Trailer line routing
AssigneeVolvo Trucks North America, Inc.
InventorFrank T. Baginski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for routing an elongated line of an over the highway tractor having a connector for powering a component of a trailer. An elongated line, such as an electrical cable or an air hose, has a first mating connector that mates with a connector on the tractor that provides access to a source of air under pressure or electrical energy. The elongated line also includes a second mating connector that mates with a connector on a trailer. First and second releasable hooks are connected to the elongated line along the length of the line. The first and second hooks are secured to mounting points on the tractor to properly route the cable when the second connector is connected to the trailer and when the second connector is not connected to the trailer.
Claims30
In an over the highway tractor having a frame, a connector for powering a component of a trailer, an elongated line having a first mating connector that mates with said connector of said tractor and a second mating connector that mates with a connector on a trailer, and a line support for said elongated line, a system for routing the elongated line, comprising:
- a) a first releasable hook secured to the elongated line spaced apart from said first mating connector;
- and
- b) a first ring connected to said line support, said first releasable hook latched onto said first ring, wherein said first hook and said first ring route said elongated line from said socket and support said elongated line above said frame of said tractor.
In an over the highway tractor having an electrical socket for powering an electrical component of a trailer, an elongated cable support including an elongated post supported by a spring element connected to said tractor, and an electrical trailer cable having a first connector that mates with said electrical socket and a second connector that mates with a socket on a trailer, said electrical trailer cable being supported by said elongated cable support, a system for routing the cable, comprising:
- a) a first releasable hook secured to the electrical trailer cable spaced apart from said first connector;
- b) a second releasable hook secured to the electrical trailer cable between said first releasable hook and said second mating connector;
- c) a first ring connected to a lower portion of said elongated post, said first releasable hook latched onto said first ring;
- d) a second ring connected to an end portion of said elongated post, said second releasable hook latched onto said second ring, said first and second hooks and said first and second rings route said electrical trailer cable from said socket to said lower portion of said elongated post, along a length of said elongated post, to said end portion of said elongated post.
In an over the highway tractor having an electrical socket for powering an electrical component of a trailer, a bar connected to a back side of a cab of the tractor, a spring connected to the cab, and an electrical trailer cable having a first connector that mates with said electrical socket and a second connector that mates with a socket on a trailer, said electrical trailer cable being supported by said spring, a system for routing the cable, comprising:
- a) a first releasable hook secured to the electrical trailer cable spaced apart from said first connector;
- b) a second releasable hook secured to the electrical trailer cable between said first releasable hook and said second connector;
- c) a first ring connected to a back side of a cab of said tractor, said first releasable hook latched onto said first ring;
- d) a second ring connected on an end portion of said spring, said second releasable hook latched onto said second ring, said first and second hooks and said first and second rings route said electrical trailer cable from said socket to said ring on said cab, to an end portion of said spring.
A method of routing an elongated line of an over the highway tractor, comprising:
- a) plugging a first mating connector of the elongated line into a connector of the tractor;
- b) routing said elongated line to a mounting point located along a length of an elongated line support;
- and
- c) connecting a hook on said elongated line to said mounting point.
A method of routing an elongated line of an over the highway tractor, comprising:
- a) plugging a first mating connector of the elongated line into a connector of the tractor;
- b) routing a first portion of said elongated line to a first mounting point located along a length of an elongated line support;
- c) connecting a first hook on said elongated line to said first mounting point;
- d) routing a second portion of said elongated line from said first mounting point to an end portion of said elongated cable support;
- and
- e) connecting a second hook on said elongated line to said end portion of said elongated line support.
A method of routing an elongated line of an over the highway tractor, comprising:
- a) plugging a first mating connector of the elongated line into a connector of the tractor;
- b) routing a portion of said elongated line to a mounting point supported by a rear surface of a cab of said tractor;
- and
- c) connecting a hook on said elongated line to said mounting point.
A method of routing an elongated line of an over the highway tractor, comprising:
- a) plugging a first mating connector of the elongated line into a connector of the tractor;
- b) routing a first portion of said elongated line to a first mounting point located on a rear surface of a cab of said tractor;
- c) connecting a first hook on said elongated line to said first mounting point;
- d) routing a second portion of said elongated line from said first mounting point to an end portion of a spring that is supported by said cab;
- and
- e) connecting a second hook on said electrical cable to a said end portion of said spring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.