1. Field of Invention
The scope of this invention is designed for preventing jackknifing between a tractor and trailer, and the method of operating the system. Jackknifing has been ranked 5th most hazardous type of truck accident, accounting for millions of dollars in property damages and more than 5% of the fatal tractor and trailer accidents in the United States. Once the trailer is in line with the tractor or is in a minimal swing with the trailer the anti-jackknifing system can pull a driver out of trouble. The operating system allows a driver to engage and disengage the system with a simple handheld remote control switch.
2. Description of Related Art
Not Applicable
The present system allows the driver to set the control by remote control method implementing the function of the design. As such a jackknife is not permitted to occur when the control system is engaged. The system controls the swing allowing the driver to continue driving the vehicle. The swing of the trailer has a very limited degree of movement in either direction when the system is engaged keeping the tractor and trailer locked from jackknifing.
In accordance with the invention after coupling of the king pin in the center of the fifth wheel v-slot the driver engages the control system and swing limits are engaged.
In the engaged position the anti-jackknife assembly could possibly have lights on both sides of the trailer. The handheld remote control switch would have a simple on/off function, which should be in the on position the majority of time. While the system is engaged the driver is able to change lanes on a highway safely. If needed the driver can apply breaking power and stop within a reasonable amount of space.
The driver should turn the anti-jackknife device off when leaving the highway for rural or town driving loaded or unloaded. Disengaging the anti-jackknifing assembly allows the tractor to maneuver as easily as if it were not in place. The following overview of functions of the system can be installed on new and existing trailers.
When the “off” transmit signal is received by the receiver, the receiver circuit will energize the flip flop circuit in a negative condition. The flip flop circuit creates a negative condition on the AND circuit, and a positive condition on the pressure relief valve. This will allow the pressure from the hydraulic line to subside and allow hydraulic brake to disengage.
The foregoing overview of the functions of the system is implemented by a remote control apparatus which can be installed on new and existing trailers.
Turning now to the drawings in greater detail, the preferred embodiments of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1,2,3,4,5,&6 while alternate embodiments are shown in
In the preferred embodiments the support frame
The top structural plate (23) of the anti-jackknife assembly is secured to the structural frame (7A). Vertical rollers (21) are attached to the top structural plate to prevent horizontal movement of the turntable.
The turntable consists of (8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17), and when assembled the full anti-jackknife assembly (12) exists.
Horizontal rollers (20) are attached to the top structural plate to facilitate rotation of the turntable. The top structural plate of the turntable (17) presses against the horizontal rollers as aforementioned (20) and presses against the vertical rollers (21).
The ring gear (14) is attached to the top structural plate of the assembly with a structural detail shown on
The king pin (10) is inserted through the hole of the bottom plate of the turntable. The brake drum with the gear (16) is attached to the king pin. With the planetary gears (15) attached to the pins (13) the brake drum gear (16) attaches to the king pin making the partially assembled turntable which is inserted inside the ring gear (14).
The top structural plate is (17). The turntable (12) is now placed against the rollers (20) and (21) located as previously mentioned in the top structural plate of the assembly. The bottom horizontal rollers (5) are attached to the top structural plate (23) with steel band (25).
The king pin (10) is inserted through the top structural plate and secured. The wedge (8) is now secured to the bottom structural plate of the turntable by using a spring loaded attachment (9). In addition figure (3) shows the projection (27) of the bottom turntable structural plate (4).
The primary surface of the assembly, when the tractor is coupled with the trailer, which maintains continuous contact with the fifth wheel of the tractor, is the turntable (12). In the center of the device is the king pin (10) which locks into the center of the fifth wheel during the jointing of the tractor and trailer. The turntable (12) is allowed to turn freely on the king pin. The turntable (12) has a (9) spring loaded wedge mount with a (8) sliding wedge attached. The wedge is inserted into the v-shape king pin guide of the tractors fifth wheel during the coupling of the trailer. This locks the turntable to turning motion of the tractors fifth wheel during operation. The turntable projection support (27) ride is suspended in device by three sets of rollers; upper vertical stabilizing rollers (20) and horizontal stabilizing rollers (21) that are mounted to the top structural plate. There is also the lower vertical stabilizing rollers (6) that are attached to the retaining ring (5) which holds the assembly together when fastened to the top structural plate. The top structural plate is attached to the device frame and installed into the framework of the trailer. Therefore making the top structural plate stationary to the trailer, and part of the assembly.
To make this an effective means of an anti-jackknifing ability the device uses a gear network with a braking system, when engaged, locks the turning ability of the top structural plate and turntable in any degree of angle relative to the tractor and trailer. First part of the gear network would be the stationary ring gear (14) which is attached to an elevated ridge inside the top structural plate. The ring gear turns the planetary amplifying gear assembly (15) that is mounted on to the turntable with the use of gear pins (13) inserted into gear pin hole (11) on the turn table. The planetary amplifying gear assembly magnifies the turning motion of the top structural plate and turn table faster and faster until it reaches the center pinion gear/brake drum (16). A few degrees of motion in the turn table and top structural plate could equal several revolutions of the pinion gear/brake drum giving the design the ability to use a low torque braking system for the application.
The braking system is comprised of the pinion/brake drum (16), brake band (18), brake cable (22), hydraulic cylinder (28), electric hydraulic pump (29), hydraulic fluid reservoir (30) and a control system, (
The remote control handheld transmitter (32) when turned on by the driver sends a signal to the remote control receiver (33) and the flip flop circuit (33A), the pressure relief valve (33B), the pressure sensor (33C), the AND circuit (33D) are all located in the box (31) which is mounted in the structural frame (24) next to the anti-jackknife assembly (2A). In addition when the remote control transmitter (32) is turned on and energizes the electric motor which operates the hydraulic pump (29). The hydraulic fluid reservoir (30) feeds the hydraulic pump (29) which may activate the trailer lights after meeting D.O.T. specified requirements. The overall height of the trailer from the ground to the top of the trailer does not exceed D.O.T. specified requirements.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 10632314 | Aug 2003 | US |
Child | 11125492 | May 2005 | US |