Vehicular steering system for reverse paths
First Claim
1. A system for coordinating the respectiveorientations of the tractor and the trailer components of a tractor-trailer assembly in which the normal straight ahead towing orientations of said tractor and trailer position a first longitudinal reference axis of said tractor and a second longitudinal reference axis of said trailer within a common, approximately vertical reference plane, during backing of said assembly, comprising:
- a coupling assembly positioned approximately within said plane and including a tractor element intersected by said first reference axis and a trailer element intersected by said second reference axis, said tractor and trailer elements being coupled to permit pivoting movement of said trailer component with respect to said tractor component approximately transverse said plane at a reference pivot axis;
first sensing means structured and arranged to determine the angle formed by the intersection of said first and second reference axes at said pivot axis;
target determination means associated with said trailer component structured and arranged to determine a radius vector between a reference location of said trailer component and a remote target location;
second sensing means structured and arranged to determine the angle formed by the intersection of the projection of said vector with said second reference axis; and
responsive means operatively associated with said first and second sensing means, said responsive means being structured and arranged to react to the said determinations of said first and second sensing means whereby to determine continuously during said backing appropriate corrections to the steering of said tractor component necessary to maintain said trailer component on course towards said target location.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The components of a tractor-trailer assembly are provided with means for determining the ball angle between the tractor and trailer during backing as well as the distance and location of the backing objective with respect to the back of the trailer. Intelligence concerning these data are processed to determine the corrections required in current steering conditions to maintain a desired course of trailer travel during backing.
145 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A system for coordinating the respective
orientations of the tractor and the trailer components of a tractor-trailer assembly in which the normal straight ahead towing orientations of said tractor and trailer position a first longitudinal reference axis of said tractor and a second longitudinal reference axis of said trailer within a common, approximately vertical reference plane, during backing of said assembly, comprising: -
a coupling assembly positioned approximately within said plane and including a tractor element intersected by said first reference axis and a trailer element intersected by said second reference axis, said tractor and trailer elements being coupled to permit pivoting movement of said trailer component with respect to said tractor component approximately transverse said plane at a reference pivot axis; first sensing means structured and arranged to determine the angle formed by the intersection of said first and second reference axes at said pivot axis; target determination means associated with said trailer component structured and arranged to determine a radius vector between a reference location of said trailer component and a remote target location; second sensing means structured and arranged to determine the angle formed by the intersection of the projection of said vector with said second reference axis; and responsive means operatively associated with said first and second sensing means, said responsive means being structured and arranged to react to the said determinations of said first and second sensing means whereby to determine continuously during said backing appropriate corrections to the steering of said tractor component necessary to maintain said trailer component on course towards said target location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification