Data communications apparatus for tractor/trailer using pneumatic coupler

A data communications system arranged to be carried by a tractor and a trailer for monitoring various operating conditions of at least the trailer by a driver positioned on the tractor, the data communications system comprising:

• first and second controllers respectively carried by a tractor and a trailer for controlling data communications therebetween;
• interconnecting first and second coupler portions respectively connected to a tractor and a trailer, said first and second coupler portions connecting to define a nonconductive interface therebetween, said first and second coupler portions being arranged during interconnection thereof so as to permit a driver to supply pneumatic braking pressure from a tractor to a trailer;
• and
• first and second transceivers respectively positioned in communication with said first and second controllers and respectively carried by said first and second pneumatic coupler portions for transmitting and receiving signals representative of monitoring data from the trailer to the tractor over said nonconductive interface so as to in turn be monitored by a driver positioned on the tractor.

A method of monitoring various operating conditions of at least a trailer of a combination of a tractor and a trailer, the tractor and trailer combination having a pneumatic braking system carried by the tractor and trailer to permit a driver to supply pneumatic braking pressure from the tractor to the trailer, the pneumatic braking system including a pair of air hoses respectively connected to the tractor and the trailer, and a coupler connected to the pair of air hoses, the coupler having interconnecting first and second coupler portions, the first and second coupler portions connecting to define a nonconductive interface therebetween, the method comprising:

• positioning a data communications system so as to be carried by the tractor and the trailer, the data communications system including a respective pair of transceivers connected to the first and second coupler portions;
• interconnecting first and second coupler portions;
• and
• transmitting a signal representative of monitoring data from the trailer to the tractor over the nonconductive interface by the transceiver carried by the second coupler portion so as to be displayed to a driver positioned on the tractor.

A method of monitoring various operating conditions of at least a trailer of a combination of a tractor and a trailer, the tractor and trailer combination having a pneumatic braking system carried by the tractor and trailer to permit a driver to supply pneumatic braking pressure from the tractor to the trailer, the pneumatic braking system including a pair of air hoses respectively connected to the tractor and the trailer, and a coupler connected to the pair of air hoses, the coupler having interconnecting first and second coupler portions, the first and second coupler portions connecting to define a nonconductive interface therebetween, and a data communications system including a respective pair of transceivers connected to the first and second coupler portions, the method comprising:

• detecting a variance in an operating condition on the trailer;
• transmitting a data signal representative of the variance from the trailer to the tractor over the nonconductive interface by the transceiver carried by the second coupler portion;
• and
• receiving a data signal representative of the variance from the trailer to the tractor over the nonconductive interface by the transceiver carried by the first coupler portion so as to be displayed to a driver positioned on the tractor.