Coupling system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12472783-B2
Application number	US-202017753627-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2020
Priority date	Sep 10, 2019
Publication date	Nov 18, 2025
Grant date	Nov 18, 2025

Abstract

A coupling system for a towing vehicle that includes at least one sensor, and a fifth wheel arrangement that includes a fifth wheel plate and at least one bearing block, wherein the fifth wheel plate has a trailer surface and an entry opening, wherein the trailer surface has an outwardly pointing normal, wherein the entry opening extends in an entry direction, wherein the fifth wheel plate is pivotably beard about a transverse axis relative to the bearing block, wherein the bearing block has a contact surface, wherein the contact surface lies in a contact plane, wherein the sensor indirectly and/or directly detects a pitch angle about the transverse axis contactlessly, and wherein the sensor is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the fifth wheel plate.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A coupling system for a towing vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of sensors; and a fifth wheel arrangement; wherein the fifth wheel arrangement includes a fifth wheel plate and at least one bearing that includes a bearing block; wherein the fifth wheel plate has a trailer surface and an entry opening; wherein the trailer surface has an outwardly pointing normal; wherein the entry opening extends in an entry direction; wherein the fifth wheel plate is pivotally supported about a transverse axis relative to the at least one bearing; wherein the bearing has a contact surface, the contact surface lying in a contact plane; wherein the plurality of sensors indirectly and/or directly detect and/or determine a pitch angle about the transverse axis contactlessly; wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is disposed in close proximity to the fifth wheel plate; and wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors determines a distance of the trailer surface to the contact plane in the direction of a normal of the contact plane.

2 . The coupling system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is arranged and/or fastened on the bearing block.

3 . The coupling system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is arranged and/or attached to the fifth wheel plate.

4 . The coupling system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is arranged on the transverse axis, and includes an angle sensor.

5 . The coupling system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is arranged to be intersected by the transverse axis and includes an angle sensor.

6 . The coupling system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors includes an inductive and/or capacitive sensor.

7 . The coupling system according to claim 1 , wherein all sensors of the plurality of sensors are interchangeable with each other.

8 . The coupling system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors forms a measuring system with a pole wheel, the pole wheel being rotationally rigid about the transverse axis relative to the fifth wheel plate and/or relative to the bearing block.

9 . The coupling system according to claim 1 , wherein at least two sensors of the plurality of sensors are configured to determine a distance of the trailer surface to the contact plane in the direction of a normal of the contact plane, wherein one sensor of the at least two sensors is arranged in front of the transverse axis in the entry direction and another sensor of the at least two sensors is arranged behind the transverse axis in the entry direction.

10 . The coupling system according to claim 9 , wherein the at least two sensors have the same distance to the transverse axis in the direction of the entry direction.

11 . The coupling system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to determine a distance of the trailer surface to the contact plane in the direction of the normal of the contact plane, and metrologically interacts with a measuring surface of the fifth wheel plate, wherein the measuring surface is formed opposite the trailer surface.

12 . The coupling system according to claim 1 , wherein the fifth wheel plate is non-displaceable relative to the bearing block in the direction of the normal of the contact plane and/or the transverse direction and/or the normal of the trailer surface.

13 . A commercial vehicle comprising a coupling system according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Saf Holland Gmbh

Inventors

• Köster Mario Sebastian

Classifications

• B62D53/08 Primary

  Fifth wheel traction couplings {(tractors for handling trailers in terminals B62D49/007)} · CPC title

• B62D53/0807

  adjustable coupling saddles mounted on sub-frames; Mounting plates therefor · CPC title

• B60D1/64

  Couplings or joints therefor · CPC title

• B60D1/62

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

• B62D53/10

  with means for preventing accidental uncoupling · CPC title