Trailer safety chain attachment monitoring system

• US 9,987,892 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2016
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ghannam, Mahmoud Yousef, Tippy, David James, Dudar, Aed M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rocca, Joseph M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Maurice L
• Application Number:
  US15/019,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20170225692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 254266, 254273, 254275, 340341, 340687
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/185 comprising a cable or chain winding device B60D1/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/187 characterised by the connection to the towing vehicle or to the trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/28 for preventing unwanted disengagement, e.g. safety appliances
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/64 Couplings or joints therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention

Abstract

A vehicle includes a controller and a frame having a receiver including an electrical connector configured to connect to a trailer having a plurality of chains. The plurality of chains each includes a sensor configured to transmit a position of the chain relative to a winch disposed on the trailer. The controller is configured to, in response to data from the sensors indicating a position of the chains, display via an interface a connection status of the chains.

Claims

1. A vehicle trailer system comprising:

a trailer chain including a sensor that transmits data indicative of a chain position; and

a controller configured to;

in response to data indicating a secured chain position, illuminate a light at a first frequency,

in response to data indicating an unsecured chain position, illuminate the light at a second frequency; and

in response to data indicating an unconnected chain position, illuminate the light at a third frequency.

2. The trailer attachment system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to, in response to data indicating the unsecured chain position, display via an interface the unsecured status.

3. The trailer attachment system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to continually monitor the data.

4. A vehicle comprising:

a frame having a receiver including an electrical connector configured to connect to a trailer having a plurality of chains that each include a sensor configured to transmit a position of the chain relative to a winch disposed on the trailer;

a light attached to the receiver and connected to the sensors such that a position of at least one of the sensors relative to the winch being below a threshold illuminates the light, wherein the light at a first frequency to indicate a proper connection between the chains and the winch, illuminate the light at a second frequency to indicate an improper connection between the chains and the winch, and illuminate the light at a third frequency to indicate an unconnected position; and

a controller configured to, in response to data from the sensors indicating a position of the chains, display via an interface a connection status of the chains.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to, in response to the connection status indicating a change in the position of the chains, alter the interface to indicate a corresponding change in the connection status.

6. A control method for a trailer hitch safety system comprising:

in response to sensor data from a trailer safety chain, indicative of an arrangement of the safety chain relative to a winch disposed on a trailer being in a secured position, display, via an interface, indicia representing a proper chain connection such that a light illuminates at a first frequency;

in response to sensor data from the trailer safety chain, indicative of an arrangement of the safety chain relative to a winch disposed on the trailer being in an unsecured position, display, via an interface, indicia representing an improper chain connection such that the light illuminates at a second frequency; and

in response to sensor data from the trailer safety chain, indicative of an arrangement of the safety chain being in an unconnected position, illuminate the light at a third frequency.

7. The control method of claim 6 further comprising transmitting to a device paired with the interface over a network the indicia representing the proper chain connection.

8. The control method of claim 6 further comprising transmitting to a device paired with the interface over a network the indicia representing the improper chain connection.

9. The control method of claim 6 further comprising, in response to the sensor data being indicative of a change in position, alter the indicia.