A method for assisted or automatic coupling of a trailer vehicle to a towing vehicle equipped with a coupling element which has a lateral guide for a corresponding coupling counterpart of the trailer vehicle to be inserted into the coupling element, an electronically controlled service brake and a drive unit. The method includes starting, after alignment and approach of the towing vehicle relative to the trailer vehicle, an automatic coupling process, which includes starting driving in reverse at a speed and a drive torque, detecting longitudinal and lateral accelerations of the towing vehicle, and stopping driving in reverse by switching off the drive torque and/or applying the service brake if a lateral acceleration occurs in a first range of values with the occurrence of a longitudinal acceleration in a second range of values and subsequent occurrence of a longitudinal acceleration in a third range of values.

A method for assisted or automatic coupling of a trailer vehicle to a towing vehicle equipped with a coupling element which has a lateral guide for a corresponding coupling counterpart of the trailer vehicle to be inserted into the coupling element, an electronically controlled service brake and a drive unit. The method includes starting, after alignment and approach of the towing vehicle relative to the trailer vehicle, an automatic coupling process, which includes starting driving in reverse at a speed and a drive torque, detecting longitudinal and lateral accelerations of the towing vehicle, and stopping driving in reverse by switching off the drive torque and/or applying the service brake if a lateral acceleration occurs in a first range of values with the occurrence of a longitudinal acceleration in a second range of values and subsequent occurrence of a longitudinal acceleration in a third range of values.

A fifth wheel hitch assembly includes a fifth wheel hitch plate having a body portion and a pair of extensions extending outwardly from the body portion, wherein the extensions cooperate to form a throat therebetween, a locking arrangement moveable between an unlocked position where a kingpin may be moved into and out of the throat, and a locked position where the kingpin is prevented from being removed from within the throat, and a sensor arrangement that includes at least one sensor located within at least one component of the locking arrangement, wherein the at least one sensor includes an accelerometer configured to sense vibrational movement of the at least one component of the locking arrangement.

A fifth wheel hitch assembly includes a fifth wheel hitch plate having a body portion and a pair of extensions extending outwardly from the body portion, wherein the extensions cooperate to form a throat therebetween, a locking arrangement moveable between an unlocked position where a kingpin may be moved into and out of the throat, and a locked position where the kingpin is prevented from being removed from within the throat, and a sensor arrangement that includes at least one sensor located within at least one component of the locking arrangement, wherein the at least one sensor includes an accelerometer configured to sense vibrational movement of the at least one component of the locking arrangement.

A fifth wheel hitch having a base assembly mounted to a bed of a towing vehicle, an intermediate assembly mounted to the base assembly, and a hitch head assembly which reduces or entirely eliminates the need for a lubricant, has jaws with mated, intermeshing teeth, and a locking mechanism which clearly indicates whether or not a kingpin of a fifth wheel trailer is properly connected to the fifth wheel hitch. The fifth wheel hitch is easily uninstalled into separate light-weight modules for re-installation on another towing vehicle.

Method for coupling a tractor with a semi-trailer and semi-truck with a tractor and a semi-trailer.

Method for coupling a tractor with a semi-trailer and semi-truck with a tractor and a semi-trailer.

A kingpin arrangement for an automatic coupling system including a kingpin extending in a kingpin direction, a turntable mounted rotatably about the kingpin direction relative to the kingpin and mounted on a plain-bearing, the turntable having an opening, through which the kingpin extends, and a support structure extending in a radial direction, the support structure including a fastener for indirectly and/or directly fastening and/or for mounting a plug connector, the support structure being fixed indirectly and/or directly to an end of the turntable.

A plug-in coupling system for a commercial vehicle includes a primary coupling device having a plug console with transmission contacts that point in a plug-in direction, a secondary coupling device having a connection console configured such that the plug console and the connection console are connected to one another so that information and/or energy can be transmitted between the plug console and the connection console, or disconnected from one another where no information and/or energy can be transmitted between the plug console and the connection console, and a locking device is configured to move between a locking position to prevent a transfer from the coupling position to the disconnecting position and a release position to permit a transfer from the coupling position to the disconnecting position.

The invention relates to a driverless transport vehicle for moving a semi-trailer. The driverless transport vehicle comprises a coupling device which is designed to establish a connection with the braking system and/or an electronic system of a semi-trailer. The invention also relates to a method for coupling a driverless transport vehicle to a semi-trailer.