A hitch with a force dampening assembly and a kingpin adapter. The hitch includes upper and lower arms coupled via a dampening assembly that includes a resilient member disposed in a passage in the lower arm and an axle coupled to the upper arm and disposed coaxially through the resilient member. Facets or asymmetries on the passage and axle resist rotational movement of the resilient member relative thereto. The resilient member is flexed between the wall of the passage and the axle to enable pivotal movement of the upper arm relative to the lower arm. The kingpin adapter includes a wedge ring disposed on a kingpin and retained thereon by a clamping ring. A housing is coupled to the clamping ring to affix the housing to a trailer and to retain the wedge ring in position. A hitch can be coupled to the housing.

A steering system for steering a heavy haul trailer dolly comprising a turntable mounted on the dolly for connecting to another trailer unit. The dolly comprising a main frame, a wheel group mounted to the main frame, and a pivot frame mounted to the main frame between the turntable and the wheel group. A counter-steering linkage connects the pivot frame and the turntable. Hydraulic cylinders connect the pivot frame and the wheel group. To automatically steer the dolly, the hydraulic cylinders are locked in length. Rotation of the turntable in one direction causes the pivot frame and the wheel group to rotate in the opposite direction. To steer the dolly directly, the hydraulic cylinders are operated to extend and retract, pushing and pulling against the pivot frame and turntable to rotate the wheel group.

A trailer configured to lower an overall center of gravity. The trailer comprises a tank, a wheel assembly, an upper body height and a trailer length. The tank comprises a cavity contained within a lower body, an upper body, a transitioning body, a front end and a rear end when the cavity within the trailer is filled with a liquid fluid, the liquid fluid is evenly distributed along the trailer length of the trailer since a diameter of the lower body, the upper body and the transitioning body are equal.

A refrigerated composite semi-trailer is disclosed that may improve thermal efficiency, fuel efficiency, and costs of manufacturing.

A kingpin stabilizer having a kingpin-retaining bracket having a base plate and upwardly extending walls along at least two sides of the base plate. The upwardly extending walls and the base plate forming a receiving cavity with the upwardly extending walls spaced apart to fit said kingpin therebetween. At least one upwardly extending wall has a pin retainer. The stabilizer includes three telescoping legs extending from the pin-retaining bracket forming a tripod.

The air hose retention device includes a first connector pivotally engaged to a top and an outer spool having a receiving area. A second side of a housing is rotatably engaged to a first side. A cable is wound on the outer spool. A spring is disposed in the receiving area. Pulling of the cable causes rotation of the second side in a first direction and the coiling of the spring. Movement of the cable towards the housing uncoils the spring winding the cable about the outer spool and rotating the second side in a second direction. The cable has a releasable connector which is engaged to a connector hose of a trailer. The air hose retention device may be easily disconnected from both a cab and a connector hose for storage or transportation in a cab of a truck during periods of nonuse.

A fifth wheel includes a top plate having a throat that is adapted to receive a kingpin of a trailer. A pair of locking jaws are pivotally connected to the top plate and pivotal between a closed configuration where the pair of locking jaws block passage of a kingpin out of the throat and the locking jaws are held primarily in compression and an open configuration where a kingpin may pass into and out of the throat. Each of the pair of locking jaws has an engagement surface adapted to engage a kingpin positioned in the throat when the pair of locking jaws are in the closed configuration. A locking member is movably attached to the top plate and a mechanism urges the locking member into engagement with the pair of locking jaws when the pair of locking jaws are in the closed configuration.

“THREE-DIMENSIONAL MONITORING SYSTEM FOR KINGPIN ON FIFTH WHEEL” describes an invention patent, for a monitoring system of Kingpin/Fifth Wheel articulation presented on trucks, with a great applicability for autonomous steering systems and vehicle dynamics control. This system allows the precise monitoring of translational, rotational movements and the relative accelerations of the king pin (5) in relation to the fifth wheel (3) on the X, Y and Z axes, totaling measurements in six degrees of freedom. The present patent presents two ways to make this monitoring of the three-dimensional position of the kingpin (5): The first through a set of sensors (6) accelerometers and gyroscope integrated to an electromagnet (4) that when electrified, is coupled to the king pin (5) by magnetic attraction. The second mode through a reference device (20) that is magnetic, identifiable, independent and easy to apply to the kingpin (4).

“THREE-DIMENSIONAL MONITORING SYSTEM FOR KINGPIN ON FIFTH WHEEL” describes an invention patent, for a monitoring system of Kingpin/Fifth Wheel articulation presented on trucks, with a great applicability for autonomous steering systems and vehicle dynamics control. This system allows the precise monitoring of translational, rotational movements and the relative accelerations of the king pin (5) in relation to the fifth wheel (3) on the X, Y and Z axes, totaling measurements in six degrees of freedom. The present patent presents two ways to make this monitoring of the three-dimensional position of the kingpin (5): The first through a set of sensors (6) accelerometers and gyroscope integrated to an electromagnet (4) that when electrified, is coupled to the king pin (5) by magnetic attraction. The second mode through a reference device (20) that is magnetic, identifiable, independent and easy to apply to the kingpin (4).

A system and method for operation of an autonomous vehicle (AV) yard truck is provided. A processor facilitates autonomous movement of the AV yard truck, and connection to and disconnection from trailers. A plurality of sensors are interconnected with the processor that sense terrain/objects and assist in automatically connecting/disconnecting trailers. A server, interconnected, wirelessly with the processor, that tracks movement of the truck around and determines locations for trailer connection and disconnection. A door station unlatches/opens rear doors of the trailer when adjacent thereto, securing them in an opened position via clamps, etc. The system computes a height of the trailer, and/or if landing gear of the trailer is on the ground and interoperates with the fifth wheel to change height, and whether docking is safe, allowing a user to take manual control, and optimum charge time(s). Reversing sensors/safety, automated chocking, and intermodal container organization are also provided.