Apparatus for determining the position of a fifth wheel on a multi-axle vehicle
First Claim
1. An apparatus for identifying the position of the movable plate portion of a fifth wheel apparatus useful on a multiple axle vehicle relative to the fixed rail portion thereof to which the movable portion can be locked, the apparatus comprising:
- means for recognizing successive lockable positions of said movable portion relative to said fixed portion;
means for counting the successively recognized positions as said movable portion and said fixed portion move relative to each other; and
means for setting said counting means to a known base value when said movable portion of the fifth wheel apparatus is in a known position relative to said fixed portion, so that the relative position of the movable portion and the fixed portion is known during relative movement of the fixed portion and the movable portion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for identifying the position of the movable portion of a fifth wheel which is useful on a multi-axle vehicle relative to the fixed rail portion (24) thereof. The apparatus includes sensing element (34) positioned on the movable fifth wheel portion for recognizing the successive, teeth-like elements (22) of the rail portion, and a signal processor (30) which is responsive to the sensing element (34) for determining the direction of movement of the fifth wheel and for counting the number of teeth (22) recognized by the sensing element (34).
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. An apparatus for identifying the position of the movable plate portion of a fifth wheel apparatus useful on a multiple axle vehicle relative to the fixed rail portion thereof to which the movable portion can be locked, the apparatus comprising:
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means for recognizing successive lockable positions of said movable portion relative to said fixed portion; means for counting the successively recognized positions as said movable portion and said fixed portion move relative to each other; and means for setting said counting means to a known base value when said movable portion of the fifth wheel apparatus is in a known position relative to said fixed portion, so that the relative position of the movable portion and the fixed portion is known during relative movement of the fixed portion and the movable portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification