Wabash Technology Corporation

James B Brown, Jr

Gerard O McCann

Rodney P Ehrlich

Danny Lee Gilbert

Donald J Ehrlich

A system for a vehicle includes a hollow axle, a wheel hub which surrounds the axle, bearings provided therebetween, at least one nut having a predetermined inner diameter mounted on an end of the axle, and a hub cap mounted to the wheel hub. An exciting element is mounted within the hub cap by a mounting wheel. A sensor member is mounted in the end of the axle and radially spaced from the exciting element. The sensor member has an outer diameter which is less than the inner diameter of the nut such that the wheel hub, the bearings, the nut, the hub cap, the exciting element and the mounting wheel can be removed without having to remove the sensor member from the axle.

Axle end wheel sensor for a vehicle, such as a truck or a trailer

A system is provided for sensing the presence of a semi-tractor as the mechanical connection between a trailer and a fifth wheel of the semi-tractor is made, or for sensing the presence of a rail car as the mechanical connection between the trailer and a stanchion plate of the rail car is made. A sensor is provided in the floor of the trailer proximate to the kingpin. The sensor senses the presence of the fifth wheel or the rail car stanchion plate during the connection process. Control circuitry on the trailer processes and uses signals from the sensor to perform various functions.

Semi-tractor fifth wheel sensor and rail car stanchion sensor for a trailer

A trailer connector to which a conventional connector from a tractor can be attached includes an electrical housing assembly and a lid and connector assembly. The electrical housing assembly includes a non-conductive housing which is mounted to the trailer and a plurality of conductive studs, a plurality of conductive terminals, and a non-conductive cap mounted within the housing. The cap has a plurality of passageways provided therein. Each terminal has a first end connected to a respective one of the studs and a second end which is in communication with a respective one of the passageways through the cap. A conventional wiring harness is attached to the studs. The lid and connector assembly includes a lid portion which is attached to the housing and a connector portion which is capable of being connected to and removed from the lid portion. The connector portion includes a plurality of pins which extend therethrough and interface with the cap. A conventional connector from the tractor can be connected to the opposite side of the connector portion.

Seven-way trailer connector

A system is provided for sensing the presence of a standard component of a locking mechanism of a door of a trailer when the door is moved to the closed position and is secured. A sensor is provided on the trailer proximate to the locking mechanism. The sensor automatically reacts when a ferrous target comes within its sensing range. Control circuitry on the trailer processes and uses signals from the sensor to perform various functions.

Door sensor for a trailer

A novel diagnostic system for a trailer is provided by the present invention. The trailer includes a micro controller which is part of an anti-lock brake system of the trailer. A warning light is provided on the trailer and is in electrical connection with the micro controller. A switch is provided proximate to the warning lamp. The switch can be activated by a technician to provide a short across the warning lamp. A stored program within the micro controller recognizes the short and performs a diagnostic function in response thereto by flashing the warning lamp in a predetermined manner.

Growing community of inventors

Lafayette, IN, United States of America

James B Brown, Jr