Combination vehicle, trailer, and tractor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11840140-B2
Application number	US-202016996464-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 18, 2020
Priority date	Oct 2, 2019
Publication date	Dec 12, 2023
Grant date	Dec 12, 2023

Abstract

A combination vehicle includes a tractor and a trailer towed by the tractor. The trailer includes a first tank that is configured to store a high-pressure gas as a fuel used by the tractor to travel. The tractor includes a second tank that is configured to store a high-pressure gas as a fuel used by the tractor to travel. The combination vehicle is configured to travel using the fuel supplied from the first tank and the second tank.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A combination vehicle, comprising:
a tractor; and
a trailer towed by the tractor; wherein:
the trailer includes a first tank that is configured to store a high-pressure gas as a fuel used by the tractor to travel;
the tractor includes a second tank that is configured to store a high-pressure gas as a fuel used by the tractor to travel; and
the combination vehicle is configured to travel using the fuel supplied from the first tank and the second tank, wherein
the trailer includes a first pipe that is configured to be connected to the first tank,
the trailer includes a pressure reduction portion that is configured to be connected to the first pipe and reduce a pressure of the fuel gas supplied from the first tank through the first pipe,
the trailer includes a second pipe connected to the pressure reduction portion and an inlet connection portion provided in the tractor, and at least a part of the second pipe has a lower rigidity than a rigidity of the first pipe, and
the trailer includes a king pin that is configured to be coupled to a coupler of the tractor, and the pressure reduction portion is disposed below a base portion of the king pin.

2. The combination vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the second pipe includes an outlet connection portion that is configured to be connected to the inlet connection portion.

3. The combination vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the outlet connection portion is configured to allow flowing of the fuel gas when the outlet connection portion is connected to the inlet connection portion, and not to allow flowing of the fuel gas when the outlet connection portion is not connected to the inlet connection portion.

4. The combination vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the trailer is configured such that the outlet connection portion and the inlet connection portion are disconnected prior to a breakage of a part of a configuration that allows flowing of the fuel from the first tank to the outlet connection portion when a tensile force is applied between the inlet connection portion and the outlet connection portion in a state where the inlet connection portion and the outlet connection portion are connected to each other.

5. The combination vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the trailer is configured such that the outlet connection portion and the inlet connection portion are disconnected by a breakage of a part of a configuration of the inlet connection portion and the outlet connection portion prior to the breakage of the part of the configuration that allows flowing of the fuel from the first tank to the outlet connection portion.

6. The combination vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure reduction portion is provided so as to be disposed between an end of the tractor and the king pin in a right-left direction of the tractor in a state where the trailer is coupled to the tractor via the king pin and the coupler.

7. The combination vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the inlet connection portion includes a check valve that is configured to allow reception of a gas from an outside and not to allow sending out of the gas to the outside.

8. A trailer that is configured to be coupled to a tractor that travels using a fuel gas, the trailer comprising:
a tank that is configured to store a high-pressure gas as a fuel used by the tractor to travel;
a first pipe that is configured to be connected to the tank;
a pressure reduction portion that is configured to be connected to the first pipe and reduce a pressure of the fuel gas supplied from the tank through the first pipe;
a second pipe that is configured to be connected to the pressure reduction portion and includes an outlet connection portion that is configured to be connected to an inlet connection portion that is provided in the tractor and receives the fuel gas, wherein at least a part of the second pipe has a lower rigidity than a rigidity of the first pipe; and
a king pin that is configured to be coupled to a coupler of the tractor, wherein the pressure reduction portion is disposed below a base portion of the king pin.

9. The trailer according to claim 8 , wherein the outlet connection portion is configured to allow flowing of the fuel gas when the outlet connection portion is connected to the inlet connection portion, and not to allow flowing of the fuel gas when the outlet connection portion is not connected to the inlet connection portion.

10. The trailer according to claim 9 , wherein the trailer is configured such that the outlet connection portion and the inlet connection portion are disconnected prior to a breakage of a part of a configuration that allows flowing of the fuel from the tank to the outlet connection portion when a tensile force is applied between the inlet connection portion and the outlet connection portion in a state where the inlet connection portion and the outlet connection portion are connected to each other.

11. The trailer according to claim 10 , wherein the trailer is configured such that the outlet connection portion and the inlet connection portion are disconnected by a breakage of a part of a configuration of the inlet connection portion and the outlet connection portion prior to the breakage of the part of the configuration that allows flowing of the fuel from the tank to the outlet connection portion.

12. The trailer according to claim 8 , wherein the pressure reduction portion is provided so as to be disposed between an end of the tractor and the king pin in a right-left direction of the tractor in a state where the trailer is coupled to the tractor via the king pin and the coupler.

13. A tractor that is coupled to the trailer according to claim 8 , the tractor comprising the inlet connection portion, wherein the inlet connection portion includes a check valve that is configured to allow reception of a gas from an outside and not to allow sending out of the gas to the outside.

14. A combination vehicle comprising the trailer according to claim 8 , and a tractor, wherein:
the tank is a first tank;
the tractor includes a second tank that is configured to store a high-pressure gas as a fuel used by the tractor to travel; and
the combination vehicle is configured to travel using the fuel supplied from the first tank and the second tank.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd
• Hino Motors Ltd

Inventors

• Kondo Toshiyuki
• Yokoyama Yukihide

Classifications

• B60K15/063 Primary

  Arrangement of tanks · CPC title

• B60D1/62

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

• B60K15/01

  Arrangement of fuel conduits · CPC title

• B60L50/71

  Arrangement of fuel cells within vehicles specially adapted for electric vehicles · CPC title

• B62D53/0842

  King pins · CPC title