An adjustable capture plate for a fifth wheel hitch is disclosed. An example capture plate includes a skid plate couplable to a fifth wheel hitch, and a clamping system including, a base coupled to the skid plate, a pressure plate slidably coupled to the base, and a crank arm coupled to the pressure plate via a link, wherein rotation of the crank arm about an anchor pin of the base corresponds to linear travel of the pressure plate along the base, the pressure plate movable between a first position in which the pressure plate engages a pin box of a trailer and a second position in which the pressure plate is positioned away from the pin box.

Disclosed is a sensor device for a towing vehicle coupling or as a component of a towing vehicle coupling, in particular a fifth-wheel coupling, with which a trailer vehicle can be coupled to a towing vehicle wherein the towing vehicle coupling has a coupling element for detachably coupling to a coupling counter element, in particular a fifth-wheel king pin, wherein the coupling element is/can be secured to the towing vehicle and the coupling counter element is/can be secured to the trailer vehicle, and in the coupled state forming a joint, they can rotate relative to one another about at least one joint rotational axis, wherein the sensor device has a follower, mounted on a bearing body such that it can rotate about a follower rotational axis, for detecting a rotation of the coupling counter element relative to the coupling element about the at least one joint rotational axis wherein the follower can rotate about the follower rotational axis by rotationally following the coupling counter element in a rotation about the at least one joint rotational axis, and the sensor device has at least one sensor for detecting a respective rotational position of the follower relative to the bearing body in relation to the follower rotational axis. The follower is arranged outside a bearing region of the joint, in which the coupling element and the coupling counter element are engaged with one another in a bearing manner, and the at least one sensor is arranged inside the follower and/or the follower forms a protective housing for the at least one sensor.

Disclosed is a sensor device for a towing vehicle coupling or as a component of a towing vehicle coupling, in particular a fifth-wheel coupling, with which a trailer vehicle can be coupled to a towing vehicle wherein the towing vehicle coupling has a coupling element for detachably coupling to a coupling counter element, in particular a fifth-wheel king pin, wherein the coupling element is/can be secured to the towing vehicle and the coupling counter element is/can be secured to the trailer vehicle, and in the coupled state forming a joint, they can rotate relative to one another about at least one joint rotational axis, wherein the sensor device has a follower, mounted on a bearing body such that it can rotate about a follower rotational axis, for detecting a rotation of the coupling counter element relative to the coupling element about the at least one joint rotational axis wherein the follower can rotate about the follower rotational axis by rotationally following the coupling counter element in a rotation about the at least one joint rotational axis, and the sensor device has at least one sensor for detecting a respective rotational position of the follower relative to the bearing body in relation to the follower rotational axis. The follower is arranged outside a bearing region of the joint, in which the coupling element and the coupling counter element are engaged with one another in a bearing manner, and the at least one sensor is arranged inside the follower and/or the follower forms a protective housing for the at least one sensor.

An emergency trailer release device for separating a trailer from a towing truck during an emergency situation includes an actuating module and a controller, which are mountable to a fifth wheel and within a cab of the towing truck, respectively. The actuating module is operationally engaged to and can selectively open a set of locks so that a king pin engaging the trailer to the fifth wheel is released. The controller is operationally engaged to the actuating module and can be engaged an electrical circuit of the towing truck. The controller can be selectively actuated by a driver of the towing truck in an emergency situation to signal the actuating module to open the set of locks to disengage the trailer from the towing truck, for example, when the driver believes the towing truck, the trailer, or both, are in danger of rolling over.

An emergency trailer release device for separating a trailer from a towing truck during an emergency situation includes an actuating module and a controller, which are mountable to a fifth wheel and within a cab of the towing truck, respectively. The actuating module is operationally engaged to and can selectively open a set of locks so that a king pin engaging the trailer to the fifth wheel is released. The controller is operationally engaged to the actuating module and can be engaged an electrical circuit of the towing truck. The controller can be selectively actuated by a driver of the towing truck in an emergency situation to signal the actuating module to open the set of locks to disengage the trailer from the towing truck, for example, when the driver believes the towing truck, the trailer, or both, are in danger of rolling over.

A robotized tractor unit comprises a frame and a housing, an axle mounted on the frame, at least two main wheels mounted on either side of the axle, at least one electric engine arranged to drive the wheels to rotate through transmission, a braking system, a fifth wheel, a mechanism for damping and adjusting the position of the fifth wheel, a control system, wherein the mechanism for damping and adjusting the position of the fifth wheel comprises a first and a second support elements and a first and a second independently controlled pneumatic units.

The design of the present invention provides for the reliable damping of the fifth wheel, the simplifying of its coupling to a semi-trailer, allowing for towing the semi-trailer at any design height, as well as ruling out a forward or rearward semi-trailer displacement force during lifting the fifth wheel, when the tractor unit is braked.

A trailer hitch system for a vehicle such as a car, truck, or SUV, and trailer comprising an overcab portion substantially parallel to a roof of the truck. The overcab portion comprises a roof connector located generally equidistant from either lateral side of the roof and is aligned with a door pillar, and a hitch for connecting the trailer. The overcab portion further comprises a forward frame portion extending from the overcab portion with a forward frame connector and a rearward frame portion extending from the overcab portion with a rearward frame connector, both of which connect to the frame of the vehicle.

A method for monitoring a coupling connection between vehicle parts of a vehicle combination including the steps: reading of a load change time at which a load change is initiated and/or takes place at a tractor vehicle, a tractor vehicle acceleration changing as a result of the load change; monitoring of a jerk value after the load change time, the jerk value characterizing a tractor vehicle jerk of the tractor vehicle and/or a trailer jerk of a trailer; determining whether, on account of a preceding load change at a jerk time, a tractor vehicle jerk occurs at the tractor vehicle and/or a trailer jerk occurs at the trailer; and, identifying a degree of wear of the coupling connection in dependence upon the jerk time and/or a time delay between the load change time and the jerk time and/or of the jerk value at the jerk time.

A drawbar arrangement for a dolly vehicle, the drawbar arrangement comprising a control unit and an adjustable drawbar attached to the dolly vehicle, the adjustable drawbar comprising a front coupling element arranged to be adjusted vertically with respect to a ground plane by the control unit, wherein the control unit is arranged to determine a vertical coupling load associated with the front coupling element, and wherein the control unit is arranged to set a desired vertical coupling load associated with the front coupling element by vertically adjusting the front coupling element when coupled to a towing vehicle unit.

A front tow extended saddle configured for mounting a vehicle to a towing vehicle and a method of towing a vehicle using the front tow extended saddle are provided. The front tow extended saddle includes front, middle, and rear portions, with the front and rear portions extending along different planes. A protective cover extends along the front tow extended saddle and is supported above the wheels of the towing vehicle.