An adapter arrangement, in particular fifth wheel adapter arrangement, for a semitrailer train, comprising a base body, a coupling arrangement, in particular a fifth wheel coupling plate, and a king pin, wherein the king pin is fixed indirectly and/or directly to the base body, wherein in particular the coupling arrangement is stationary relative to the king pin.

A coupling system includes a coupling plug and a coupling receptacle, wherein the coupling plug and the coupling receptacle engage with one another in such a way that the first coupling part makes fluid-tight contact with the first receiving part, the second coupling part makes fluid-tight contact with the second receiving part and the third coupling part makes fluid-tight contact with the third receiving part, and wherein the contact surfaces of the coupling parts and the receiving parts are substantially rotationally symmetrical about the first axis.

A kingpin arrangement for arrangement a commercial vehicle trailer, includes a kingpin that extends in an extension direction, a stator rotationally fixed with respect to the kingpin and a rotor that includes (a plug connector adapted to be connectable or connected to a complementarily configured plug element of a towing vehicle, wherein the stator includes at least one connection that is connected to a distribution network of the trailer at least in an installed state, wherein the connection is connected to the energy connection in an electrically conductive manner via an energy transmission device, and wherein the rotor is freely rotatable relative to the stator about an axis of rotation.

A system and method for automatically coupling at least one of an air line or an electrical line of a tractor to a trailer that is configured to be pulled by the tractor. A moveable arm is mounted to the tractor and is configured to exhibit at least one degree of freedom (DOF) of motion relative to the tractor. The moveable arm carries at least one of an air line connector or an electrical connector. A trailer coupling head is mounted to the trailer and carries at least one of an air line connector or an electrical connector that are configured to be connected to the at least one of an air line connector or an electrical connector of the tractor. The trailer coupling head can be moved in at least a vertical DOF relative to the ground by the automatic coupling system.

Some embodiments include an autonomous yard truck that includes a speed control mechanism; a steering system; a geolocation sensor; a plurality of sensors; a fifth wheel coupling; a robotic arm disposed on the deck; an air hose with a first hose connector; a transceiver; and a controller. The controller may identify a first trailer hose connector location on a specific trailer; determine the location of a first hose connector on an autonomous yard truck; engages the first hose connector with a robotic arm; move the first hose connector from the first hose connector location to the first trailer hose connector location on the specific trailer with the robotic arm; connect the first hose connector with the first trailer hose connector; disengage the first hose connector from the robotic arm; and/or test the connection between the connection between the first hose connector and the first trailer hose connector.

The present technology describes systems and methods for a mechanized gladhand and an end effector. The mechanized gladhand may have a collar capable of rotational motion while the mating surface may be in contact with a second surface without rotating. This may reduce reaction loads while maintaining the integrity of the connection. The end effector may include a drive motor, clasping tool, and/or driving installed tool that may be used to couple a tool with the gladhand or may be used in other applications. The end effector may have a compact design to allow precise control. The movement of the end effector with the gladhand may be controlled based on image processing to align the tool with another component.

A connecting system and a method for connecting a towing vehicle to a semitrailer includes a first plug unit configured to be fixed to a rotor of a semitrailer unit rotatably mounted on the semitrailer unit about an axis of rotation and having a first coupling portion, and a second plug unit having at least one mounting portion configured to be attached to a coupling plate of a commercial vehicle and a second coupling portion, wherein the first and second coupling portions are configured to be coupled together along a coupling axis such that the coupling axis is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation and spaced from the axis of rotation, and such that the first coupling portion is displaceable relative to the rotor and/or the second coupling portion is displaceable relative to the mounting portion along the coupling axis to engage or disengage the respective opposite coupling portion.

A system and method for operation of an autonomous vehicle (AV) yard truck is provided. A processor facilitates autonomous movement of the AV yard truck, and connection to and disconnection from trailers. A plurality of sensors are interconnected with the processor that sense terrain/objects and assist in automatically connecting/disconnecting trailers. A server, interconnected, wirelessly with the processor, that tracks movement of the truck around and determines locations for trailer connection and disconnection. A door station unlatches/opens rear doors of the trailer when adjacent thereto, securing them in an opened position via clamps, etc. The system computes a height of the trailer, and/or if landing gear of the trailer is on the ground and interoperates with the fifth wheel to change height, and whether docking is safe, allowing a user to take manual control, and optimum charge time(s). Reversing sensors/safety, automated chocking, and intermodal container organization are also provided.

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 fifth-wheel coupling for releasably coupling a fifth-wheel tractor (10) to a semitrailer (20). A kingpin on s semitrailer can be brought into engagement with a fifth-wheel plate on the fifth-wheel tractor. A first insertion coupling part is arranged on the fifth-wheel plate in such a way that it can be moved by means of a lifting device from a decoupled, retracted idle position into a protruding coupling position. A centering unit, e.g., conical centering pins, is provided on the lifting device which centers the relative position of the first insertion coupling part in the decoupled position. The centering is mounted floating against the force of springs on the fifth-wheel plate. The centering is released in the coupling position after the coupling process. After coupling the semitrailer to the fifth-wheel tractor, during insertion the first plug-in coupling part can easily move laterally for safe insertion due to the released centering, in the case of any small misalignments between the fifth-wheel plate and the kingpin of the semitrailer. After coupling, an undesirable relative movement between the two plug-in coupling parts is prevented, thus minimizing wear.