Trailer backing up device and table based method
First Claim
1. A method of controlling the direction of a first vehicle connected to and being pushed by a second vehicle comprising the steps of:
- a) measuring the angle of the connection between the first and second vehicle, b) measuring the amount of steering of the second vehicle, c) looking up a value in a fixed table based on a trailer of known length, d) determining the change in position of said vehicles whereby said first and second vehicle become generally in-line.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention, when used to backed-up a trailer, indicates which direction and how much to steer to steer. The present invention is a method for rapidly determining the predicted direction where the vehicle and trailer become generally in-line. Servomechanisms can be incorporated to enable the vehicle to steer itself while the driver indicates the direction travel desired for the trailer, otherwise a pointer would indicate, for the current position of the vehicle'"'"'s steering wheel, the predicted direction of the trailer. To back-up the trailer, the driver would turn the vehicle'"'"'s wheel such that the pointer is kept pointing in the direction of the intended trailer destination. Furthermore, the present invention will indicated the projected directions of the left and right limits to control the direction of the trailer, particularly when maneuvering complex paths.
112 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of controlling the direction of a first vehicle connected to and being pushed by a second vehicle comprising the steps of:
- a) measuring the angle of the connection between the first and second vehicle, b) measuring the amount of steering of the second vehicle, c) looking up a value in a fixed table based on a trailer of known length, d) determining the change in position of said vehicles whereby said first and second vehicle become generally in-line.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 21)
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16. A device for projecting the direction of travel of a first vehicle being pushed by a second vehicle comprising:
- a) means to measure the angle of the connection between the first and second vehicle, b) means to measure the amount of steering of the second vehicle, c) means to look up a value in a fixed table based on a trailer of known length, d) means to determine the change in position of said vehicles where said first and second vehicle become generally in-line.
- View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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22. A system comprising a first vehicle and a second vehicle connected by a movable joint, further comprising:
- a) means to measure the angle of the connection between the first and second vehicle, b) electro-mechanical means to effect the amount of steering of the second vehicle, said steering being limited by a maximum amount of steering, corresponding to a minimum turning radius, c) operator means to indicate the intended direction of said vehicles, said intended direction being where said first and second vehicle become generally in-line, and d) means to determine if an amount of steering exists within said limit to the amount of steering whereby said intended direction can be reached.
- View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
Specification