Patent Application
20160243908
The field to which the disclosure generally relates to includes trailer hitches.
A wheeled device may include a trailer hitch.
One variation may include a product comprising: a semi-autonomous trailer hitch comprising a coupler; a towed device structure, wherein the coupler and the towed device structure are pivotally attached to each other; and at least one sensor on at least one of the coupler or the towed device structure.
Another variation may include a method comprising: controlling at least one towed device comprising: providing a towed device with electrically propelled wheels and steering with a semi-autonomous trailer hitch, wherein the semi-autonomous trailer hitch includes at least one sensor; detecting at least one operating condition of a tow vehicle with the at least one sensor; relaying the at least one operating condition to the towed device with electrically propelled wheels and steering; and controlling the towed device with electrically propelled wheels and steering to match the at least one operating condition of the tow vehicle.
Another variation may include a method comprising: towing multiple towed devices using a single tow vehicle comprising: providing a first towed device having a first semi-autonomous trailer hitch and at least one second towed device having a second semi-autonomous trailer hitch; attaching the first towed device to a tow vehicle; attaching the at least one second towed device to the first towed device; detecting at least one operating condition of the tow vehicle using the first semi-autonomous trailer hitch; relaying the at least one operating condition of the tow vehicle to the first towed device; controlling the first towed device to match the at least one operating condition of the tow vehicle; detecting at least one operating condition of the first towed device with the second semi-autonomous trailer hitch; relaying the at least one operating condition of the first towed device to the second towed device; and controlling the second towed device to match the at least one operating condition of the first towed device.
Other illustrative variations within the scope of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while disclosing variations within the scope of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
Select examples of variations within the scope of the invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description of the variations is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention, its application, or uses.
In a number of variations, a semi-autonomous trailer hitch 26 may include a towed device structure 30 and a towed device coupler 60 which may be pivotally and/or rotatably attached to each other. In a number of variations, the towed device structure 30 may extend from the towed device 28. In a number of variations, a towed device structure 30 may include a rail 32 and may be constructed and arranged to attach to the towed device coupler 60, as will be discussed hereafter. The rail 32 may be any number of shapes including, but not limited to, square or rectangular. The rail 32 may include a front wall 34, a top wall 40, a bottom wall 42, a first side wall 44, and a second side wall 46, a variation of which is illustrated in
In a number of variations, the first connector component 48 and the second connector component 50 may include a first end 52 and a second end 54 and may extend perpendicular from the front wall 34 of the rail 32, a variation of which is illustrated in
In a number of variations, a semi-autonomous trailer hitch 26 towed device coupler 60 may include a first end 62 and a second end 66. In a number of variations, the first end 62 of the coupler 60 may be square or rectangular in shape and may extend outward from the towed device coupler 60 and may be constructed and arranged to extend within a tow bar 22, a variation of which is illustrated in
In a number of variations, the second end 66 may be a “C-shaped” and may include a top member 68 and a bottom member 72 which may each be planar and which may each extend parallel to each other, a double axis rotational joint 74 which may extend between the top member 68 and the bottom member 72, a variation of which is illustrated in
In a number of variations, the double axis rotational joint 74 may be rotatably attached between the top member 68 and the bottom member 72 so that it may rotate around a vertical axis 90. In a number of variations, the double axis rotational joint 74 may be “T-shaped” and may include a first arm 76 and a second arm 78 which may extend outward from each other. In a number of variations, each arm 76, 78 may be cylindrical in shape and may include a first surface 80, a second surface 82, and a lip 84 which may extend therebetween. In a number of variations, the diameter of the second surface 82 may be smaller than the diameter of the first surface 80. The lip 84 may extend at an angle 86 between the first surface 80 and the second surface 82, a variation of which is illustrated in
In a number of variations, the double axis rotational joint 74 may be constructed and arranged so that the towed device structure 28 may be attached to the double axis rotational joint 74 so that it may pivot upward or downward along a horizontal axis 92 and also rotate around a vertical axis 90, a variation of which is illustrated in
In a number of variations, one or more load sensors 58 may be attached to the first and/or second connector components 48, 50 which may measure the pressure during a towing event. The pressure or the tow force may be translated by the one or more load sensor(s) 58 into an electrical signal which through calibration may be analogous to the load applied to the tow vehicle 20. In one variation, two load sensors 58 may be used to create a directional vector. In a number of variations, the one or more load sensors 58 may relay the electrical signal to the towed device's 28 electrical propulsion system so that the towed device 28 may match the tow vehicle 20 speed and/or acceleration. Any number of load sensors 58 may be used including, but not limited to, wired load cells or wireless load cells. The use of the one or more load sensors 58 on the semi-autonomous trailer hitch 26 may reduce towing loads transmitted to the tow vehicle 20.
In a number of variations, an angle sensor 94, 95 may be attached to the double axis rotational joint 74. Any number of angle sensors 94, 95 may be used including, but not limited to, wired angled sensors and/or wireless angle sensors. In one variation, the angle sensor 94 may be attached to the top surface 88 of the double axis rotational joint 74 so that it extends above the top member 68 of the towed device coupler 60, a variation of which is illustrated in
In a number of variations, the angle sensor 94, 95 may send a signal of the direction of the tow vehicle 20 to the towed device 28 so that the towed device 28 may turn and move in the same direction as the tow vehicle 20. In a number of variations, the angle sensor 94, 95 may detect and measure the angle between the towed device 28 and the tow vehicle 20. The angle detected may then be transmitted into an electrical signal which through calibration may determine a steering change in the towed device 28. The sensor 94, 95 may then relay the electrical signal to the electrical steering system of the towed device 28 so that the towed device 28 may match the direction and/or turn radius of the tow vehicle 20. The use of an angle sensor 94, 95 on the semi-autonomous trailer hitch 26 may improve the steering control and turn radius of the tow vehicle 20 and the towed device(s) 28.
In one variation, wiring 96 from the angle sensor 94 and the one or more load sensors 58 may extend through the towed device structure rail 32 and may be operatively connected to the towed device's 28 electrical system so that it may send signals to the electrical system so that the electrical system may control the towed device 28 based on the conditions of the tow vehicle 20. In another variation, one or more wireless sensors may be used which may reduce or eliminate the use of wires in the semi-autonomous trailer hitch 26.
The following description of variants is only illustrative of components, elements, acts, products and methods considered to be within the scope of the invention and are not in any way intended to limit such scope by what is specifically disclosed or not expressly set forth. The components, elements, acts, products and methods as described herein may be combined and rearranged other than as expressly described herein and still are considered to be within the scope of the invention.
Variation 1 may include a product comprising: a semi-autonomous trailer hitch comprising: a coupler; a towed device structure, wherein the coupler and the towed device structure are pivotally attached to each other; and at least one sensor on at least one of the coupler or the towed device structure.
Variation 2 may include a product as set forth in Variation 1 wherein the coupler is constructed and arranged to attach to a tow vehicle and wherein the towed device structure is constructed and arranged to attach to a towed device.
Variation 3 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-2 wherein the at least one sensor is constructed and arranged to detect at least one operating condition of a tow vehicle and to relay the at least one operating condition to the towed device.
Variation 4 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-3 wherein the coupler further comprises a rotational joint which attaches to the towed device structure so that the towed device structure may rotate along a vertical axis and a horizontal axis.
Variation 5 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-4 wherein the coupler is C-shaped and includes a first member, a second member, and a joint component which extends rotatably between the first member and the second member, and wherein the towed device structure includes a rail and a first connector component and a second connector component attached to the rail, and wherein the first connector component and the second connector component are pivotally attached to the joint component.
Variation 6 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-5 wherein the at least one sensor is an angle sensor attached to the joint component.
Variation 7 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-5 wherein the at least one sensor is a first load sensor attached to the first connector component and a second load sensor attached to the second connector component.
Variation 8 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-5 wherein the at least one sensor is an angle sensor attached to the joint component and a first load sensor attached to the first connector component and a second load sensor attached to the second connector component.
Variation 9 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-6 and 8 wherein the angle sensor extends above the top member.
Variation 10 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-6 and 8-9 further comprising an angle sensor shield attached to the coupler.
Variation 11 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-6 and 8 wherein the angle sensor extends between the top member and the bottom member.
Variation 12 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 1-11 further comprising a towed device attached to the semi-autonomous trailer hitch.
Variation 13 may include a product as set forth in Variation 12 wherein the towed device is an electrically steered and propelled device.
Variation 14 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 12-13 wherein the at least one sensor is electrically connected to an electrical system in the electrically steered and propelled device.
Variation 15 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 12-13 wherein the at least one sensor sends signals to an electrical system in the electrically steered and propelled device wirelessly.
Variation 16 may include a method comprising: controlling at least one towed device comprising: providing a towed device with electrically propelled wheels and steering with a semi-autonomous trailer hitch, wherein the semi-autonomous trailer hitch includes at least one sensor; detecting at least one operating condition of a tow vehicle with the at least one sensor; relaying the at least one operating condition to the towed device with electrically propelled wheels and steering; and controlling the towed device with electrically propelled wheels and steering to match the at least one operating condition of the tow vehicle.
Variation 17 may include a method as set forth in Variation 16 wherein the at least one operating condition is at least one of the speed or the direction of the tow vehicle.
Variation 18 may include a method as set forth in any of Variations 16-17 wherein the at least one sensor is at least one of an angle sensor or at least one load sensor.
Variation 19 may include a method as set forth in Variation 18 wherein the angle sensor detects the direction of the tow vehicle and the at least one load sensor detects the speed of the tow vehicle.
Variation 20 may include a method comprising: towing multiple towed devices using a single tow vehicle comprising: providing a first towed device having a first semi-autonomous trailer hitch and at least one second towed device having a second semi-autonomous trailer hitch; attaching the first towed device to a tow vehicle; attaching the at least one second towed device to the first towed device; detecting at least one operating condition of the tow vehicle using the first semi-autonomous trailer hitch; relaying the at least one operating condition of the tow vehicle to the first towed device; controlling the first towed device to match the at least one operating condition of the tow vehicle; detecting at least one operating condition of the first towed device with the second semi-autonomous trailer hitch; relaying the at least one operating condition of the first towed device to the second towed device; and controlling the second towed device to match the at least one operating condition of the first towed device.
The above description of select variations within the scope of the invention is merely illustrative in nature and, thus, variations or variants thereof are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.
