# US 7,743,859 B2 · Hybrid drivetrains for trailers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,743,859 B2 - Document ID: US7743859B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/626,412 - Filed: 2007-01-24 - Published: 2007-08-23 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2006-02-03 - Assignees: Magna Powertrain USA, Inc. - Inventors: John R. Forsyth - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743859B2 ## CPC - B62D 59/04: driven from propulsion unit on trailer - B60K 1/00: Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units (B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00) - B60K 6/48: Parallel type - B60L 50/50: using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells - B60L 2200/28: Trailers - B60W 2300/14: Tractor-trailers, i.e. combinations of a towing vehicle and one or more towed vehicles, e.g. caravans; Road trains - F16H 48/11: having intermeshing planet gears - Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - F16H: GEARING - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A trailer includes a pair of wheels rotatably coupled to a trailer frame. A motor is operable to provide drive torque to at least one of the wheels. The energy storage device is mounted to the frame and operable to selectively provide energy to the motor. A load sensor is operable to output a signal indicative of the magnitude of a load being transferred between the trailer and a tow vehicle. A controller is operable to generate control signals in response to the sensor signal. The control signals control operation of the motor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A trailer comprising: a trailer frame; a single drive motor axle mounted to the frame and including one electric motor, a differential assembly coupled to the motor, a first output shaft coupled to the differential assembly and a second output shaft coupled to the differential assembly, wherein the motor, differential assembly and first and second output shafts are coaxially disposed; a pair of wheels coupled to the respective first and second output shafts; an energy storage device mounted to the frame, the energy storage device being operable to selectively provide energy to the motor; a load sensor operable to output a signal indicative of the magnitude of a load being transferred between the trailer and a tow vehicle; and a controller operable to generate control signals in response to the sensor signal, the control signals controlling the operation of the motor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The trailer of claim 1 wherein the motor is operable in a regenerative braking mode where rotation of each of the wheels is resisted and energy is transferred to the energy storage device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The trailer of claim 1 wherein the drive motor axle further comprises a gear reduction unit coupled to the motor and the differential assembly, the gear reduction unit configured to provide a 50/50 torque split between the pair of wheels. ### Claim 4 A trailer comprising: a trailer frame; a pair of wheels rotatably coupled to the trailer frame; a motor operable to provide drive torque to at least one of the wheels; an energy storage device mounted to the frame, the energy storage device being operable to selectively provide energy to the motor; a load sensor operable to output a signal indicative of the magnitude of a load being transferred between the trailer and a tow vehicle; and a controller operable to generate control signals in response to the sensor signal, the control signals controlling the operation of the motor; wherein the motor is also operable in a regenerative braking mode where rotation of the at least one wheel is resisted and energy is transferred to the energy storage device, the regenerative braking mode is entered when the load on the load sensor exceeds a predetermined value indicative of tow vehicle braking. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The trailer of claim 4 wherein drive torque is provided to the at least one wheel when the load on the load sensor exceeds a predetermined value indicative of tow vehicle acceleration. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The trailer of claim 5 wherein the motor is operable in a no-load state where neither regenerative braking nor torque supply is being provided by the motor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The trailer of claim 4 wherein the motor includes a rotatable output shaft extending substantially perpendicular to a forward direction of trailer travel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The trailer of claim 4 further including another sensor coupled to the trailer, the another sensor being operable to output a signal indicative of the lateral acceleration of the trailer to the controller. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The trailer of claim 4 wherein the load sensor is operable to output a signal indicative of the direction of the load being transferred between the trailer and the tow vehicle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The trailer of claim 4 wherein the controller is adapted to receive signals from sensors mounted on a tow vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The trailer of claim 4 wherein the motor is electrically operable. ### Claim 12 A trailer comprising: a trailer frame; a pair of wheels rotatably coupled to the trailer frame; a motor operable to provide drive torque to at least one of the wheels, wherein the motor is drivingly coupled to a gear reduction unit and a differential assembly, the differential assembly operable to provide output torque to each of the wheels; an energy storage device mounted to the frame, the energy storage device being operable to selectively provide energy to the motor; a load sensor operable to output a signal indicative of the magnitude of a load being transferred between the trailer and a tow vehicle; and a controller operable to generate control signals in response to the sensor signal, the control signals controlling the operation of the motor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The trailer of claim 12 wherein the gear reduction unit includes a planetary gearset. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The trailer of claim 13 wherein one of the gears of the planetary gearset rotates about an axis aligned with an axis of rotation of one of the wheels. ### Claim 15 A trailer comprising: a coupler adapted to interconnect the trailer and a tow vehicle; a motor/generator in driving communication with a wheel supporting the trailer for movement across a ground surface; a power storage device in communication with the motor/generator; and a controller operable to generate control signals, the control signals being sent to the motor/generator to selectively operate the motor/generator in one of a regenerative braking mode and a torque supplying mode; wherein the motor/generator is operable in a no-load state where neither regenerative braking nor torque supply is being provided by the motor/generator. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The trailer of claim 15 further including a sensor coupled to the trailer, the sensor being operable to output a signal indicative of the lateral acceleration of the trailer to the controller. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The trailer of claim 15 further including a load sensor coupled to the trailer, the load sensor being operable to output a signal indicative of a magnitude of a load being transferred between the trailer and a tow vehicle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The trailer of claim 17 wherein the load sensor is operable to output a signal indicative of the direction of the load being transferred between the trailer and the tow vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The trailer of claim 15 wherein the controller is adapted to receive signals from sensors mounted on the tow vehicle.