435 results about "Trailer truck" patented technology

This invention relates to motor vehicles, and, more particularly, to a rear viewing system for tractor-trailer vehicles. An automated, universal trailer rear viewing system that is integrated in its entirety on the head or pulling portion of a pivotally connected articulated vehicle. The system includes: (a) at least one image capturing device mounted on the tractor designed to tilt, pan and focus on a target object or an area around the trailer; (b) a computer located inside the tractor coupled to the image capturing device; (c) an image capturing and comparative software program loaded into the memory of the computer capable of processing the image file of the target object transmitted from the image capturing device, and capable of generating control commands to the image capturing device so that an image of the target object is maintained as the system is activated; (d) at least one adjustable viewing camera also coupled to the computer that automatically adjusts the viewing camera tilting, panning and focusing according to the movement of the image capturing device; and, (e) at least one display monitor located near the driver that is coupled to the viewing camera so that the image seen thereby may be seen by the driver.

A vehicle-trailer back-up control system that employs an active front steer sub-system. The system includes a smart hitch controller that receives a vehicle speed signal and a hand-wheel angle signal, and calculates a hitch angle command signal. The system further includes a hitch angle sensor that measures the hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer that is compared to the hitch angle command signal to generate a hitch angle error signal. A PID control unit receives the hitch angle error signal, and generates a corrected road wheel angle signal based on proportional and derivative gains. The corrected road wheel angle signal is used to generate a motor angle signal that is applied to a steering actuator to be combined with the steering angle signal to generate the front wheel steering signal during a back-up maneuver.

A fuel-efficient tractor-trailer system for improving the fuel mileage of a tractor-trailer combination by improving the air resistance that occurs in the area between the rear of the tractor and the front of the semi-trailer. The fuel-efficient tractor-trailer system provides an improved roof extension, which automatically raises when the tractor is put into reverse gear and an improved wheel mechanism for assisting the side extensions to slide around the semi-trailer ends when the tractor-trailer is turning. The fuel-efficient tractor-trailer system requires only modification to the tractor and not the trailer.

Apparatus to provide an overhead support for suspending hanging furniture includes a base configured for attachment to a vehicle trailer hitch receiver. An upright member extends upwardly from the base and at least one support member extends outwardly from the upright member a sufficient distance to receive and suspend a hanging chair. Preferably, two support members are provided and extend outwardly from the upright member in different directions from one another so that two hanging chairs can be supported in normal hanging condition spaced from one another and from the upright member. The support members are preferably removably mounted to the upright so that the apparatus can be disassembled for easy transportation and storage. At least one of the support members is preferably rotatably mounted to the upright member so its orientation can be rotatably adjusted in relation to the upright member.

Truck tractors in a transportation fleet include a transponder that transmits a unique tractor identifier to a connected trailer using a Power Line Communication (PLC) bus device. The information transmitted typically includes a manufacturing unique ID for the tractor and an optional user defined ID. The user defined ID may include a fleet division code. The tractor ID and / or fleet ID codes determine how the trailer is hooked up. In particular, with detection of a connected state signal from the PLC bus, together with receipt of tractor identification code(s) from the tractor, the trailer tracking device can now communicate the coupling event information to a centralized location, such as via a cellular telephone connection.

A semitrailer cargo door locking system is described for use with a semitrailer cargo door having as part of its opening mechanism a rotatable handle which secured within a hasp mechanism comprising a rigid lower hasp and a swivelable upper hasp. The locking system includes a shackleless keyed lock having an internal bolt for engaging aligned holes provided in the upper and lower hasps, thereby preventing unauthorized opening of the cargo doors when in a locked state. The lock housing is provided both with a protective extension to minimize attempts to pry the lock, and with a tapered side wall to prevent removal by the application of a destructive torque applied by a wrench or other like device. The lock is further provided with a anchor line for either permanently or removably securing the lock to the cargo door. To provide the lock with the ability to be used with regulated loads, a means may also be provided to attach a sealing structure to the lock.

A method and device for the reduction of aerodynamic drag and for improved performance and stability of ground vehicles by reducing the mass and velocity of the flow passing under a vehicle is described. The device is particularly suited for a single unit truck system but may also be applied to a tractor-trailer truck system or any combination vehicle that includes a motorized lead vehicle pulling one or more non-motorized vehicles. The device is designed to control the flow from entering the undercarriage region from the front and side of the subject ground vehicle system.

A trailer connection assist system includes a towing vehicle having a hitch receiver, a trailer having a trailer hitch, a system controller, a position sensor provided on the hitch receiver and the trailer hitch and communicating with the system controller, a vehicle motor of the towing vehicle interfacing with the system controller, vehicle wheels of the towing vehicle interfacing with the vehicle motor and a steering system connected to the system controller and the vehicle wheels and adapted to steer the vehicle wheels. The system controller is adapted to operate the vehicle motor and the steering system responsive to input from the position sensor. A method of aligning a hitch with a hitch receiver provided on a towing vehicle is also disclosed.

The invention discloses a highway-railway convertible car, comprising a highway container semi-trailer, a one-position traction bolster assembly, a two-position traction bolster assembly, a coupler buffer device, a bogie and an air and manual brake device. The highway container semi-trailer comprises a frame, container locks, ground jacks, a suspension damping system and protective devices. Two parallel centre sill assemblies are welded by adopting connection plate assemblies, to form the main part for bearing the railway longitudinal force; a secondary hook and a primary hook serve as the connectors and are connected with traction bolster assemblies at the head and the tail, so that the highway-railway convertible car can meet the requirement of railway transportation; when the highway-railway convertible car is used for railway transportation, a rear protective device is overturned upwards from the outside of the car around a rotating shaft, so that the requirements of assembling the railway bogie and the car body are met; and the suspension damping system adopts vibration damping gasbag and lifting gasbag structures, so that the matching of the highway container semi-trailer, a highway semi-trailer tractor and the bogie of the highway-railway convertible car during the conversion between highways and railways and the requirement of the gap between the road tire and the lower margin during railway transportation are met.

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a pipelayer and a method for of loading a pipelayer or excavator for transportation. One embodiment includes a method for transporting a pipelayer or excavator from a first work site to a second worksite via a public road. The method includes acts of: raising the pipelayer or excavator off of track shoes of the pipelayer or excavator; removing a first track assembly from the pipelayer or excavator using a boom of the pipelayer or a boom assembly of the excavator; loading the first track assembly onto a first trailer of a first tractor-trailer using the boom of the remaining pipelayer or the boom assembly of the remaining excavator; removing the second track assembly from the pipelayer using the boom of the remaining pipelayer or the boom assembly of the remaining excavator; and loading the second track assembly onto the first trailer using the boom of the remaining pipelayer or the boom assembly of the remaining excavator.

A braking control system is provided for a towing vehicle and trailer vehicle combination, each vehicle being equipped with pneumatic brakes controlled by the towing vehicle, the towing vehicle being connected to the trailer vehicle by separable and lockable coupling means (4, 5), and the trailer vehicle brakes being connected to the towing vehicle brakes by means of separable air connectors. The system comprises a controller (9) mountable in or on the towing vehicle, detector means (7) associated with the coupling means for detecting locking thereof, and pneumatic control means (15, 24) regulating the pneumatic brake supply to the trailer, the controller (9) being arranged to control operation of the pneumatic control means in response to the output of the detector means. The system is characterised in that the controller is also connected to a parking brake sensor (10) for sensing whether or not the parking brake of the towing vehicle has been applied, and is arranged to control operation of the pneumatic control means in response to the output of the detector means and the parking brake sensor.

The invention relates to a method and a device for stabilizing a car-trailer combination, including a towing vehicle and a trailer moved by the towing vehicle, wherein the towing vehicle is monitored in terms of rolling motions and measures that stabilize driving are taken upon the detection of an actual or expected unstable driving performance of the towing vehicle or the car-trailer combination. In order to be able to perform, in a timely manner, an intervention on the towing vehicle that stabilizes driving, the invention provides that the measures that stabilize driving are controlled in dependence on the yaw acceleration.

A device and method for determining the weight carried at the axles of a tractor-trailer. The invention measures the distance that the tractor-trailer's suspension system is compressed by a load at each axle to determine the weight of the load at a tractor-trailer axle.

A method of managing trailer-truck unloading services fees in a conduction of goods market with a large-scale buyer comprises establishing a service-provider which subscribes customers from predominantly among a seller community. The service-provider is designed to negotiate terms with the unloading service regarding fees for trailer-truck unloading and product sorting at the receiving dock of the buyer's warehouse.

The proposed invention relates to a portable housing / shelter unit assembled in a manufacturing building, loaded on a trailer truck and delivered to a site. Once on the site it is lifted off the trailer and lowered onto a leveled ground location or a foundation. Then the unit is un-folded from its central frame (container) and secured to the foundation and final extrusions and screws are applied; thus, the unit is setting in final set up position, structurally and weather tight. If required, additional exterior fenestration can be added to the basic shell, and the exterior customized per client needs and directives.

The multi-task trailer hitch assembly of the present invention provides receiving tubes for the attachment of one or more trailer hitch-mounted receiver-type accessories while retaining a trailer hitch for pulling a trailer in the single hitch receiver provided on many trucks and ATVs. This permits the simultaneous use of multiple accessories while retaining the concurrent ability to tow. Multiple receiver tubes can be provided, both horizontal and vertical, and oriented not only toward the rear but also at right angles from the ball mount. This permits fastening one or more attachments from not only the rear but also from the top and inward from both sides toward the ball mount. Extra hitch ball mounts and other towing accessories may also be conveniently stored in the receiver tubes of the present invention while towing with a particular Class II or Class III hitch ball mount in the appropriate vehicle-mounted hitch receiver.

The invention relates to a trailer which is characterized in that a double-faced fluted disc clamping device is respectively arranged at the front end and the rear end of left and right draw arms of the trailer, a traction machine head and a side wall of a draft sill; a trailer chassis front steering support includes an outer tube, an inner tube, a crank sleeved with a leading screw assembly, and a bracket assembly doweled with a front idler pulley through a bolt; the top end of the outer tube is connected with a crank assembly which is connected with the leading screw of the leading screw assembly through a ratchet wheel assembly; a brake reversing ratchet mechanism is arranged in the position symmetrical to a strutting mechanism on a brake base plate in a braking device; and a taillight system is equipped with a tractor taillight socket and a matching box connected with the taillight system of the trailer. The trailer has the advantages of facilitating the height adjustment and the horizontal maintenance of the traction connecting device, facilitating the improvement on the stability of the trailer in traveling, meeting the traction requirements of various tractors; collocating a trailer impact braking device without air source or liquid source; realizing the automatic reversion of the trailer; and equipping the taillight system with the matching box for matching the trailer with tractors of various types.

A method carries out a brake test on trailer vehicles and / or semitrailer vehicles. The method a) senses a semitrailer (2) or trailer which has been newly hitched to the towing vehicle (1), b) initializes an on-board brake test for the semitrailer brake system or trailer brake system (5), c) initiates at least one defined braking process by the semitrailer brake system (5) or trailer brake system after a defined distance has been traveled, and d) senses and determines the braking effect of the at least one defined braking process as a braking effect actual value which is compared with a braking effect setpoint value which is present, and e) an information signal is output which takes into account the evaluation result of the step d).

A connector bracket for a trailer vehicle of a tractor trailer is described, comprising a support frame which can swivel on a bearing about a coupling means and a connector arranged stationary on the support frame. The problem on which the invention is based was to provide a connector bracket on the trailer that lessens the risk of damage to the connector from components of the tractor. The problem is solved, among other things, with a connector bracket in which the connector is at least partly covered by the coupling means in the lengthwise axis of the vehicle and a guide ramp is formed in front of the connector and tilting toward the connector at least during the coupling process.

The invention provides a deep-sea pipeline segmented model bidirectional forced vibration experimental device under the action of uniform flow. The deep-sea pipeline segmented model bidirectional forced vibration experimental device comprises a deep-sea pipeline module, false body modules, a horizontal sliding module, a vertical sliding module, a measurement analysis and control module and a false bottom module, wherein the two ends of the deep-sea pipeline module are connected with the end part false body modules respectively; the vertical sliding module is connected with the end part false body modules and the horizontal sliding module respectively; the horizontal sliding module is fixedly connected with the bottom of a trailer truck; the measurement analysis and control module is arranged on the trailer truck, and is connected with two end part false body modules and two sliding modules respectively; and the false bottom module is fixedly connected with the trailer truck. In the experimental device, a false bottom plate is arranged, so that the surface effect of the sea bottom can be simulated; the coupling of a pipe fitting with a flow field is realized; the vibration of two freedom degrees of forward flow and vertical flow are considered; special end part false body modules are adopted, so that the problem of boundary effects on both sides of a deep-sea pipeline model is solved; and the practical Reynolds number range can be reached under the experimental condition.

Apparatus for improving aerodynamics of a freight tractor-trailer combination, having at least one of the following:a series of retractable roller-mounted screens connecting the rear of the tractor with the front of a trailer;a fairing fixed to each side of the trailer near the front of the trailer, and which is adapted to fit about the rear wheels on the tractor when the tractor and trailer are connected, such fairing extending downwardly from the trailer side, and extending rearwardly towards the center of the trailer underside;a pair of laterally spaced fairings connected to the underside of the trailer about the fore and aft rearmost pairs of wheels, each of said fairings having an aerodynamic rounded forward edge, and a rearward taper to a rear point;an air deflector positioned at the bottom rear of the trailer, and having a slight upsweep to direct air passing beneath the trailer to a distant centerpoint to the rear of the trailer;an upper baffle at the top of a rear roll-up door on the trailer positioned to direct air passing over the top of the trailer to a distant centerpoint behind the trailer; andan aerodynamically improved rearview mirror mounted on the tractor having a wing profile truncated thereon.

A tractor trailer battery system having a battery compartment containing one or more battery units which house one or more battery cells, electrical leads from the battery units to a trailer mounted controller in electrical communication with a cab mounted controller which is in electrical communication an electric motor or hybrid engine system. The battery system allows for either the trailer mounted controller or the cab mounted controller to provide principal communication to the electric motor or hybrid engine system.