WO2009046512A2

WO2009046512A2 - Tracker and localizer of semi-trailers

Info

Publication number: WO2009046512A2
Application number: PCT/BR2008/000312
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cristiano Branchieri Escola
Original assignee: Hadar Rastreamento E Gerenciamento Veicular Ltda
Priority date: 2007-10-11
Filing date: 2008-10-10
Publication date: 2009-04-16
Also published as: EP2212874B1; BRPI0703612E2; EP2212874A4; BRPI0703612A; EP2212874A2; WO2009046512A3

Abstract

Tracker and localizer of semi-trailers, as described in the report and according to the attached illustrations is characterized by a system for tracking and localizing semi-trailers, also containing activators (8) and sensors (3,4,5,6,7) with remote communication, permitting the exact identification of the status of a semi-trailer, in real time, by means of communications links via satellite (18) and / or GPRS - General Packet Radio Service (17).

Description

"TRACKER AND LOCALIZER OF SEMI-TRAILERS"

Subject:

This Invention Patent refers to a system for tracking and localizing semi-trailers, and also containing activators and sensors with remote communication, allowing the exact identification of the status of the semi-trailers, in real time, through communication lines via satellite and / or GPRS - General Packet Radio Service. Technical State of the Art and Issues: The technical state of the art, reason for this invention, is known as tracking and localizing systems, with activators or not, specifically assigned to track the group tractor vehicle and semi-trailer, as all the equipment is conditioned to the presence of a traction vehicle or a "mechanical horse". It is not only the localization of the equipment installation, but the type of the installed information transmission system and its functionality.

When the tractor vehicle is removed, the semi-trailer is no longer tracked or localized . Taking into consideration that a great part of the production in our country is transported by the road system, with a great number of robberies and load seizing, it is possible to understand the growing importance of tracking not only the tractor vehicle and the semi-trailer when it is moving or transporting but also tracking the semi-trailer, which is the element that contains the load that interests to the economy. The semi-trailer, in many cases, remains parked, for a determined period, in warehouses, federal locations or port yards, without the presence of the tractor vehicle. In this case, traditional models do not offer any further possibility to track the load, while the proposed model in this patent offers that possibility.

Another important point to be observed in traditional models is the absence of sensors for monitoring other important data, such as the tires pressure and the semi-towing vehicle occupancy. That possibility is contemplated in the object presented in this patent. Inventive Concept: This Tracker and Localizer of Semi-trailers is based in the inventive concept of using components know and used in the market, containing a different installation and operation system, in order to obtain a tracker and localizer with the possibility of efficient and accessible events control and status verification, promoting a functional and manufacturing improvement relatively to the object technical state of the art. It is being developed starting from difficulties currently found in traditional models. An item that deserves to be pointed out is the monitoring junction of several elements into a single system, such as monitoring of localization tracking, temperature, tires pressure, occupancy, doors activities and openings. Application Field:

The application of this Tracker and Localizer of Semitrailers appears in the use of this for tracking, localizing and activating systems that impede doors opening of the semitrailers, and is used, therefore, as a vehicle accessory. Advantages:

The Tracker and Localizer of Semi-trailers presents the following advantages:

• Possibility of tracking and localizing of the semi-trailer separately from the tractor vehicle; • Possibility of monitoring doors, permitting to know if and when doors are being opened or closed, and also monitoring of the semi-trailer displacement;

• Activation possibility of the semi-trailer devices in order to impede doors opening without authorization - blocking - and activation of brake systems to avoid its displacement;

• Possibility to monitor tires pressure and the occupancy of the semi-trailer, permitting to verify if the towing unit remains loaded or not; • Possibility of monitoring data such as temperature. This is an important difference in transporting food, flowers and similar products;

• It has operation autonomy for several days in situations when the semi-trailer is uncoupled from the tractor vehicle;

• Operation ease and practicality, as the battery is automatically reloaded when the coupling to the tractor vehicle occurs, or through connection to the electrical network or also through a photovoltaic panel; • Offers more safety to transportation, as it allows constant tracking of the semi-trailer and the load, regardless of the vehicle being in movement or parked. Illustrations:

With the objective to ease the investigation and to allow the understanding of this patent, as explained in the report, according to a basic and preferred action manner elaborated by the requester, references are made to the attached illustrations, which are part and subsidize this descriptive report, where the following: FIG. 01 - presents a system flowchart; and

FIG. 02 - presents a figurative scheme of the system operation. Description: The Tracker and Localizer of Semi-Trailers is composed of a data processing center 1 installed inside the semi-trailer in a place where some protection can be obtained. By the data processing center 1 a signal conditioner for sensors is positioned 2 directly connected to the tire pressure sensors 3, the door sensors 4, the semi-trailer occupancy sensors 5, the battery level sensor 6 and the temperature sensor 7. The signal conditioner for sensors 2 is comprised of specific electronic circuits that contain printed-circuit boards and electro-electronic components with the function to inform to the data processing center 1 at specifically requested times or periodically, the sensors situation.

The tire pressure sensors 3 permit to monitor the air pressure of the pneumatic circuits of the semi-trailer, as well as several tires existing in it.

The door sensors 4 determine when the doors are opened or closed. The semi-trailer occupancy sensors 5 permit to monitor if the semi-trailer is loaded or not, by means of an ultrasonic sensor. Also by the data processing center 1 there is an amplifier for activators 8 responsible for managing information to activate the impediment of doors opening without authorization, or, in other words, the electrical blocking of the doors 10 and/or activate the brake system blocking scheme 9 impeding movement without authorization.

The system operation autonomy is guaranteed by the presence of the energy manager 12 placed by the electrical battery 11 , also connected to the data processing center 1 . The energy manager 12 permits the reading of information generated by the battery level sensor 6 relative to electrical voltage and current, giving origin to the process of its reloading, and promoting the whole system continuous operation.

The electrical battery reloading 11 may be carried out through connection to the tractor vehicle using the specific cable 15, through connection to the electrical network using the bi-volt cable 13 or through photovoltaic panel 14. According to the possibilities of each moment, the battery reloading may be carried out by any of these three alternatives.

All information related to sensors, activators or the energy manager are processed at the data processing center 1 and transmitted to a remote control station 19 by means of a modem for satellite 18 or by means of a GPRS modem 17. The modem for satellite 18 promotes data transmission through a constellation of satellites adequate for this type of product, and the GPRS modem 17 permits data transmission through a mobile telephone network. The GPS unit 16 permits tuning to GPS satellite signals (Global Positioning System) in order to register the geographical location of the semi-trailer, its time and speed. Operation:

This patent is put in place in the following manner: Information on geographical position obtained by the GPS unit and the situation of several installed sensors are transmitted through modem for satellite and/or GPRS modem to a remote control station. This information may be sent periodically, following previously established schedules, or upon specific request from the remote control station.

According to the contents of information received by the remote control station, this may also send through a modem for satellite and/or a GPRS modem the command for activation of the devices for doors or brakes electrical blocking. When the sensors capture any alteration relatively to the established standards, such as, for example, the doors opening without authorization, this information is immediately transmitted to the remote control station, which takes the particularly most appropriate decision for the event. Conclusion:

Then, the Tracker and Localizer of Semi-trailers is subsidized by unpublished technical characteristics and functions, as it is possible to verify in the attached figures and to understand in the descriptive report, deserving, therefore, the demanded legal protection.

Claims

1. "TRACKER AND LOCALIZER OF SEMI-TRAILERS", as described in the report and according to the attached illustrations is characterized by containing a data processing center 1 installed inside the semi-trailer responsible for managing data obtained at the sensors conditioner 2 which monitors the pressure sensors of the tires 3, the door sensors 4, the sensors of the semi-trailer occupancy 5, the battery level sensor 6 and the temperature sensor 7; the data processing center 1 is also responsible for managing data at the actuator amplifiers 8 that cause the activation of the electrical blocking device for the doors 10 and the brakes blocking device 9. The electrical blocking device for the doors 10 impedes the doors to be opened without authorization and the brakes blocking device 9 impedes the semi-trailer to be displaced. The energy manager 12 carries out the reading of the battery level sensor information 6 on the current load of the electrical battery 1 1 , communicates that information to the data processing center 1 and signals the need for reloading the electrical battery 1 1. The GPS unit 16 captures, via satellite, information on geographical position, time and speed of the semi-trailer and sends these data to the data processing center 1. Periodically, the data processing center 1 sends all stored data to the remote control station 19;

2. "TRACKER AND LOCALIZER OF SEMI-TRAILERS", as

claimed in 1 is characterized by the fact that the information

captured at the processing center 1 is sent to the remote control

station 19 by means of a modem for satellites 18;

3. "TRACKER AND LOCALIZER OF SEMI-TRAILERS", as claimed in 1 is characterized by the fact that the information captured at the processing center 1 is sent to the remote control station 19 by means of a mobile telephone network and a GPRS modem 17;

4. "TRACKER AND LOCALIZER OF SEMI-TRAILERS", as claimed in 1 is characterized by the fact that the electrical battery 11 is reloaded when it is connected to the tractor vehicle using the specific cable 15; 5. "TRACKER AND LOCALIZER OF SEMI-TRAILERS", as claimed in 1 is characterized by the fact that the electrical battery 1 1 is reloaded through a connection to the electrical network using the bi-volt cable 13; 6. "TRACKER AND LOCALIZER OF SEMI-TRAILERS", as claimed in 1 is characterized by the fact that the electrical battery 1 1 is reloaded through a photovoltaic panel 14.