Tow assist system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11607918-B2
Application number	US-201916658566-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 21, 2019
Priority date	Oct 21, 2019
Publication date	Mar 21, 2023
Grant date	Mar 21, 2023

Abstract

Systems are provided for assisting in towing a trailer by a lead vehicle. A wheeled tow assist unit couples between the lead vehicle and the trailer. A drive unit onboard the tow assist unit drives the wheels in response to a force between the trailer and the tow assist unit. The tow assist unit bears at least a portion of the force required to tow the trailer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tow assist system for towing a trailer by a lead vehicle, the system comprising:
a tow assist unit including at least two wheels and the tow assist unit including actuators, the tow assist unit configured to:
couple between the lead vehicle and the trailer, wherein the lead vehicle has a maximum towing capacity; and
drive, by a drive unit onboard the tow assist unit, at least one of the at least two wheels,

wherein the tow assist unit includes a first load sensor configured to sense first forces, where the first forces are between the tow assist unit and the lead vehicle,
wherein the tow assist unit includes a second load sensor configured to sense second forces, where the second forces are between the trailer and the tow assist unit,
wherein a towing force magnitude is an amount of force required to tow the trailer,
wherein the tow assist unit includes a controller configured to:
receive the maximum towing capacity of the lead vehicle;
determine, by monitoring the first load sensor, a tow force exerted by the lead vehicle;
determine, by monitoring the first and second load sensors, the towing force magnitude; and
operate the actuators to drive the tow assist unit to deliver a tow assist force that, along with the tow force, supplies the towing force magnitude, while maintaining the tow force below a maximum threshold amount that is equal to the maximum towing capacity of the lead vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the lead vehicle is configured to operate at a maximum towing capacity, and
the maximum threshold amount is approximately equal to the maximum towing capacity.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the lead vehicle is configured to operate at a maximum towing capacity, and
the maximum threshold amount is equal to a selected percentage of the maximum towing capacity.

4. The system of claim 1 , comprising a coupling between the lead vehicle and the tow assist unit through which a charging power supply is delivered.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tow assist unit is configured to operate in a manual mode separate from the lead vehicle, and comprising a handle connected to the tow assist unit at a connection, and a position sensor disposed at the connection of the handle with the tow assist unit, wherein the controller is configured to operate the actuators to maneuver the trailer via the tow assist unit in response to movement of the handle as sensed by the position sensor.

6. The system of claim 1 , comprising an inertial measurement unit and a controller each on the tow assist unit, the controller configured to actuate the drive unit in response to inputs from the inertial measurement unit to effect trajectory changes in the system for stability.

7. The system of claim 1 , comprising a fifth wheel coupling between the tow assist unit and the trailer and a bumper-pull type coupling between the lead vehicle and the tow assist unit.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tow assist unit is configured to supply electrical power to the trailer.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tow assist unit includes an axle on which the at least two wheels rotate and a recess in a rear end of the tow assist unit, and comprising a hitch disposed in the recess and configured to couple with the trailer, with a ball on the hitch that is substantially centered over the axle.

10. The system of claim 1 , comprising:
a tongue on the tow assist unit configured to couple with the lead vehicle; and
a hitch on the tow assist unit configured to couple with the trailer;
wherein the controller is configured to actuate the drive unit and the actuators in response to inputs from the first and second load sensors so that the lead vehicle bears only a portion of the force between the trailer and the tow assist unit.

11. A tow assist system for towing a trailer by a lead vehicle, the system comprising:
a tow assist unit including four wheels arranged on two axles and including actuators, the tow assist unit configured to:
couple between the lead vehicle and the trailer, wherein the lead vehicle has a maximum towing capacity;
drive, by a drive unit onboard the tow assist unit, at least one of the wheels; and
brake, by a brake on the tow assist unit and in response to the towing force, to slow the trailer,

wherein the tow assist unit includes a first load sensor configured to sense first forces, where the first forces are between the tow assist unit and the lead vehicle,
wherein the tow assist unit includes a second load sensor configured to sense second forces, where the second forces are between the trailer and the tow assist unit,
wherein a towing force magnitude is an amount of force required to tow the trailer,
wherein the tow assist unit includes a controller configured to:
receive the maximum towing capacity of the lead vehicle;
determine, by monitoring the first load sensor, a tow force exerted by the lead vehicle;
determine, by monitoring the first and second load sensors, the towing force magnitude; and
operate the actuators to drive the tow assist unit to deliver a tow assist force that, along with the tow force, supplies the towing force magnitude, while maintaining the tow force below a maximum threshold amount that is equal to the maximum towing capacity of the lead vehicle.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein;
the lead vehicle is configured to operate at a maximum towing capacity, and
the maximum threshold amount is approximately equal to the maximum towing capacity.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein:
the lead vehicle is configured to operate at a maximum towing capacity, and
the maximum threshold amount is equal to a selected percentage of the maximum towing capacity.

14. The system of claim 11 , comprising a coupling between the lead vehicle and the tow assist unit through which a charging power supply is delivered.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the tow assist unit is configured to operate in a manual mode separate from the lead vehicle, and comprising a handle connected to the tow assist unit at a connection, and a position sensor disposed at the connection of the handle with the tow assist unit, wherein the controller is configured to operate the actuators to maneuver the trailer via the tow assist unit in response to movement of the handle as sensed by the position sensor.

16. The system of claim 11 , comprising an inertial measurement unit and a controller each on the tow assist unit, the controller configured to actuate the drive unit and the brake in response to inputs from the inertial measurement unit to effect trajectory changes in the system for stability.

17. The system of claim 11 , comprising a fifth wheel coupling between the tow assist unit and the trailer, and a bumper-pull type coupling between the lead vehicle and the tow assist unit.

18. The system of claim 11 , comprising a battery pack and an inverter on the tow assist unit, wherein the tow assist unit is configured to supply power to the trailer from the battery pack and through the inverter.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the tow assist unit includes an inertial measurement unit and a controller receiving inputs from the inertial measurement unit, wherein the controller is configured to apply differential braking through the brake and differential traction through the drive unit to effect stability changes of the system.

20. A tow assist system for towing a trailer by a lead vehicle, the system comprising:
a tow assist unit including four wheels a

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Goodarzi Avesta
• Schlottke Ralph D
• Meade Grant L
• Weigert Norman J

Classifications

• B60R16/033

  characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries (for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36) · CPC title

• B60D1/62

  involving supply lines, electric circuits or the like · CPC title

• B60D1/248

  for measuring, indicating or displaying the weight · CPC title

• B60D1/075

  Hitch adaptors · CPC title

• B62D53/005 Primary

  Combinations with at least three axles and comprising two or more articulated parts (articulated buses B62D47/025) · CPC title