Fifth Wheel Coupling Detection System with Inspection and Indication Lighting Arrangement
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring a trailer hitch assembly having a hitch plate with a throat for receiving a kingpin of a trailer and a locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in the throat, the system comprising:
- a first sensor sensing the position of the kingpin of the trailer relative to the throat of the hitch plate;
a second sensor sensing a position of the locking mechanism that is movable between an unlocked position wherein the kingpin is removable from within the throat of the hitch plate, and a locked position wherein the kingpin is secured within the throat of the hitch plate by the locking mechanism;
a control circuit operably coupled with the first sensor and the second sensor and determining whether the first sensor indicates a proper location of the kingpin of the trailer relative to the throat of the hitch plate and determining whether the second sensor indicates that the locking mechanism is in the locked position; and
a first light source located substantially proximate the throat of the kingpin, wherein the first light source is activated when the control circuit determines that the kingpin of the trailer is in the proper location relative to the throat of the hitch plate and that the locking mechanism is in the locked position, such that the first light source illuminates the throat of the hitch plate and the kingpin assisting an operator in conducting a visual inspection of the position of the kingpin relative to the throat of the hitch plate.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for monitoring a trailer hitch assembly includes a first sensor sensing the position of a kingpin of a trailer relative to a throat of a hitch plate, a second sensor sensing a position of the locking mechanism movable between locked and unlocked positions, a control circuit coupled with the first sensor and determining whether the first sensor indicates a proper location of the kingpin relative to the throat and whether the second sensor indicates that the locking mechanism is in the locked position, and a light source proximate the throat of the kingpin and activated when the control circuit determines that the kingpin is properly located and that the locking mechanism is in the locked position, such that the light source illuminates the throat and the kingpin assisting visual inspection of the position of the kingpin relative to the throat.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring a trailer hitch assembly having a hitch plate with a throat for receiving a kingpin of a trailer and a locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in the throat, the system comprising:
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a first sensor sensing the position of the kingpin of the trailer relative to the throat of the hitch plate; a second sensor sensing a position of the locking mechanism that is movable between an unlocked position wherein the kingpin is removable from within the throat of the hitch plate, and a locked position wherein the kingpin is secured within the throat of the hitch plate by the locking mechanism; a control circuit operably coupled with the first sensor and the second sensor and determining whether the first sensor indicates a proper location of the kingpin of the trailer relative to the throat of the hitch plate and determining whether the second sensor indicates that the locking mechanism is in the locked position; and a first light source located substantially proximate the throat of the kingpin, wherein the first light source is activated when the control circuit determines that the kingpin of the trailer is in the proper location relative to the throat of the hitch plate and that the locking mechanism is in the locked position, such that the first light source illuminates the throat of the hitch plate and the kingpin assisting an operator in conducting a visual inspection of the position of the kingpin relative to the throat of the hitch plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for monitoring a trailer hitch assembly having a hitch plate with a throat for receiving a kingpin of a trailer and a locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in the throat, the system comprising:
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a first sensor sensing the position of the kingpin of the trailer relative to the throat of the hitch plate; a second sensor sensing a position of the locking mechanism that moves between an unlocked position wherein the kingpin is removable from within the throat of the hitch plate, and a locked position wherein the kingpin is secured within the throat of the hitch plate by the locking mechanism; a control circuit operably coupled with the first sensor and the second sensor and determining whether the first sensor indicates a proper location of the kingpin of the trailer relative to the throat of the hitch plate and determining whether the second sensor indicates that the locking mechanism is in the locked position; and a first light source located external to a cab of a towing vehicle and generally proximate to the hitch plate and providing a warning to an operator of at least one of an improper location of the kingpin relative to the throat, the locking mechanism not being located in the locked position, and the exceeding of a predetermined time between the determination of the proper locating of the kingpin with the throat and the determination that the locking mechanism is in the locked position. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for monitoring a trailer hitch assembly having a hitch plate with a throat for receiving a kingpin of a trailer and a locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in the throat, the system comprising:
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a first sensor sensing the position of the kingpin of the trailer relative to the throat of the hitch plate; a second sensor sensing a position of the locking mechanism that moves between an unlocked position wherein the kingpin is removable from within the throat of the hitch plate, and a locked position wherein the kingpin is secured within the throat of the hitch plate by the locking mechanism; a control circuit operably coupled with the first sensor and the second sensor and determining whether the first sensor indicates a proper location of the kingpin of the trailer relative to the throat of the hitch plate and determining whether the second sensor indicates that the locking mechanism is in the locked position; a first light source located substantially proximate the throat of the kingpin, wherein the first light source is activated when the control circuit determines that the kingpin of the trailer is in the proper location relative to the throat of the hitch plate and that the locking mechanism is in the locked position, such that the first light source illuminates the throat of the hitch plate and the kingpin assisting an operator in conducting a visual inspection of the position of the kingpin relative to the throat of the hitch plate; a second light source located generally proximate to the hitch plate and provides a warning to an operator of at least one of an improper location of the kingpin relative to the throat, the locking mechanism not being located in the locked position, and the exceeding of a predetermined time between the determination of the proper locating of the kingpin with the throat and the determination that the locking mechanism is in the locked position; a first indicator separate from the first light source and coupled to the control circuit such that the first indicator is activated when the first light source is activated; and a second indicator separate from the second light source and coupled to the control circuit such that the second indicator is activated when the second light source is activated. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification