Visual indicator adaptor and assembly for a tractor trailer

• US 9,649,975 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2010
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wabash National LP (Wabash National Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Wabash National LP (Wabash National Corporation)
• Inventors: Ehrlich, Rodney, Pickup, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Syed, Nabil
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lau, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US12/793,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20100308984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,539 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0088 Details of electrical connections B60Q1/305 takes precedence; electrical connection of the light source itself F21S41/192, F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/305 Indicating devices for towed vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/32 for indicating vehicle sides , e.g. clearance lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal

Abstract

A visual indicator assembly and adaptor for a trailer includes a control circuit electrically coupled to a plurality of lamps positioned in a rear header of the trailer. The control circuit is configured to supply a first voltage signal to the plurality of lamps in response to a power signal and supply a second voltage signal to the plurality of lamps in response to a brake signal. The second voltage signal is greater than the first voltage signal.

Claims

1. A trailer lamp assembly of a trailer, the trailer lamp assembly comprising:

a plurality of identification lamps located in a header of the trailer opposite a bumper of the trailer in which a right brake lamp and a left brake lamp are located, the plurality of identification lamps including a plurality of identification lamp bulbs, the right brake lamp including a right clearance lamp bulb, and the left brake lamp including a left brake lamp bulb;

a right clearance lamp and a left clearance lamp located in the header of the trailer, the plurality of identification lamps positioned between the right and left clearance lamps; and

an adaptor comprising a housing, a plurality of input lines extending from the housing, a plurality of output lines extending from the housing, and a control circuit positioned in the housing,

wherein the adaptor is positioned outside of the plurality of identification lamp bulbs, outside of the right clearance lamp bulb, and outside of the left clearance lamp bulb;

wherein the plurality of input lines comprises (i) a power input line extending from the housing and electrically coupled to the control circuit, wherein the power input line is configured to receive a power signal, (ii) a brake input line extending from the housing and electrically coupled to the control circuit, wherein the brake input line is configured to receive a brake signal, (iii) a right turn input line extending from the housing and electrically coupled to the control circuit, wherein the right turn input line is configured to receive a right turn signal, (iv) a left turn input line extending from the housing and electrically coupled to the control circuit, wherein the left turn input line is configured to receive a left turn signal, and (v) a first end of a ground pass-through line;

wherein the plurality of output lines comprises (i) an identification lamps output line extending from the housing and electrically coupled to the control circuit and to the plurality of identification lamps, (ii) a left clearance lamp output line extending from the housing and electrically coupled to the control circuit and to the left clearance lamp, (iii) a right clearance lamp output line extending from the housing and electrically coupled to the control circuit and to the right clearance lamp; and

(iv) a second end of the ground pass-through line, wherein the ground pass-through line extends through the housing with no electrical connection to the signal control circuit; and

wherein the control circuit comprises;

a brake signal sub-circuit comprising a first current blocking device electrically coupled to the brake input line and the identification lamps output line, a second current blocking device electrically coupled to the power input line and the identification lamps output line, and a first voltage reduction device in series with the second current blocking device, wherein the brake signal sub-circuit is configured to supply (i) a first voltage signal to the identification lamps output line based on the power signal and (ii) a second voltage signal, greater than the first voltage signal, to the identification lamps output line based on the brake signal;

a right turn signal sub-circuit comprising a third current blocking device electrically coupled to the right turn input line and the right clearance lamp output line, a fourth current blocking device electrically coupled to the brake input line and the right clearance lamp output line, a fifth current blocking device electrically coupled to the power input line and the right clearance lamp output line, and a second voltage reduction device in series with the fifth current blocking device, wherein the right turn signal sub-circuit is configured to supply (i) a third voltage signal to the right clearance lamp output line based on the power signal, (ii) a fourth voltage signal to the right clearance lamp output line based on the brake signal, and (iii) a fifth voltage signal to the right clearance lamp output line based on the right turn signal, wherein the third voltage signal is less than each of the fourth voltage signal and the fifth voltage signal; and

a left turn signal sub-circuit comprising a sixth current blocking device electrically coupled to the left turn input line and the left clearance lamp output line, a seventh current blocking device electrically coupled to the brake input line and the left clearance lamp output line, an eighth current blocking device electrically coupled to the power input line and the left clearance lamp output line, and a third voltage reduction device in series with the eighth current blocking device, wherein the left turn signal sub-circuit is configured to supply (i) a sixth voltage signal to the left clearance lamp output line based on the power signal, (ii) a seventh voltage signal to the left clearance lamp output line based on the brake signal, and (iii) an eighth voltage signal to the left clearance lamp output line based on the left turn signal, wherein the sixth voltage signal is less than each of the seventh voltage signal and the eighth voltage signal.

2. The trailer lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the first, third, and sixth voltage signals are about 6 volts and the second, fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth voltage signals are about 12 volts.

3. The trailer lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the brake signal is indicative of the application of at least one brake.

4. The trailer lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the first current blocking device is a diode, the first voltage reduction device is a resistor, and the second current blocking device is a diode.

5. The trailer lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the third current blocking device is a diode, the second voltage reduction device is a resistor, the fourth current blocking device is a diode, and the fifth current block device is a diode.

6. The trailer lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the sixth current blocking device is a diode, the third voltage reduction device is a resistor, the seventh current blocking device is a diode, and the eighth current block device is a diode.

7. The trailer lamp assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one input wiring harness extending out of the housing and terminating in a first plug, wherein the at least one input wiring harness comprises at least one of the power input line, the brake input line, the right turn input line, the left turn input line, or the ground passthrough wire; and

at least one output wiring harness extending out of the housing and terminating in a second plug, wherein the at least one output wiring harness comprises at least one of the identification lamps output line, the left clearance lamp output line, the right clearance lamp output line, and the ground pass-through wire.

8. The trailer lamp assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one output wiring harness comprises an identification lamps output wiring harness comprising the identification lamps output line, a left clearance lamp output wiring harness comprising the left clearance lamp output line, and a right clearance lamp output wiring harness comprising the right clearance lamp output line.