Fifth wheel hitch coupling control system

• US 5,861,802 A
• Filed: 07/24/1997
• Issued: 01/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Holland USA, Inc. (Middleby Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Holland Hitch Company
• Inventors: Ingraham, Ronald D., Heeb, John P., Hungerink, Gerald W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US08/903,240
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 340/431, 340/686.2, 340/687, 307/9.1, 280/DIG. 14, 280/186, 280/433, 280/441, 280/446.1, 280/477
• US Class Current: 340/431
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/12 engaging automatically
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 280/14 Tractor-trailer backing connections

Abstract

An electronic coupling control system for a vehicle trailer hitch assembly having a hitch plate in which a throat is defined for receiving a trailer kingpin and having a locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in the hitch throat. The electronic coupling control system includes a trailer proximity sensor for sensing when a trailer is in proximity to the hitch assembly, a kingpin sensor for sensing the presence of the kingpin in the hitch throat, a lock sensor for sensing when said locking mechanism is in a locked and secured position, and indicator means located in the vehicle for providing hitch coupling status information to an operator of the vehicle. The indicator means is coupled to the trailer proximity, kingpin, and lock sensors for informing the operator when a trailer is in proximity to the hitch assembly, when the kingpin is positioned in the hitch throat, and when the locking mechanism is in a locked position. The indicator means may include an indicator light and control circuit. The electronic coupling control system may further include an interface for coupling to a control input of an electrical control system of the vehicle, wherein the control circuit is coupled to the interface for generating and providing a control signal to the vehicle electrical control system when the locking mechanism is not in a locked position such that a vehicle function, such as the vehicle'"'"'s brakes are operated. The electronic coupling control system may also perform a self-diagnostic routine to insure proper operation of its components when the vehicle ignition is turned ON.

Claims

1. An electronic coupling control system for a trailer hitch assembly to be located on a vehicle having an electrical control system for controlling a vehicle function in response to a control signal applied to a control input thereof, the trailer hitch assembly having a throat for receiving a trailer kingpin and having a locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in the throat, said electronic coupling control system comprising:

a lock sensor for sensing when said locking mechanism is in a locked position;

an interface for coupling to a control input of said vehicle electrical control system; and

a control circuit coupled to said lock sensor and to said interface for generating and providing a control signal to said vehicle electrical control system when said locking mechanism is not in a locked position, wherein the vehicle electrical control system responds to said control signal by affecting a vehicle function, wherein the vehicle electrical control system responds to said control signal by restricting a maximum allowable engine speed of the vehicle.

2. An electronic coupling control system for a trailer hitch assembly to be located on a vehicle having an electrical control system for controlling a vehicle function in response to a control signal applied to a control input thereof, the trailer hitch assembly having a throat for receiving a trailer kingpin and having locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in the throat, said electronic coupling control system comprising:

a lock sensor for sensing when said locking mechanism is in a locked position;

an interface for coupling to a control input of said vehicle electrical control system; and

a control circuit coupled to said lock sensor and to said interface for generating and providing a control signal to said vehicle electrical control system when said locking mechanism is not in a locked position, wherein the vehicle electrical control system responds to said control signal by affecting a vehicle function, wherein the vehicle electrical control system responds to said control signal by preventing the transmission of the vehicle from being shifted into a gear above a predetermined gear.

3. An electronic coupling control system for a trailer hitch assembly to be located on a vehicle having an electrical control system for controlling a vehicle function in response to a control signal applied to a control input thereof, the trailer hitch assembly having a throat for receiving a trailer kingpin and having a locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in the throat, said electronic coupling control system comprising:

a lock sensor for sensing when said locking mechanism is in a locked position;

an interface for coupling to a control input of said vehicle electrical control system; and

a control circuit coupled to said lock sensor and to said interface for generating and proving a control signal to said vehicle electrical control system when said locking mechanism is not in a locked position, wherein the vehicle electrical control system responds to said control signal by affecting a vehicle function, wherein the vehicle electrical control system responds to said control signal by gently applying the brakes of the vehicle.

4. An electronic coupling control system for a vehicle trailer hitch assembly having a throat for receiving a trailer kingpin and having a locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in the throat, said electronic coupling control system comprising:

a lock sensor for sensing when said locking mechanism is in a locked position;

a trailer proximity sensor for sensing when a trailer is in proximity to said hitch assembly as the hitch assembly approaches the trailer prior to coupling; and

indicator means located in the vehicle for providing hitch coupling status information to an operator of the vehicle, said indicator means is coupled to said trailer proximity sensor and is activated to inform the operator when a trailer is in proximity to said hitch assembly, wherein said hitch assembly includes a hitch plate that moves from a resting position prior to coupling to a trailer, and wherein said trailer proximity sensor is a hitch plate movement sensor for detecting when said hitch plate is moved from a resting position, said indicator means further being coupled to said lock sensor for providing a continuous indication to the operator so long as said locking mechanism remains in the locked position.

5. An electronic coupling control system for a vehicle trailer hitch assembly having a hitch plate in which a throat is defined for receiving a trailer kingpin and having a locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in the throat, said electronic coupling control system comprising:

a hitch plate movement sensor for sensing movement of said hitch plate;

a kingpin sensor for sensing the position of said kingpin relative to said throat;

a lock sensor for sensing the position of said locking mechanism;

indicator means located in the vehicle for providing hitch coupling status information to an operator of the vehicle; and

a control circuit coupled to said indicator means and coupled to said hitch plate movement sensor for determining whether said hitch plate is moved from a resting position and for activating said indicator means to inform the operator when said hitch plate is moved from a resting position, said control circuit is also coupled to said kingpin sensor for determining whether said kingpin is positioned in said throat and for activating said indicator means to inform the operator when said kingpin is positioned in said throat, said control circuit is further coupled to said lock sensor for determining whether said locking mechanism is in a locked position and for activating said indicator means to inform the operator when said locking mechanism is in a locked position.

6. The electronic coupling control system as defined in claim 5, wherein said indicator means includes:

a first indicator light that is illuminated by said control circuit when a trailer is detected in proximity to said hitch assembly;

a second indicator light that is illuminated by said control circuit when said kingpin is detected in said throat; and

a third indicator light is illuminated by said control circuit when said locking mechanism is detected in a locked position.

7. An electronic coupling control system for a trailer hitch assembly to be located on a vehicle having an electrical control system for controlling a vehicle function in response to a control signal applied to a control input thereof, the trailer hitch assembly having a throat for receiving a trailer kingpin and having a locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in the throat, said electronic coupling control system comprising:

a lock sensor for sensing when said locking mechanism is in a locked position;

an interface for coupling to a control input of said vehicle electrical control system;

a control circuit coupled to said lock sensor and to said interface for generating and providing a control signal to said vehicle electrical control system when said locking mechanism is not in a locked position such that a vehicle function is affected;

a trailer proximity sensor coupled to said control circuit for sensing when a trailer is in proximity to said hitch assembly; and

an indicator coupled to said control circuit for providing a continuous indication to an operator to inform the operator that the trailer is properly coupled so long as the locking mechanism remains in the locked position.

8. The electronic coupling control system as defined in claim 7, wherein said hitch assembly includes a hitch plate that moves from a resting position prior to coupling to a trailer, and wherein said trailer proximity sensor is a hitch plate movement sensor for detecting when said hitch plate is moved from a resting position.

9. The electronic coupling control system as defined in claim 7, wherein said control circuit generates and provides said control signal to said vehicle electrical control system during a time period beginning when and ending when said trailer proximity sensor detects the proximity of a trailer to said hitch assembly and said locking mechanism is not in a locked position.

10. An electronic coupling control system for a trailer hitch assembly to be located on a vehicle, the trailer hitch assembly having a throat for receiving a trailer kingpin and having a locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in the throat, said electronic coupling control system comprising:

a lock sensor for sensing when said locking mechanism is in a locked position;

an indicator located in the vehicle for providing hitch coupling status information to an operator of the vehicle; and

a control circuit coupled to said lock sensor and to said lock sensor for activating said indicator means to inform the operator when said locking mechanism is in a locked position;

a power supply circuit for coupling to the ignition of the vehicle; and

a diagnostic circuit coupled to said control circuit and to said power supply circuit, for performing a diagnostic routine to insure proper operation of said lock sensor, said indicator means, and said control circuit when the vehicle ignition is turned ON.

11. The electronic coupling control system as defined in claim 10, wherein said diagnostic circuit is coupled to said control circuit so as to receive an output signal from said lock sensor and to receive an output of said control circuit such that said diagnostic circuit may isolate a detected failure and identify whether said lock sensor or said control circuit has caused the failure.

12. The electronic coupling control system as defined in claim 10 and further including:

a trailer proximity sensor for sensing when a trailer is in proximity to said hitch assembly; and

a kingpin sensor for sensing the presence of said kingpin in said throat,

wherein said control circuit is coupled to said trailer proximity sensor for informing the operator when the trailer is in proximity to said hitch assembly, and is is also coupled to said kingpin sensor for informing the operator when said kingpin is positioned in said throat, and

wherein said indicator includes a first indicator light that is illuminated by said control circuit when a trailer is detected in proximity to said hitch assembly, a second indicator light that is illuminated by said control circuit when said kingpin is detected in said throat, a third indicator light that is illuminated by said control circuit when said locking mechanism is detected in a locked position, and a fourth indicator light coupled to said diagnostic circuit that is illuminated by said diagnostic circuit when a failure is detected.

13. The electronic coupling control system as defined in claim 12, wherein said diagnostic circuit is coupled to said control circuit so as to receive output signals from each of said trailer proximity sensor, said kingpin sensor, and said lock sensor and to receive an output of said control circuit such that said diagnostic circuit may isolate a detected failure and identify which of said sensors or said control circuit has caused the failure.

14. The electronic coupling control system as defined in claim 13, wherein said control circuit includes a plurality of sensor amplifier circuits each associated with one of said trailer proximity sensor, said kingpin sensor, and said lock sensor, and wherein said diagnostic circuit is coupled to each of said sensor amplifier circuits so as to separately enable said sensor amplifier circuits to isolate and identify which, if any, of said sensor amplifier sensor circuits is causing a failure.

15. The electronic coupling control system as defined in claim 14, wherein said diagnostic circuit stops said diagnostic routine upon detecting a failure such that the lighting sequence and status of said indicator lights informs a technician where a failure has occurred.

16. The electronic coupling control system as defined in claim 15, wherein said diagnostic circuit includes a window detector for detecting whether the voltage levels of an output signal from said lock sensor and from said control circuit are within a predetermined range whereby said window detector generates a fault detection signal when the voltage levels of an output signal from said lock sensor and from said control circuit are not within said predetermined range.

17. An electronic coupling control system for a vehicle trailer hitch assembly having a hitch plate in which a throat is defined for receiving a trailer kingpin and having a locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in the throat, said electronic coupling control system comprising:

a trailer proximity sensor for sensing when a trailer is in proximity to said hitch assembly;

a kingpin sensor for sensing the presence of said kingpin in said hitch throat;

a lock sensor for sensing when said locking mechanism is in a locked position; and

indicator means located in the vehicle for providing hitch coupling status information to an operator of the vehicle, said indicator means is coupled to said trailer proximity sensor for informing the operator when the trailer is in proximity to said hitch assembly, said indicator means is also coupled to said kingpin sensor for informing the operator when said kingpin is positioned in said throat, said indicator means is further coupled to said lock sensor for informing the operator when said locking mechanism is in a locked position.

18. The electronic coupling control system as defined in claim 17, wherein said indicator means includes an indicator light and control circuit coupled between said indicator light and said trailer proximity, kingpin, and lock sensors.

19. The electronic coupling control system as defined in claim 18 and further including an interface for coupling to a control input of an electrical control system of the vehicle, wherein said control circuit is coupled to said interface for generating and providing a control signal to said vehicle electrical control system when a trailer is in proximity to said hitch assembly and said locking mechanism is not in a locked position such that a vehicle function is affected.

20. The electronic coupling control system as defined in claim 18 and further including a diagnostic circuit coupled to said control circuit for performing a diagnostic routine to insure proper operation of said trailer proximity, kingpin, and lock sensors, said indicator light, and said control circuit when the vehicle ignition is turned ON.

21. The electronic coupling control system as defined in claim 17, wherein said trailer proximity sensor is a hitch plate movement sensor for detecting when said hitch plate is moved from an at-rest position.

22. The electronic coupling control system as defined in claim 21, wherein said indicator means includes:

a control circuit coupled to said trailer proximity, kingpin, and lock sensors; and

a first indicator light that is illuminated by said control circuit when a trailer is detected in proximity to said hitch assembly;

a second indicator light that is illuminated by said control circuit when said kingpin is detected in said throat; and

a third indicator light that is illuminated by said control circuit when said locking mechanism is detected in a locked position.