Trailer towing system with adjustable drawbar
First Claim
1. A trailer towing system comprising:
- an axle assembly;
a frame supported by the axle assembly;
a fifth wheel assembly supported by the frame;
an adjustable drawbar attached to the frame and having a front portion located forward of the frame along a longitudinal axis for coupling to a towing vehicle, the front portion of the drawbar moveable along the longitudinal axis between an extended position and a retracted position; and
an automatically driven adjustment mechanism operatively coupled to the drawbar and communicating with a speed sensor, wherein the automatically driven adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust the position of the front portion of the drawbar with respect to the frame in response to receiving at least one signal from the speed sensor indicative of a speed of the trailer towing system.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A trailer converter dolly includes a frame bearing a fifth wheel supported by a suspension mechanism, an axle assembly, and a wheel assembly. A drawbar housing secured to the front of the frame moveably receives a drawbar which is configured to move toward and away from a leading truck or trailer, thus adjusting the distance between the towed trailer attached to the trailer converter dolly and a leading truck or trailer. A speed sensor determines the speed of the trailer converter dolly and provides one or more signals relating to the speed of the trailer converter dolly. An automatic adjusting mechanism associated with the moveable drawbar moves the drawbar in response to the one or more speed signals provided by the speed sensor.
30 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A trailer towing system comprising:
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an axle assembly; a frame supported by the axle assembly; a fifth wheel assembly supported by the frame; an adjustable drawbar attached to the frame and having a front portion located forward of the frame along a longitudinal axis for coupling to a towing vehicle, the front portion of the drawbar moveable along the longitudinal axis between an extended position and a retracted position; and an automatically driven adjustment mechanism operatively coupled to the drawbar and communicating with a speed sensor, wherein the automatically driven adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust the position of the front portion of the drawbar with respect to the frame in response to receiving at least one signal from the speed sensor indicative of a speed of the trailer towing system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for adjusting a drawbar of a combination vehicle and trailer assembly, the trailer assembly including an axle assembly, a frame supported on the axle assembly, a fifth wheel assembly supported by the frame, and a drawbar attached to the frame, the drawbar having a front portion located forward of the frame and moveable with respect to the frame along a longitudinal axis between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the improvement comprises:
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a speed sensor configured to detect a speed of the combination vehicle; a driven adjustment mechanism operatively coupled to the drawbar and interposed between the drawbar and the frame; and a switch located in a cab of the combination vehicle, the switch communicating with the adjustment mechanism, wherein, in response to operation of the switch, the adjustment mechanism is operable to drive the front portion of the drawbar along the longitudinal axis relative to the frame toward the retracted position while the entire combination vehicle and trailer assembly is moving. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A system for adjusting a drawbar of a combination vehicle and trailer assembly, the trailer assembly including an axle assembly, a frame supported on the axle assembly, a fifth wheel assembly supported by the frame, and a drawbar attached to the frame, the drawbar having a front portion located forward of the frame and moveable with respect to the frame along a longitudinal axis between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the improvement comprises:
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a speed sensor configured to detect a speed of the combination vehicle; an adjustment mechanism operatively coupled to the drawbar; and a switch located in a cab of the combination vehicle, the switch communicating with the adjustment mechanism, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust the position of the front portion of the drawbar along the longitudinal axis in response to operation of the switch; a position detector operatively associated with the drawbar for detecting a position of the drawbar with respect to the frame; and a warning indicator communicating with the speed sensor and the position detector, the warning indicator operable to alert a driver of the combination vehicle when the position of the drawbar is unsuitable for the speed. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. A system for adjusting a drawbar of a combination vehicle and trailer assembly, the trailer assembly including an axle assembly, a frame supported on the axle assembly, a fifth wheel assembly supported by the frame, and a drawbar attached to the frame, the drawbar having a front portion located forward of the frame and moveable with respect to the frame along a longitudinal axis between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the improvement comprises:
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a speed sensor configured to detect a speed of the combination vehicle; a driven adjustment mechanism operatively coupled to the drawbar and interposed between the drawbar and the frame, wherein the driven adjustment mechanism includes a hydraulic cylinder; and a switch located in a cab of the combination vehicle, the switch communicating with the adjustment mechanism, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to drive the front portion of the drawbar along the longitudinal axis relative to the frame in response to operation of the switch. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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Specification