# US 2018/0025662 A1 · Trailer Sway Demonstrator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0025662 A1 - Document ID: US20180025662A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/656,134 - Filed: 2017-07-21 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-21 - Assignees: U-Haul International, Inc. - Inventors: Steve Taub; James D. Fait; Marco Garcia; Javier Nolasco; Edwin Dale Beck, III; Luis Paul Vendrell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180025662A1 ## CPC - G09B 9/048: a model being viewed and manoeuvred from a remote point (G09B9/052, G09B9/058 take precedence) - G09B 9/00: Simulators for teaching or training purposes (for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; {protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131}) - G09B 9/02: for teaching control of vehicles or other craft - G09B 9/04: for teaching control of land vehicles - G09B 9/052: characterised by provision for recording or measuring trainee's performance (devices for psychotechnics, e.g. for vehicle drivers A61B5/16, A61B5/18) - G09B 9/058: for teaching control of cycles or motorcycles - G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B) ## Abstract An apparatus for simulating a vehicle traveling on a road and towing a trailer, wherein the apparatus includes a scale model towing vehicle and trailer combination positioned on a moving belt of a treadmill. The apparatus has a speed control and a remote control steering mechanism to demonstrate how the vehicle/trailer towing combination will react to vehicle operator inputs under varying conditions, including variations in weight distribution of the trailer load. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for simulating a vehicle traveling on a road and towing a trailer, the apparatus comprising in combination: a motorized belt including a surface movable at a variable speed in a longitudinal direction; a support frame for supporting the motorized belt; a model towing vehicle positioned on the belt movable surface and including a steering assembly adapted to steer the model towing vehicle and a servo motor adapted to control the steering assembly in response to a servo control signal, wherein the model towing vehicle is coupled to the support frame via a coupling arm so that the model towing vehicle can move laterally on the motorized belt when the motorized belt is in motion in the longitudinal direction; a model trailer adapted for coupling to the rear end of the model towing vehicle and including removable weights for simulating weight distribution in a life size trailer; and a steering control assembly including a servo driver configured to provide the servo control signal in response to operation of the steering control mechanism; whereby when the motorized belt moves in the longitudinal direction, an operator can operate the steering control mechanism to steer the model towing vehicle laterally with respect to the motorized belt. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the steering control assembly includes a steering wheel coupled to the servo driver. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the model trailer has a single axle configuration. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the model trailer has a dual axle configuration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the model trailer removable weights are disposed on the model trailer to simulate the weight distribution of a full size trailer and a load in the full size trailer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the steering wheel is disposed in a generally vertical orientation to the rear of the model towing vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a camera for capturing track level images of the operation of the model towing vehicle or the model trailer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support frame is mounted to a storage box bottom platform configured to mate with a storage box top section configured to fit over and encase the apparatus. ### Claim 9 An apparatus for simulating a vehicle traveling on a road and towing a trailer, the apparatus comprising in combination: a motorized belt including a surface movable at a variable speed in a longitudinal direction; a support frame for supporting the motorized belt; a model towing vehicle positioned on the belt movable surface, wherein the model towing vehicle is coupled to the support frame via a coupling arm so that the model towing vehicle can move laterally on the motorized belt when the motorized belt is in motion in the longitudinal direction; a model trailer adapted for coupling to the rear end of the model towing vehicle and including removable weights for simulating weight distribution in a life size trailer; and a remote control steering control assembly adapted to allow a user to steer the model towing vehicle when the motorized belt is in motion in the longitudinal direction.