Fifth wheel coupling detection system with inspection and indication lighting arrangement

• US 9,723,692 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2016
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saf-Holland Incorporated (SAF-HOLLAND SE)
• Original Assignee: Saf-Holland Incorporated (SAF-HOLLAND SE)
• Inventors: Sibley, Jr., Richard, Ginocchio, Michael, Mohamad-Jembari, Ahmad Nizam, Wallner, Andrew L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Taningco, Alexander H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bahr, Kurtis R
• Application Number:
  US15/099,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20160339836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/24 for lighting other areas than only the way ahead
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2800/20 Utility vehicles, e.g. for agriculture, construction work
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/08 Fifth wheel traction couplings tractors for handling trailers in terminals B62D49/007
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A system for monitoring a trailer hitch assembly includes a first sensor sensing the position of a kingpin of a trailer relative to a throat of a hitch plate, a second sensor sensing a position of the locking mechanism movable between locked and unlocked positions, a control circuit coupled with the first sensor and determining whether the first sensor indicates a proper location of the kingpin relative to the throat and whether the second sensor indicates that the locking mechanism is in the locked position, and a light source proximate the throat of the kingpin and activated when the control circuit determines that the kingpin is properly located and that the locking mechanism is in the locked position, such that the light source illuminates the throat and the kingpin assisting visual inspection of the position of the kingpin relative to the throat.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a trailer hitch assembly having a hitch plate with a throat for receiving a kingpin of a trailer and a locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in the throat, the system comprising:

a first sensor sensing the position of the kingpin of the trailer relative to the throat of the hitch plate;

a second sensor sensing a position of the locking mechanism that is movable between an unlocked position wherein the kingpin is removable from within the throat of the hitch plate, and a locked position wherein the kingpin is secured within the throat of the hitch plate by the locking mechanism;

a control circuit operably coupled with the first sensor and the second sensor and determining whether the first sensor indicates a proper location of the kingpin of the trailer relative to the throat of the hitch plate and determining whether the second sensor indicates that the locking mechanism is in the locked position; and

a first light source located substantially proximate the throat of the hitch plate, wherein the first light source is activated when the control circuit determines that the kingpin of the trailer is in the proper location relative to the throat of the hitch plate and that the locking mechanism is in the locked position, such that the first light source illuminates the throat of the hitch plate and the kingpin assisting an operator in conducting a visual inspection to confirm the proper location of the kingpin relative to the throat of the hitch plate and that the locking mechanism is in the locked position.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first light source emits a white light.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first light source comprises an LED.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit deactivates the first light source after a selected amount of time.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit deactivates the first light source when a towing vehicle to which the control circuit is coupled begins to travel.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an indicator separate from the first light source and coupled to the control circuit such that the indicator is activated when the first light source is activated.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the indicator comprises a visual indicator.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the indicator is located within a cab of a towing vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second light source located generally proximate to the hitch plate and providing a warning to an operator of at least one of an improper location of the kingpin relative to the throat, the locking mechanism not being located in the locked position, and the exceeding of a predetermined time between the determination of the proper locating of the kingpin relative to the throat and the determination that the locking mechanism is in the locked position.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the second light source emits a red light.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the second light source emits a flashing light.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the second light source comprises an LED.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

an indicator separate from the second light source and coupled to the control circuit such that the indicator is activated when the second light source is activated.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the first light source and the second light source are each connected to the hitch plate.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises a proximity sensor.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises a contact sensor.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the first light source is connected to the hitch plate.

18. A system for monitoring a trailer hitch assembly having a hitch plate with a throat for receiving a kingpin of a trailer and a locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in the throat, the system comprising:

a first sensor sensing the position of the kingpin of the trailer relative to the throat of the hitch plate;

a second sensor sensing a position of the locking mechanism that moves between an unlocked position wherein the kingpin is removable from within the throat of the hitch plate, and a locked position wherein the kingpin is secured within the throat of the hitch plate by the locking mechanism;

a control circuit operably coupled with the first sensor and the second sensor and determining whether the first sensor indicates a proper location of the kingpin of the trailer relative to the throat of the hitch plate and determining whether the second sensor indicates that the locking mechanism is in the locked position; and

a first light source located external to a cab of a towing vehicle and generally proximate to the hitch plate and providing a warning to an operator of at least one of an improper location of the kingpin relative to the throat, the locking mechanism not being located in the locked position, and the exceeding of a predetermined time between the determination of the proper locating of the kingpin with the throat and the determination that the locking mechanism is in the locked position, wherein the first light source is positioned below the hitch plate.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first light source emits a red light.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the first light source emits a flashing light.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the second light source comprises an LED.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the system further comprises:

an indicator separate from the first light source and coupled to the control circuit such that the indicator is activated when the first light source is activated.

23. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a second light source located substantially proximate the throat of the kingpin, wherein the second light source is activated when the control circuit determines that the kingpin of the trailer is in the proper location relative to the throat of the hitch plate and that the locking mechanism is in the locked position, such that the second light source illuminates the throat of the hitch plate and the kingpin assists an operator in conducting a visual inspection of the position of the kingpin relative to the throat of the hitch plate.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the second light source emits a white light.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the second light source comprises an LED.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the control circuit is adapted to deactivate the second light source after a selected amount of time.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the control circuit deactivates the second light source when a towing vehicle to which the control circuit is coupled begins to travel.

28. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

an indicator separate from the second light source and coupled to the control circuit such that the indicator is activated when the second light source is activated.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the indicator comprises a visual indicator.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the indicator is located within a cab of a towing vehicle.

31. The system of claim 18, wherein the first sensor comprises a proximity sensor.

32. The system of claim 18, wherein the first sensor comprises a contact sensor.

33. A system for monitoring a trailer hitch assembly having a hitch plate with a throat for receiving a kingpin of a trailer and a locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in the throat, the system comprising:

a first sensor sensing the position of the kingpin of the trailer relative to the throat of the hitch plate;

a second sensor sensing a position of the locking mechanism that moves between an unlocked position wherein the kingpin is removable from within the throat of the hitch plate, and a locked position wherein the kingpin is secured within the throat of the hitch plate by the locking mechanism;

a control circuit operably coupled with the first sensor and the second sensor and determining whether the first sensor indicates a proper location of the kingpin of the trailer relative to the throat of the hitch plate and determining whether the second sensor indicates that the locking mechanism is in the locked position;

a first light source located substantially proximate the throat of the kingpin, wherein the first light source is activated when the control circuit determines that the kingpin of the trailer is in the proper location relative to the throat of the hitch plate and that the locking mechanism is in the locked position, such that the first light source illuminates the throat of the hitch plate and the kingpin assisting an operator in conducting a visual inspection of the position of the kingpin relative to the throat of the hitch plate;

a second light source located generally proximate to the hitch plate and provides a warning to an operator of at least one of an improper location of the kingpin relative to the throat, the locking mechanism not being located in the locked position, and the exceeding of a predetermined time between the determination of the proper locating of the kingpin with the throat and the determination that the locking mechanism is in the locked position;

a first indicator separate from the first light source and coupled to the control circuit such that the first indicator is activated when the first light source is activated; and

a second indicator separate from the second light source and coupled to the control circuit such that the second indicator is activated when the second light source is activated.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the control circuit deactivates the first light source after a selected amount of time.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the control circuit deactivates the first light source when a towing vehicle to which the control circuit is coupled begins to travel.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein at least one of the first indicator and the second indicator comprises a visual indicator.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein at least one of the first indicator and the second indicator is located within a cab of a towing vehicle.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein the first light source emits a white light.

39. The system of claim 33, wherein the second light source emits a red light.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the second light source emits a flashing light.

41. The system of claim 33, wherein the first sensor comprises a proximity sensor.

42. The system of claim 33, wherein the first sensor comprises a contact sensor.