Tractor-trailer tether sensor

• US 7,696,862 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2007
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GeoTab Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BSM Wireless (GeoTab Incorporated)
• Inventors: Panczuk, Christhoper, Cirella, Nick, Verma, Ashok, Herschell, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US11/773,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20080012695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 340/989, 340/540, 340/541, 340/577, 340/626, 340/635, 340/636.1, 340/636.15, 340/7.37, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/992, 342/457, 701/207
• US Class Current: 340/431
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/18 operated by wayside apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method for monitoring and reporting the tethered/untethered status of a mobile asset are described. An asset tracking device comprises a sensor and circuit that detects whether a physical connection exists between a tractor portion and a trailer portion of a tractor/trailer vehicle. The physical connection is detected through the connection of an air hose coupling (or glad hand) at the trailer front wall. The sensor is continuously monitored by the sensor circuit and when a change is detected, the circuit sends a signal that turns on the power to the rest of the system. This enables the system to run in a very low power mode for extended periods of time. The sensor, which is located on the air hose (glad hand) coupling, senses the presence (or non-presence) of a tractor attached to the trailer and sends a trigger signal to turn on the power to the rest of the system, enabling the system to operate for extended periods of time on battery power. The asset tracking device and system also includes a processor, a location determining device for determining the geographic location of the mobile asset, and a transceiver for transmitting and receiving the tethered/untethered status of the mobile asset.

Claims

1. A tether sensor device for monitoring connection status between a first vehicle portion and a second vehicle portion, the tether sensor device comprising:

(a) a first coupler linked to the first vehicle portion;

(b) a second coupler linked to the second vehicle portion; and

wherein in a connected position the second coupler is attached to the first coupler to provide an air line for operation of a braking mechanism for the second vehicle portion; and

wherein in the connected position the couplers provide an electrically conductive connection.

2. A tether sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein a bracket is affixed to the second coupler but electrically insulated therefrom, and wherein in the connected position the couplers provide an electrically conductive connection between the bracket and the second coupler.

3. The tether sensor device of claim 2 wherein a sensor wire is connected to the bracket, the sensor wire is operable to provide a status reading that indicates whether tether sensor device is in the connected position.

4. A tether sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said couplers include a displaceable arm having a tilt switch, providing an electrical conductive connection in a first position and disconnecting the electrical connection in a second position.

5. A tether sensor as claimed in claim 4 wherein said displaceable arm comprises an actuation arm pivotally connected to the second coupler.

6. A tether sensor as claimed in claim 5 wherein the displaceable arm includes a spring-loaded hinge to bias said displaceable arm in a closed position.

7. A tether sensor device of claim 6 wherein a sensor wire is connected to the tilt switch.

8. A system for monitoring connection status between a first vehicle portion and a second vehicle portion, the system comprising the tether sensor device of claim 3 or 7 linked to a processor, the processor operable to monitor the sensor wire for the status reading.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the processor communicates with a server, the processor reporting to the server the status reading.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the processor communicates with a clock, the processor reporting to the server information in association with the status reading.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the processor communicates with a location determining device, the processor reporting to the server geographical information in association with the status reading.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the processor comprises a supervisory processor and a main processor, the supervisory processor connected to the sensor wire and operable to detect a change in the status reading.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the main processor is biased to a sleep-mode, and wherein upon the supervisory processor detects a change in the status reading, the main processor operates in a non-sleep-mode for a pre-determined amount of time.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein one or more additional sensor wires are linked between the bracket and the processor, each additional sensor wire providing an additional status reading, the processor operable to monitor the one or more additional sensor wires and the additional status readings.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the processor is operable to send an alarm signal to a server if the status readings are dissimilar.

16. A system for monitoring connection status between a first vehicle portion and a second vehicle portion, the system comprising two or more tether sensor devices as claimed in claim 2, each tether sensor device linked to a processor, the processor operable to monitor the sensor wires for the status readings.

17. A method for monitoring connection status between a first vehicle portion and a second vehicle portion, the method comprising:

(a) linking a first coupler to the first vehicle portion and to an electrically conductive bracket;

(b) linking a second coupler to the second vehicle portion and to a sensor wire;

(c) affixing the bracket to the second coupler where the bracket electrically connects the sensor wire to an electrical signal in a first position and electrically disconnects the sensor wire from the electrical signal in a second position;

(d) taking an electrical status reading of the sensor wire; and

(e) monitoring the sensor wire for any change to the reading.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

(a) automating the monitoring of the sensor wire using a processor;

(b) using the processor to wirelessly report the electrical status readings to a server.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the bracket is insulated from the second coupler in the second position and electrically conductive in the first position.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the bracket is rotatable to the first conductive position.