VEHICLE TRAILER ANGULAR POSITION INDICATOR

• US 3,605,088 A
• Filed: 12/03/1969
• Issued: 09/14/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph A. Savelli
• Original Assignee: Joseph A. Savelli
• Inventors: Savelli, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waring, Alvin H.
• Application Number:
  US04/881,702
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52,70,282 116/31,28
• US Class Current: 340/431
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/02 Steering position indicators ; Steering position determination; Steering aids

Abstract

Apparatus for assisting the driver of a tow vehicle in moving a trailer vehicle in a reverse or backup direction. The apparatus of this invention particularly relates to a tow vehicle and a trailer vehicle which are pivotally attached one to the other. The apparatus of this invention includes means which sense and indicate the angular position of the trailer vehicle with respect to the tow vehicle and which also includes means which sense and indicate the angular position of the front wheels of the tow vehicle to assist the driver of the tow vehicle in reverse movement of the trailer vehicle.

Claims

1. Apparatus for assisting the driver of a tow vehicle in reverse operation of the tow vehicle and a trailer vehicle which is pivotally attached to the tow vehicle, the tow vehicle having steering mechanism, comprising:

first switch means, the first switch means being joined to the steering mechanism of the tow vehicle for operation therewith, second switch means, means operably joining the second switch means to the tow vehicle and to the trailer vehicle, indicator means, means joining the first switch means to the second switch means and to the indicator means, the indicator means providing an indication of the angular relationship between the tow vehicle and the steering mechanism thereof and the angular relationship between the tow vehicle and the trailer vehicle, the indicator means thus providing an indication to the driver of the tow vehicle for operation of the tow vehicle for reversing of the trailer vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the first switch means includes rotary switch elements.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the second switch means is supported by the trailer vehicle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the second switch means are carried by the trailer vehicle and cable means join the tow vehicle to the second switch means for operation of the second switch means as relative angular movement occurs between the tow vehicle and the trailer vehicle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the second switch means comprises a pair of switch members supported by the trailer vehicle, there being a right switch member adjacent the right-hand portion of the trailer vehicle, there being a left switch member adjacent the left-hand portion of the trailer vehicle, a right cable attached to the right-hand portion of the tow vehicle and to the right switch member for operation of the right switch member with relative movement between the right cable and the right switch member, a left cable attached to the left-hand portion of the tow vehicle and to the left switch member for operation of the left switch member with relative movement between the left switch member and the left cable, the left cable thus moving with respect to the left switch member to operate the left switch member when the angular relationship between the right-hand portion of the tow vehicle and the right-hand portion of the trailer vehicle is a predetermined angle less than 180*, the right cable thus moving with respect to the right switch member to operate the right switch member when the angular relationship between the left-hand portion of the tow vehicle and the left-hand portion of the trailer vehicle is a predetermined angle less than 180*.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which the left switch member comprises a plurality of switch elements, there being a first switch element and a second switch element, operator means attached to the left cable and movably engageable with the switch elements for operation thereof, the left cable moving the operator means to engage the first switch element for operation thereof when the left cable is moved a given distance with respect to the left switch, the left cable moving the operator means a greater distance to engage the second switch element for operation thereof when the left cable is moved a predetermined greater distance with respect to the left switch.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the second switch means includes a housing, a plurality of spaced-apart switch elements within the housing, an elongate rod carried by the housing and axially movable with respect thereto, the elongate rod being adjacent the switch elements, a cam member attached to the rod and movable thereby into engagement with one of the switch elements for operation thereof, a collar attached to the rod and movable thereby into engagement with another of the switch elements for operation thereof.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which the housing is attached to the trailer vehicle, cable means, means attaching the cable means to the rod and to the tow vehicle for axial movement of the rod with pivotal movement between the tow vehicle and the trailer vehicle.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 which includes pulley means, means attaching the pulley means to the switch means, the cable means being in engagement with the pulley means so that relative movement between the tow vehicle and the trailer vehicle through a given distance causes movement of the rod through a lesser distance.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 which includes means attaching the pulley means to the housing and to the rod.

11. For use with a tow vehicle and a trailer vehicle pivotally attached thereto for assisting in reverse operation thereof, the tow vehicle having front wheel-steering mechanism, first electric switch means, the first electric switch means being operably joined to the front wheel-steering mechanism for operation therewith, indicator means carried by the tow vehicle, the indicator means indicating the angular relationship between a tow vehicle and the steering mechanism thereof and the angular relationship between the tow vehicle and a trailer vehicle, second electric switch means, the second electric switch means being carried by one of the vehicles, means operably joining the second electric switch means to the other vehicle for operation of the second electric switch means with relative angular movement between the vehicles, electric conductor means joining the first electric switch means and the second electric switch means one to the other and to the indicator means, the indicator means thus providing an indication to the driver of the tow vehicle for operation of the tow vehicle for reversing of the trailer vehicle.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 in which the indicator means includes a panel provided with lamp members.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 in which the panel includes a diagram portion which when lighted illustrates the relative angular positions of the vehicles.

14. In combination with a tow vehicle and a trailer vehicle which is pivotally attached to the tow vehicle, the tow vehicle being provided with steering mechanism, an electric switch member carried by the trailer vehicle, an elongate flexible connector member attached to the electric switch member and to the tow vehicle, tension forces occurring in the elongate flexible connector member when pivotal movement occurs between the tow vehicle and the trailer vehicle, such tension forces in the elongate flexible connector member causing operation of the electric switch member, a rotary electric switch member joined to the steeRing mechanism of the tow vehicle for operation thereby, an electrically operable indicator member carried by the tow vehicle, electric conductor means connecting together the electric switch member and the rotary electric switch member and the electrically operable indicator member, the electrically operable indicator member thus indicating the angular relationship between the tow vehicle and the trailer vehicle and the angular relationship between the tow vehicle and the steering mechanism thereof.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 in which the electrically operable indicator member includes electric lamp members and in which the electric switch member is electrically connected to at least one of the lamp members for control of energization thereof and in which the rotary electric switch member is electrically connected to at least one of the lamp members for control of energization thereof.

16. For a tow vehicle and a trailer vehicle which is pivotally attached thereto, the tow vehicle being provided with steering mechanism, a plurality of electric switch members, means operably joining the switch members to the tow vehicle and to the trailer vehicle for operation of the switch members with pivotal movement between the tow vehicle and the trailer vehicle, rotary electric switch means for operable connection to the steering mechanism of the tow vehicle, electrically operable indicator means, a source of electrical energy, means connecting the electrically operable indicator means and the rotary electric switch means and the electric switch members to the source of electrical energy, the electrically operable indicator means including electric lamp members, one of the electric switch members being electrically connected to at least one of the lamp members for control of energization thereof, the rotary electric switch means being electrically connected to at least one of the lamp members for control of energization thereof, a pair of main conductors, there being a first main conductor and a second main conductor, a first switch member joined in series relationship with a parallel combination of a relay coil of a first relay and a turning left lamp, the series being connected between the first conductor and the second conductor, a first rotary switch having an arm connected to the first conductor, the first rotary switch having a first terminal connected to the second conductor through a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'right'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' lamp in series with normally closed contacts of a second relay, the first rotary switch having a second terminal connected to the second conductor through a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'left'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' lamp in series with normally closed contacts of a third relay, a second switch member connected in series with a relay coil of the second relay, the series being connected between the first conductor and the second conductor, a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'turn opposite left'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' lamp connected to the first conductor and to the junction between the relay coil of the second relay and the second switch member, a second rotary switch, the second rotary switch having a first terminal and a second terminal and an arm, the arm being connected to the first conductor, a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'car-trailer left position'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' lamp joined to the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'turn opposite left'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' lamp and to the first terminal of the second rotary switch, a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'car-trailer right position'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' lamp joined to the second terminal of the second switch member and to a relay coil of the third relay, the relay coil of the third relay being connected to the first conductor, a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'turn opposite right'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' lamp connected to the first conductor and to the juncture between the relay coil of the third relay and the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'car-trailer right position'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' lamp, a third switch member joined to the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'turn opposite right'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' lamp and to the second conductor, a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'turning right'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' lamp and a relay coil of a fourth relay connected in parallel and to the first conductor, a fourth switcH member connected to the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'turning right'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' lamp and to the relay coil of the fourth relay and to the second conductor, a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'straight'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' lamp connected to the first conductor and to the second conductor through a series of normally closed contacts of the fourth relay and normally closed contacts of the first relay.