US 12,472,783 B2
Coupling system
Mario Sebastian Köster, Bodman-Ludwigshafen (DE)
Assigned to SAF-HOLLAND GmbH, Bessenbach (DE)
Appl. No. 17/753,627
Filed by SAF-HOLLAND GmbH, Bessenbach (DE)
PCT Filed Sep. 9, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/075173
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 9, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/048189, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2019 124 263.0 (DE), filed on Sep. 10, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0332154 A1, Oct. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. B60D 1/01 (2006.01); B60D 1/64 (2006.01); B62D 53/08 (2006.01)
CPC B60D 1/015 (2013.01) [B60D 1/64 (2013.01); B62D 53/0807 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A coupling system for a towing vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of sensors; and
a fifth wheel arrangement;
wherein the fifth wheel arrangement includes a fifth wheel plate and at least one bearing that includes a bearing block;
wherein the fifth wheel plate has a trailer surface and an entry opening;
wherein the trailer surface has an outwardly pointing normal;
wherein the entry opening extends in an entry direction;
wherein the fifth wheel plate is pivotally supported about a transverse axis relative to the at least one bearing;
wherein the bearing has a contact surface, the contact surface lying in a contact plane;
wherein the plurality of sensors indirectly and/or directly detect and/or determine a pitch angle about the transverse axis contactlessly;
wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is disposed in close proximity to the fifth wheel plate; and
wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors determines a distance of the trailer surface to the contact plane in the direction of a normal of the contact plane.