Arrangement of measuring devices on a semitrailer motor vehicle

Patent 5438881 Issued on August 8, 1995. Estimated Expiration Date:

February 16, 2014. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

3780817

Coupling for an articulated vehicle or the like
Patent #: 4405146
Issued on: 09/20/1983
Inventor: Mitchell

Fifth wheel coupling apparatus
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Inventor: Elyakim

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Trailer coupling with force sensing means
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Issued on: 07/27/1993
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Issued on: 03/15/1994
Inventor: Jarvinen

Inventors

Assignee

Georg Fischer Verkehrstechnik GmbH

Application

No. 197215 filed on 02/16/1994

US Classes:

73/862.57, With towing means280/433, Fifth wheel only280/504Coupling

Examiners

Primary: Chilcot, Richard E. Jr.
Assistant: Olsen, James M.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Bachman & Lapointe

International Class

G01L 005/13

Foreign Application Priority Data

1993-02-17 CH

Abstract

The present invention relates to the arrangement of measuring devices on a semitrailer motor vehicle having a tractive unit, a semitrailer unit and a fifth wheel fastened to the tractive unit. The measuring devices(s) in each arrangement are disposed between the fifth wheel and the semitrailer. In one embodiment, a force sensor for measuring tractive and acceleration forces is disposed on a coupling claw forming part of a locking mechanism associated with the fifth wheel. In the same embodiment, a measuring device for measuring impact and pressure forces arising during braking is operationally connected to a movably mounted contact part forming part of the locking mechanism. Alternative embodiments of the present invention showing different measuring arrangements are also disclosed.