US 11,834,111 B2
Automatic tractor trailer coupling
Frederick M. Moore, Somerville, MA (US); and Gregory J. Paraskos, Medford, MA (US)
Assigned to ISEE, Inc., Cambridge, MA (US)
Filed by ISEE, Inc., Cambridge, MA (US)
Filed on Jul. 13, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/927,791.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/946,472, filed on Dec. 11, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/898,327, filed on Sep. 10, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/873,550, filed on Jul. 12, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0061034 A1, Mar. 4, 2021
Int. Cl. B62D 53/12 (2006.01); B60D 1/64 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 53/125 (2013.01) [B60D 1/64 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for automatically coupling at least one of an air line or an electrical line of a tractor to a trailer that is configured to be pulled by the tractor, comprising:
a moveable arm mounted to the tractor and configured to exhibit at least one degree of freedom (DOF) of motion relative to the tractor, wherein the moveable arm carries at least one of an air line connector or an electrical connector; and
a trailer coupling head mounted to the trailer and that carries at least one of an air line connector or an electrical connector that are configured to be connected to the at least one of an air line connector or an electrical connector of the tractor;
wherein the trailer coupling head can be moved in at least a vertical DOF relative to the ground by the automatic coupling system,
wherein the moveable arm is configured to exhibit a translational DOF in a longitudinal direction and a rotational DOF about a vertical axis that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.