US 5,861,802 A · Fifth wheel hitch coupling control system

Abstract

An electronic coupling control system for a vehicle trailer hitch assembly having a hitch plate in which a throat is defined for receiving a trailer kingpin and having a locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in the hitch throat. The electronic coupling control system includes a trailer proximity sensor for sensing when a trailer is in proximity to the hitch assembly, a kingpin sensor for sensing the presence of the kingpin in the hitch throat, a lock sensor for sensing when said locking mechanism is in a locked and secured position, and indicator means located in the vehicle for providing hitch coupling status information to an operator of the vehicle. The indicator means is coupled to the trailer proximity, kingpin, and lock sensors for informing the operator when a trailer is in proximity to the hitch assembly, when the kingpin is positioned in the hitch throat, and when the locking mechanism is in a locked position. The indicator means may include an indicator light and control circuit. The electronic coupling control system may further include an interface for coupling to a control input of an electrical control system of the vehicle, wherein the control circuit is coupled to the interface for generating and providing a control signal to the vehicle electrical control system when the locking mechanism is not in a locked position such that a vehicle function, such as the vehicle's brakes are operated. The electronic coupling control system may also perform a self-diagnostic routine to insure proper operation of its components when the vehicle ignition is turned ON.

Drawings

Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO

Drawings

Claims22

Dependent claims

An electronic coupling control system for a trailer hitch assembly to be located on a vehicle having an electrical control system for controlling a vehicle function in response to a control signal applied to a control input thereof, the trailer hitch assembly having a throat for receiving a trailer kingpin and having a locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in the throat, said electronic coupling control system comprising:

a lock sensor for sensing when said locking mechanism is in a locked position;
an interface for coupling to a control input of said vehicle electrical control system;
and
a control circuit coupled to said lock sensor and to said interface for generating and providing a control signal to said vehicle electrical control system when said locking mechanism is not in a locked position, wherein the vehicle electrical control system responds to said control signal by affecting a vehicle function, wherein the vehicle electrical control system responds to said control signal by restricting a maximum allowable engine speed of the vehicle.

1 more element

An electronic coupling control system for a trailer hitch assembly to be located on a vehicle, the trailer hitch assembly having a throat for receiving a trailer kingpin and having a locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in the throat, said electronic coupling control system comprising:

a lock sensor for sensing when said locking mechanism is in a locked position;
an indicator located in the vehicle for providing hitch coupling status information to an operator of the vehicle;
and
a control circuit coupled to said lock sensor and to said lock sensor for activating said indicator means to inform the operator when said locking mechanism is in a locked position;
a power supply circuit for coupling to the ignition of the vehicle;
and
a diagnostic circuit coupled to said control circuit and to said power supply circuit, for performing a diagnostic routine to insure proper operation of said lock sensor, said indicator means, and said control circuit when the vehicle ignition is turned ON.

4 more elements

a trailer proximity sensor for sensing when a trailer is in proximity to said hitch assembly;
a kingpin sensor for sensing the presence of said kingpin in said hitch throat;
a lock sensor for sensing when said locking mechanism is in a locked position;
and
indicator means located in the vehicle for providing hitch coupling status information to an operator of the vehicle, said indicator means is coupled to said trailer proximity sensor for informing the operator when the trailer is in proximity to said hitch assembly, said indicator means is also coupled to said kingpin sensor for informing the operator when said kingpin is positioned in said throat, said indicator means is further coupled to said lock sensor for informing the operator when said locking mechanism is in a locked position.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description7,053 words

Summary958 words

#The present invention generally relates to an electronic hitch coupling control system. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electronic system for controlling a coupling system of a fifth wheel trailer hitch and providing status information relating to coupling status of the hitch.

#Conventionally, fifth wheel type trailer hitches provided no form of feedback to the operator in a driving position that indicates whether the kingpin of the trailer was securely positioned within the throat of the hitch plate. Thus, it was necessary for the operator to get out of the cab and visually inspect the hitch to determine whether the kingpin was properly positioned in the throat and that the locking mechanism that locks the kingpin in place is in a locked and secure position. In an attempt to solve this problem, a proximity sensor was provided to determine when the locking mechanism is in a locked position and a visual indictor was provided in the cab to let the operator know when the trailer was securely coupled to the hitch without requiring the operator to leave the cab. An example of such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,207, entitled WARNING DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE AND TRAILER COUPLING SYSTEM, issued to Frame, Sr. et al. Despite the additional information such a system provides to the vehicle operator, the information cannot be relied upon if the electrical system is damaged by a broken or short circuit. Additionally, this system does not provide an operator with other useful information that exists prior to the movement of the locking mechanism into a locked position, such as the proximity of the trailer to the hitch assembly. Further, such a system does not require proper coupling and locking before the truck is driven forward and subsequently driven at high speeds on public roadways. Thus, a need exists for an electronic control coupling system that reliably provides additional information to a vehicle operator while coupling the vehicle to a trailer and that prevents normal operation of the vehicle if the trailer is not properly coupled.

#Accordingly, the present invention has been made to overcome the above problems. One aspect of the present invention is to provide an electronic coupling control system that reliably informs the vehicle operator when the trailer's kingpin is positioned in the throat of the hitch plate and when the locking mechanism is in a locked and secured position. Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide an electronic coupling control system that reliably informs the vehicle operator when the trailer is in proximity to the hitch assembly. Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an electronic coupling control system that reliably informs the vehicle operator when the hitch plate is moved from a resting position, which would occur when the trailer is in proximity to the hitch assembly. Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an electronic coupling control system that performs a self-diagnostic routine each time the vehicle ignition is turned ON. Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide an electronic coupling control system that controls a vehicle function, such as controlling the top speed of the vehicle or operating the vehicle brakes, when the locking mechanism of the hitch is not in a locked and secured position. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings9 figures

#The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in, and constitute a part of, this Specification illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the objects, advantages, and principles of the invention. In the drawings:

#FIG. 1 is a pictorial drawing illustrating the application of the present invention to a truck tractor;

#FIG. 2A is bottom view of a hitch assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Detailed description5,893 words

#The basic application of the present invention to a truck tractor 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1. Tractor 10 includes a hitch assembly 20 having a base 24 securely mounted on the chassis 80, a hitch plate 26 pivotally mounted on base 24 on a transverse axis, and a locking mechanism 28 for locking a conventional trailer kingpin in place. The electronic coupling control system of the present invention preferably includes three proximity sensors mounted to hitch assembly 20, and a status indicating device 50 mounted in the cab of tractor 10, whereby the sensors are coupled to status indicating device 50 by a cable 45. Preferably, the three sensors mounted to hitch assembly 20 include a trailer proximity sensor, such as a hitch plate movement sensor 32, a kingpin sensor 34, and a lock sensor 36. Sensors 32, 34, and 36 may be non-contact inductive sensors, such as type no. NJS-186K-N available from Pepperl & Fuchs. The manner in which sensors 32, 34, and 36 are mounted to hitch assembly 20 will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2A-C. Although sensor 32 is described hereinafter as a hitch plate movement sensor, this sensor could be mounted in other locations so long as the sensor still detects the proximity of the trailer to the hitch assembly prior to the time that the kingpin is positioned in the throat of the hitch plate.

#A more detailed view of hitch assembly 20 is shown in FIGS. 2A-2C. FIG. 2A shows a bottom view of an exemplary hitch plate 26. In a preferred embodiment, hitch plate movement sensor 32 is mounted on a flange 23 of hitch plate 26 such that the sensing end faces outward in a direction perpendicular to the pivot pins 21 (FIG. 2B). FIG. 2B shows the hitch plate 26 from the side in combination with base 24 in a coupled horizontal position 25 and in an uncoupled at-rest position 27 (dashed lines). By mounting a metal plate 85 on chassis 80 in a position near where the sensing end of sensor 32 is disposed when hitch plate 26 is in the resting position, hitch plate movement sensor 32 detects the presence of plate 85 as a basis for determining that the hitch plate is in a tilted at-rest position. When a tractor is backed under a trailer, contact is made between the tilted hitch plate and a portion of the trailer. This contact causes hitch plate 26 to rotate into a coupled position. When sensor 32 subsequently detects the absence of plate 85, it can be concluded that hitch plate 26 has been moved from its at-rest position and that the trailer is in proximity to the hitch assembly. It should be noted that sensor 32 may also be mounted so as to detect metal when hitch plate 26 is in the horizontal coupled position.

#Referring back to FIG. 2A, kingpin sensor 34 is mounted to hitch plate 26 with its sensing end near the throat 60 formed in hitch plate 26 into which a trailer kingpin is positioned and locked. FIG. 2C shows an upside-down side view in partial cross section illustrating the location of a trailer kingpin 70 when properly disposed in throat 60. As constructed, kingpin sensor 34 outputs a detection signal when the metal trailer kingpin's lower flange is disposed in throat 60.

Fifth wheel hitch coupling control system

Life of this patent

Fifth wheel hitch coupling control system

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims22

Description7,053 words

Drawings

Classification4 codes

Life of this patent

Description7,053 words