Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-09
2001-10-16
DePumpo, Daniel G. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
C073S862570, C073S767000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302424
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fifth wheel hitch for receiving a kingpin of a trailer and one which has the ability to sense forces between the trailer bolster plate, kingpin and the fifth wheel and a circuit to process such sensed information.
The identification of forces between a truck trailer and a truck hitch is useful for a variety of reasons. Such information can be employed, for example, in an automatic braking system whereby signals from a sensing system can be employed to prevent excessive braking on one or more wheels or otherwise control braking for safe acceleration. In addition, such systems are helpful in alerting the vehicle operator to excessive trailer movement, such as pitching, yaw and/or potentially dangerous roll conditions.
As can be appreciated, the interconnection between a trailer kingpin and a fifth wheel assembly provides a relatively harsh environment for detection of the large forces involved and efforts to provide accurate sensing information with signals from a sensor which are linearly related to the detected forces has been difficult. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,286,094 and 5,289,435 represent one sensor construction and a mounting employed for measuring push and pull forces on a hitch connection. It would be desirable, however, to provide additional information such as pitch, yaw and roll information for use by the driver in safely operating the vehicle.
The sensing of multiple axis force information between the coupling of a trailer to a tractor is difficult not only due to the harsh environment to which the equipment is exposed but also the relatively large and rapidly varying forces encountered and finally the difficulty in providing a linear output signal from sensors which may be employed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The system of the present invention provides a sensing system which employs multiple sensors utilizing mounting structure which can be integrated into a fifth wheel hitch and which is protected from the environment and capable of accurately measuring forces along longitudinal and vertical axes for providing information as to roll, pitch, and yaw. The system utilizes sensors which provide a relatively linear electrical output signal which can be used for displaying such forces, for generating alarms, or for controlling the vehicle operation.
Systems embodying the present invention comprise a fifth wheel having mounting boxes formed on an undersurface thereof on opposite sides of the kingpin receiving slot and a force-sensing unit mounted within each of said mounting boxes. Each force-sensing unit includes a forward and aft sensor positioned fore and aft, respectively, of the vertical hitch axis and forward and aft longitudinal force-sensing sensors. With a force-sensing unit on the left and the right side of the fifth wheel assembly, eight such sensors provide signal information which can be used to determine roll, pitch and yaw movements derived from the detected vertical and longitudinal forces on the hitch.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the sensors are mounted to the sensing unit utilizing elastomeric springs coupling the fifth wheel plate to the force-sensing unit and a plunger for coupling forces from said elastomeric spring to a force sensor itself. The longitudinal sensors in the preferred embodiment also include a pair of elastomeric springs for preloading the sensor such that it is capable of sensing forces in both directions. Also in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plungers are mounted within a cylindrical aperture having a curved opening allowing the elastomeric spring to deform linearly into contact with the plunger as force is applied thereto.
With such a system, a force-sensing fifth wheel assembly is provided which measures forces in vertical and horizontal axes between the kingpin coupling to the fifth wheel and provides accurate signal information to an electrical circuit which can display pitch, roll and yaw and vertical load information to the vehicle for use in controlling the safe operation of the vehicle.
These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description thereof together with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 5435194 (1995-07-01), Schedrat et al.
patent: 5438881 (1995-08-01), Schedrat et al.
patent: 5493920 (1996-02-01), Schedrat et al.
patent: 5511812 (1996-04-01), Milner
patent: 5526702 (1996-06-01), Schedrat et al.
Gisinger Jack L.
Hungerink Gerald W.
Milner Peter J.
DePumpo Daniel G.
Holland Hitch Company
Price Heneveld Cooper DeWitt & Litton
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