Automated trailer coupling arrangement

An automated trailer coupling arrangement, comprising:

• a downwardly opening receiver member supported within a downwardly facing surface of a towed vehicle and including a first pneumatic coupler and an electrical coupler, wherein the receiver member is located at a first vertical height;
• a shuttle member including a second pneumatic coupler configured to couple to a pneumatic supply source of a towing vehicle, and a second electrical coupler configured to couple to an electrical supply source of the towing vehicle;
• and
• a control arm assembly supported on a towing vehicle, comprising:
• a carrier member configured to operably couple and uncouple with the shuttle member;
• an arm having a first end operably coupled to the towing vehicle at a second vertical height that is less than the first vertical height, and a second end coupled to the carrier member and configured to move the carrier member between a first position where the carrier member is coupled with the shuttle member and the shuttle member is spaced from the receiver member, and a second position where the second pneumatic coupler is coupled with the first pneumatic coupler and the second electrical coupler is coupled with the first electrical coupler and the carrier member is uncoupled and spaced from the shuttle member;
• wherein the first end of the arm is pivotably coupled to the towing vehicle.

An automated trailer coupling arrangement, comprising:

• a downwardly opening receiver member supported within a downwardly facing surface of a towed vehicle and including a first pneumatic coupler and an electrical coupler, wherein the receiver member is located at a first vertical height;
• a shuttle member including a second pneumatic coupler configured to couple to a pneumatic supply source of a towing vehicle, and a second electrical coupler configured to couple to an electrical supply source of the towing vehicle;
• and
• a control arm assembly supported on a towing vehicle, comprising:
• a carrier member configured to operably couple and uncouple with the shuttle member;
• an arm having a first end operably coupled to the towing vehicle at a second vertical height that is less than the first vertical height, and a second end coupled to the carrier member and configured to move the carrier member between a first position where the carrier member is coupled with the shuttle member and the shuttle member is spaced from the receiver member, and a second position where the second pneumatic coupler is coupled with the first pneumatic coupler and the second electrical coupler is coupled with the first electrical coupler and the carrier member is uncoupled and spaced from the shuttle member:
• wherein the first end of the arm is pivotably coupled to the towing vehicle for pivoting about a vertical axis.

An automated trailer coupling arrangement comprising:

• a downwardly opening receiver member supported within a downwardly facing surface of a towed vehicle and including a first pneumatic coupler and an electrical coupler, wherein the receiver member is located at a first vertical height:
• a shuttle member including a second pneumatic coupler configured to couple to a pneumatic supply source of a towing vehicle, and a second electrical coupler configured to couple to an electrical supply source of the towing vehicle;
• and
• a control arm assembly supported on a towing vehicle, comprising:
• a carrier member configured to operably couple and uncouple with the shuttle member;
• an arm having a first end operably coupled to the towing vehicle at a second vertical height that is less than the first vertical height, and a second end coupled to the carrier member and configured to move the carrier member between a first position where the carrier member is coupled with the shuttle member and the shuttle member is spaced from the receiver member, and a second position where the second pneumatic coupler is coupled with the first pneumatic coupler and the second electrical coupler is coupled with the first electrical coupler and the carrier member is uncoupled and spaced from the shuttle member;
• wherein the control arm assembly includes a pneumatic actuator configured to move the arm between the first and second positions.

An automated trailer coupling arrangement, comprising:

• a downwardly opening receiver member configured to be supported on or within a downwardly facing surface of a towed vehicle and including a first pneumatic coupler and an electrical coupler, wherein the receiver member is located at a first vertical height;
• a shuttle member including a second pneumatic coupler configured to couple to a pneumatic supply source of a towing vehicle, and a second electrical coupler configured to couple to an electrical supply source of the towing vehicle;
• and
• a control arm assembly configured to be supported on the towing vehicle, comprising:
• a carrier member configured to operably couple and uncouple with the shuttle member;
• an arm having a first end pivotably coupled to the towing vehicle at a second vertical height that is less than the first vertical height for pivoting about a horizontal axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle and abut a vertical axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle, and a second end pivotably coupled to the carrier member and configured to move the carrier member between a first position where the carrier member is coupled with the shuttle member and the shuttle member is spaced from the receiver member, and a second position where the second pneumatic coupler is coupled with the first pneumatic coupler and the second electrical coupler is coupled with the first electrical coupler and the carrier member is uncoupled and spaced from the shuttle member;
• wherein a distance between the first end and the second end is fixed as the arm moves between the first and second positions;
• and
• wherein the shuttle member is coupled to the carrier member when in the first position such that the shuttle member is prevented from moving along a length of the arm.

A method for operating an automated trailer coupling arrangement, comprising:

• providing a downwardly opening receiver member supported on or within a downwardly facing surface of a towed vehicle and including a first pneumatic coupler and an electrical coupler, wherein the receiver member is located at a first vertical height;
• providing a shuttle member including a second pneumatic coupler pneumatically coupled to a pneumatic supply source of a towing vehicle, and a second electrical coupler coupled to an electrical supply source of the towing vehicle;
• providing a control arm assembly coupled to the towing vehicle, comprising
• a carrier member configured to operably couple and uncouple with the shuttle member;
• and
• an arm having a first end operably coupled to the towing vehicle at a second height that is less than the first height, and a second end coupled to the carrier member;
• and
• coupling the shuttle member to the receiver member by moving the control arm assembly from a first position where the carrier member is coupled with the shuttle member and the shuttle member is spaced from the receiver member, to a second position where the shuttle member is received within the receiver member and is coupled to the carrier member, to a third position where the shuttle member is received within the receiver member and the first pneumatic coupler is pneumatically coupled with the second pneumatic coupler, respectively, and the first electrical coupler is coupled with the second electrical coupler, to a fourth position where the carrier member is uncoupled from the shuttle member and abuts the shuttle member, to a fifth position wherein the carrier member is uncoupled and spaced from the shuttle member, wherein a distance between the first and second ends of the arm remains constant as the control arm assembly moves between the first and second positions.