Forced steering

• US 20110196575A1
• Filed: 02/03/2011
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scharmüller, Josef, Scharmüller, Josef Sr.
• Original Assignee: Scharmüller, Josef, Scharmüller, Josef Sr.
• Inventors: Scharmüller, Josef SR., Scharmüller, Josef
• Application Number:
  US13/020,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20110196575A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/42
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/065 characterised by the hitch mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/173 consisting of at least two bars which are not connected or articulated to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/58 Auxiliary devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 13/025 the pivoted movement being initiated by the coupling means between tractor and trailer

Abstract

A forced steering arrangement for steering a vehicle trailer coupled to a towing vehicle includes a measuring device for determining a pivot angle between the towing vehicle and the vehicle trailer, a control device having an input coupled to the measuring device and an output, and a steering device coupled to the output of the control device for turning the wheels of at least one steered axle of the vehicle trailer. The measuring device is also configured to determine a twist between the towing vehicle and the vehicle trailer.

Claims

1. -12. (canceled)

13. A forced steering arrangement for steering a vehicle trailer coupled to a towing vehicle, comprising:

a measuring device for determining a pivot angle and a twist between the towing vehicle and the vehicle trailer,

a control device having an input coupled to the measuring device and an output, and

a steering device coupled to the output of the control device for turning the wheels of at least one steered axle of the vehicle trailer.

14. The forced steering arrangement of claim 13, wherein the measuring device comprises at least one sensor.

15. The forced steering arrangement of claim 13, wherein the control device determines electronic output signals in dependence of electronic input signals.

16. The forced steering arrangement of claim 13, wherein the measuring device is further configured to determine a tilt angle between the towing vehicle and the vehicle trailer.

17. The forced steering arrangement of claim 13, wherein the measuring device comprises at least three sensors for determining a rotation about three substantially mutually perpendicular axes.

18. The forced steering arrangement of claim 13, comprising an additional measuring device in addition to the measuring device to form a redundant system.

19. The forced steering arrangement of claim 18, further comprising a load coupling ball and a load coupling socket, wherein at least one of the measuring device and the additional measuring device is arranged substantially in the load coupling ball or substantially in the load coupling socket.

20. The forced steering arrangement of claim 18, comprising a load coupling ball and an additional forced-steering coupling ball, and a load coupling socket and an additional forced-steering coupling socket, wherein at least one of the measuring device and the additional measuring device is arranged substantially in the forced-steering coupling ball or substantially in a forced-steering coupling socket.

21. A method for forced steering of a vehicle trailer coupled to a towing vehicle, comprising the steps of:

determining with a measuring device a pivot angle and a twist between the towing vehicle and the vehicle trailer,

transmitting a measurement signal from the measuring device to an input of a control device,

generating from the transmitted measurement signal in the control device a control signal, and

transmitting the control signal to a steering device for turning the wheels of at least one axle of the vehicle trailer.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of providing two measuring devices and forming in the control device an average value of the measurement signals obtained with the two measuring devices.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of outputting an error message when a deviation between the measurement signals obtained with the two measuring devices exceed a predeterminable maximum value.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of determining with the measuring device a tilt angle between the towing vehicle and the vehicle trailer.