A load-bearing trailer dolly which connects a tongue-type boat, utility or other trailer to a towing tandem trailer and bears weight from the trailer during towing. The trailer dolly is characterized by an axle mounted on a pair of wheels. A dolly frame height-adjustable trailer hitch that receives a primary or a secondary trailer. The adjustable hitch on the trailer dolly allows horizontal leveling. A shock-absorbing spring is fitted between the axle mount and the dolly frame for cushioning the dolly frame on the axle mount as the trailer is towed behind the towing tandem trailer.

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.

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.

The disclosure is directed at an apparatus and method for shifting or moving trailers. In one aspect, the apparatus is a converter dolly with at least one set of powered wheels, which can be equipped with a remote control steering device. In another aspect, the apparatus is a remotely controlled terminal tractor configured to be coupled to a trailer. In some aspects, the remote control of the apparatus is directed by an autonomous algorithm resident remotely or on the apparatus itself. In another aspect, a frame of an apparatus for towing a trailer includes an articulated frame with a first frame counterpart pivotably connected to a second frame counterpart.

An auxiliary dolly attachable to the rear of a primary trailer includes a first portion attachable to the primary trailer, a second portion comprising one or more axles with wheels, and a pivot point at which the first portion is coupled to and movable relative to the second portion, and further includes one or more cylinders configured to adjust the first and second portions relative to each other and apportion weight between the primary trailer and the auxiliary dolly.

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.

A portable trailer stabilizer, comprising: (i) a support surface engagement element configured to selectively engage a support surface; (ii) a trailer engagement element configured to selectively engage a forward end portion of a trailer; (iii) a hydraulic cylinder operatively connected between the support surface engagement element and the trailer engagement element, the hydraulic cylinder configured to extend the trailer engagement element relative to the support surface engagement element; (iv) an on-board, self-contained energy source comprising a hydraulic accumulator operatively coupled to the hydraulic cylinder; (v) an isolation valve fluidically interposing the hydraulic cylinder and the hydraulic accumulator; (vi) a positioning element engagement element configured to selectively couple with a trailer stabilizer positioning element of a tractor; and (vii) a valve operator mechanism configured to (a) open the isolation valve when the when the positioning element engagement element is coupled to the trailer stabilizer positioning element of the tractor, and (b) shut the isolation valve when the positioning element engagement element is uncoupled from the trailer stabilizer positioning element of the tractor, where the hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic accumulator, and the isolation valve are operatively connected in a closed hydraulic system containing a hydraulic fluid.

The vehicle system can include: a set of vehicle couplings (e.g., a tractor interface, a trailer interface, etc.); a chassis, a battery pack, an electric powertrain, a sensor suite, and a controller. The modular vehicle system can optionally include landing gear, a suspension, and any other suitable set of components. The vehicle system functions to structurally support and/or tow a trailer – such as a Class 8 semi-trailer – and/or to augment/supplement a tractor propulsive capability (e.g., via a diesel/combustion engine) with a supplementary electric drive axle(s).

A self-powered dolly vehicle unit with an adaptable wheelbase, the dolly vehicle unit comprising a front axle arranged to support a pair of steerable front wheels, a rear axle arranged to support a pair of rear wheels, a fifth wheel connection for towing a trailer vehicle, a draw-bar attachment mechanism , arranged to hold a draw-bar, and a frame structure arranged to support the front axle and the rear axle at a variable wheelbase distance from each other, wherein the frame structure is arranged to be locked at a first wheelbase distance position and at a second wheelbase distance position.

A method of supporting a trailer using a portable trailer stabilizer, the method comprising: (i) contacting a trailer engagement element of a portable trailer stabilizer with a forward end portion of a parked trailer using a tractor coupled to the portable trailer stabilizer; (ii) compressing a hydraulic cylinder containing pressurized hydraulic fluid and directing the pressurized hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic accumulator via an open isolation valve by pressing the trailer engagement element against the forward end portion of the parked trailer to compress the hydraulic cylinder to move the trailer engagement element from the fully extended configuration to a partially extended configuration by positioning the portable trailer stabilizer at least partially beneath and the forward end portion of the parked trailer using the tractor, the hydraulic cylinder operatively coupled to extend the trailer engagement element relative to a support surface engagement element, the isolation valve fluidically interposing the hydraulic cylinder and the hydraulic accumulator; (iii) extending the hydraulic cylinder while maintaining contact between the trailer engagement element and the forward end portion of the parked trailer by lowering the support surface engagement element to engage a support surface beneath the trailer; and (iv) shutting the isolation valve and securing the trailer engagement element against the forward end portion of the trailer by disengaging the tractor from the portable trailer stabilizer, shutting the isolation valve preventing compression of the hydraulic cylinder, where disengaging the tractor from the portable trailer stabilizer actuates a valve operator mechanism operatively coupled to the isolation valve, the valve operator mechanism being operative to open the isolation valve when the portable trailer stabilizer is coupled to the tractor and to shut the isolation valve when the portable trailer stabilizer is uncoupled from the tractor, and where the hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic accumulator, and the isolation valve are operatively connected in a closed hydraulic system.