Electronic system for monitoring a fifth wheel hitch

Details Electronic system for monitoring a fifth wheel hitch Electronic system for monitoring a fifth wheel hitch

2000-01-28

2001-09-04

Trieu, Van T. (Department: 2632)

Communications: electrical

Land vehicle alarms or indicators

For trailer

C340S686200, C340S686600, C280S435000, C280SDIG001

Reexamination Certificate

active

06285278

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an electronic system for monitoring the coupling of a trailer to a trailer hitch assembly that is mounted on a truck chassis and more specifically, to an electronic system that indicates whether the trailer is properly coupled to the trailer hitch assembly.
An electronic coupling control system for a vehicle trailer hitch assembly is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,802, entitled “FIFTH WHEEL HITCH COUPLING CONTROL SYSTEM” to Hungerink et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,802 is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and is hereby incorporated by reference. U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,802 discloses an electronic coupling control system that includes a trailer proximity sensor for sensing when a trailer is in the proximity of the hitch assembly, a kingpin sensor for sensing the presence of a trailer kingpin in a hitch plate throat and a lock sensor for sensing when the locking mechanism is locked in a secured position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,802 also discloses an indicator located within the vehicle for providing trailer hitch assembly coupling status information to a driver of the vehicle. A control circuit is coupled to the trailer proximity sensor, the kingpin sensor, the lock sensor and the indicator. These sensors are utilized by the control circuit to inform a driver when a trailer is in close proximity to the trailer hitch assembly, when the trailer kingpin is positioned in the hitch throat and when the locking mechanism is in a locked position. The electronic coupling control system also includes an interface for coupling a control input, of an electrical control system of the vehicle, to the electronic coupling control system. The electronic coupling control system is also capable of performing various self-diagnostic routines to ensure proper operation of the system, when the vehicle ignition is turned on.
While U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,802 advantageously provided some information to an operator of a vehicle, an electronic control coupling system that reliably provides additional information to a vehicle operator, while the vehicle is coupled to a trailer during normal operation, is desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to an electronic system for monitoring a trailer hitch assembly. The trailer hitch assembly has a hitch plate with a throat for receiving a kingpin of a trailer and a locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in the throat. The system determines whether the trailer hitch assembly is properly coupled to the trailer and includes a trailer sensor, a lock sensor and a control circuit. The trailer sensor senses the position of the trailer relative to the trailer hitch assembly. The lock sensor senses the position of the locking mechanism. The control circuit is coupled to the trailer sensor and the lock sensor. The control circuit determines whether the trailer hitch assembly is properly coupled to the trailer by taking into account the sequence in which the trailer sensor and the lock sensor sense the respective positions of the trailer and locking mechanism, as well as, the time periods elapsing between the sensing of such positions.
In one embodiment, the trailer sensor is a kingpin sensor that senses the position of the kingpin relative to the throat. In another embodiment, the trailer sensor is a tilt sensor that senses the tilt of the hitch plate. In yet another embodiment, the trailer sensor includes a kingpin sensor that senses the position of the kingpin relative to the throat and a tilt sensor that senses the tilt of the hitch plate. In yet another embodiment, a display device is coupled to the control circuit for providing coupling status information to the driver of the vehicle. The coupling status information includes an error code indicating possible sources of a coupling malfunction.
These and other features, advantages and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims and appended drawings.


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Dieter Raab, “Remote Control of Fifth Wheel Couplings”, Truck Technology International, 1990 (4 Pages).
Truck Tech advertisement, “Convertible-Jaw Fifthwheel Senses Kingpin,” Nov. 1991, page 151.

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