Tractor-trailer electronic transmission path
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A releasable tractor-trailer electrical signal transmission linkage, comprising:
- at least one flexible air brake hose having a tubular wall, tractor coupling means at one end of the hose for coupling the hose to a tractor air brake outlet, releasable trailer coupling means at the opposite end of the hose for releasably coupling the hose to a trailer air brake inlet;
a continuous conductive line embedded in the tubular wall of the hose and extending along the entire length of the hose, the line having a first end at the tractor coupling means and a second end at the trailer coupling means;
a connecting line connected to the first end of the conductive line and extending into the tractor for connecting an electronic communications unit in the tractor to the conductive line;
the releasable trailer coupling means comprising a first part secured to the trailer end of the air brake hose and a second part secured to the trailer;
electrical connecting means extending through the second part of said coupling means to connect the second end of the conductive line to an electronic signal transmitting unit on the trailer when the first and second parts of the coupling means are secured together; and
the first and second parts of the releasable trailer coupling means comprising releasable mechanical connecting means for releasably securing the trailer end of the hose to the trailer air brake inlet, and having through bores for air passage through the releasable connecting means, the first part comprising an electrically conductive member connected to the second end of said conductive line, the second part comprising an electrically conductive member which is in contact with said first part when said first part is secured to said second part, the electrical connecting means comprising a conductive member secured to the second part and extending to the trailer transmitting unit, whereby the entire first and second parts of said coupling means comprise part of an electrical path from the second end of said conductive line to the trailer transmitting unit; and
insulating means at the trailer end of the hose comprising an insulating pad between the second part of the coupling means and the trailer air brake inlet.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical signal transmission path is provided along the air brake hose line to provide a dedicated connecting path between communication units on a tractor and trailer. A conductive line extends along the length of the air brake hose and is connected at one end to the communication unit on a tractor via a conductive linkage. The opposite end of the line is connected to a trailer communication unit via a conductive connection from the trailer end of a two part releasable air hose coupling which is isolated from the trailer and electrically connected to the trailer end of the conductive line.
132 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A releasable tractor-trailer electrical signal transmission linkage, comprising:
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at least one flexible air brake hose having a tubular wall, tractor coupling means at one end of the hose for coupling the hose to a tractor air brake outlet, releasable trailer coupling means at the opposite end of the hose for releasably coupling the hose to a trailer air brake inlet; a continuous conductive line embedded in the tubular wall of the hose and extending along the entire length of the hose, the line having a first end at the tractor coupling means and a second end at the trailer coupling means; a connecting line connected to the first end of the conductive line and extending into the tractor for connecting an electronic communications unit in the tractor to the conductive line; the releasable trailer coupling means comprising a first part secured to the trailer end of the air brake hose and a second part secured to the trailer; electrical connecting means extending through the second part of said coupling means to connect the second end of the conductive line to an electronic signal transmitting unit on the trailer when the first and second parts of the coupling means are secured together; and the first and second parts of the releasable trailer coupling means comprising releasable mechanical connecting means for releasably securing the trailer end of the hose to the trailer air brake inlet, and having through bores for air passage through the releasable connecting means, the first part comprising an electrically conductive member connected to the second end of said conductive line, the second part comprising an electrically conductive member which is in contact with said first part when said first part is secured to said second part, the electrical connecting means comprising a conductive member secured to the second part and extending to the trailer transmitting unit, whereby the entire first and second parts of said coupling means comprise part of an electrical path from the second end of said conductive line to the trailer transmitting unit; and insulating means at the trailer end of the hose comprising an insulating pad between the second part of the coupling means and the trailer air brake inlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A releasable tractor-trailer electrical signal transmission linkage, comprising:
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at least one elongate air brake hose having tractor coupling means at one end for coupling the hose to a tractor air brake outlet and releasable trailer coupling means at the opposite end for releasably coupling the hose to a trailer air brake inlet; a conductive line extending along the length of the air brake hose and having a first end at the tractor coupling means and a second end at the trailer coupling means; insulating means at opposite ends of the hose for electrically isolating the opposite ends of the conductive line from the tractor air brake outlet and the trailer air brake inlet; a connecting line connected to the first end of the conductive line and extending into the tractor for connecting an electronic communications unit in the tractor to the conductive line; electrical connecting means for automatically connecting the second end of the conductive line to an electronic signal transmitting unit on the trailer as soon as the trailer end of the hose is mechanically coupled to the trailer air brake inlet by said trailer coupling means; and the releasable trailer coupling means comprising a glad-hand device having a first part secured to the trailer end of the hose and a second part secured to the trailer, the first and second parts comprising releasable mechanical connecting means for releasably securing the trailer end of the hose to the trailer air brake inlet, and having through bores for air passage through the releasable connection, the first part of said glad-hand device comprising an electrically conductive member connected to the second end of said conductive line, the second part of said glad-hand device comprising an electrically conductive member which is in contact with said first part when said first part is secured to said second part, the electrical connecting means comprising a conductive member secured to the second part of the glad-hand device and extending to the trailer transmitting unit, whereby the entire first and second parts of said glad-hand device comprise part of an electrical path from the second end of said conductive line to the trailer transmitting unit, and said insulating means at the trailer end of the hose comprising an insulating pad between the second part of the glad-hand device and the trailer air brake inlet. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification