B62D53/0871

METHODS, APPARATUSES, AND SYSTEMS FOR MONITORING STATE OF A TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
20200398749 · 2020-12-24 ·

Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods, apparatuses, and systems for receiving feedback during transport. Embodiments include a transportation system comprising a tractor, a trailer, and a sensor feedback system. Sensor feedback system may include a tilt sensor system mounted on at least one of the tractor, a dolly, a first trailer, and a second trailer, and a user feedback system mounted within the tractor. Tilt sensor system may measure tilt of at least one of the dolly, first and second trailers, and first and second containers attached to the first and second trailers, to obtain tilt information, and send tilt information to the user feedback system via a communication system. User feedback system may receive the tilt information and alert a driver of the tractor if the tilt information is above a predetermined level.

Hitch assembly
10793209 · 2020-10-06 ·

A hitch assembly, including a first frame for being attached to a tow vehicle and a second frame for being attached to a trailer. The second frame is movably engaged with the first frame and is adapted for fore and aft movement relative to the first frame along a plurality of ball bearings.

Antijackknife hitch system for a trailer
10787209 · 2020-09-29 ·

An antijackknife system for a trailer having a trailer hitch with a ball joint and alignment arms, a housing on the underside of the trailer at a front end of the trailer, and a front end of the housing having a ball joint socket. A slide plate is in an interior of the housing and an actuator is on the underside of the trailer. The actuator is operatively coupled to a rear end of the slide plate. Casters are attached to an axle assembly at a rear end of the trailer. The casters each have a locking plate attached thereto with the locking plate having a locking slot. Locking pins are positioned on the axle assembly. The slide plate is placed in a first position by the actuator wherein the ball joint socket rotates freely on the ball joint and the locking pins are placed in the locking slots. Alternatively, the slide plate is placed in a second position by the actuator wherein the ball joint socket does not rotate on the ball joint and the locking pins are pulled out of the locking slots.

Method for stabilizing a tractor vehicle-trailer combination during travel

A method and device for stabilizing a tractor vehicle-trailer combination during travel, in which tractor vehicle and trailer are connected via at least one pivot joint, including: ascertaining a setpoint buckling angle for a driving-stable setpoint movement of the combination, and/or a setpoint buckling angle velocity for a driving-stable setpoint movement of the combination, between the combination or between two trailers; ascertaining an actual buckling angle for the effective actual movement of the combination, and/or an actual buckling angle velocity for the effective actual movement of the combination, between the tractor vehicle and trailer or between multiple trailers; ascertaining a deviation between the setpoint and actual buckling angles and/or between the setpoint and actual buckling angle velocities, and if the deviation exceeds a threshold value, generating a control signal to activate at least one vehicle component to control movement of the combination in a direction toward a driving-stable movement state.

Utility arms for extension from a fifth wheel kingpin and related methods
10766547 · 2020-09-08 ·

Utility arm apparatuses for securement to a kingpin of a fifth wheel coupling of a trailer and related methods are provided herein. A utility arm apparatus can include an elongate body having an attachment end and a utility end. The attachment end can include a recessed portion for receiving a neck portion of a kingpin of a fifth wheel coupling secured to the trailer such that the utility end extends outward from the kingpin past an end of the trailer. The utility arm apparatus can further include a utility device secured to the utility end of the elongate body such that the utility device is positioned past the end of the trailer when the attachment end of the elongate body is secured to the kingpin.

ELECTRIC ASSISTED SEMI-TRAILER WITH SMART KINGPIN SENSOR ASSEMBLY
20200238990 · 2020-07-30 ·

A trailer for use with a towing vehicle having a first connector. The trailer includes a connector assembly, a plurality of wheels, and a trailer assist assembly. The connector assembly includes a second connector and at least one sensor. The second connector is configured to be coupled to the first connector to thereby couple the trailer to the towing vehicle. The at least one sensor is configured to detect forces applied to at least a portion of the connector assembly. The trailer assist assembly includes a control system and at least one electric motor. The control system is configured to control operation of the at least one electric motor, receive sensor signals from the at least one sensor, and use the sensor signals to determine when to operate the at least one electric motor. The at least one electric motor is operable to drive the plurality of wheels.

Fifth wheel to gooseneck torsion suspension coupler
10633039 · 2020-04-28 · ·

A torsion gooseneck coupler has a pin box that is designed to be affixed to an existing trailer. The pin box has a pin box torsion end and a lower assembly that each have a corresponding torsion bar. The torsion bars extend outwardly where each affixes to a corresponding torsion arm. The lower assembly is designed to affix to a towing vehicle. The lower assembly has an upper and a lower torsion tube that each has a corresponding torsion bar. The upper torsion arm affixes the upper torsion bar of the pin box assembly to the upper torsion bar of the lower assembly. Correspondingly, a lower torsion arm affixes the lower torsion bars of the pin box assembly to the lower assembly. The torsion tubes and bars resist rotation and cooperate to allow limited movement and provide resistance to forces along the axes of the upper and lower assemblies.

HITCH ASSEMBLY
20200047830 · 2020-02-13 ·

A hitch assembly, including a first frame for being attached to a tow vehicle and a second frame for being attached to a trailer. The second frame is movably engaged with the first frame and is adapted for fore and aft movement relative to the first frame along a plurality of ball bearings.

Pin box assembly with gooseneck coupler

A pin box assembly with gooseneck coupler for coupling a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle is described. The pin box assembly may include a first member capable of being secured to a towed vehicle and a second member pivotally coupled to the first member about an axis of rotation relative to the first member. The pin box assembly may further include a gooseneck ball coupler coupled to the second member, and a suspension system coupled to at least one of the first and second members, the suspension system damping motion between the first and second members.

Anti-jackknifing control apparatus and method for active converter dolly
11891134 · 2024-02-06 · ·

The disclosure is directed at an apparatus, method and computer readable medium for a self-powered towed vehicle in a road train or tractor-trailer vehicle configuration to detect and respond to forward jack-knifing risk conditions. The apparatus may detect jack-knifing risk conditions based on sensors and information including sensors to detect an angle of misalignment between the towed vehicle and the vehicle directly in front of it in the road train. The apparatus may respond to the presence of a jack-knifing risk condition by reducing or eliminating the motive rotational force applied to the wheels of the towed vehicle.