. A tailgate is provided for covering the rear opening during transport. First and second arms are pivotably coupled to the respective first and second side walls and joined to the tailgate for moving the tailgate between a first position for covering the rear opening and a second position free of the rear opening. Each of the first and second arms are in a position below a top surface of the respective side wall or flush with the top surface when the tailgate is in the first position for facilitating loading of the construction material into the cargo area of the open bed.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a vehicle having independent fluid reservoirs for a fluid-activated brake system and at least one auxiliary fluid consumer. In an illustrative example, a first reservoir may be mounted above a chassis and outboard of a vehicle such that longitudinal axes of the reservoir and the vehicle are substantially aligned. The first reservoir may, for example, be fluidly coupled to a fluidly activated brake configured to brake at least one wheel on at least one axle of the vehicle and fluidly coupled to the first reservoir. At least one second reservoir may be fluidly coupled to at least one auxiliary fluid consumer of the vehicle such that the first reservoir is fluidly independent from the at least one second reservoir and the at least one auxiliary fluid consumer. Various embodiments may advantageously provide stable air supply for critical braking functions of the vehicle.

An adjustable trailer hitch and king pin assembly that may be moved longitudinally to adjust the position and weight distribution of a trailer relative to a truck. The disclosed assembly may allow a trailer to be utilized with various different sized and configured trucks while maximizing the cargo carrying capability and efficiency thereof. In one example, an adjustable trailer hitch is provided having a slidable king pin assembly that may be adjusted forwards or backwards to move the king pin to the desired location relative to the truck and trailer. In another example, a removable king pin may be provided that may be removed and moved to a different location according to the weight and desired weight distribution of a truck and trailer combination.

An adjustable trailer hitch and king pin assembly that may be moved longitudinally to adjust the position and weight distribution of a trailer relative to a truck. The disclosed assembly may allow a trailer to be utilized with various different sized and configured trucks while maximizing the cargo carrying capability and efficiency thereof. In one example, an adjustable trailer hitch is provided having a slidable king pin assembly that may be adjusted forwards or backwards to move the king pin to the desired location relative to the truck and trailer. In another example, a removable king pin may be provided that may be removed and moved to a different location according to the weight and desired weight distribution of a truck and trailer combination.

An articulated lorry that includes a tractor which has a fifth-wheel coupling and a trailer which has a connecting element which is reversibly detachably connected at a connection point to the fifth-wheel coupling. A tensioning device relieves a load on a wheel axle of the trailer, loads a drive axle of the trailer, and applies a force that counteracts a relative pivoting movement between the tractor and the trailer around a pivot axis which is oriented parallel to a transverse vehicle direction of the tractor and/or of the trailer. The tensioning device tensions the tractor to the trailer.