Apparatuses, systems, and methods for determining and verifying operational states of fifth wheels
AssigneeFontaine Fifth Wheel Company
InventorsCarl Gaufin, Michael Shane Wolfe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for determining and verifying operational states of fifth wheels. Certain methods for determining the operational state of the fifth wheel may include sensing, with at least one sensor, magnetic flux caused by a magnet on a movable component movable to lock the fifth wheel to a kingpin of a towed vehicle and determining an end position of the movable component based on the magnetic flux. The end position of the movable component is then compared to a threshold position and an operational state of the fifth wheel is determined based on the comparison of the end position of the movable component to the threshold position.
Claims35
A method for determining an operational state of a fifth wheel, the method comprising:
- sensing, with at least one sensor, magnetic flux caused by a magnet on a movable component movable to lock the fifth wheel to a kingpin of a towed vehicle;
- determining an end position of the movable component based on the magnetic flux;
- comparing the end position of the movable component to a threshold position;
- and
- determining an operational state of the fifth wheel based on the comparison of the end position of the movable component to the threshold position.
A fifth wheel system comprising:
- a fifth wheel configured to couple to a kingpin of a towed trailer, the fifth wheel has a movable component movable to lock the fifth wheel to the kingpin;
- a magnet coupled to the movable component;
- a sensor in operative association with the fifth wheel and configured to sense magnetic flux caused by the magnet and generate data corresponding to the magnetic flux as the movable component moves to lock the fifth wheel to the kingpin;
- a controller configured to receive the data and process the data to determine an end position of the movable component as the movable component moves, wherein the controller is further configured to compare the end position of the movable component to a threshold position to thereby determine operational state of the fifth wheel;
- and
- an indicator that indicates the operational state of the fifth wheel.
A method of verifying an operational state of a fifth wheel, the method comprising:
- sensing a position of a movable component on a fifth wheel movable to lock the fifth wheel to a kingpin of a towed vehicle;
- determining a locked state of the fifth wheel based on the sensed position;
- monitoring the position of the movable component for a predetermined amount of time after detecting the locked state;
- and
- if a threshold change in the sensed position of the movable component is detected within the predetermined amount of time, storing a positive indicator of manual verification of the locked state of the fifth wheel by an operator.
A fifth wheel system comprising:
- a fifth wheel configured to couple to a kingpin of a towed trailer, the fifth wheel having a movable component movable to lock the fifth wheel to the kingpin;
- a sensor for sensing a position of the movable component;
- a controller configured to:
- determine a locked state of the fifth wheel based on the position of the movable component and monitor the position of the movable component for a predetermined amount of time after detecting the locked state;
- and
- detect a threshold change in the position of the movable component within the predetermined amount of time and then store a positive indicator of manual verification of the locked state of the fifth wheel by an operator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.