US 11,884,323 B2
Method for determining a turning radius
Gyorgy Jozsef Biro, Ladbergen (DE); and Christoph Muller, Westerkappeln (DE)
Assigned to Lemken Gmbh & Co KG, Alpen (DE)
Appl. No. 17/047,806
Filed by Lemken Gmbh & Co KG, Alpen (DE)
PCT Filed Apr. 16, 2019, PCT No. PCT/DE2019/100349
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 15, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/201394, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 24, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2018 003 170.6 (DE), filed on Apr. 18, 2018; and application No. 10 2019 109 191.8 (DE), filed on Apr. 8, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0107565 A1, Apr. 15, 2021
Int. Cl. B62D 15/02 (2006.01); B62D 13/00 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 15/028 (2013.01) [B62D 13/00 (2013.01); B62D 15/024 (2013.01); B62D 15/025 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for determining a turning radius (R3) of a trailer (2) attached to a towing vehicle (22) and moved by the latter, comprising a computing unit (14), which is connected to a measuring sensor system (50), wherein the computing unit and measuring sensor system function independently of the towing vehicle and where the measuring sensor system transmits sensor data (52) to the computing unit (14) about current movements of the trailer (2), and which sensor data is considered by the computing unit (14) for the determination of the turning radius (R3) based on sensor data obtained solely from the movements of the trailer, characterized in that the measuring sensor system has sensors (10), by means of which at least one of rotation angles (34) and distances (12) covered in a time interval of first and second wheels (4, 6) located on opposite first and second sides (3, 5) of the trailer (2) are measured, the first sensor value from the first wheel (4) on the first side (3) of the trailer (2) is offset against the second sensor value from the second wheel (6) on the second side (5) of the trailer (2), in order to form a calculated value (56), and the computing unit (14) offsets the calculated value (56) in consideration of a value (51) for the track width (16) of the first and second wheels (4, 6), which are compared with one another, to form a value (58) for the current turning radius (R3) of the trailer (2), wherein the system operates without requiring an electronic connection between the towing vehicle (22) and trailer (2).