Dual-vehicle operating system

• US 4,119,166 A
• Filed: 07/01/1977
• Issued: 10/10/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BorgWarner Incorporated
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Jones, Trevor O., Ayotte, Richard F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mar, Michael
• Application Number:
  US05/812,179
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 180/14 R, 180/14 A, 280/443, 280/446 R, 280/446 B
• US Class Current: 180/14.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/00 Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices devices specially adapted for connection between tractors and agricultural machines or implements A01B59/00; fifth-wheel couplings B62D
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 5/08 comprising more than one engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/16 operated by remote control, i.e. initiating means not mounted on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 12/02 for vehicles operating in tandem
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 49/0692 characterised by the particular arrangement of control devices, e.g. having more than one control stand, operable from vehicle extension (control devices or systems characterised by mechanical features only)
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/00 Tractor-trailer combinations; Road trains traction couplings other than fifth wheel coupling B60D ; tracked vehicles comprising at least two articulated parts B62D55/0655

Abstract

A dual-vehicle operating system permits the simultaneous operation of two automobiles at one time under substantially identical conditions by a single operator. The system has a lead vehicle, with a driver, a servo operated driverless trailing vehicle, and a zero-force mechanical connecting link. An electronic control "drives" the trailing vehicle through servo controls which operate the throttle pedal, brake pedal and steering system of the trailing vehicle. The zero-force link contains transducers which provide lead vehicle responsive inputs to the electronic control so that the trailing vehicle mimics the lead vehicle. Both a manual and an automatic override of the electronic control are present to convert the zero-force link to a mechanical towing system.

Claims

1. A dual-vehicle operating system comprising;

a manually operated lead vehicle;

an automatically operated trail vehicle;

signal means on said lead vehicle for emitting signals proportional to the input of the operator;

servo control means on said trail vehicle for changing the operation thereof in response to the signals emitted by said lead vehicle signal means;

a mechanical connection of predetermined length mechanically and pivotally connected between the lead and trail vehicles;

force sensing means on said mechanical connection for determining the presence of any longitudinal force along the longitudinal axis of said mechanical connection between the lead and trail vehicles;

said servo control means on said trail vehicle being responsive to said force sensing means for varying the operation of the trail vehicle such that the force between the vehicles is returned to zero; and

means on said lead vehicle, said trail vehicle and said mechanical connection for steering said trail vehicle in response to steering of said lead vehicle and for maintaining the longitudinal axis of the trail vehicle aligned with the longitudinal axis of the mechanical connection.

2. A dual-vehicle operating system comprising;

a manually operating lead vehicle;

an automatically operated trail vehicle;

a mechanical link of predetermined length mechanically and pivotally connected between the lead and trail vehicles;

force sensing means on said mechanical link for determining the presence of any longitudinal force between the lead and trail vehicles;

first angle sensing means operatively connected between said mechanical link and said lead vehicle for sensing angular displacement between the longitudinal axis of said lead vehicle and said mechanical link;

second angle sensing means operatively connected between said mechanical link and said trail vehicle for sensing angular displacement between the longitudinal axes of said mechanical link and said trail vehicle; and

servo controlled electrically operated means for controlling operation of said trail vehicle responsive to said force sensing means for varing the operation of the trail vehicle such that the force between the vehicles is returned to zero, and being responsive to said first angle sensing means to initiate steering of said trail vehicle when said lead vehicle is steered sufficiently to cause angular displacement between the longitudinal axes of said lead vehicle and said mechanical link, and being responsive to said second angle sensing means to limit the steering of said trail vehicle so that the longitudinal axes of said mechanical link and said trail vehicle are aligned.

3. A dual-vehicle operating system comprising;

a manually operated lead vehicle;

an automatically operated trail vehicle;

a mechanical connection of predetermined length mechanically pivotally connected between the lead and trail vehicles;

force sensing means on said mechanical link for determining the presence of any longitudinal force between the lead and trail vehicles;

servo controlled electrically operated means on said trail vehicle responsive to said force sensing means for varying the operation of the trail vehicle such that the force between the vehicles is returned to zero;

steer control means on said lead vehicle, said trail vehicle and said mechanical connection for steering said trail vehicle in response to steering of said lead vehicle; and

latching means operatively connected between said mechanical link and said trail vehicle for limiting the maximum angular displacement between the longitudinal axes of said mechanical link and said trail vehicle to a predetermined value, and including means for preventing operation of said steer control means to permit free castoring of the steerable wheels of said trail vehicle.