Electrical connectors – With vehicle structure – Connection to towed vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-22
2003-05-06
Luebke, Renee (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With vehicle structure
Connection to towed vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
active
06558167
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to systems for interfacing electrical power and electronic communications between a tractor and a trailer, and more specifically to a nosebox having interchangeable connector assemblies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For the past few decades, the freight hauling industry has relied on a tractor/ trailer combination for hauling cargo over long distances. These combinations consist of a tractor that is mechanically coupled to a trailer so it can pull the trailer and its cargo. Because the trailer typically has no power source or control mechanisms, it is necessary to supply power and communicate control signals via a subsystem link from the tractor to the trailer for the proper functioning of the tractor/trailer combination. Since a tractor is not permanently linked to a specific trailer, it is desirable that this subsystem link comply with relevant industry standards in order for a tractor to be compatible with different trailers.
Electrical power exchange between a tractor and trailer is currently accomplished via a seven wire cable and an associated seven pin connector. This electrical connection system, capable of carrying seven separate circuits, provides electrical power for various trailer lighting functions such as turn signals, brake lamps, tail lamps, side marker lamps, clearance lamps and dome lamps, as well as a ground reference for these electrical circuits. In an effort to provide uniformity throughout the industry, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has promulgated standards for both the seven wire cable (SAE-J1067) and the associated seven pin connectors (SAE-J560b).
As used hereinafter, the term “tractor” refers to any vehicle having another vehicle in tow, and therefore includes medium or heavy duty trucks, tractor trucks and tractor truck/trailer combinations having a further vehicle or vehicles in tow The term “trailer” as used hereinafter refers to any vehicle towed by another vehicle, and therefore includes semi-trailers, and the like.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a diagram of a typical prior art electrical connection system
50
for routing electrical power to an electrical trailer system is shown. A tractor
52
includes a tractor power system
54
which acts as a power source to provide electrical power to a tractor electrical system
56
when the tractor
52
is in operation. Connected to tractor electrical system
56
are seven electrical lines
58
1
,
58
2
, . . .
58
7
, which are configured in accordance with SAE-J1067 standards. Electrical lines
58
1
,
58
2
, . . .
58
7
extend from tractor electrical system
56
into a connector housing
60
, commonly referred to as a “tractor nosebox”, which is typically attached to an exterior surface of tractor
52
. Housing
60
has a seven conductor electrical connector
62
associated therewith, and electrical lines
58
1
,
58
2
, . . .
58
7
are connected thereto in accordance with SAE-J560b standards.
A trailer
64
includes a trailer electrical system
66
which is operable to provide the aforementioned trailer lighting functions. Connected to trailer electrical system
66
are seven electrical lines
68
1
,
68
2
, . . .
68
7
which are configured in accordance with SAE J-1067 standards. Electrical lines
68
1
,
68
2
, . . .
68
7
extend from trailer electrical system
66
into a connector housing
70
, or “trailer nosebox”, which is typically attached to an exterior surface of trailer
64
. Housing
70
has a seven conductor electrical connector
72
associated therewith, to which electrical lines
68
1
,
68
2
, . . .
68
7
are connected in accordance with SAE-J560b standards.
A seven conductor connector/cable
74
, or “power cord”, connects tractor electrical connector
62
to trailer electrical connector
72
so that the tractor electrical system
56
controls, and provides electrical power to, the trailer electrical system
66
.
Referring now to
FIG. 2
, a typical power cord
74
is shown. Power cord
74
includes an SAE-J1067 seven wire jacketed cable
76
with an SAE-J560b seven conductor plug connector
78
connected thereto at each end. Each plug connector
78
has a front face
82
and a socket guide
80
extending away from the front face
82
.
FIG. 3
shows the front face
82
of plug connector
78
which defines seven receptacles, or electrical terminals
84
-
96
, therein, each of which forms an electrical connection with one of the seven wires contained within cable
76
. The sizing and color standard of the seven circuit wires are set forth in SAE-J1067.
Referring now to
FIG. 4
, an example of a typical electrical connection between connector housing
60
(or
70
), attached to tractor
52
(or trailer
64
), and power cord
74
is shown. Connector housing
60
(
70
) typically includes a socket cover
116
connected to housing
60
(
70
) by hinged connection
118
, which is biased, such that cover
116
provides an environmentally and mechanically protecting seal over socket
114
when not in use. Socket
114
has been generally referred as electrical connector
62
(or
72
) (
FIG. 1.
) Socket
114
is configured complementary to plug
78
of power cord
74
, and includes a socket guide slot
112
(
FIG. 5
) such that plug
78
may be received within socket
114
having socket guide
80
aligns with socket guide slot
112
when cover
116
is lifted to expose socket
114
. Cover
116
also typically includes a projection
120
which operates to engage socket guide
80
of plug
78
, which, under the normal bias of cover
116
provided by hinged connection
118
, acts to retain plug
78
within socket
114
, thereby maintaining electrical connection therebetween.
FIG. 5
shows a cross-section, taken along section lines
5
—
5
of
FIG. 4
, of the electrical connection between plug
78
and socket
114
. Socket
114
includes seven “pins” or electrical terminals
122
-
134
, which are typically configured in accordance with SAE-J560b standards, and which are received within corresponding receptacle terminals
84
-
96
of plug
78
. The specifics of the sizing and geometry standards of SAE-J1067 cable and SAE-J560b plugs and sockets are set forth in “Seven Truck-Trailer Jumper-Cable,” of the 2000 SAE Handbook. Generally, for a SAE-J560b socket, the seven pins are positioned in a standard pattern such that a central pin surrounded by six pins spaced equiangularly from each other and from the center pin. Per the SAE-J560b standard, the pin located at the 12 o'clock position, in reference to the socket guide slot
112
, is slightly larger in diameter than the other six standard pins. Traditionally, the pins are referred to by the color and/or function of the circuit wire to which the pins are ultimately connected, i.e. pin
122
at the 12 o'clock position is white for the main ground circuit, pin
128
at the 6 o'clock position is for the red circuit, pins
124
,
126
,
130
,
132
,
134
are black, yellow, blue, green, and brown, respectively.
Recently, technological advances in the tractor/trailer industry have created a need to provide tractors and trailers with additional electrical functions. Examples of such functions include anti-lock brakes, lift gates, and electronic suspension control, as well as diagnostic control and fault detection of various trailer functions. Furthermore, there is a desire within the industry to have the capability of providing for a parallel main harness when a double trailer hook-up is required. The prior art interface system as described in
FIG. 1
does not have the capacity to provide for the extra functions. A recent government ruling further aggravates the problem by dedicating the blue circuit to the trailer anti-lock brake system (ABS). Although provisions for additional power cables and connectors may be a viable solution in the short term, this approach is generally a costly solution since that tends to limit compatibility between tractors and trailers. Additionally, it is still generally considered desirable by owners and operators of tractor/trailer combina
Harmon Darren L.
Nay Merrill W.
Noe Mark D.
Grote Industries Inc.
Luebke Renee
Nguyen Phuongchi
Woodard, Emhardt, Naughton Moriarty & McNett LLP
LandOfFree
Nosebox with interchangeable connector assemblies for... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Nosebox with interchangeable connector assemblies for..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Nosebox with interchangeable connector assemblies for... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3055631