Automatic pneumatic/electrical coupler system for tractor-trailer combination vehicles

A coupling system for operably interconnecting at least one of an electrical system and a pneumatic system of a road tractor to a trailer when the road tractor and the trailer are connected together by a fifth wheel assembly and a kingpin to define a generally vertical pivot axis, the coupling system comprising:

• a curved track defining at least one upwardly-facing support surface extending along the track, the curved track configured to be mounted to a frame of a road tractor, the curved track including a curved rack having a plurality of teeth positioned to define an arc:
• a cart structure movably connected to the curved track for powered movement along a generally horizontal curved path;
• at least one roller mounted to the cart structure to movably support the cart structure on the upwardly-facing support structure;
• an electric motor providing powered movement of the cart structure along the curved path, wherein the electric motor is mounted to the cart structure, and wherein the electric motor drives a pinion gear that engages the teeth of the curved rack to move the cart structure along the curved path;
• a connector assembly movably connected to the cart structure for powered movement in a direction that is transverse to the curved path, the connector assembly including at least one of a first electrical connector configured to be connected to an electrical system of a road tractor and a first pneumatic connector configured to be connected to a pneumatic system of a road tractor;
• at least one of a second electrical connector configured to be electrically coupled to an electrical system of a trailer and a second pneumatic connector configured to be connected to a pneumatic brake system of a trailer;
• and wherein:
• in use the one second electrical connector or second pneumatic connector is mounted to a trailer, and, after connection of a trailer kingpin to a filth wheel assembly, the cart moves from a first position along the curved path until the connector assembly is positioned in registry, with the one second electrical connector or second pneumatic connector, followed by movement of the connector assembly relative to the cart structure to couple the one first electrical or pneumatic connector to the one second electrical or pneumatic connector whereby at least one of a tractor electrical and pneumatic system is operably coupled to at least one of a trailer electrical and pneumatic system, respectively;
• the curved track defines a channel having a curved shape in plan view, and the upwardly-facing support surface comprises a base surface of the curved channel whereby the roller is at least partly disposed in the curved channel.

In a tractor-trailer having a tractor that includes electrical and pneumatic systems, and a trailer having a kingpin and electrical and pneumatic systems, and wherein the tractor includes a fifth wheel hitch assembly that couples to the kingpin and provides pivotable movement of the trailer relative to the tractor, the improvement comprising:

• a coupling system for coupling the electrical and pneumatic systems of the tractor to the electrical and pneumatic systems of the trailer, respectively, the coupling system comprising:
• a cart structure movably mounted to the tractor for movement along a curved path;
• a powered actuator that moves the cart structure along the curved path upon actuation of the powered actuator;
• a connector assembly including a first electrical connector and a first pneumatic connector, wherein the connector assembly is detachably and movably interconnected to the cart structure;
• a second electrical connector attached to the trailer;
• a second pneumatic connector attached to the trailer;
• and wherein:
• the cart structure moves along the curved path upon actuation of the powered actuator and the connector assembly moves relative to the cart structure to thereby interconnect the first and second electrical connectors and the first and second pneumatic connectors to operably interconnect the electrical and pneumatic systems of the tractor and the trailer, and wherein the connector assembly detaches from the cart structure after the first and second electrical connectors are interconnected and after the first and second pneumatic connectors are interconnected.

In a tractor-trailer having a tractor that includes electrical and pneumatic systems, and a trailer having a kingpin and electrical and pneumatic systems, and wherein the tractor includes a fifth wheel hitch assembly that couples to the kingpin and provides pivotable movement of the trailer relative to the tractor, wherein the trailer pivots about a generally vertical pivot axis relative to the tractor, the improvement comprising:

• a coupling system for coupling the electrical and pneumatic systems of the tractor to the electrical and pneumatic systems of the trailer, respectively, the coupling system comprising:
• a curved guide structure mounted to the trailer;
• a cart structure movably mounted to the tractor for movement along a curved path, wherein the cart structure is movably connected to the curved guide structure, and the curved guide structure forms an arc about the pivot axis and wherein opposite ends of the curved guide structure are rigidly attached to frame rails of the tractor;
• a connector assembly including a first electrical connector and a first pneumatic connector, wherein the connector assembly is movably interconnected to the cart structure;
• a second electrical connector attached to the trailer;
• a second pneumatic connector attached to the trailer;
• and wherein:
• the cart structure moves along the curved path and the connector assembly moves relative to the cart structure to thereby interconnect the first and second electrical connectors and the first and second pneumatic connectors to operably interconnect the electrical and pneumatic systems of the tractor and the trailer;
• and
• opposite ends of the curved guide structure are rigidly attached to frame rails of the tractor.

A method of retrofitting an existing tractor-trailer vehicle with a coupling system that operably interconnects electrical and pneumatic systems of a tractor and a trailer upon hitching a trailer to a tractor utilizing a fifth wheel hitch and kingpin;

• the method comprising:
• mounting a curved guide structure to a frame of a tractor;
• providing a cart structure that is movably connected to the guide structure for movement of the cart structure along a curved path;
• providing a connector assembly that is detachably and movably connected to the cart structure, wherein the connector assembly includes a first electrical connector and a first pneumatic connector;
• ensuring that the first electrical connector is connected to an electrical system of a tractor;
• ensuring that the first pneumatic connector is connected to a pneumatic system of a tractor;
• mounting second electrical and pneumatic connectors to a trailer at a location that is horizontally spaced-apart from a kingpin of the trailer;
• ensuring that the second electrical connector is connected to an electrical system of the trailer;
• ensuring that the second pneumatic connector is connected to a pneumatic system of the trailer;
• and
• configuring the coupling system such that the cart structure moves along the curved path and the connector assembly moves to interconnect the first and second electrical and pneumatic connectors;
• wherein the connector assembly detaches from the cart structure while the first and second electrical and pneumatic connectors are interconnected such that the cart structure can be moved relative to the first and second electrical and pneumatic connectors.