System, method and device for retrofitting tractor-trailer communications systems

• US 7,336,159 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2006
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Swift Transportation Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Swift Transportation Company LLC
• Inventors: Flores, Hector E., Fackrell, Elden Wade
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lai; Anne V
• Application Number:
  US11/279,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20070241868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 340/431, 340/310.11, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 303123-124
• US Class Current: 340/431
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/042 by electrical means, e.g. using travel or force sensors

Abstract

An improved tractor-trailer communications and tracking system retrofitting assembly, comprising an insulated wire, a flexible wire sleeve, a sealed fuse box, a male connector and a female connector is disclosed. The insulated wire has a length sufficient to at least span the distance between the rear portion of a tractor cab or sleeper box and the power line carrier filter. A first end of the insulated wire terminates in first and second wire segments of roughly equal length. The end portion of the first wire segment has a two-way female connector electrically attached thereto and the second wire segment has a two-way male connector electrically attached thereto. A third wire segment is electrically attached to the female two-way connector at a first end and to the male two-way connector at a second end.

Claims

1. A tractor and trailer communications system configured to transmit and receive communications signals remotely, said communications system comprising:

a trailer control unit suitably positioned within a trailer, wherein said trailer control unit is configured to provide a trailer identifier and send data to a remote location;

a processing unit suitably positioned within a tractor, wherein said processing unit is configured to provide a tractor identifier, send data to a remote location, and receive data from a remote location; and

,

a retrofitting assembly configured to facilitate data exchange between said processing unit and said trailer control unit wherein said data exchange occurs over an existing power line linking said tractor and said trailer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said trailer control unit is further configured to at least one of monitor environmental conditions, monitor motion, receive data from a remote location, send data to a processing unit, receive data from a processing unit and provide a location identifier.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said processing unit is further configured to at least one of send data to said trailer control unit, receive data from said trailer control unit, monitor environmental conditions, monitor motion and provide a location identifier.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a tractor antenna configured to facilitate at least one of sending and receiving data to communicate with at least one of said remote location, said trailer control unit, and said processing unit.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a trailer antenna configured to facilitate at least one of sending and receiving data to communicate with at least one of said remote location, said trailer control unit, and said processing unit.

6. A retrofitting assembly configured to facilitate data exchange between a processing unit and a trailer control unit, said retrofitting assembly comprising:

an insulated data wire having a first end and a second end;

a first insulated wire having a first insulated wire first end electrically connected to said second end of said insulated data wire and a first insulated wire second end electrically connected to a first conductive prong of a male connector;

a second insulated wire having a second insulated wire first end electrically connected to said second end of said insulated data wire and a second insulated wire second end electrically connected to a first conductive prong of a female connector; and

,

a third insulated wire having a third insulated wire first end electrically connected to a second conductive prong of said male connector and a third insulated wire second end electrically connected to a second conductive prong of said female connector.

7. The retrofitting assembly of claim 6, wherein said insulated data wire is wrapped in a flexible protective sleeve.

8. The retrofitting assembly of claim 6, wherein a fuse box is conductively positioned between a first segment of said insulated data wire and a second segment of said insulated data wire.

9. The retrofitting assembly of claim 6, wherein said first insulated wire, said second insulated wire, and said third insulated wire are each a ten-gauge copper wire and said insulated data wire is a fourteen-gauge copper wire.

10. The retrofitting assembly of claim 6, wherein said first insulated wire, said second insulated wire, and said third insulated wire are each a twelve-gauge copper wire.

11. The retrofitting assembly of claim 6, wherein said male connector is a sealed two-way connector and said female connector is a sealed two-way connector.

12. A method for retrofitting a tractor and trailer with a communications system configured to transmit and receive communications signals remotely, said method comprising the steps of:

positioning a processing unit in at least one of a tractor cab and a tractor sleeper box, wherein said processing unit is electrically connected to a tractor power distribution module;

positioning a trailer control unit in at least one of a trailer cargo bay and a trailer nose box, wherein said trailer control unit is electrically connected to a trailer power point;

electrically connecting a first end of an insulated data line to said processing unit, wherein said insulated data line comprises;

a first insulated wire having a first insulated wire first end electrically connected to a second end of said insulated data wire and a first insulated wire second end electrically connected to a first conductive prong of a male connector;

a second insulated wire having a second insulated wire first end electrically connected to said second end of said insulated data wire and a second insulated wire second end electrically connected to a first conductive prong of a female connector; and

,

a third insulated wire having a third insulated wire first end electrically connected to a second conductive prong of said male connector and a third insulated wire second end electrically connected to a second conductive prong of said female connector;

connecting said male connector to a dedicated power line female connector; and

,

connecting said female connector to a dedicated power line male connector, wherein said dedicated power line terminates at a tractor anti-lock braking system electronic control unit.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising positioning an antenna device at said tractor, wherein said antenna device is electrically connected to said processing unit.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising positioning an antenna device at said trailer, wherein said antenna device is electrically connected to said trailer control unit.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said dedicated power source female connector is a dedicated anti-lock braking system power source connector.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said insulated data wire is wrapped in a flexible protective sleeve.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said insulated data wire includes a fuse box conductively positioned between a first segment of said insulated data wire and a second segment of said insulated data wire.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein said first insulated wire, said second insulated wire, and said third insulated wire are each a ten-gauge copper wire and said insulated data wire is a fourteen-gauge copper wire.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein said first insulated wire, said second insulated wire, and said third insulated wire are each a twelve-gauge copper wire.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein said male connector is a sealed two-way connector and said female connector is a sealed two-way connector.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein said trailer power point and said tractor power point is a SAE J560 seven-way connector.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein said processing unit is OmniTRACS®

from Qualcomm®

.

23. The method of claim 12, wherein said trailer control unit is TrailerTRACS®

from Qualcomm®

.