MXPA00000077A - Jackknife warning system for trailered vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A jackknife warning system for a trailered vehicle. A rotation sensor, mounted to a chassis (16) of a tractor (12), engages an underside of a semi-detached trailer and senses rotation of the trailer with respect to the tractor. A pressure sensor (180) senses pressure applied to a set of brakes for the vehicle. When rotation of the trailer reaches a first setpoint, and pressure applied to the brakes reaches a second setpoint, an alarm (212) is emitted. The alarm can either be a right alarm (217) or a left alarm (218), depending on if the vehicle is jackknifing to the right or to the left. The brake pressure setpoint can be adjusted by the driver based on the load being carried or on road conditions.

Description

FOLDED ALERT SYSTEM FOR TOWED VEHICLE Technical Field The present request relates to an alert system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a folding system for a towed vehicle. Technical Background A common problem experienced by long trucks including a tractor and a semi-unfolded trailer is the tendency to "bend" as a result of sudden braking on a gravel surface, or on a wet surface, or on an icy road. In other words, the trailer pivots excessively with respect to the tractor, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. This condition is usually caused by excessive application of brake pressure while the vehicle is subject to road conditions that provide poor traction. It will be advantageous to provide the driver of this type of towed vehicle with an early warning system to alert him to conditions that indicate a folding is imminent, so he can reduce the braking pressure or take some other action to prevent the occurrence of the creased. No system is considered to be currently available.

P970 Description of the Invention The present invention is made to correct one or more defects experienced by the related art. According to the invention, a folding warning system for a vehicle having a tractor and a trailer includes a rotation trailer sensor, attached to a chassis of a tractor and coupled with the trailer, capable of detecting rotation of the trailer with regarding the tractor; a pressure sensor senses a pressure applied to a set of vehicle brakes; a controller programmed to generate an alarm signal when the rotation of the trailer with respect to the tractor reaches a first fixing point; and an alarm device for issuing an alarm in response to the alarm signal. In another aspect of the invention, a folding warning system for a vehicle having a tractor and a trailer includes a trailer rotation sensor attached to a tractor chassis and engageable with the trailer, capable of detecting trailer rotation with respect to to the tractor; a pressure sensor detects a pressure applied to a set of brakes for the vehicle; a controller programmed to generate an alarm signal when the trailer rotates with respect to the tractor reaches a first adjustment point and the pressure applied to the brakes reaches a second adjustment point; and an alarm device for issuing an alarm device in response to the alarm signal.

P970 It is preferable that the folding warning system provides the driver with either a right folding alarm signal or a left folding alarm signal, depending on which direction of the vehicle is folded. Additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent to the description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention can be realized and obtained by means of the combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated and constitute a part of the specification, 15 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. Together with the general description given in the foregoing and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given in the following, the drawings serve to explain the principles of the invention. Figure 1 is a side view of a tractor and a trailer, depicting locations of the portions of the foldable warning system of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a modality of a trailer rotation sensor according to the present invention; P970 ... Figure 3 is a side view of another embodiment of a trailer rotation sensor mounted on the fifth wheel according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a side view of the trailer rotation sensor shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a front view of the trailer rotation sensor shown in Figures 3 and 4; Figure 6 is a top view of a towed vehicle representing portions of the folded alert system of the present invention; and Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram of the foldable warning system of the present invention.

Best Mode to Carry Out the Invention A folding warning system is provided for a vehicle that includes a tractor and a trailer. As shown in Figure 1, a vehicle 10 includes a tractor 12 and an unfolded trailer 14 (shown in imaginary lines). The tractor 12 includes a chassis 16. A "fifth wheel" 18 is attached to a rear position of the chassis 16. Persons familiar with towed vehicles will recognize that the unfolded trailer 14 connects the tractor 12 to a fifth wheel 18, and that the trailer 14 can pivot with respect to the tractor 12. The vehicle 10 also includes a set of brakes 20 (shown in imaginary lines) to stop the vehicle.

P970 According to the invention, a trailer rotation sensor is attached to the tractor chassis and meshed with the trailer, capable of detecting the rotation of the trailer with respect to the tractor. Preferably, the trailer rotation sensor includes a wheel maintained in a rolling bearing with a lower side of the trailer. In a first embodiment of the invention, an elongated alarm having a first and second end is provided, the first end pivotally mounted to a support on the tractor chassis with the alarm generally transverse to an axis defined by the tractor and the trailer, the second end supporting a rotatable wheel. As widely depicted in Figure 2, a support 40 is attached to a plurality of positions on the tractor chassis 16. Preferably, the support 40 is a steel cross member 42 mountable to the channels 29 in the chassis 16 at a number of selected positions in front of the fifth wheel 18, using the steel fastener below the clamps 44, bolts 46 and gaskets 48. of neoprene. The clamps 44 preferably are steel clamps. The use of the clamps and the bolts ensure the member 42 transverse to the chassis 18, allow the driver to loosen the bolts and move the cross member 42 to the desired position, depending on the particular trailer being towed. Ordinary persons skilled in the art will recognize that the trailers more P 97 0 t ^ & is the commercial ELM in the United States have a steel plate with holes in it mounted on the underside of the trailer, approximately 30.48 cm (12 inches) or 55.88 cm (22 inches) in front of the fifth wheel 16. The position of the transverse member 42 in the chassis thereof must be adjustable as necessary to avoid the holes in this plate. The neoprene gaskets 48 allow variations in the chassis surfaces. As shown more fully in Figure 2, an elongated control arm 50 has a first end 52 and a second end 54. The first end 52 pivotally attached to the support 40 at a pivot point 56. A control wheel 58, preferably including a molded rubber tire having a maximum capacity of 400 psi, is rotatably mounted at a pivot point 60 at a second end 54 of the control arm 50. According to the first embodiment of the invention described in the foregoing, a pivot assembly is provided for pivoting the arm from a disengageable position next to the chassis to a position engageable with the wheel in contact with a lower side of the trailer. As depicted more fully in Figure 2, a cylinder 62, preferably a double acting tire cylinder, is pivotally connected to the support 40 at the pivot point 64. A piston rod 66 projects from cylinder 62, and is connected P970 ^ Mm & aa ^^ - pivotally to the control arm 50 at the pivot point 68, intermediate the first end 52 and the second end 54. As more extensively included in Fig. 2, the pressurized fluid is provided to drive the cylinder 62 by a fluid line 70. Preferably, 15 psig is supplied to the cylinder 62 via the fluid line 70. In the preferred mode, the pressurized fluid is compressed air, preferably supplied by the air compressor 184 of the vehicle, by a solenoid control valve 72. This can be the same compressed air used in the vehicle's braking system. However, it is within the scope of the invention to provide a separate tire system for operating the cylinder 62. According to the first embodiment of the invention, the control arm 50 and the cylinder 62 are placed in the holder 40 so when the cylinder 62 is pressurized, the control arm 50 will be rotated upwardly from a disengageable position 80 close to the chassis, to a position 82 engageable with the wheel 58 in rotational contact with the lower side surface 22 of the trailer 14. However, according to the invention, these components are located so that the arc 84 defined by the movement of the arms from the ungranable position 80 to engage the position 82 is transverse to an axis 32 defined by the aligned tractor and the trailer.

It is also preferred that when the control arm 50 of the first embodiment is in the position 82 engageable, the wheel 58 is maintained in substantially continuous bearing contact with the underside 22 of the trailer 14. This feature of the invention taken into account in the normal road conditions, which will cause the trailer 14 to move up and down as the wheels of the vehicle found collide on the road. To help maintain this substantially continuous contact, a regulator 86 is preferably provided in the fluid line 70 to adjust the pressure in the cylinder 62 as necessary to adjust the position in the control arm 50 and keep the control wheel 58 in contact with the trailer 14. Preferably, the regulator 86 will operate to maintain the substantially constant pressure in the cylinder 62. According to the first embodiment of the invention, a counter is provided, operable to count a number of rotations or partial rotations of the wheels as the pivots of the trailer with respect to the tractor during a shift of the vehicle. As amply depicted herein, and with reference to Figure 2, an electronic counter mechanism 90 is attached to the support 42. A rotatable cable 92, preferably a standard flexible drive cable, connects the counting mechanism 90 to the wheel 58 of control. The cable 92 can be, for example, a standard speedometer cable covered with a plastic sheath. As the wheel 58 rotates in response to a vehicle turn and corresponds to the pivot by the trailer around the fifth wheel 18, the cable 92 rotates in correspondence. The rotations or partial rotations of the cable 92 in turn are covered in the counter 90 in electronic pulses. The counter 90 counts these electronic pulses. The counter 90 can also sense if the vehicle is turned to the right or to the left. The counter 90 perceives a right turn as positive counts and a turn left as negative counts. Another option for counting rotations of the wheel 58, not shown in the drawings, is to place windows on the wheels 58, and mount a counter with a visual or magnetic tracker of capacity close to the wheel to count the windows as rotate along the counter. The invention is not limited to the use of an elongated control alarm and a pivot assembly for pivoting the control alarm to an elongated position. The rotation of the trailer is detected by the rotation of a control wheel 58 against the underside of the trailer as the trailer turns. The rotations of the control wheel 58 are then counted for subsequent interpretation to a corresponding degree of the rotation of the trailer. Therefore, any structure capable of bringing the wheel 58 of control in P970 - ^^^ I ^^ T »coupling with the lower surface of the trailer falls within the scope of the present invention. For example, a second embodiment of a structure capable of engaging the control wheel 58 with the lower surface 5 of the trailer 14 is shown in Figures 3-5. According to the second embodiment of the invention, a mounted block is provided, attached to the chassis, and having a slot defined therein. As shown in Figure 3, a block 100 mounted attached to the tractor chassis 16 next to the rear end of the fifth wheel 18. Preferably, the bolts 102 mounted attached to the block 100 mounted directly to the fifth wheel 18. In a preferred embodiment, a block 102 mounted on an aluminum block, has approximately dimensions of 3"x 3 1/2". As it is shown in Figure 5, a slot 104 is provided in the assembled block 100. According to the second embodiment of the invention, a control wheel is slidably supported in the groove. As shown in Figures 3-5, a block 106 - slip, slidably engages the slot 104. The sliding block 106 includes at least one and preferably two, projection arms 108. The projection arms 108, and the sliding block 106 consequently, are predisposed in the upward direction (as shown in Figure 5) by means of springs. 110 reel mounted on 112 axle. As shown in the P 970? ÍÍÉíí- ^ ^^^^ ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡! 116. The control wheel 58 is rotatably supported on an axle 116. As noted above, 5-reel springs 110 predispose the sliding block 106 in an upward direction, thereby predisposing the upset wheel 58 to a geared position in contact with the lower surface of the trailer 14. The spring force of the spool springs 110 must be adequate to maintain the control wheel 58 in engagement with the trailer 14 despite tracheos caused by irregularities in the surface of the road. In the embodiment of Figures 3-5, the control wheel 58 is mounted on a support 114 in the form of. U and the axis 116 at an angle? pre-selected with respect to a vertical z-z line drawn between the bottom surface of the trailer 14 and the ground. It has been found that due to the control of the wheel 58 traveling in an elongated arch on the underside of the trailer 14 when the trailer 14 rotates, the control wheel 58 can is more easily rolled if it is angled with respect to a vertical line, and therefore also with respect to the horizontal bottom surface of the trailer. The angle ? preferred of the control wheel 58 with respect to the vertical z-z line is 15 °. It is also preferable that the edge of the control wheel 58, which will contact the lateral surface P970 ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ - i ^ fe ^^ = - afaÉi ^ ^ »> -., Lower of the trailer 14 due to the imbalance of 15 °, will be beveled to increase the amount of wheel surface in contact with the trailer. According to the second embodiment of the invention, a counter is provided, operable to count a number of rotations or partial rotations of the control wheel with the pivots of the trailer with respect to the tractor during a vehicle turn. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, an electronic counter mechanism 120 is attached to the sliding block 106. The counter 120 is configured to count the rotations or partial rotations of the wheel 58. The counter 120 can also be detected if the vehicle is turned to the right or to the left. The counter 120 detects a clockwise rotation as a positive count and a counterclockwise rotation as negative counts. Alternatively, the wheel 58 can be fixed to a rotation axis 116, in which it causes the counter 120 to be able to be counting the rotations or partial rotations of the axis 116. The number of rotations are transferred in counts, which are transmitted by wires 96 to the system processor, as described in the following. According to the second embodiment of the invention, the control wheels move out of the lower surface of the trailer when the trailer is disengaged from the tractor chassis. As shown in Figure 3, a level 130 unleashed P970 ^ - * jfc ^ is provided with the fifth wheel 18 to release the coupling between the trailer 14 and the tractor 12. Preferably, a second release level 132 is attached to the releasable level 130 of the fifth wheel. The releasable level 5 132 is rotated attached to an axis 134, which is coupled to a rotation cam 136 in the assembled block 100. A cable 138 extends between the cam 136 and a fixed screw cable 140 bolted to the sliding block 106. When the driver operates the fifth wheel he releases level 130, the second level 132 of The release rotates the shaft 134, which rotates the cam 136. The rotation of the cam 136 pulls the cable 138, which is rotated by applying a downward force to the block 106 sliding against the upward bias of the reel springs 110. The downward effort of the cable 138 slides the sliding block descending along the slot 104, thereby disengaging the control wheel 58 from the trailer 14, and moving the control wheel 58 downwards out of the trailer 14. These sequence functions move the control wheel 58 unlocking the trailer 14, so it allows the possibility of being damaged during uncoupling of the trailer 14 from the tractor 12. The above-described embodiment provided by the sliding movement of the sliding block 106 in the slot 104 of the assembled block 100. It helps this sliding movement, a lubricant such as graphite that can be inserted into the slot 104. This may also be within the scope of the P 97 0 invention to provide supports or wheels between the sliding block 106 and the slot 104, to create a rolling movement. If a sliding movement, a rolling movement or a pivoting movement is provided is irrelevant, as long as a structure is provided that is capable of moving the control wheel 58 in and out of engagement with the lower surface of the trailer 14. As broadly represented in Figures 4 and 6, the electronic counter 90, or alternatively, an electronic counter 120, is electrically connected to the processor 200 (described in the following) with the wire 96 mounted on the chassis 16 and starting on the tractor 12 The electronic pulses of the counter 90 or 120 travel via the wire 96 to the processor. Although a wire is shown and described, other ways of transmitting a signal from the counter 90 or the processor counter 120 are also contemplated and fall within the scope of the invention. For example, a fiber optic cable, a radio transmitter, or other signal transmission modes may be used. According to the invention, a pressure sensor detects a pressure applied to the supports of the vehicle. With reference to Figures 1 and 7, a pressure sensor 180 is provided, preferably bifurcating from the brake line 182. When the tire brakes are used, the pressure sensor 180 can fork out of the brake line 182 P970 between the compressor 189 and the brakes 20. Alternatively, if a vehicle uses hydraulic brakes, the pressure sensor 180 can fork from the brake line 182 between the brakes 20 and the master cylinder. The sensor 180 generates a signal 208 in response to the brake pressure reaching a predetermined set point. Preferably, the brake pressure set point is manually adjustable. The driver must be able to adjust the brake hold point based on deferred loads or deferred road conditions. In addition it is preferable that the set point to automatically adjust after each predetermined number of brake applications. The sensor 180 may be any commercially available sensor capable of detecting pressure. A preferred sensor is the IPS-22 Indicating Pressure Switch manufactured by Span Instruments. According to the invention, a controller is provided, programmed to generate an alarm signal with rotation of the trailer with respect to the tractor reaching a predetermined fastening point. As shown in Figure 7, the controller 200 receives a signal from the encoder 120 (or 90) indicative of the trailer rotation 14 with respect to the tractor 12. The trailer rotation signal 202 is transmitted via the cable 96 from the encoder 120 via the decoder 204, and 12 bits up / down the counter 206. Controller 200 is programmed with a higher clamping point P970 of the rotation trailer 14, preferably 4o, with respect to the tractor 12. The controller 200 also receives brake pressure signal 208 when the brake pressure exceeds the predetermined pressure holding point discussed above. As shown in Figure 7, a controller 200 is also programmed to transmit automatic adjustment signal 210 to the brake pressure sensor 180. The adjustment signal 210 can be manually generated by the driver in a console mounted in the cab of the tractor 12, or this can be generated automatically by the controller 200 after a predetermined number of brake applications. When the rotation of the trailer reaches the upper rotation set point, an alarm signal 212 is generated by the controller 200. The controller 200 also detects from the encoder 120 (or 90) whether the trailer is rotated to the right (positive counts) or to the left (negative counts) to generate a right folding signal 212 'or a signal 212"of left folding, alarm signal 212 (it is say, 212 'or 212") is transmitted to a visual alarm 214 mounted in the cab, and an audible alarm 216, preferably a speaker unit mounted in the cab.The alarms alert the driver to a possible folding condition. , there is a right speaker 217 and a speaker 218 left. Either the right speaker 217 or the speaker alarm P970 218, depending on whether the truck is folded to the right or left, that is, if the alarm signal 212 includes the right folding signal 212 'or the left folding signal 212. In the embodiment described above, the alarm signal 212, comprising either the right alarm signal 212 'or the left alarm signal 212', is generated when the rotation of the trailer with respect to the tractor reaches a predetermined adjustment point to the right or left. In another embodiment of the invention, the controller 200 can be programmed to generate the alarm signal 212 (i.e., 212 'or 212") only when both of the high brake pressure signals 208 and the trailer rotation signal 202 In other words, in this mode, the alarms are generated by the combination of excessive rotation of the trailer with respect to the tractor, combined with an excessive braking pressure applied to the vehicle's brakes.Again, the alarms alert the driver to a possible folding condition, however, the controller 200 can also be programmed to transmit signals 212 to the visual alarm 214 only at reception of the high brake pressure signal 208. The folding warning system described above gives to the driver visual and audible alarms, alerts you to P970 the existence of a condition of folding, based on an over-rotation of the tractor, possibly in combination with an over-application of pressure to the brakes of the vehicle. Alarms alert the driver to reduce pressure on the brake pedal, attempt to align the vehicle, or take other measures to prevent folding. The additional advantages and modifications will occur without effort for persons skilled in the art. The invention in these broad aspects does not limit the specific details described in the foregoing. The divergences can be made of such details without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention is limited only by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

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Claims (17)

1. CLAIMS 1. A folding warning system for a vehicle that includes a tractor and a trailer, the system comprises: a trailer rotation sensor, attached to a tractor chassis and engageable with the trailer, capable of detecting the rotation of the trailer with respect to tractor; a controller programmed to generate an alarm signal when the rotation of the trailer with respect to the tractor reaches a first fixing point; and an alarm device for issuing an alarm in response to the alarm signal. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises a pressure sensor that detects a pressure applied to a braking set for the vehicle, wherein the controller issues the alarm signal when the rotation of the trailer reaches the first set point and the pressure applied to the brakes reaches a second adjustment point. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the trailer rotation sensor includes a wheel maintained in the rolling coupling with a lower side of the trailer. P970 4. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that the wheel is slidably mounted in a sliding block attached to the chassis of the tractor. 5. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that the wheel is mounted rolling on an arm that is pivotally attached to the chassis of the tractor. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that the trailer rotation sensor is electronically connected to the controller. 7. The system according to claim 6, characterized in that the trailer rotation sensor includes an encoder that converts the rotation or a partial rotation of the wheel into counts, and transmits the counts to the controller. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the first adjustment point is placed in correspondence with the rotation tracking at approximately 4o with respect to the tractor. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that the second adjustment point is adjustable. 20 10. The system in accordance with the claim 9, characterized in that the second adjustment point is automatically adjustable after a preselected number of vehicle stops. P970 11. The system in accordance with the claim 1, characterized in that the alarm device includes an audible alarm portion. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the alarm device includes a visual alarm portion. 13. The system in accordance with the claim 2, characterized in that the alarm device includes a visual alarm portion for providing a visual alarm when the pressure applied to the brakes reaches the second adjustment point. 14. A folding alert system for a vehicle that includes a tractor and a trailer, characterized in that it comprises: a trailer rotation sensor, attached to a tractor chassis and engageable with the trailer, capable of detecting the rotation of the trailer with regarding the tractor; a pressure sensor that detects a pressure applied to a set of brakes for a vehicle; a controller programmed to generate an alarm signal when the rotation of the trailer with respect to the tractor reaches a first adjustment point and the pressure applied to the brakes reaches a second adjustment point; and an alarm device for issuing an alarm in response to the alarm signal. P970 15. The system according to claim 1 or 14, characterized in that the trailer rotation sensor detects the rotation of the trailer with respect to the tractor to the right and to the left. The system according to claim 1 or 14, characterized in that the controller generates a right alarm signal or a left alarm signal, depending on whether the rotation of the trailer with respect to the tractor reaches a first adjustment point on the right or to the left. 17. The system according to claim 1 or 14, characterized in that the alarm device emits a right alarm or a left alarm, depending on whether the rotation of the trailer with respect to the tractor is to the right or to the left. P970 ,, ^; ^. a »Z ^ -M ^ ^«