2726results about "Towing devices" patented technology

The invention provides a trailer connecting device. The trailer connecting device comprises a fixing piece, a trailer hook, a driven piece, a mandrel, a driving piece and the like. The mandrel is mounted on the fixing piece, is connected with the tow hook and synchronously rotates with the tow hook; the driving piece is directly or indirectly connected with the actuating device, the driven piece is installed on the mandrel, the driving piece is matched with the driven piece and drives the driven piece to rotate, and the tow hook is reliably fixed at the working position and the retracting position. The trailer connecting device is simple in structure, convenient to machine and manufacture and high in working reliability.

A vehicle having a primary mover, a charging system, multiple electric loads, and a controller. The charging system includes a charge storing device and an alternator. The alternator is configured to convert mechanical energy generated by the prime mover into electrical energy to charge the charge storing device. The multiple electrical loads are electrically coupled to the charging system via a power distribution module. The controller is communicably coupled to the charging system and is configured to receive an indication that an electrical output of the charging system is unable to provide sufficient electrical energy to each electrical load in the electrical loads. The controller is also configured to provide a control signal to the power distribution module in response to the indication. The control signal is configured to cause the power distribution module to decouple at least one of the electrical loads from the charging system.

An autonomous vehicle system includes a vehicle including a base assembly having a front surface, a rear surface opposite the front surface, and side surfaces extending between the front surface and the rear surface. A sensor system is coupled to the base assembly and configured to detect one or more objects located in an area near the vehicle. The sensor system includes a first sensor oriented parallel with at least one of the front surface, the rear surface, or the side surfaces, and a second sensor oriented non-parallel with the front surface, the rear surface, and the side surfaces. A control system is configured to receive a communication regarding the detection of the one or more objects from the sensor system and generate one or more controls for at least one of the base assembly or one or more tractive elements.

A combination vehicle includes a tractor including a steered wheel and a trailer towed by the tractor. A control device for the combination vehicle includes a control unit. The control unit is configured to, when a reverse operation of the combination vehicle is performed, assist a reverse operation of the trailer by causing a controlled variable to follow a target value of reverse control that is set through a specific operation by an operator. The control unit is configured to execute a process of limiting the target value and a process of limiting a time rate of change in the target value from a viewpoint of suppressing occurrence of a jackknife phenomenon.

“THREE-DIMENSIONAL MONITORING SYSTEM FOR KINGPIN ON FIFTH WHEEL” describes an invention patent, for a monitoring system of Kingpin / Fifth Wheel articulation presented on trucks, with a great applicability for autonomous steering systems and vehicle dynamics control. This system allows the precise monitoring of translational, rotational movements and the relative accelerations of the king pin (5) in relation to the fifth wheel (3) on the X, Y and Z axes, totaling measurements in six degrees of freedom. The present patent presents two ways to make this monitoring of the three-dimensional position of the kingpin (5): The first through a set of sensors (6) accelerometers and gyroscope integrated to an electromagnet (4) that when electrified, is coupled to the king pin (5) by magnetic attraction. The second mode through a reference device (20) that is magnetic, identifiable, independent and easy to apply to the kingpin (4).

Disclosed herein is an autonomous vehicle comprising at least one subsystem capable of determining a location corresponding to a connectable tool; determining an orientation for interconnecting with the connectable tool; aligning the autonomous vehicle for interconnecting with the connectable tool based on the location and the orientation of the connectable tool; engaging the connectable tool at one or more physical connection points and at least one electrical connection point; and establishing power line modem (PLM) communications between the autonomous vehicle and the connectable tool via an electrical power connection resulting from the engaging the at least one electrical connection point; and, before commencing full power operations over said electrical power connection, determining that the electrical power connection is without current diversion by transmitting a fixed amount of non-lethal electrical power from the autonomous vehicle to the connectable tool via the electrical power connection and determining whether the difference between the power transmitted by the autonomous vehicle and the power received by the connectable tool exceeds a threshold for indicating current diversion.

A mounting arrangement for hitch-mounted equipment carrier includes a mounting bar having a transversely movable locking member. An equipment carrier mounting portion is movably supported by the mounting bar for movement between an operative position and an inoperative position. An actuator moves the locking member to a locking position within the hitch receiver when the mounting portion is moved from the inoperative position toward the operative position. The actuator includes a biasing member that applies a biasing force on the locking member for engaging it with the hitch receiver. The equipment carrier mounting portion is movable from the operative position to a tilt position while the mounting bar is engaged within the passage of the hitch receiver by the locking member.

A weight measuring hitch ball assembly is described. The assembly can include a hitch ball and a body portion having an opening that slidably receives a lower portion of the hitch ball. Additionally, the assembly can include a retention coupling operable with the hitch ball and the body portion to secure the hitch ball to the body portion. The retention coupling can have a retention protrusion and a retention wall defining at least a portion of a retention opening operable to receive at least a portion of the retention protrusion therein. With the retention protrusion extending into the retention opening, the retention wall can provide a mechanical barrier to the retention protrusion that prevents removal of the hitch ball from the hitch ball opening, while allowing slidable movement of the hitch ball within the hitch ball opening sufficient to determine a magnitude of the force acting on the hitch ball.

A trailer jack and transport system providing improved rolling and steerable motion to sport, recreational and utility trailers, when operating on diverse kinds of ground surfaces, including pavement, dirt, sand, and mud, without use of caster-style wheels. The trailer jack and transport system employs a spherical load-bearing transport ball supported within a frame assembly and configured to allow the spherical wheel to freely rotate in any orientation, on ground surfaces of a diverse nature during system operation.

Described is a device for supporting cables for articulated vehicles, designed for installation close to a connecting compartment between two adjacent units of an articulated vehicle, including at least one flexible connecting element fixed to the two units and formed by a series of plates connected to each other by interposing deformable laminar elements consisting of elastic metal elements which allow the elastic deformation of the flexible connecting element, and a series of cable-holder elements joined to respective plates of the flexible connecting element to each define at least one receiving seat provided for housing at least one cable, with supporting means for supporting the flexible connecting element containing the cables.

A relative angle detection device for a combination vehicle, the relative angle detection device being used in the combination vehicle in which a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle are connected by a towing-side connecting member and a towed-side connecting member. The relative angle detection device includes an imaging device that captures an image of one of the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle from the other, a radiation device that emits marker light to a position where the image is to be captured by the imaging device, and an image analysis device that analyzes the image captured by the imaging device to detect a relative angle of the towed vehicle with respect to the towing vehicle.

A hitch pin assembly includes a hitch pin, housing and shoulder bushing. The bushing is permanently attached in an aperture of a receiver tube and the housing is rotatably attached to the bushing. A plunger in the housing extends through the bushing and projects into the receiver tube. When the shank is inserted into the receiver tube the plunger tip catches the aperture of the shank, holding the shank in a position in which the pin-receiving apertures on the receiver tube and shank are aligned. The hitch pin is then inserted from one side of the receiver tube and into the bushing. A plunger in the housing translates along a projection in a track of the plunger to reveal the projection to the hitch pin tip and place it into position for engagement with the inserted hitch pin. The engagement holds the shank and eliminates rattling.

The disclosure relates to a coupling interface between a first module and a second module of a modular actuation system for a vehicle. The first module comprises a first module housing provided at a first side thereof with a first aperture that extends in a first plane for receiving a rotatable axle therethrough. The second module comprises a second module housing different from the first module housing, provided at a second side thereof with a second aperture that extends in a second plane for receiving the rotatable axle therethrough. The coupling interface comprises complementary snap-fit couplers respectively associated with the second side of the second module housing and the first side of the first module housing, for being brought in a snap-fit coupling engagement by translation of the first and second module housings towards each other in an insertion direction transverse to the first plane and the second plane.

A cable routing device for connecting a line strand to a carrier element which can be moved with respect to the vehicle, wherein the cable routing device has a carrier element, fastened pivotably to the vehicle, and a cable store, in which at least part of the line strand is accommodated. Based on the problem of providing a cable routing device of compact design which is suitable for ensuring low sag of a line strand with a large diameter, the problem is solved by virtue of the fact that a spring element is arranged between the carrier element and the cable store, by which spring element, the line strand is supported loosely.

The invention relates to a hitch angle estimation device, a hitch angle estimation method, and a program product. A hitch angle estimation device according to the present disclosure performs conversion from an observation coordinate system to a world coordinate system on a point sequence representing a tow bar and a lower end portion of a trailer in an image captured by a camera mounted on a vehicle that tows the trailer via the tow bar. In the present invention, linear fitting of a point row representing a tow bar and a lower end of a trailer after the execution of the transformation is performed is performed, and a hitch angle of the trailer in a world coordinate system is calculated on the basis of a straight line representing the tow bar in the world coordinate system and a straight line representing the lower end of the trailer in the world coordinate system obtained by the linear fitting. And executing Kalman filtering processing on the hitching angle of the trailer in the world coordinate system.

The invention discloses a semitrailer battery energy transmission system and method based on an electric traction vehicle, belongs to the technical field of battery energy transmission, and aims to solve the problems that in the prior art, energy supply for a semitrailer is inconvenient, the actual transportation effect of the semitrailer is affected, and the transportation cost is increased. The system comprises an electric tractor and a semitrailer, the electric tractor is provided with an optical coupler, the electric tractor is provided with a traction seat and a first battery, the optical coupler is electrically connected with a control device, an ECU control unit and a vehicle end interface, the ECU control unit is electrically connected with a display, and the control device is provided with a plurality of control assemblies; the second battery is charged through the first battery, so that energy supply for the semitrailer is facilitated, the problem of insufficient energy of the semitrailer can be effectively solved, the transportation problem caused by insufficient energy of the semitrailer in the driving process is avoided, the logistics transportation efficiency is improved, and the logistics cost is reduced.

In some embodiments, techniques are provided for autonomously backing a vehicle (such as a Class 8 truck) to a trailer. In some embodiments, environment sensors such as image sensors and range sensors mounted to the vehicle detect a trailer and determine distances between the trailer and the vehicle as well as relative angles of the trailer and the vehicle. In some embodiments, the vehicle determines a path to the trailer based on this information, and autonomously controls braking, torque, and / or steering of the vehicle to autonomously back the vehicle along the determined path.

The present disclosure relates to a hitch area surveillance system for an articulated vehicle (100) having vehicle data, comprising a hitch area lighting system and / or sensor circuitry overlooking a hitch area of the articulated vehicle, a control unit (5) operatively connected with the articulated vehicle and the hitch area lighting system (2) and / or sensor circuitry (3), wherein the control unit (5) is configured to activate the hitch area lighting system (2) and / or sensor circuitry (3) based on received vehicle data.

An auxiliary hydraulic system including an accumulator, a control valve, and a hydraulic connector. The accumulator connects to a primary hydraulic system including a hydraulic pump, a brake circuit, and a steering circuit. The control valve selectively allows or prevents flow from an accumulator to at least one of the brake circuit and the steering circuit. The hydraulic connector selectively connects an external source to the accumulator and the control valve.

A removeable vehicle hardtop lift apparatus is described which includes a lower platform, an upper platform and a linear actuator there-between. The upper platform may have adjustable supports, The linear actuator may be configured to move the upper platform linearly. The linear actuator may include a drive mechanism with a hand crank that is operable to cause the linear actuator to raise and lower the upper platform.

The invention relates to the field of trailer assemblies, in particular to an adjustable trailer assembly which comprises a trailer arm connecting rod used for installing a traction vehicle and a traction ball connecting rod used for installing a trailer, the traction ball connecting rod is fixedly connected with the trailer arm connecting rod through an adjusting assembly, and a traction ball seat is fixed to the end of the traction ball connecting rod. The trailer traction device has the advantages that the trailer traction device has the function of connecting a traction vehicle and a trailer, the vertical height of the traction ball connecting rod and the vertical height of the trailer arm connecting rod can be conveniently adjusted, and therefore the trailer traction device can be well suitable for different trailer traction operations and is wide in application range; and the traction ball is convenient to assemble and suitable for popularization and use.

A system for transporting products throughout a manufacturing environment, includes a mobile robot including a frame, a tractive element coupled to the frame, a motor coupled to the frame and configured to drive the tractive element to propel the vehicle, at least one sensor configured to collect sensor data regarding a surrounding environment of the vehicle, an interface configured to engage a product, a lift assembly coupling the interface to the frame and configured to raise the interface relative to the frame, and a controller operatively coupled to the motor, the at least one sensor, and the lift assembly. The controller is configured to control the motor and the lift assembly based on information from the at least one sensor to autonomously transport the product.

The disclosure includes vehicle-mounting devices to mount one or more utility locator devices to a vehicle for use in locating and mapping buried utility lines. Such vehicle-mounting devices may improve over other vehicle-mounting devices known in the art by preventing damage to associated utility locator devices as well as the vehicle mounting device. Further, such devices may be included in vehicle-based locate systems as well as in a computer implemented method for utility line positions and characteristics using Artificial Intelligence (AI).

A control unit for a heavy road vehicle combination, configured to obtain sensor readouts of a state of an active suspension element of a drawbar coupling together first and second vehicle units of the vehicle combination, wherein the state is indicative of a longitudinal force exerted by the first vehicle unit, and to control the vehicle combination based on the readouts, wherein, as part of the control, the control unit is further configured to detect an imminent jack-knifing situation based on the readouts, command a compression or elongation of the active suspension element to cause or extend a delay of a force exerted on the second vehicle unit by the drawbar, and prepare the vehicle combination to avoid or at least alleviate the jack-knifing situation during the delay. A corresponding drawbar arrangement, heavy towing vehicle and heavy vehicle combination are also provided.

A multi-vehicle control system (MVCS) for control of a multi-vehicle system having independently powered and steered lead and trailer vehicles connected by a slidable length sensing tow bar system. The MVCS includes a controller configured to receive throttle, brake, and steering signals from the lead vehicle, receive signals from the tow bar system indicating an extension length of the tow bar system, a front angle deviation of the lead vehicle, and a rear angle deviation of the trailer vehicle. The controller is further configured to determine, based on the received signals, a trailer vehicle acceleration / deceleration output and a trailer vehicle steering output, determine a driving scenario of the multi-vehicle system, and operate the multi-vehicle system based on the determined driving scenario and the determined trailer vehicle acceleration / deceleration output and trailer vehicle steering output.

A towing vehicle and the trailer include respective batteries and electric powertrain for propulsion. A connector system connects the vehicle and trailer via a plurality of conductors, a plug, and a socket including at least seven connector pins. Due to the wire gauge, each conductor carries no more than 20 amps. When a driving state is detected, a first switch matrix in the vehicle and a second switch matrix in the trailer enter a first configuration to connect a plurality of light sources in the trailer to a lighting signal generator in the vehicle. When a charging state is detected, a second configuration of the switch matrices is entered in order to carry a charging current which is divided in parallel among a plurality of conductors in the connector system and then recombined in order to provide a charging current greater than 20 amps.

According to an embodiment, it is a system comprising a communication module and a processor, wherein the processor is operable to determine, that an item is attached to a vehicle forming a vehicle combination; establish, a connection via the communication module, between the vehicle and the item; receive, a message from the item comprising a specification of the item, wherein the specification comprises a length of the item, a height of the item, and a weight of the item; calculate, an overall length, an overall height, and an overall weight of the vehicle combination; and determine, a safety zone for the vehicle combination.

A ball head turnable trailer is provided, including a trailer body and a trailer assembly containing a connecting component and a trailer component. The trailer component includes a mounting base and multiple ball heads. A rotating adjustment assembly includes a pin sleeve, a fixed pin, and a reset spring. A rotating shaft is roundly set with multiple fixed holes, each of which is matched with the fixed pin. A pull portion is pulled outwards to drive the fixed pin to move out from the fixed hole to release position limiting between the mounting base and the rotating shaft. The trailer no longer needs remove the fixed pin, which prevents the fixed pin losing. Moreover, the trailer is simple and labor-saving to pull, which is convenient and efficient.

The present invention relates to the field of tractors, and discloses a vehicle tractor. The vehicle tractor includes a traction front arm which is inserted and mounted in a trailer inserting end, and a traction rear arm which is mounted at a vehicle head connecting end. Through an arranged insertion prompting mechanism, under the action of damping telescopic rods and a connecting spring, a turning-over plate is abutted against the vehicle head connecting end, whereby a limiting effect is achieved, and the vehicle head connecting end is prevented from sliding; and on the other hand, when the turning-over plate turns over, the meshing gear on a front side of the turning-over plate moves upwards to be meshed with the transmission gear, at this time, the transmission gear rotates clockwise, connecting arms connected to the transmission gear through transmission shafts rotate clockwise along with the transmission gear.