Adjusting Device, Air Deflecting System, Control Member and Device Enabling Aerodynamic Resistance of a Semi-Trailer to be Reduced

• US 20080036173A1
• Filed: 09/03/2005
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jost-Werke GmbH
• Original Assignee: Jost-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Alguera, Jose
• Granted Patent: US 7,789,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/407
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/001 For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/068 having devices to equalise or modify the load between the fifth wheel and the rear wheels adjustable couping saddles per se B62D53/0807; load transfer devices to permit coupling or uncoupling B62D53/0857; anti jack-knifing devices B62D53/0871
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/0814 with adjustment of the clearance between the tractor or the trailer devices modifying the load in tractor-trailer combinations B62D53/068
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/0821 Lifting saddles, i.e. to lift the trailer front tilting body constructions B60P

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for adjusting a fifth wheel, comprising a displacement device provided with two guide rails placed on the vehicle, in particular on a tractor semi-trailer combination in the longitudinal direction thereof, said guide rails whereon a slide may be installed capable of being moved by means of an actuating device, said actuating device being designed such that, upon a displacement, the positive connection between the guide rails and the slide is maintained. The invention is characterized in that said actuating device which is designed to move the slide, comprises a first powered device. Additionally, at least one first position sensor is arranged to detect the position of the slide, at least said first position sensor being connected to a control device.

Claims

1. An adjusting device for a fifth wheel coupling (5), having a displacement device (21) comprised of two guide rails (27) disposed longitudinally on a vehicle, particularly on a tractor (1) of a tractor and semi-trailer combination, and further comprised of a slide (26) which is displaceable on the guide rails (27), and an actuating device for displacing the slide (26), which actuating device is configured so as to maintain the form-interlocking relationship between the guide rails (27) and the slide (26) during the course of the displacement;

characterized in that the actuating device for accomplishing the displacement of the slide (26) is comprised of a first motor drive (23a;

23b);

and in that at least one “

first position sensor”

(S1) is provided, for determining the position of the slide, wherewith at least the said “

first position sensor”

(S1) is connected to a control device (40).

2. A device according to claim 1;

characterized in that the first motor drive (23a;

23b) has at least one drive spindle (24) with one or more spindle nuts (22).

3. A device according to claim 2;

characterized in that the spindle nut (22) is disposed on the slide (26).

4. A device according to claim 1;

characterized in that the first motor drive (23a;

23b) has at least one rack and pinion (or rack and spur gear).

5. A device according to one of claims 1-4;

characterized in that the first drive device (23a;

23b) is connected to a control device (40).

6. A device according to one of claims 1-5;

characterized in that the “

first position sensor”

(S1) is a distance sensor or a rotational angle measurement device.

7. A device according to one of claims 1-6;

characterized in that at least two “

first position sensors”

(S1) are associated with one guide rail (27).

8. A device according to one of claims 1-7;

characterized in that the “

first position sensors”

(S1) are inductive sensors.

9. A device according to one of claims 1-8;

characterized in that a lifting device (30) for the fifth wheel coupling (5) is disposed on the slide (26).

10. A device according to one of claims 1-8;

characterized in that the guide rails (27) are attached to a lifting device (30).

11. A device according to one of claims 9-10;

characterized in that the lifting device (30) has its own (second) motor drive (33).

12. A device according to claim 11;

characterized in that the second motor drive (33) is connected to the control device (40).

13. A device according to one of claims 9-12;

characterized in that at least one “

second position sensor”

(S2) is disposed on the lifting device (30), which sensor determines the lifting altitude and is connected to the control device (40).

14. A device according to one of claims 1-13;

characterized in that the control device (40) comprises a device for monitoring and automatic control.

15. A wind deflector system, comprised of at least one wind deflector (10a) for the roof of a tractor cab of the tractor of a tractor and semi-trailer combination;

characterized in that the wind deflector (10a) is swingably mounted on the roof (4) and is associated with a third motor drive (13); and

in that at least one “

third position sensor”

(S3) is provided which determines the adjustment angle of the wind deflector (10a) and which is connected to a control device (40).

16. A wind deflector system according to claim 15;

characterized in that the third drive (13) is connected to the control device (40).

17. A wind deflector system according to claim 15 or 16;

characterized in that at least one wind deflector (10b) is provided which is swingably disposed laterally on the cab of the tractor and which is associated with a fourth drive means, wherewith at least one “

fourth position sensor”

(S4) is provided, which position sensor is connected to the control device (40).

18. A wind deflector system according to one of claims 15-17;

characterized in that the control device (40) comprises a device for monitoring and automatic control.

19. A control system for a tractor and semi-trailer combination having a fifth wheel coupling;

comprised of;

a control device (40); and

at least one position sensor (S1, S2, S3, or S4), disposed on a displacement device (21), and/or on a lifting device (30) of the fifth wheel coupling (5), and/or on a swingable wind deflector (10a, 10b) on the cab of the tractor (1);

wherewith the control device (40) is electrically connected to at least one position sensor (S1, S2, S3, or S4), and to at least one drive means (13;

23a;

23b;

33) of the displacement device (21); and

/or the lifting device (30) of the fifth wheel coupling; and

/or the actuator of the wind deflector(s) (10a;

10b).

20. A control system according to claim 19;

characterized in that the control device (40) comprises a monitoring device which monitors the functionality of (at least) the position sensor(s) (S1, S2, S3, S4).

21. A control system according to claim 19 or 20;

characterized in that it comprises a display device (41) which displays the horizontal and/or vertical position of the fifth wheel coupling (5), and/or the angle of inclination of the wind deflector(s) (10a;

10b).

22. A control system according to one of claims 19-21;

characterized in that the control device is connected to an adjustable shock-absorbing system of the semi-trailer (2).

23. A control system according to one of claims 19-22;

characterized in that the control device (40) is configured so as to evaluate the position signals from the position sensors (S1, S2, S3, S4), and to compare said signals with set-point values, and then to send control signals to the drive means (13;

23a;

23b;

33).

24. A control system according to one of claims 19-23;

characterized in that the control device (40) comprises automatic feedback control means.

25. A device for reducing the air resistance of a tractor and semi-trailer combination (comprised of a tractor vehicle (1) and a semi-trailer (2)),

said device comprised of a displacement device (21) for displacing the fifth wheel coupling (5) in the longitudinal direction of the tractor, and/or a lifting device (30) for raising or lowering the fifth wheel coupling (5),

and further comprised of a wind deflector (10a;

10b) which is swingably mounted on the cab of the tractor (1),

wherewith the displacement device (21) and/or the lifting device (30) and/or the wind deflector(s) (10a;

10b) have motor drives (13;

23a;

23b;

33) and position detectors (S1, S2, S3, S4), with the drives (13;

23a;

23b;

33) and position detectors (S1, S2, S3, S4) being connected to a common control device (40).