GB2210342A - Encoded tractor/trailer combination - Google Patents
Encoded tractor/trailer combination Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2210342A GB2210342A GB8722677A GB8722677A GB2210342A GB 2210342 A GB2210342 A GB 2210342A GB 8722677 A GB8722677 A GB 8722677A GB 8722677 A GB8722677 A GB 8722677A GB 2210342 A GB2210342 A GB 2210342A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- tractor
- trailer
- circuit
- processor
- display device
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000004973 liquid crystal related substance Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012795 verification Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R25/00—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles
- B60R25/01—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
- B60R25/08—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens operating on brakes or brake systems
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R25/00—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Regulating Braking Force (AREA)
Abstract
A tractor (10) and trailer (11) combination has a valve (30) for disabling for example a brake circuit of the combination so that the trailer brakes are applied. The valve is controlled by a processor (21) in the tractor. The trailer has an electronic memory device (31) for supplying to the processor an indentification code, which must be verified by the processor before the trailer brakes can be released. As an added precaution, the tractor and trailer may have settable display devices set such that when the tractor and trailer are connected, both devices show the same display eg the registration number of the tractor unit. <IMAGE>
Description
Title: "lmprovements relating to vehicles'
Description of Invention
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating a tractor-trailer combination wherein the tractor is coupled with the trailer, at least one circuit on the tractor is connected with a corresponding circuit on the trailer to form a combined circuit, an identification code is transmitted from one of the tractor and trailer to the other and is verified by said other of the tractor and trailer and wherein the combined circuit is enabled only if the identification code is acceptable to said other of the tractor and trailer.
The combined circuit may be an electrical circuit, an hydraulic circuit or a pneumatic circuit. Preferably, the circuit 5 a brake circuit by means of which operation of the trailer brakes are controlled from the tractor. In this case, the disabled condition of the circuit is a condition in which the trailer is braked and so cannot be towed in the normal manner.
Generally, a plurality of circuits on the tractor will be connected with respective circuits on the trailer to form a plurality of combined circuits.
The identification code may be transmitted by means of one of these circuits other than the circuit which is enabled only if the identification code is an acceptable code.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a train of vehicles comprising at least one tractor and at least one trailer coupled with the tractor by coupling means, wherein respective circuits of the tractor and trailer are connected to each other to form a combined circuit, the train includes disabling means for disabling the train and there is provided control means for controlling the disabling means, the control means including respective elements in the tractor and the trailer, one of which elements is adapted to provide an identification code and the other of which elements is adapted to verify that code.
The disabling means mcry be a valve in an hydraulic or pneumatic circuit and may be incorporated in the tractor or alternatively incorporated in the trailer.
According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a tractor which has coupling means for coupling a trailer with the tractor for towing and connecting means for connecting a circuit of the tractor with a corresponding circuit of a coupled trailer to form a combined circuit, wherein the tractor further comprises circuit disabling means operatively associated with the connecting means and operable to disable the combined circuit, wherein the tractor also comprises control means for controlling operation of the disabling means and the control means includes means for verifying an identification code applied to the control means.
The tractor may comprise a plurality of connecting means for connecting a corresponding number of circuits of the tractor with circuits of the trailer. The control means is preferably associated with one of those circuits other than the circuit having the disabling means. For example, the disabling means may be incorporated in an hydraulic or pneumatic circuit of the tractor whilst the control means is associated with an electrical circuit of the tractor to receive an identification code which is transmitted as an electrical signal.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a trailer having coupling means for coupling the trailer with a tractor for towing and connecting means for connecting a circuit of the trailer with-a corresponding circuit of the tractor to form a combined circuit, wherein the trailer further comprises means for applying to the tractor an identification code and/or disabling means operatively associated with the connecting means and operable to disable the combined circuit.
The trailer preferably also has a settahle display device. The tractor may have control means which communicates with the display device for controlling the display device to determine the display presented by the display device. The tractor also may have a settable display device and the control means of the tractor may be arranged to cause the display device of the tractor and the display device of a coupled trailer to present the same display, for example a registration number of the tractor.
There is also provided in accordance with the invention a method of preventing unouthorised towing of a trailer by a tractor wherein, when the trailer is coupled with the tractor and one or more circuits of the trailer is or are connected with corresponding circuits of the tractor, the combination of the tractor and trailer is disabled unless an identification code acceptable to verifying means on one the tractor and trailer is transmitted to the verifying means from the other of the tractor and trailer.
An example of a train of vehicles embodying the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:
FIGURE I shows a diagrammatic representation of an articulated lorry; and
FIGURE 2 shows a diagrammatic representation of circuits of the lorry.
The lorry illustrated in Figure I is intended for use on the public roads and comprises a tractor 10 and a trailer II. The tractor has steerable front wheels 12 and an engine 13 driving rear wheels 14. The trailer has a set of wheels incorporated in a bogie 15 which supports a rear end of the trailer.
The tractor and trailer are releasably coupled together in a known manner by a fifth wheel coupling 16. Various circuits of the trailer are connected with corresponding circuits of the tractor by releasable connectors 17. These circuits include electrical circuits and hydraulic and/or pneumatic circuits.
A settable display device 18 is mounted at the front of the tractor 10 to present a registration code of the tractor for viewing from a position in front of the tractor. A second settable display device 19 is mounted at the rear of the tractor for presenting the registration code of the tractor so that it can be read from a position to the rear of the tractor, when the tractor is in use without the trailer 11. A third settable display device 20 is provided at the rear of the trailer II for presenting the registration code of the tractor so that it can be read from a position to the rear of the trailer, when the trailer is coupled with the tractor. The display devices 18, 19 and 20 may be identical one with another and may be known devices.
The display devices 18, 19 and 20 are electrically energisable devices which can be controlled by electrical signals. Each display device may comprise an array of light-emitting diodes, selected ones of which can be energised to provide a selected display. Alternatively, each display device may be a liquid crystal display device. An electrically energisable source of light may be associated with the liquid crystal display. The arrangement may be such that only portions of the display which define selected alpha-numeric characters transmit light from the source to a person reading the display.
Other parts of the display would then appear black. Each of the display devices 18, 19 and 20 preferably incorporates drive means for energising certain elements of the display in accordance with information applied in digitally encoded form to the display device, for example from a microprocessor.
The tractor 10 further comprises control means for controlling each of the display devices 18, 19 and 20 to cause these devices to display the registration code of the tractor. The control means comprises a processor 21 and a memory 22 which are represented in Figure 2. The processor may have additional functions in the tractor, for example engine management and monitoring of electrical circuits of the tractor. The memory 22 may store the registration code of the tractor alone or may also store additional information required for operation of the tractor. The memory may be an integrated circuit which can be disconnected from the processor 21 and removed from the vehicle or may be incorporated in the processor.
The memory 22 may be a read-only memory or a programmable read memory. The memory is preferably such that the registration code of the vehicle cannot be erased from the memory, once it has been applied to the memory. The registration code may be incorporated in the memory during manufacture of the memory. However, the registration code is preferably applied to the memory after manufacture of the tractor, incorporating the memory, has been completed and when the tractor is first registered for use on public roads. For this purpose, there is provided coding means 23 which can be brought temporarily into communication with the memory 22.For example, the coding means and either the memory 22 or the processor 21 may have electrical contacts which can be brought in mutual contact to establish communication between the coding means and the memory for the purpose of applying the registration code of the tractor to the memory 22. The coding means 23 would then be removed, for use in coding another vehicle.
Alternatively, the control means of the tractor 10 may include an alpha-numeric key pad or other input device for receiving a code to be displayed on the tractor. The arrangement may be such that, once an appropriate code has been applied via the input device, a further code will not be accepted. Alternatively, the arrangements may be such that an existing code stored in the memory can be replaced by a new code applied via the input device.
The processor 21 applies the registration code of the vehicle to the drive means of each of the display devices 18, 19 and 20. Electrical power for energisation of these devices and of the processor 21 is provided from a battery 24 which may be the battery usually provided in a motor vehicle for operation of various electrical systems of the vehicle. The processor 21 and display devices may be energised both whilst the vehicle is operating and whilst the vehicle is out of operation. Alternatively, energisation of the display devices may be controlled by Switches, one of which may operate automatically to energise the display devices whenever the vehicle is brought into operation and another of which can be operated by the user when the display devices are required to be energised whilst the vehicle is out of operation, for example parked on a public road.
Electrical power for energising the rear display device 20 and electrical signals for controlling that display device are transmitted from the tractor 10 to the display device via one of the connectors 17. Since the registration code of the tractor is fixed in the memory 22 of the tractor, any trailer which is provided with an appropriate, settable display device, electrical circuits and connector for connection with the tractor will display the registration code of the tractor whenever that trailer is properly connected with the tractor and the tractor is in operation.
The lorry further comprises disabling means for disabling a circuit of the lorry which is comprised partly by the tractor 10 and partly by the trailer
II. This circuit is exemplified by a pneumatic brake circuit. The circuit selected to incorporate the disabling means is preferably a circuit, proper operation of which is essential for towing of the trailer. In the example illustrated in the drawing, the brake circuit includes a source 25 of vacuum or air under pressure, brake actuators 26 and 27 of the tractor, brake actuators 28 and 29 of the trailer and disabling means in the form of a solenoidoperated valve 30 which is connected electrically with the processor 21 and the battery 24 so that the solenoid can be energised under the control of the processor 21. The valve 30 may be arranged to vent the brake circuit to atmosphere, when the valve is open.The part of the brake circuit which is incorporated in the tractor is connected with the part of that circuit incorporated in the trailer by the connector parts 17a and 17b on the tractor and the trailer respectively.
In the example illustrated in the drawing, the disabling means 30 is incorporated in the tractor and is connected electrically with the processor 21, also present in the tractor. Alternatively, the disabling means may be incorporated in the trailer, for example at a position in the circuit between the connector part 17b and the brake actuators 28 and 29. In this case, the disabling means may be connected electrically with the processor 21. In a case where the disabling means is incorporated in the trailer, a microprocessor for controlling the disabling means may also be incorporated in the trailer. In this case, the microprocessor for controlling the disabling means would preferably be additional to the microprocessor 2 1 for controlling the display devices.
In a case where the disabling means is provided in the trailer, the disabling means would be arranged normally to disable the trailer and to enable towing of the trailer only when the trailer has been coupled with an appropriate tractor and circuits of the trailer have been connected with circuits of that tractor. Thus, power for operation of the disabling means and microprocessor incorporated in the trailer may be transmitted from the tractor.
In addition to the microprocessor 21 or the additional processor, the control means for controlling the disabling means 30 comprises an element 3 for supplying to the processor an identification code. In the illustrated example, where the disabling means is controlled by the processor 2 1 incorporated in the tractor, the element 3 1 is incorporated in the trailer I 1.
Means is provided for transmitting the identification code from the element 31 to the processor 21. This means preferably includes one of the connectors 1 7 for transmitting an electrical signal representing the identification code.
It will be understood that one electrical connector 17 may connect several electrical circuits of the trailer with corresponding circuits of the tractor and that one of these circuits may be dedicated to the transmission of the identification code from the element 31 to the processor 21. Alternatively, the identification code may be transmitted via an electrical circuit which is also used for other purposes, for example to transmit a signal from the processor 21 to the display device 20.
The element 31 may conveniently be incorporated in the display device 20. The element may have the form of an integrated circuit which is adapted in a known manner to provide an electrical signal representing in binary encoded form an identification number allocated to the trailer II. The identification number may be unique to that trailer. However, in a case where one operator operates a number of trailers, it is convenient to apply the same identification number to each of those trailers so that the processor 21 can recognise each of those trailers as being a member of the group of trailers operated by the same operator.
In a case where the disabling means 30 is incorporated in the trailer Il, the element 31 may also be incorporated in the trailer or may be incorporated in the tractor 10. In the latter case, the trailer would incorporate a processor for controlling operation of the disabling means 30.
In either case, when the tractor and trailer are coupled together and corresponding circuits of the tractor and the trailer are connected together, the processor would interrogate the device 31 and verify the identification number provided by the device 31. If the identification number is found to be an acceptable number, then the disabling means 30 would be energised or deenergised, as appropriate, to enable the combined brake circuit and so permit towing of the trailer by the tractor. If the identification number applied to the processor is unacceptable, then the disabling means is maintained in or is set in a condition in which the combined brake circuit is disabled and towing of the trailer by the tractor is prevented.
The processor 21 on the tractor may be programmed to accept a number of different identification codes corresponding to respective trailers of a group of trailers, any one of which could be towed by the tractor.
Alternatively, all trailers comprised by the group may have the same identification code. Generally, a number of tractors will be programmed to accept the identification number or any of the identification numbers provided by a group of trailers. However, tractors which do not have a processor programmed to accept the identification number or identification numbers of the group of trailers will be unable to tow trailers of that group.
It will be understood that, in a case where the disabling means 30 is incorporated in the tractor, it may be necessary to provide that the brake circuit will only be disabled by the disabling means 30 when a trailer is coupled with and connected with the tractor. Thus, sensing means for sensing coupling or connecting of a trailer with the tractor may be incorporated in the tractor to provide to the processor 21 a signal indicating the presence of a trailer.
The disabling means 30 and control means therefore may be used in a lorry which does not have the display devices 18, 19 and 20. Known number plates may be provided in place of the settable display devices.
Identification codes which are acceptable to the processor may be stored in a read-only memory associated with the processor or otherwise stored in a manner such that the processor cannot readily be programmed to accept additional codes. Alternatively, an acceptable code or acceptable codes may be applied by a driver of the tractor by means of a key pad or by means of a code carrier. An acceptable code applied by the driver may be stored in a random access memory of the processor. Such storage may be temporary. For example, the processor may be programmed to delete from the memory a code when that code has been used in the verification of a code transmitted to the processor from a trailer.
The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.
Claims (1)
- 7. A train according to Claim 6 wherein the tractor also has a settabledisplay device and wherein the control means of the tractor is arranged to cause the display device of the tractor and the display device of the trailer to present the same display.8. A tractor which has coupling means for coupling a trailer with the tractor for towing and connecting means for connecting a circuit of the tractor with a corresponding circuit of a coupled trailer to form a combined circuit, wherein the tractor further comprises circuit disabling means operatively associated with the connecting means and operable to disable the combined circuit, wherein the tractor also comprises control means for controllinq operation of the disabling means and the control means includes means for verifying an identification code applied to the control means.9. A tractor according to Claim 8 comDrising a further circuit and further connecting means associated with the further circuit for connecting the further circuit of the tractor with a further circuit of a coupled trailer and wherein the control means is associated with the further circuit of the tractor.10. A trailer having coupling means for coupling the trailer with a tractor for towing and connecting means for connecting a circuit of the trailer with a corresponding circuit of the tractor to form a combined circuit, wherein the trailer further comprises means for applying to the tractor an identification code and/or disabling means operatively associated with the connecting means and operable to disable the combined circuit.II. A trailer according to Claim 10 further comprising a settable display device.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8722677A GB2210342A (en) | 1987-09-26 | 1987-09-26 | Encoded tractor/trailer combination |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8722677A GB2210342A (en) | 1987-09-26 | 1987-09-26 | Encoded tractor/trailer combination |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8722677D0 GB8722677D0 (en) | 1987-11-04 |
| GB2210342A true GB2210342A (en) | 1989-06-07 |
Family
ID=10624427
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8722677A Withdrawn GB2210342A (en) | 1987-09-26 | 1987-09-26 | Encoded tractor/trailer combination |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2210342A (en) |
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1994029155A1 (en) * | 1993-06-14 | 1994-12-22 | Mor Security & Electronics Ltd. | Trailer anti-theft device |
| EP0648653A1 (en) * | 1993-10-16 | 1995-04-19 | IFAM Ingenieurbüro für Applikation von Mikrocomputern GmbH | Apparatus and method for the tamper-proof identification of vehicles |
| EP0973009A3 (en) * | 1998-07-13 | 2001-12-05 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Device for determining parameters of the front end of an articulated vehicle and/or parameters resulting from the articulation between the front and rear ends |
| WO2001044030A3 (en) * | 1999-12-02 | 2002-02-07 | Aegis Technology L L C | Theft prevention system for trailers with drop yard feature |
| EP1312492A3 (en) * | 2001-11-07 | 2003-08-13 | TMC Consultancy Ltd | An identification unit for a tractor unit |
| GB2415077A (en) * | 2004-05-14 | 2005-12-14 | Gulam Mahomed Patel | Electronic vehicle identification device |
| FR2897969A1 (en) * | 2006-02-28 | 2007-08-31 | Ldl Technology Soc Par Actions | Trailer and tractor communicating device for e.g. goods transport, has module receiving information from trailer and from modules independent of trailer via bidirectional radio frequency link, and transmitting information to latter modules |
| DE102012023974A1 (en) * | 2012-12-07 | 2014-06-12 | Wabco Gmbh | Method, system and control device for operating an immobilizer for trailer vehicles |
-
1987
- 1987-09-26 GB GB8722677A patent/GB2210342A/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1994029155A1 (en) * | 1993-06-14 | 1994-12-22 | Mor Security & Electronics Ltd. | Trailer anti-theft device |
| EP0648653A1 (en) * | 1993-10-16 | 1995-04-19 | IFAM Ingenieurbüro für Applikation von Mikrocomputern GmbH | Apparatus and method for the tamper-proof identification of vehicles |
| EP0973009A3 (en) * | 1998-07-13 | 2001-12-05 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Device for determining parameters of the front end of an articulated vehicle and/or parameters resulting from the articulation between the front and rear ends |
| WO2001044030A3 (en) * | 1999-12-02 | 2002-02-07 | Aegis Technology L L C | Theft prevention system for trailers with drop yard feature |
| EP1312492A3 (en) * | 2001-11-07 | 2003-08-13 | TMC Consultancy Ltd | An identification unit for a tractor unit |
| GB2415077A (en) * | 2004-05-14 | 2005-12-14 | Gulam Mahomed Patel | Electronic vehicle identification device |
| FR2897969A1 (en) * | 2006-02-28 | 2007-08-31 | Ldl Technology Soc Par Actions | Trailer and tractor communicating device for e.g. goods transport, has module receiving information from trailer and from modules independent of trailer via bidirectional radio frequency link, and transmitting information to latter modules |
| DE102012023974A1 (en) * | 2012-12-07 | 2014-06-12 | Wabco Gmbh | Method, system and control device for operating an immobilizer for trailer vehicles |
| US9283932B2 (en) | 2012-12-07 | 2016-03-15 | Wabco Gmbh | Method, system and control device for actuating an immobilizer for trailer vehicles |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB8722677D0 (en) | 1987-11-04 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |