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CA-3178969-C - TRAILER TANDEM POSITION SENSOR

CA3178969CCA 3178969 CCA3178969 CCA 3178969CCA-3178969-C

Abstract

A tandem position sensing system mounted to the underside of a trailer or chassis is configured to measure the distance of a sliding tandem to a fixed position (e.g., the kingpin) under the trailer. The tandem position sensing system is capable of communicating distance/position data to a dispatcher/fleet manager and/or a driver of the truck coupled to the trailer. The tandem position sensing system includes a range sensor configured to emit a signal toward a sliding tandem and to measure a distance between the range sensor and the sliding tandem. There is a sensor housing configured to house the range sensor, the sensor housing having a first opening through which the range sensor is configured to emit the signal. A coupling member is attached to the sensor housing and configured to couple the range sensor housing to a body of a trailer or a chassis.

Inventors

  • Daniel William Forthoffer
  • John Patrick CAVANAGH

Assignees

  • R.A PHILLIPS INDUSTRIES, INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20221012
Priority Date
20211012

Claims (16)

  1. EMBODIMENTS IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS: 1. A tandem position sensing system comprising: 5 a range sensor configured to emit a signal toward a sliding tandem and to measure a distance between the range sensor and the sliding tandem; a sensor housing configured to house the range sensor, the sensor housing having a first opening through which the range sensor is configured to emit the signal; and 10 a coupling member attached to the sensor housing and configured to couple the range sensor housing to a body of a trailer or a chassis.
  2. 2. The tandem position sensing system of claim 1, wherein the range sensor comprises a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor, and the signal comprises a light signal or a 15 sound wave.
  3. 3. The tandem position sensing system of claim 1, wherein the range sensor comprises: an emitter configured to emit the signal toward the sliding tandem; 20 a receiver configured to receive a reflected signal from the sliding tandem; and a processing circuit configured to calculate the distance between the range sensor and the sliding tandem based on an emission time of the signal and a receive time of the reflected signal. Date Re9ue/Date Received 2024-05-14
  4. 4. The tandem position sensing system of claim 3, wherein the range sensor further comprises: a communication circuit in electrical communication with a telematics gateway 5 circuit at the trailer or the chassis and is configured to transmit data generated by the processing circuit to the telematics gateway circuit over a controller area network (CAN) bus of the trailer or the chassis, an RS232/485 connection, a power line communication (PLC) connection, or a wireless communication link.
  5. 5. The tandem position sensing system of claim 1, wherein the range sensor comprises: an internal battery configured to provide electrical power to the range sensor.
  6. 6. The tandem position sensing system of claim 1, wherein the range sensor 15 is coupled to an electrical system of the trailer or the chassis and receives electrical power from at least one of an electrical circuit of an anti-lock braking system (ABS) of the trailer or the chassis, a light circuit providing power to lights of the trailer or the chassis, and a power-over-ethernet (PoE) connection. 20
  7. 7. The tandem position sensing system of claim 1, wherein the range sensor is configured to periodically transmit data based on the distance between the range sensor and the sliding tandem, and wherein the data comprises at least one of: the distance between the range sensor and the sliding tandem, Date Re9ue/Date Received 2024-05-14 a distance between a kingpin of the trailer or the chassis and the sliding tandem, a distance between a nose of the trailer or the chassis and the sliding tandem, and an alert indicating an unlocked state of the sliding tandem while in transit.
  8. 8. The tandem position sensing system of claim 1, wherein the sliding tandem com prises a sliding trailer tandem or a sliding chassis tandem, and wherein the sliding tandem has an adjustable position along a length of the trailer 1 o or the chassis.
  9. 9. The tandem position sensing system of claim 1, wherein the sensor housing comprises: a main body configured to house the range sensor and fixedly coupled to the 15 coupling member; and a barrel extending away from the main body along a signal path of the range sensor.
  10. 10. The tandem position sensing system of claim 1, wherein the sensor 20 housing comprises glass-filled nylon material.
  11. 11. The tandem position sensing system of claim 1, wherein the coupling member comprises a first fastener and a second fastener attached to a top of the sensor Date Re9ue/Date Received 2024-05-14 housing and facing one another, the first and second fasteners being configured to grip a flange of an I-beam at a bottom side of the trailer or the chassis.
  12. 12. The tandem position sensing system of claim 11, wherein the first fastener 5 com prises: a first U-shaped clip having two parallel arms that extend along and overlap a flange of the I-beam, one of the two parallel arms having a threaded through hole to enable a bolt to screw through and apply compressive force against the flange of the Ibeam and to fasten the first U-shaped clip to the I-beam; and 10 a first stem extending from an other one of the two parallel arms and configured to be fastened to the sensor housing.
  13. 13. The tandem position sensing system of claim 11, wherein the coupling member further comprises: 15 a U-shaped mounting bracket coupled to the first and second fasteners and configured to be mounted to two sides of the sensor housing, and wherein the U-shaped mounting bracket is configured to be bolted to the sensor housing through a plurality of threaded through holes on the sides of the sensor housing. 20
  14. 14. The tandem position sensing system of claim 1, further comprising: a reflector configured to be mounted to the sliding tandem and to reflect the signal back to the range sensor. Date Re9ue/Date Received 2024-05-14
  15. 15. The tandem position sensing system of claim 14, wherein the reflector comprises: a mounting bracket configured to attach to a surface of the sliding tandem; a reflective portion having a reflective surface configured to reflect the signal back 5 to the range sensor; and a bendable arm coupled to the mounting bracket and the reflective portion and configured to bend at a joint to adjust a relative angle of the mounting bracket and the reflective portion. 10
  16. 16. The tandem position sensing system of claim 14, wherein the reflector comprises glass-filled nylon material. Date Re9ue/Date Received 2024-05-14

Description

TRAILER TANDEM POSITION SENSOR FIELD [0001] The present disclosure relates to truck-trailer systems and methods of using 5 the same. BACKGROUND [0002] Most semi-tractor trailers in the US have sliding tandems, which are a set of 8 wheels on two axles that are moveably coupled to the rear underside of the trailer. 10 The tandems can slide along a track under the trailer to allow for the distribution of weight of the trailer to be adjusted to support better ride control, handling, and turning radius. Some states (e.g., Michigan and California) have laws pertaining to the minimum and maximum lengths that the tandem can be adjusted to in order to alleviate concerns with semi ride control and/or road weight distribution. It is currently the responsibility of 15 the driver to confirm that the tandem is positioned to a length that is allowed under the laws pertaining to the state in which the semi will be transiting. Violating these laws can result in Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) violations, fines, and/or other driver infractions. [0003] Furthermore, the position of the tandem is a significant factor in the turning 20 radius of the overall vehicle when connected to the semi-trailer. For example, a tandem set all the way to the rear of the trailer may have a significantly greater turning radius than a tandem that is set closer to the front of the trailer. As such, when entering inner Date Re9ue/Date Received 2022-10-12 cities, some drivers may adjust the tandem to provide better turning radius to avoid hitting curbs on turns in tight areas. In the related art, tandem position observations are performed manually/visually by the driver. [0004] The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for 5 enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. SUMMARY 10 [0005] Aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a tandem position sensing system mounted to the underside of a trailer or chassis, which is configured to measure the distance of the sliding tandem to a fixed position (e.g., the kingpin) under the trailer. According to some embodiments, the tandem position sensing system is capable of communicating distance/position data to a dispatcher/fleet 15 manager and/or a driver of the truck coupled to the trailer. [0006] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a tandem position sensing system including: a range sensor configured to emit a signal toward a sliding tandem and to measure a distance between the range sensor and the sliding tandem; a sensor housing configured to house the range sensor, the sensor 20 housing having a first opening through which the range sensor is configured to emit the signal; and a coupling member attached to the sensor housing and configured to couple the range sensor housing to a body of a trailer or a chassis. [0007] In some embodiments, the range sensor includes a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor, and the signal includes a light signal or a sound wave. Date Re9ue/Date Received 2022-10-12 [0008] In some embodiments, the range sensor includes: an emitter configured to emit the signal toward the sliding tandem; a receiver configured to receive a reflected signal from the sliding tandem; and a processing circuit configured to calculate the distance between the range sensor and the sliding tandem based on an emission time 5 of the signal and a receive time of the reflected signal. [0009] In some embodiments, the range sensor further includes: a communication circuit in electrical communication with a telematics gateway circuit at the trailer or the chassis and is configured to transmit data generated by the processing circuit to the telematics gateway circuit over a controller area network (CAN) bus of the trailer or the 10 chassis, an RS232/485 connection, a power line communication (PLC) connection, or a wireless communication link. [0010] In some embodiments, the range sensor includes: an internal battery configured to provide electrical power to the range sensor. [0011] In some embodiments, the range sensor is coupled to an electrical system of 15 the trailer or the chassis and receives electrical power from at least one of an electrical circuit of an anti-lock braking system (ABS) of the trailer or the chassis, a light circuit providing power to lights of the trailer or the chassis, and a power-over-ethernet (PoE) connection. [0012] In some embodiments, the range sensor is configured to periodically transmit 20 data based on the distance between the range sensor and the sliding tandem, and the data includes at least one of: the distance between the range sensor and the sliding tandem, a distance between a kingpin of the trailer or the chassis and the sliding tandem, a distance between a nose of the trailer or the chassis and the sliding tandem, and