A system and method for steering a trailer include the trailer being coupled to a fifth wheel of a motor vehicle. A trailer steering system for the motor vehicle includes a sliding rail mounted on a vehicle frame of the motor vehicle and extending along a lateral direction of the motor vehicle, a slider slidingly arranged on the sliding rail and carrying the fifth wheel for coupling the trailer to the motor vehicle, and a control device configured to control movement of the slider along the sliding rail depending on a current steering angle of the motor vehicle.

A robotized tractor unit comprises a frame and a housing, an axle mounted on the frame, at least two main wheels mounted on either side of the axle, at least one electric engine arranged to drive the wheels to rotate through transmission, a braking system, a fifth wheel, a mechanism for damping and adjusting the position of the fifth wheel, a control system, wherein the mechanism for damping and adjusting the position of the fifth wheel comprises a first and a second support elements and a first and a second independently controlled pneumatic units.

The design of the present invention provides for the reliable damping of the fifth wheel, the simplifying of its coupling to a semi-trailer, allowing for towing the semi-trailer at any design height, as well as ruling out a forward or rearward semi-trailer displacement force during lifting the fifth wheel, when the tractor unit is braked.

An example trailer hitch is disclosed. The example trailer hitch includes a trailer hitch including a base to be coupled to a vehicle bed of a vehicle, a carriage slidably coupled to the base, the carriage to slide along rails of the base between a first position and a second position, and a head rotatably coupled to the carriage, the carriage to slide from the first position to the second position in response to rotation of the head.

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.

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.

A single axle dolly vehicle unit for a heavy duty vehicle combination, the dolly vehicle unit comprising an electrical energy source arranged to power at least one electric machine configured to drive left and right wheels of the single axle, the dolly vehicle unit further comprising a drawbar and a fifth wheel connection for mating with first and second trailer units, respectively, wherein the fifth wheel connection is arranged to be adjusted in height over ground by a variable height suspension system, the dolly vehicle unit further comprising a control unit arranged to control the variable height suspension system.

An example trailer hitch is disclosed. The example trailer hitch includes a trailer hitch including a base to be coupled to a vehicle bed of a vehicle, a carriage slidably coupled to the base, the carriage to slide along rails of the base between a first position and a second position, and a head rotatably coupled to the carriage, the carriage to slide from the first position to the second position in response to rotation of the head.

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.

A fifth wheel hitch is shown and described. The fifth wheel hitch may include a base frame configured to be secured to a load bed of a towing vehicle, a trolley operatively engaged with the base frame, the trolley adapted to move along the base frame between first and second positions, and a cam member attached with the base frame, the cam member having a cam path. The fifth wheel hitch may also include a cam follower coupled with the trolley, the cam follower operatively engaged with the cam path, and a fifth wheel head pivotally coupled with the trolley, where the trolley is moved between the first and second positions in response to pivoting of the fifth wheel head.

A fifth wheel hitch is shown and described. The fifth wheel hitch may include a base frame configured to be secured to a load bed of a towing vehicle, a trolley operatively engaged with the base frame, the trolley adapted to move along the base frame between first and second positions, and a cam member attached with the base frame, the cam member having a cam path. The fifth wheel hitch may also include a cam follower coupled with the trolley, the cam follower operatively engaged with the cam path, and a fifth wheel head pivotally coupled with the trolley, where the trolley is moved between the first and second positions in response to pivoting of the fifth wheel head.