B62D53/0842

Autonomous vehicle having rotatable fifth wheel

A terminal tractor includes a fifth wheel coupling which is rotatable relative to a longitudinal axis of the terminal tractor such that an opening in the fifth wheel coupling may be reoriented depending on the terminal tractor's direction of approach to a semi-trailer.

HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLE
20220169309 · 2022-06-02 · ·

A heavy-duty vehicle, comprising a steering unit mounted on a vehicle frame of the heavy-duty vehicle, wherein the steering unit is rotatable about an axis of rotation of the steering unit. The heavy-duty vehicle comprises a steering input element connected to the steering unit and configured to cause the steering unit to rotate about the axis of rotation of the steering unit. The steering unit has at least one connecting portion configured to be connected to one or more of a steering device of the heavy-duty vehicle or the steering input element of the heavy-duty vehicle. The steering unit comprises at least one actuating unit configured to change a distance of at least one connecting portion relative to the axis of rotation of the steering unit.

Dirt protection cover arrangement, dirt protection cover device for said arrangement, and coupling method involving same

A dirt protection cover arrangement with a semi-trailer (2) and a towing vehicle (3), for closing a hollow-bored king pin (21) on the semi-trailer (2) for an automatic fifth-wheel coupling, the king pin (21) being arranged on the underside (20) of the semi-trailer (2) as a counter-bearing for a fifth wheel (31) of the towing vehicle (3), a dirt protection cover device (1) being arranged such that it is adjacent to the underside (20) of the semi-trailer (2) and can rotate about the king pin (21), said dirt protection cover device including a dirt protection cover (11) for covering the borehole (22) in the king pin (21), and the dirt protection cover (11) being configured on the dirt protection cover device (1) such that, during the coupling process, it can be displaced from a base position covering the borehole (22) in the king pin (21) into a coupled position exposing the borehole. Also, a dirt protection cover device (1) for a dirt protection cover arrangement, and a coupling method involving same.

Towing attachment
11345199 · 2022-05-31 ·

A towing attachment is designed to facilitate the towing of bobtail trucks and similar vehicles. The towing attachment includes a tube, a hitch attachment body, a first mounting bracket, a second mounting bracket, a first locking mechanism, and a second locking mechanism. The tube is preferably a rectangular, tubular, structure that receives the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket. The hitch attachment body is an assembly that allows attachment onto the hitch feature of a bobtail truck or other similar vehicle. The first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket allow engagement to a wheel lift of a towing vehicle. The first locking mechanism maintains the first mounting bracket in place along the tube. The second locking mechanism maintains the second mounting bracket in place along the tube.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING TRAILER KING PIN LOCATION

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.

Anti-Rollover Trailer
20220126744 · 2022-04-28 ·

A tank trailer configured to lower an overall center of gravity. The trailer includes a tank, a wheel assembly, an upper body height and a trailer length. The tank includes 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. Other trailers are presented.

Gooseneck trailer with a guide for alignment
11312432 · 2022-04-26 ·

A gooseneck trailer having a coupler attached to its neck. The coupler having a recess at its lower end, wherein the diameter of the recess is slightly larger than a diameter of the hitch ball, thus permitting the coupler to receive the hitch ball. The gooseneck trailer further comprises a guide attached to the lower end of the coupler over an exposed area around the recess. The guide having a round arch portion and a pair of prongs. The round arch having a crown portion and a pair of haunches. The radius of the curvature of the crown of the round arch is proportional to the radius of the hitch ball. The pair of prongs are continuous with the pair of haunches, wherein the crown portion, the two haunches, and the two prongs are integral.

Fifth Wheel Hitch
20220119048 · 2022-04-21 ·

A fifth wheel hitch has a base attachable to a towing vehicle, a seat attachable at a selected elevation above the base, and a kingpin adapter attachable to a kingpin of a trailer so as to permit rotation of the kingpin adapter relative to the kingpin about a kingpin rotation axis. The seat has a mouth which narrows in the longitudinal direction, such as by having a pyramidal shape. A bottom of the kingpin adapter has a shape which can cause both pivoting rotation of the kingpin adapter relative to the kingpin and longitudinal or transverse translational movement of the kingpin adapter and attached kingpin when the towing vehicle is driven to a position with the seat under the bottom of the kingpin adapter and the kingpin is jacked down so the kingpin adapter seats into the seat.

DRIVERLESS TRANSPORT VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR MOVING A SEMI-TRAILER USING A DRIVERLESS TRANSPORT VEHICLE

The invention relates to a driverless transport vehicle for moving a semi-trailer. The driverless transport vehicle comprises a coupling device for automatically coupling the driverless transport vehicle to a kingpin of the semi-trailer. The invention also relates to a method for moving a semi-trailer using a driverless transport vehicle.

DRIVERLESS TRANSPORT VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR MOVING A SEMI-TRAILER USING A DRIVERLESS TRANSPORT VEHICLE

The invention relates to a driverless transport vehicle for moving a semi-trailer. The driverless transport vehicle comprises a base body and a telescopic arm protruding from the base body, said telescopic arm comprising a surroundings detection device on one end facing away from the base body. The invention also relates to a method for moving a semi-trailer using a driverless transport vehicle.