Trailer and packaging system for trailer electrical components

• US 10,112,452 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2015
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ghannam, Mahmoud Yousef, Carremm, Swadad A., Pittenger, Joel Allen, Scott, Roy Joseph, Tippy, David James, Schondorf, Steven Yellin
• Primary Examiner(s): Rocca, Joseph M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Maurice L
• Application Number:
  US14/810,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20170028800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/605 Protection caps
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/64 Couplings or joints therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 63/08 Component parts or accessories

Abstract

A trailer yaw sensing apparatus is provided. The trailer yaw sensing apparatus includes a housing, a yaw sensor, and a docking station. The housing is configured for installation on a trailer. The housing defines apertures that are configured to engage fasteners for mounting yaw sensors in a plurality of orientations. The yaw sensor includes an external casing and is disposed within the housing. The docking station is affixed to the housing and is configured to receive a trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector.

Claims

1. A trailer yaw sensing apparatus comprising:

a housing configured for installation on a trailer, and defining apertures configured to engage fasteners for mounting yaw sensors in a plurality of orientations;

a yaw sensor including an external casing, and disposed within the housing; and

a socket defined by the housing, having no electrical connectors, configured to receive a trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector, and configured to remain non-energized when the connector is received therein.

2. The trailer yaw sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a plurality of internal walls that collectively define an enclosure that houses the sensor, and wherein the internal walls individually define at least one of the apertures configured to engage fasteners for mounting yaw sensors in a plurality of orientations.

3. The trailer yaw sensing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of internal walls includes a first internal wall and a second internal wall, and wherein the first internal wall is perpendicular to the second internal wall.

4. The trailer yaw sensing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of internal walls includes a first internal wall and a second internal wall, and wherein the first internal wall is parallel to the second internal wall.

5. The trailer yaw sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a plurality of external walls that define mounting holes that are configured to engage fasteners for mounting the housing to the trailer in a plurality of orientations relative to the trailer.

6. The trailer yaw sensing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the plurality of external walls includes a first external wall and a second external wall, and wherein the first external wall is perpendicular to the second external wall.

7. The trailer yaw sensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cover that is secured to the housing in order to enclose the yaw sensor.

8. The trailer yaw sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a passageway for routing a cable into the housing for connection with the yaw sensor.

9. The trailer yaw sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the socket includes a retractable cover configured to enclose the socket when the trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector has not been received into the socket and to engage a receptacle on the trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector when the trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector has been received into the socket in order to secure the position of the trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector.

10. The trailer yaw sensing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the retractable cover forms a seal between the cover and the socket when the trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector has not been received into the socket, and wherein the retractable cover forms a seal between the cover and the receptacle on the trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector when the trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector has been received into the socket.

11. A trailer yaw sensing apparatus comprising:

a housing configured for installation on a trailer, and defining mounting holes configured to engage fasteners for mounting the housing to the trailer in multiple orientations relative to the trailer, the housing including an external non-energized socket having no electrical connectors that is configured to receive a trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector and remain non-energized when the electrical connector is received therein, and the housing defining at least one internal chamber configured to receive yaw sensors; and

a yaw sensor including an external casing, and disposed within an internal chamber of the housing.

12. The trailer yaw sensing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the housing defines a first internal chamber that is adjacent to a first internal wall of the housing, and wherein the first internal chamber is configured to receive the yaw sensor such that the yaw sensor is adjacent to the first internal wall.

13. The trailer yaw sensing apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a level incorporated with the housing.

14. The trailer yaw sensing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the socket includes a retractable cover configured to enclose the socket when the trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector has not been received into the socket and to engage a receptacle on the trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector when the trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector has been received into the socket in order to secure the position of the trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector.

15. The trailer yaw sensing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the retractable cover forms a seal between the cover and the socket when the trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector has not been received into the socket, and wherein the retractable cover forms a seal between the cover and the receptacle on the trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector when the trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector has been received into the socket.

16. A trailer system comprising:

a frame;

a trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector;

a housing secured to the frame, including a non-energized external socket configured to receive the connector and remain non-energized when the connector is received therein, and defining an internal chamber configured to receive a sensor;

a yaw sensor mounted within the internal chamber; and

a retractable cover configured to enclose and seal the socket when the connector has not been received into the socket.

17. The trailer system of claim 16, wherein the retractable cover is configured to engage a receptacle on the trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector when the trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector has been received into the socket in order to secure the position of the trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector.