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US 2002/0000699 A1Published application
Vehicle towing system
OwnerAdam Paul Ruddleinventor
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OwnerAdam Paul Ruddleinventor
Estimating the term…
Motor vehicle 12 is towed by a second motor vehicle 10. The towed vehicle has a hydraulic or pneumatic suspension with rams 44 at wheels 46, pressure feed hoses 58, height sensors 60, and signal wires 62. Ride height is normally maintained by an electric motor and pump unit 48. Hydraulic control unit 52 and ECU (electrical control unit) 30 co-operate to pressurize and regulate the suspension when ignition switch 38 is activated. Accumulator 55 may be provided to reduce the number of pump cycles. To allow towing of vehicle 12 with suspension height maintained, but ignition switched off, electrical socket 24 is provided on the towed vehicle. This may be connected by cable 26, 28 to socket 16 on the towing vehicle. A spur (41, 43; FIG. 2) may be taken from the cable to provide power to a trailer-type lighting board. The towed vehicle may be an amphibian.
A vehicle towing system comprising a towing vehicle, and a towed vehicle, the towed vehicle having fluid suspension, a pump means for supplying pressurised fluid power to the fluid suspension, an electric motor for driving the pump means, the system further comprising an electrical connection between the towing vehicle and towed vehicle for supplying electrical power from the towing vehicle to said electric motor of the towed vehicle to enable the ride height of the towed vehicle to be maintained during the towing operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.