Vehicle connectors for monitoring connection with trailer connectors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10734764-B2
Application number	US-201816149717-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2018
Priority date	Dec 20, 2016
Publication date	Aug 4, 2020
Grant date	Aug 4, 2020

Abstract

Apparatus are disclosed for vehicle connectors for monitoring connection with trailer connectors. An example connector of a vehicle for coupling a trailer to the vehicle includes a wall defining a cavity to receive a trailer connector, a seal to engage the trailer connector when the cavity receives the trailer connector, and a first trailer-connection sensor disposed in the seal to monitor engagement of the trailer connector with the seal to identify a secure connection with the trailer connector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector of a vehicle for coupling a trailer to the vehicle, the connector comprising:
a wall defining a cavity to receive a trailer connector, the cavity including an electrical prong;
a housing within the cavity;
a seal extending along at least a portion of the wall to seal the cavity and the electrical prongs within the cavity when the trailer connector is inserted into the cavity, wherein a first sensor is disposed in a first portion of the seal; and
an electrical circuit comprising:
a first switch operatively coupled to the first sensor wherein the first switch is configured to actuate, based on a first sensor input of the first sensor, to a closed position, wherein the first sensor input is based on an engagement of the trailer connector and the first portion of the seal.

2. The connector of claim 1 , further comprising a pushpin including a first plunger, the pushpin at least partially within the housing.

3. The connector of claim 2 , wherein the pushpin further includes a body, a spring, and a contact plate.

4. The connector of claim 3 , wherein the first switch is coupled to the contact plate of the pushpin.

5. The connector of claim 4 , wherein the contact plate actuates to close the electrical circuit when the spring is compressed by the first plunger.

6. The connector of claim 2 , wherein the electrical circuit includes a second switch and a second sensor disposed in a second portion within the seal, the second sensor operatively coupled to a second switch, wherein the second switch is configured to actuate, based on a second sensor input of the second sensor, to a closed position, wherein the second sensor input is based on an engagement of the trailer connector and the second portion of the seal.

7. The connector of claim 6 , wherein the pushpin is a first pushpin, and wherein the connector includes a second pushpin operatively coupled to the second switch, the second pushpin including a second plunger.

8. The connector of claim 7 , wherein the electrical circuit closes when the trailer connector engages the first plunger and the second plunger.

9. The connector of claim 7 , wherein the first pushpin is located in a center of the housing and the second pushpin in located on an edge of the housing.

10. The connector of claim 6 , wherein the pushpin is a central pushpin in a central location in the housing, and wherein the connector includes a plurality of edge pushpins located in a plurality of locations around the edge of the housing.

11. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the seal is configured to receive a second seal from a connector of a trailer.

12. The connector of claim 1 , further comprising a groove within at least a portion of the wall, wherein the seal extends along from a first side of the groove, along a circumference of the wall, to a second side of the groove.

13. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is one of: a strain gauge and a stress gauge.

14. The connector of claim 6 , wherein the electrical circuit further comprises a power source and an input connection, wherein the power source is configured to apply a voltage across the electrical circuit, and wherein the input connection is configured to receive, based on the power source applying the voltage, a first input, wherein the first input is received based on the first switch being in a closed position.

15. The connector of claim 14 , wherein receive the first input is further based on the second switch being in a closed position.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Ghannam Mahmoud Yousef
• Pittenger Joel Allen
• Dudar Aed M
• Carremm Swadad A

Classifications

• H01R24/70

  with additional earth or shield contacts · CPC title

• H01R24/22

  with additional earth or shield contacts · CPC title

• H01R13/707

  interlocked with contact members or counterpart · CPC title

• H01R13/665

  with built-in electronic circuit (H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01R13/641 Primary

  by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement · CPC title