METHOD AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A FIFTH WHEEL COUPLING SLIDING DEVICE HAVING DETECTION OF THE BENT POSITION OF TOWING VEHICLES AND TRAILERS

• US 20120053797A1
• Filed: 04/08/2010
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jost-Werke GmbH
• Original Assignee: Jost-Werke GmbH
• Inventors: Algüera Gallego, José Manuel
• Application Number:
  US13/263,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20120053797A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/49
• 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

Abstract

A method and a system for controlling a sliding device for a fifth wheel coupling arranged on a towing vehicle, wherein the sliding device includes a substructure having at least one guide rail oriented in the driving direction, a movable slide, which supports the fifth wheel coupling and engages on the guide rail, and a control unit, to which a motorized drive unit for moving and an actuator for fixing the slide are connected. The invention was based on the problem of providing a method or a control system that minimizes the risk of the trailer bumping into the cab of the towing vehicle, in particular during an evasion maneuver. The problem is solved, among other things, in that a measurement is performed to detect the bent position of the towing vehicle and the trailer, the signal of the measurement is processed in the control unit, and a start-up of the motorized drive unit and/or of the actuator is initiated using said signal.

Claims

1. A method for control of a sliding device for a fifth wheel coupling (3) arranged on a towing vehicle, comprising the steps of:

the sliding device comprises a substructure having at least one guide rail oriented in a driving direction, a movable slide, which supports the fifth wheel coupling and engages on the guide rail, and a control unit, to which a motorized drive unit for moving the slide and an actuator for fixing the slide relative to the guide rail are connected, performing a measurement to detect a bent position of towing vehicle and trailer, processing a signal of the measurement into a control signal in the control unit, initiating a start-up of one or more of the motorized drive unit and the actuator therewith, and generating an angle or distance gradient from the signal of the measurement in the control unit, or this is relayed to the control unit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a braking gradient is generated from a braking signal of the vehicle'"'"'s brake system in the control unit or a braking gradient is processed from the vehicle'"'"'s brake system.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the slide is locked by the actuator upon exceeding a predetermined braking gradient and falling below a predetermined angle gradient.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein a locked position of the slide is released by the actuator upon exceeding a predetermined braking gradient and exceeding a predetermined angle gradient.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the slide is moved into a rear position by the drive unit after releasing the locked position.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein an actual speed of the towing vehicle is provided to the control unit and below a predetermined minimum speed the slide is held in a rear position on the guide rail or rails.

16. The method according to claim 3, wherein a locked position of the slide is released by the actuator upon exceeding a predetermined braking gradient and exceeding a predetermined angle gradient, and wherein the slide is moved into a rear position by the drive unit after releasing the locked position.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein an actual speed of the towing vehicle is provided to the control unit and below a predetermined minimum speed the slide is held in a rear position on the guide rail or rails.

19. The control system according to claim 16, wherein the control unit is connected to a brake system of the towing vehicle and the control unit receives a braking gradient from the braking system, or generates such a value.

20. The control system according to claim 19, wherein the slide is locked by the actuator upon exceeding a predetermined braking gradient and falling below a predetermined angle gradient, and wherein the locked position of the slide is released upon exceeding a predetermined braking gradient and exceeding the predetermined angle gradient.

7. A control system for control of a sliding device for a fifth wheel coupling arranged on a towing vehicle, comprising:

the sliding device that comprises a substructure having at least one guide rail oriented in a driving direction, a movable slide, which supports the fifth wheel coupling and engages on the guide rail, and a control unit, to which a motorized drive unit for moving the slide and an actuator for fixing the slide relative to the guide rail are connected, wherein the control unit is connected to at least one sensor, which provides a measured value for detecting a bent position of towing vehicle and trailer, and it interacts with one or more of the drive unit and the actuator, wherein the control unit calculates an angle or distance gradient from a change in the measured value per unit of time.

8. The control system according to claim 7, wherein the sensor is disposed in an area of the steering system and the sensor detects a steering wheel angle of the towing vehicle.

9. The control system according to claim 7, wherein the sensor interacts with one or more of a steering wheel, a steering linkage, and a steering gear.

10. The control system according to claim 7, wherein the sensor detects a relative angle between the towing vehicle and the trailer.

11. The control system according to claim 10, wherein the sensor is a rotary encoder.

12. The control system according to claim 7, wherein the sensor is a distance sensor for detecting a gap width (W) between a driver'"'"'s cabin and a front of trailer and it can recognize a bent position from a decrease in the gap width (W).

13. The control system according to claim 7, wherein the control unit is connected to a brake system of the towing vehicle and the control unit receives a braking gradient from the braking system, or generates such a value.

14. The control system according to claim 13, wherein the slide is locked by the actuator upon exceeding a predetermined braking gradient and falling below a predetermined angle gradient.

15. The control system according to claim 14, wherein the locked position of the slide is released upon exceeding a predetermined braking gradient and exceeding the predetermined angle gradient.

18. The control system according to claim 8, wherein the sensor interacts with one or more of a steering wheel, a steering linkage, and a steering gear.