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US 12,103,615 B2Granted
Powered trailer
AssigneeELTRA Electric Trailers Corp.
InventorBrandon Schwartz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In some embodiments, a powered trailer is provided having a chassis, a fixation structure for fixing the chassis to a target vehicle to be pushed, a drive mechanism for applying motive force to the chassis, an energy source for powering the drive mechanism, and a controller for controlling the application of motive force to the chassis by the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism is actuated by the controller to push the target vehicle.
Claims27
A powered trailer comprising:
- a chassis;
- a fixation structure for fixing the chassis to a target vehicle to be pushed;
- a drive mechanism for applying motive force to the chassis;
- an energy source for powering the drive mechanism;
- and
- a controller for controlling the application of motive force to the chassis by the drive mechanism,
- wherein the drive mechanism is actuated by the controller to push the target vehicle,
- wherein the fixation structure comprises at least two contact points for contacting corresponding contact points of the target vehicle, and wherein the at least two contact points are spaced apart, and
- wherein the controller allocates force dynamically between the at least two contact points.
6 more elements
A powered trailer comprising:
- a chassis;
- a fixation structure for fixing the chassis to a target vehicle to be pushed;
- a drive mechanism for applying motive force to the chassis;
- an energy source for powering the drive mechanism;
- and
- a controller for controlling the application of motive force to the chassis by the drive mechanism,
- wherein the drive mechanism is actuated by the controller to push the target vehicle, and
- wherein the actuation of the drive mechanism is at least partially based on a mass of the target vehicle and any load carried by the target vehicle.
5 more elements
A powered trailer comprising:
- a chassis;
- a fixation structure for fixing the chassis to a target vehicle to be pushed;
- a drive mechanism for applying motive force to the chassis;
- an energy source for powering the drive mechanism;
- and
- a controller for controlling the application of motive force to the chassis by the drive mechanism,
- wherein the drive mechanism is actuated by the controller to push the target vehicle, and
- wherein a location of a center of gravity of the trailer relative to a single axis of rotation for the drive mechanism defines a lean angle for at housing of the powered trailer, and wherein the lean angle is controllable by the controller.
5 more elements
A powered trailer comprising:
- a chassis;
- a fixation structure for fixing the chassis to a target vehicle to be pushed;
- a drive mechanism for applying motive force to the chassis;
- an energy source for powering the drive mechanism;
- a controller for controlling the application of motive force to the chassis by the drive mechanism;
- and
- at least one dynamic ballast mechanism for moving a center of gravity of the powered trailer,
- wherein the drive mechanism is actuated by the controller to push the target vehicle.
5 more elements
A powered trailer comprising:
- a chassis;
- a fixation structure for fixing the chassis to a target vehicle to be pushed;
- a drive mechanism for applying motive force to the chassis;
- an energy source for powering the drive mechanism;
- and
- a controller for controlling the application of motive force to the chassis by the drive mechanism,
- wherein the drive mechanism is actuated by the controller to push the target vehicle, and
- wherein the fixation structure is a rigid structure comprising at least two contact points for contacting the target vehicle, and wherein the at least two contact points are spaced apart, and wherein a detection of an upcoming turn is based on a force differential between the two contact points.
5 more elements
A powered trailer comprising:
- a chassis;
- a fixation structure for fixing the chassis to a target vehicle to be pushed;
- a drive mechanism for applying motive force to the chassis;
- an energy source for powering the drive mechanism;
- and
- a controller for controlling the application of motive force to the chassis by the drive mechanism,
- wherein the drive mechanism is actuated by the controller to push the target vehicle, and
- wherein the chassis is self-balancing.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.