Automatic fifth wheel loading and unloading system

• US 6,250,650 B1
• Filed: 12/12/1997
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leland H. Douglas
• Original Assignee: Leland H. Douglas
• Inventors: Douglas, Leland H.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOEHLER, ANNE MARIE M
• Application Number:
  US08/989,596
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 280/434, 280/425.1, 280/425.2, 280/427, 280/429, 280/431, 280/475, 280/477, 280/6.16, 280/6.155, 280/6.153, 280/DIG.1, 280/432, 280/763.1, 280/764.1, 280/765.1, 280/766.1, 280/414.5, 280/433, 280/436, 701/124
• US Class Current: 280/6.155
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/26 for remote control, e.g. for releasing
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 9/08 the screw axis being substantially vertical

Abstract

An automatic fifth wheel loading and unloading system which is designed to automatically unlock and disengage a trailer from the fifth wheel apparatus in a towing vehicle such as a pickup truck and level and then recouple the trailer to the vehicle. The automatic fifth wheel loading and unloading system initially raises the trailer coupler a predetermined distance, unlocks the trailer hitch mechanism in the fifth wheel and opens it on command. The truck or towing vehicle is then pulled forwardly from beneath the trailer coupling mechanism and the trailer is automatically lowered into a level position. When the trailer is to be recoupled to the towing vehicle, the trailer is automatically raised to an access position by operation of a memory circuit, the truck is positioned such that the fifth wheel mechanism is located beneath the trailer coupling mechanism and the trailer coupling mechanism is automatically lowered into engagement with the fifth wheel. Infrared transmitter and receiver devices are utilized to insure proper clearance between the trailer coupling mechanism and the fifth wheel as well as sensing the level position of the trailer.

Claims

1. An automatic system for uncoupling a trailer from a hitch yoke of a fifth wheel, and leveling the trailer, comprising:

an unlocking cylinder for mounting on said fifth wheel;

an unloading cylinder mechanism for mounting on the fifth wheel for selectively releasing the trailer from the fifth wheel and coupling the trailer to the fifth wheel; and

an unlocking cylinder piston normally extending from said unlocking cylinder adjacent to said unloading cylinder for normally blocking an unloading action of said unloading cylinder mechanism; and

a leveling mechanism for mounting on the trailer for automatically leveling the trailer after the trailer has been uncoupled from the fifth wheel responsive to selective retraction of said unlocking cylinder piston and said releasing of said trailer from the fifth wheel by said unloading cylinder mechanism and extension of said unloading cylinder piston in said unloading cylinder.

2. The automatic fifth wheel loading system of claim 1 wherein said unloading cylinder mechanism comprises an unloading cylinder provided on the fifth wheel and an unloading cylinder piston normally retracted in said unloading cylinder, said unloading cylinder piston connected to the hitch yoke in said fifth wheel, whereby operation of said unloading cylinder causes said unloading cylinder piston to extend and disengage the hitch yoke from the trailer.

3. The automatic fifth wheel loading system of claim 1 comprising an infrared unloading circuit provided in the fifth wheel, said infrared unloading circuit having a first infrared beam directed on the trailer for monitoring engagement of the trailer with the fifth wheel.

4. The automatic fifth wheel loading system of claim 3 wherein said unloading cylinder mechanism comprises an unloading cylinder provided on the fifth wheel and an unloading cylinder piston normally retracted in said unloading cylinder, said unloading cylinder piston connected to the hitch yoke in the fifth wheel, whereby operation of said unloading cylinder causes said unloading cylinder piston to extend and disengage the hitch yoke from the trailer.

5. The automatic fifth wheel loading system of claim 1 comprising an infrared leveling switch provided in the trailer, said infrared leveling switch electrically connected to said leveling mechanism and having at least one pair of infrared beams and at least one pair of pendulums pivotally disposed to interrupt said Infrared beams, respectively, whereby the trailer is level when said infrared beams are interrupted by said pendulums.

6. The automatic fifth wheel loading system of claim 5 comprising an infrared unloading circuit provided in the fifth wheel, said infrared unloading circuit having a first infrared beam directed on the trailer for monitoring engagement of the trailer with the fifth wheel.

7. The automatic fifth wheel loading system of claim 6 wherein said unloading cylinder mechanism comprises an unloading cylinder provided on the fifth wheel and an unloading cylinder piston normally retracted in the unloading cylinder, said unloading cylinder piston connected to the hitch yoke in said fifth wheel, whereby operation of said unloading cylinder causes said unloading cylinder piston to extend and disengage said hitch yoke from the trailer.

8. An automatic fifth wheel loading system for uncoupling a coupler of a trailer from a hitch yoke of a fifth wheel mounted in a carrying vehicle, and recoupling the gooseneck coupler to the yoke of the fifth wheel, said system comprising an unloading cylinder provided on the fifth wheel and an unloading cylinder piston normally retracted in said unloading cylinder, said unloading cylinder piston connected to the hitch yoke in said fifth wheel, whereby operation of said unloading cylinder causes said unloading cylinder piston to sequentially extend and disengage, and retract and engage hitch yoke from the trailer, respectively;

an unlocking cylinder provided on the fifth wheel and an unlocking cylinder piston normally extending adjacent to said unloading cylinder for normally blocking said unloading cylinder piston; and

an infrared unloading circuit having a first infrared beam directed on the trailer for monitoring engagement of the trailer with the fifth wheel.

9. The automatic fifth wheel loading system of claim 8 comprising at least one leveling mechanism provided on the trailer for automatically leveling the trailer after the trailer is uncoupled from the fifth wheel, said leveling mechanism including an infrared leveling circuit provided in the trailer, said infrared leveling circuit having at least one pair of infrared beams and at least one pair of pendulums privotally disposed to interrupt said infrared beams, respectively, whereby the trailer is level when said infrared beams are interrupted by said pendulums.

10. A mechanism for automatically uncoupling a trailer hitch portion on a trailer from a hitch receiver portion on a towing vehicle, and leveling the trailer, comprising:

a control mechanism for operating a microcontroller;

a microcontroller connected to said control mechanism for controlling said uncoupling and said leveling;

at least one pair of two-piece height adjustable supporting legs for supporting the trailer;

a mechanism for leveling the trailer at least from side-to-side, said mechanism for leveling the trailer at least from side-to-side controlled by said microcontroller, and said mechanism for leveling the trailer at least from side-to-side comprising at least a plurality of air bags for mounting on the trailer for selectively leveling the trailer at least from side-to-side and an air control mechanism connected to said air bags for selectively controlling an air pressure in each of said air bags for leveling the trailer at least from side-to-side, according to signals from said microcontroller;

a mechanism including said microcontroller for selectively activating said two-piece height adjustable supporting legs for raising a portion of the trailer hitch a predetermined distance above the hitch receiver, according to signals from said microcontroller, while maintaining the trailer level at least from side-to-side; and

an uncoupling mechanism controlled by said microcontroller for automatically releasing the trailer hitch portion from the hitch receiver after the trailer has been leveled and the trailer hitch portion has been raised a predetermined distance above the hitch receiver.

11. The mechanism of claim 10 wherein the trailer hitch portion carried by the trailer is a hitch arm plate and the hitch receiver portion on a towing vehicle is a fifth wheel.

12. The mechanism of claim 10 wherein said mechanism for leveling the trailer at least from side to side further comprises a first pendulum and first infrared switches for detecting position of said first pendulum that indicates that the trailer is level from side-to-side.

13. The mechanism of claim 10 further comprising a leveling mechanism for leveling the trailer from front-to-back provided on the trailer, said leveling mechanism connected to said height adjustable legs and controlled by said microcontroller.

14. The mechanism of claim 13 wherein said leveling mechanism for leveling the trailer from front-to-back comprises a second pendulum and second infrared switches for detecting position of said second pendulum that indicates that the trailer is level from front-to-back.

15. A mechanism for automatically uncoupling a trailer hitch portion on a trailer from a hitch receiver portion on a towing vehicle, and leveling the trailer, comprising:

a control mechanism for operating a microcontroller;

a microcontroller connected to said control mechanism for controlling said uncoupling and programmed to;

activate a plurality of air bags for mounting on the trailer for selectively leveling the trailer at least from side-to-side and an air control mechanism connected to said air bags for selectively controlling an air pressure in each of said air bags and leveling the trailer from side-to-side;

selectively activate a plurality of two-piece, height adjustable legs for mounting on the trailer for raising the trailer hitch portion a predetermined distance above the hitch receiver portion while maintaining the trailer level from side-to-side and stabilizing the trailer in a level position; and

release the trailer hitch portion from the hitch receiver portion after the trailer has been leveled and the trailer hitch portion has been raised a predetermined distance above the hitch receiver portion.

16. The mechanism of claim 15 wherein the trailer hitch portion carried by the trailer is a hitch arm plate and said hitch receiver portion on a towing vehicle is a fifth wheel.

17. The mechanism of claim 15 comprising a first pendulum and first infrared switches electrically connected to said microcontroller for detecting a position of said first pendulum that indicates that said trailer is level from side-to-side.

18. The mechanism of claim 17 further comprising a leveling mechanism to level the trailer from front-to-back, and wherein said microcontroller is programmed to activate said leveling mechanism to level the trailer from front-to-back.

19. The mechanism of claim 18 wherein said leveling mechanism to level the trailer from front-to-back comprises a second pendulum and second infrared switches for detecting position of said pendulum that indicates that the trailer is level from front-to-back, said infrared switches providing input signals to said microcontroller.

20. The mechanism of claim 15 wherein said microcontroller is further programmed to accept a user command to reverse the decoupling process to couple the trailer hitch portion to the hitch receiver portion.

21. The mechanism of claim 15 wherein said microcontroller is further programmed, upon receipt of a user command, to:

selectively activate said height adjustable legs and said mechanism for leveling to restore the trailer to an original position;

lower the trailer hitch portion into the hitch receiver portion; and

thereafter activate the hitch receiver portion to capture the trailer hitch portion.

22. A microcontroller implemented method for automatically uncoupling the trailer hitch of a trailer from a coupler on a towing vehicle, and leveling the trailer, comprising the acts of:

leveling the trailer from side-to-side by selectively inflating air bags provided on the trailer;

lowering a pair of motor-driven trailer jacks to raise the trailer hitch of the trailer to a predetermined distance above the coupler on said towing vehicle;

opening said coupler to release the trailer hitch therefrom;

leveling the trailer from front-to-back; and

extending a pair of stabilizing legs from the trailer to stabilize the trailer.

23. The microcontroller implemented method of claim 22 wherein said act of leveling the trailer from side-to-side further comprises monitoring a position of a pendulum to control said act of selectively inflating said air bags.

24. The microcontroller implemented method of claim 22 wherein said act of lowering said trailer jacks to raise the trailer hitch of the trailer to a predetermined distance above the coupler on said towing vehicle comprises the acts of:

simultaneously activating first and second drive motors for said trailer jacks;

monitoring respective drive currents to said drive motors;

discontinuing said activating in a first drive motor when said drive current in said first drive motor exceeds a predetermined level above the drive current in a second drive motor and the drive current in said first drive motor is stored in a memory associated with said microcontroller when said first drive motor is stopped;

thereafter, reactivating said first drive motor when said drive current in said second drive motor equals said drive current stored in said memory associated with said microcontroller;

thereafter, simultaneously operating said first and second drive motors in concert for operating said trailer jacks until said hitch of the trailer is raised said predetermined distance.

25. The microcontroller implemented method of claim 22 wherein said leveling the trailer from front-to-back comprises adjusting an elevation of the trailer by operating at least a pair of said trailer jacks.

26. The microcontroller implemented method of claim 25 wherein said act of adjusting an elevation of the trailer by operating said at least a pair of said trailer jacks comprises the acts of:

simultaneously activating said first and second drive motors for said trailer jacks until a level sensor indicates that said trailer is level from front-to-back.

27. The microcontroller implemented method of claim 22 further comprising, during said act of leveling the pair of trailer jacks, counting respective revolutions of a screw member of at least one of said trailer jacks and storing the number and direction of said revolutions in said memory associated with said microcontroller to enable an original jack position to be restored.

28. The microcontroller implemented method of claim 22 further comprising, prior to said act of opening said coupler to release a portion of the hitch therefrom, requiring that said acts of leveling and lowering have been completed.

29. An automatic fifth wheel loading system for uncoupling a trailer from a fifth wheel having a hitch yoke, leveling the trailer and recoupling the trailer to the hitch yoke, said loading system comprising an unlocking cylinder mechanism and an unloading cylinder mechanism on the fifth wheel for sequentially releasing the trailer from the fifth wheel and coupling the trailer to the fifth wheel said unloading cylinder mechanism comprising an unloading cylinder on the fifth wheel and an unloading cylinder piston normally retracted in said unloading cylinder and normally engaging said unlocking cylinder mechanism, said unloading cylinder piston connected to the hitch yoke in the fifth wheel, whereby operation of said unlocking cylinder mechanism and said unloading cylinder causes said unloading cylinder piston to selectively extend and disengage the hitch yoke from the trailer and retract and reengage the hitch yoke with the trailer;

and at least one leveling mechanism for mounting on the trailer for automatically leveling the trailer after the hitch yoke is disengaged from the trailer and the trailer is uncoupled from the fifth wheel.

30. An automatic fifth wheel loading system for uncoupling a trailer from a fifth wheel having a hitch yoke, leveling the trailer and recoupling the trailer to the hitch yoke, said loading system comprising an unlocking cylinder mechanism and an unloading cylinder mechanism for mounting on the fifth wheel for sequentially releasing the trailer from the fifth wheel and coupling the trailer to the fifth wheel;

at least one leveling mechanism for mounting on the trailer for automatically positioning the trailer in a level configuration after the trailer is uncoupled from the fifth wheel, said leveling mechanism comprising at least one infrared leveling circuit having at least one infrared beam and at least one pendulum pivotally disposed to interrupt said infrared beam, whereby the trailer is level when said infrared beam is interrupted by said pendulum; and

comprising a pair of extensible and retractable stabilizer legs for mounting in said trailer for stabilizing the trailer in said level configuration.

31. A mechanism for automatically uncoupling a trailer hitch element carried by a trailer from a hitch receiver on a towing vehicle, leveling the trailer and coupling the trailer hitch element to the trailer, comprising:

a control mechanism for operating a microcontroller;

a microcontroller electrically connected to said control mechanism for controlling said uncoupling, said leveling and said coupling;

a pin clearance switch and a pin sensor switch for mounting on the hitch receiver for monitoring the position of a hitch pin in the trailer hitch element, and a bed sensor switch for mounting on the trailer for monitoring the bed of the towing vehicle, respectively;

a pair of height-adjustable supporting legs for mounting in the trailer for supporting the trailer and a pair of stabilizing legs provided in the trailer for stabilizing the trailer after the trailer is leveled;

a first leveling mechanism for mounting controlled by said microcontroller for leveling the trailer from side-to-side;

a mechanism for mounting controlled by said microcontroller for selectively activating said height-adjustable supporting legs and raising a portion of the trailer hitch element a predetermined distance above the hitch receiver, according to signals from said pin clearance switch, said pin sensor switch and said microcontroller, while maintaining the trailer level from side-to-side;

an uncoupling mechanism for mounting on the hitch receiver and controlled by said microcontroller for automatically releasing the trailer hitch element from the hitch receiver after the trailer has been leveled from side-to-side and the trailer hitch portion has been raised a predetermined distance above the hitch receiver;

a second leveling mechanism for mounting on the trailer and controlled by said microcontroller for leveling the trailer from front-to-rear;

a pair of stabilizing legs for extending from the rear of the trailer for stabilizing the trailer in a level configuration;

a counting mechanism connected to said mechanism controlled by said microcontroller for determining the initial position of the trailer hitch element, whereby the trailer is uncoupled from the hitch receiver, leveled by said first leveling mechanism and said second leveling mechanism, stabilized by said stabilizing legs and sequentially recoupled to the hitch receiver, responsive to operation of said counting mechanism and said microcontroller.

32. A mechanism for automatically uncoupling a trailer hitch element carried by the trailer from a hitch receiver on a towing vehicle, leveling the trailer and recoupling the trailer hitch element to the hitch receiver, comprising:

a control mechanism for operating a microcontroller;

a microcontroller electrically connected to said control mechanism for controlling said uncoupling, said leveling and said recoupling, said microcontroler programmed to;

monitor a pin-clearance switch and a pin-sensing switch provided in the trailer hitch element and a bed sensing switch for mounting on the trailer for determining the relative proximity of the trailer and the towing vehicle;

activate a mechanism for mounting on the trailer and leveling the trailer from side-to-side;

selectively activate a pair of height-adjustable legs for mounting on the trailer and raising a portion of the trailer hitch a predetermined distance above the hitch receiver and releasing the trailer hitch element from the hitch receiver, while maintaining the trailer level from side-to-side;

activate a mechanism for mounting on the trailer and leveling the trailer from front-to-back, said mechanism for leveling the trailer from side-to-side and said mechanism for leveling the trailer from front-to-back comprising a system of pendulums and infrared switches, respectively, for mounting on the trailer and detecting a position of said pendulum which indicates that the trailer is level from side-to-side and front-to-back, respectively, said infrared switches providing input signals to said microcontroller;

extend a pair of stabilizing legs for extending from the rear of the trailer for stabilizing the trailer in a level configuration;

retract said stabilizing legs into the trailer; and

recouple the trailer hitch element to the hitch receiver, responsive to operation of said height adjustable legs and said microcontroller.

33. A microcontroller implemented method for automatically uncoupling a trailer from a hitch on a towing vehicle, comprising operating said microcontroller to complete the acts of:

leveling the trailer from side-to-side;

lowering at least a pair of two-piece motor-driven trailer jacks to raise the hitch of the trailer to a predetermined distance above a hitch-receiving member on said towing vehicle by simultaneously activating first and second drive motors for said motor-driven trailer jacks;

monitoring respective drive currents to said first and second drive motors;

discontinuing said activating of said first drive motor when a first drive current in said first drive motor exceeds a predetermined level above a second drive current in the second drive motor and the first drive current value is stored in a memory associated with said microcontroller when said first drive motor is stopped;

thereafter, reactivating said first drive motor when said second drive current in said second drive motor equals said value stored in the memory associated with said microcontroller; and

thereafter simultaneously operating said first and second drive motors in concert for operating said motor-driven trailer jacks until the hitch of the trailer is raised said predetermined distance as indicated by a pin clearance switch;

thereby opening the hitch receiving member to release a portion of the hitch therefrom; and

operating said motor-driven trailer jacks for leveling the trailer from front-to-back.

34. A microcontroller implemented method for automatically uncoupling a trailer pin on a trailer from a hitch on a towing vehicle, leveling the trailer and recoupling the trailer pin to the vehicle, comprising the acts of:

leveling the trailer from side-to-side;

lowering at least a pair of motor-driven trailer jacks to raise the trailer to a predetermined distance above the hitch on said towing vehicle;

opening the hitch to release the trailer pin therefrom;

leveling the trailer from front-to-back by adjusting an elevation of the trailer by operating said motor-driven trailer jacks, until a level sensor indicates that the trailer is level from front-to-back;

extending a pair of stabilizing legs from the trailer for stabilizing the trailer; and

at a subsequent time, selectively recoupling the trailer to the towing vehicle by the acts of;

retracting said pair of stabilizing legs with respect to the trailer;

backing the towing vehicle beneath the trailer pin of the trailer and engaging the trailer pin with the hitch;

confirming by operation of a bed sensor switch and a pin sensor switch that the trailer pin is secure in the hitch; and

operating said motor-driven trailer jacks to a towing configuration by said microcontroller.

35. A microcontroller implemented method for automatically uncoupling the pin of a trailer from a hitch on a towing vehicle, leveling the trailer and restoring the trailer to an original height above the hitch, comprising the acts of:

leveling the trailer from side-to-side;

adjusting an elevation of the trailer by operating a pair of motor-driven trailer jacks to position the trailer in a level position and simultaneously counting respective revolutions of a screw member in at least one of said motor-driven trailer jacks and storing the number and direction of said revolutions in a memory associated with said microcontroller to enable an original jack position to be restored; and

operating said motordriven jacks and counting said revolutions of said screw member for restoring the trailer to said original height above the hitch.