US 11,951,868 B2
Methods and apparatus for an active convertor dolly
Brian Layfield, Oakville (CA); Amir Khajepour, Oakville (CA); Brian Fan, Oakville (CA); and John Loewen, Oakville (CA)
Assigned to ELECTRANS TECHNOLOGIES LTD., Oakville (CA)
Filed by Electrans Technologies Ltd., Oakville (CA)
Filed on Mar. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/693,775.
Application 17/693,775 is a continuation of application No. 16/618,709, granted, now 11,279,255, previously published as PCT/CA2018/050633, filed on May 30, 2018.
Application 16/618,709 is a continuation of application No. 15/608,098, filed on May 30, 2017, granted, now 10,449,954, issued on Oct. 22, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0266715 A1, Aug. 25, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B60L 15/32 (2006.01); B60K 1/04 (2019.01); B60K 7/00 (2006.01); B60L 3/00 (2019.01); B60L 7/18 (2006.01); B60L 15/20 (2006.01); B60L 50/16 (2019.01); B60L 50/60 (2019.01); B60L 50/64 (2019.01); B60L 58/12 (2019.01); B60L 58/13 (2019.01); B60L 58/15 (2019.01); B60L 58/26 (2019.01); B60W 10/08 (2006.01); B60W 10/18 (2012.01); B60W 30/02 (2012.01); B60W 30/18 (2012.01); B62D 1/16 (2006.01); B62D 53/08 (2006.01); B62D 59/04 (2006.01)
CPC B60L 58/12 (2019.02) [B60K 1/04 (2013.01); B60K 7/0007 (2013.01); B60L 3/0015 (2013.01); B60L 7/18 (2013.01); B60L 15/20 (2013.01); B60L 15/2009 (2013.01); B60L 15/2036 (2013.01); B60L 15/32 (2013.01); B60L 50/16 (2019.02); B60L 50/60 (2019.02); B60L 50/64 (2019.02); B60L 58/13 (2019.02); B60L 58/15 (2019.02); B60L 58/26 (2019.02); B60W 10/08 (2013.01); B60W 10/18 (2013.01); B60W 30/02 (2013.01); B60W 30/18036 (2013.01); B62D 1/16 (2013.01); B62D 53/0864 (2013.01); B62D 59/04 (2013.01); B60K 2001/0405 (2013.01); B60K 2007/0038 (2013.01); B60K 2007/0092 (2013.01); B60L 2200/28 (2013.01); B60L 2200/36 (2013.01); B60L 2220/46 (2013.01); B60L 2240/12 (2013.01); B60L 2240/423 (2013.01); B60L 2240/44 (2013.01); B60L 2240/461 (2013.01); B60L 2240/54 (2013.01); B60L 2240/80 (2013.01); B60L 2250/10 (2013.01); B60W 2510/083 (2013.01); B60W 2510/244 (2013.01); B60W 2520/10 (2013.01); B60W 2540/10 (2013.01); B60W 2710/083 (2013.01); B60W 2710/244 (2013.01); B60W 2720/10 (2013.01); B60Y 2200/14 (2013.01); B60Y 2200/147 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for releasably coupling a second trailer to a first trailer that is releasably coupled to a towing vehicle in a tractor-trailer vehicle configuration, the apparatus comprising:
a frame;
a first trailer connector assembly for releasably coupling the apparatus to the first trailer such that the apparatus translates with the first trailer;
a second trailer connector assembly, including a fifth wheel assembly, for releasably coupling the apparatus to the second trailer such that the second trailer translates with the apparatus;
a pair of wheels rotatably coupled to the frame, each one of the wheels, independently, including a hub;
an energy storing device for storing electrical energy;
a pair of motor-generators, each motor-generator, independently, being:
operably coupled to one of the wheels in the pair of wheels and disposed within the hub thereof, and
operably coupled to the energy storing device,
such that each motor-generator is operable in:
a drive mode for applying a motive rotational force to its respective wheel; and
a generator mode for applying a regenerative braking force to its respective wheel for converting mechanical energy generated by rotation of the wheel to electrical energy wherein the generated electrical energy is stored on the energy-storing device; and
a controller for selectively activating the drive mode or the generator mode of each motor-generator.