Remotely controlled electro-hydraulic towing assembly
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorKhalil P. Kizy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A towing assembly is mounted to the rear of a robotic vehicle. The assembly has motors and hydraulic cylinders which are actuated to manipulate a lunette, pintle or other hitching element. Manipulation of this hitching element brings it into connection with a complementary element on a vehicle to be towed. The motors and cylinders can be remotely controlled and a camera on the robotic vehicle allows a human operator at a remote site to monitor the operation of the towing assembly.
Claims4
A towing assembly for hook up a towing vehicle to a trailer vehicle, the assembly comprising:
- a guideway on the towing vehicle;
- a sliding member engaging the guideway;
- means for translating the sliding member along the guideway;
- a post mounted to the sliding member;
- a hydraulic cylinder;
- means for rotating the cylinder about the post;
- means disposed between the hydraulic cylinder and the post for swinging the cylinder toward or away from the post;
- a hitching element connected to the cylinder;
- and
- means for actuating the hydraulic cylinder.
An electro-hydraulic towing assembly for accomplishing unmanned hook up of a towing vehicle to a trailer vehicle, the assembly comprising:
- a guideway affixed to the towing vehicle;
- a sliding member translatable along the guideway;
- a first motor fixed relative to the guideway;
- a first motor's shaft extending from the first motor into threaded engagement with the sliding member, whereby actuation of the first motor translates the sliding member along the guideway;
- a post mounted to the sliding member;
- a ring gear encircling the post
- a second motor fixed relative to the sliding member;
- a shaft of the second motor engaging the ring gear;
- a primary hydraulic cylinder pivotally connected to the post;
- a secondary hydraulic cylinder disposed between the primary hydraulic cylinder and post;
- and
- a hitching element attached to the primary hydraulic cylinder.
A system having an electro-hydraulic towing assembly for remotely controlled hook up of a robotic vehicle to a trailer vehicle, the system comprising:
- a guideway affixed to the robotic towing vehicle;
- a sliding member translatable along the guideway;
- a first motor fixed relative to the guideway;
- a first motor's shaft extending from the first motor into threaded engagement with the sliding member, whereby actuation of the first motor translates the sliding member along the guideway;
- a post mounted to the sliding member;
- a gear on the post
- a second motor fixed relative to the sliding member;
- a shaft of the second motor engaging the gear;
- a primary hydraulic cylinder pivotally connected to the post;
- a secondary hydraulic cylinder disposed between the primary hydraulic cylinder and post;
- a hitching element attached to the primary hydraulic cylinder;
- means for actuating the primary hydraulic cylinder and the secondary hydraulic cylinder;
- a station;
- means for controlling the motors having a motor control input device at the station;
- means for controlling the actuating means having a cylinder actuation input device at the station;
- a camera on the robotic vehicle;
- and
- a monitor at the station receiving signals from the camera.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.