Method and apparatus for an active convertor dolly

Abstract

The disclosure is directed at a method and apparatus for an active convertor dolly for use in a tractor-trailer configuration. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a system to connect a tractor to a trailer. The apparatus further includes a charge generating system for translating the mechanical motions or actions of the dolly into electricity or electrical energy so that this energy can be used to charge a battery or to power other functionality for either the dolly or the tractor-trailer. The active dolly may also operate to assist in shunting the tractor-trailer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An active converter dolly, comprising:
 a frame, comprising:
 a connecting portion for connecting to a trailer or a towing vehicle; 
 a trailer connector for connecting to a trailer; 
   a wheel rotatably coupled to the frame;   a motor operably coupled to the wheel;   a controller configured to receive towing vehicle information of the towing vehicle;   wherein:
 the wheel, the motor, and the controller are co-operatively configured such that, while the towing vehicle information of the towing vehicle is received by the controller:
 the motor is operable, via the controller, for applying a torque to the wheel, based on the towing vehicle information. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The active converter dolly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the towing vehicle information includes information relating to characteristics of the towing vehicle.   
     
     
         3 . The active converter dolly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the towing vehicle information includes information relating to an engine of the towing vehicle.   
     
     
         4 . The active converter dolly of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the information relating to the engine of the towing vehicle includes information relating to performance capabilities of the engine.   
     
     
         5 . The active converter dolly of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the information relating to performance capabilities of the engine include information relating to a maximum towing capacity of the engine.   
     
     
         6 . The active converter dolly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the wheel, the motor, and the controller are co-operatively configured such that the amount of torque that is applied to the wheel by the motor is based on the towing vehicle information received by the controller.   
     
     
         7 . The active converter dolly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the wheel, the motor, and the controller are co-operatively configured such that the operability of the motor, via the controller, based on the towing vehicle information, includes a change in the amount of torque that is applied to the wheel, by the motor.   
     
     
         8 . The active converter dolly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the motor is a motor/generator operable in:
 a drive mode for applying the torque to the wheel; and 
 a generator mode for converting kinetic energy generated by rotation of the wheel into electrical energy, and storing the electrical energy on a battery of the active converter dolly. 
   
     
     
         9 . The active converter dolly of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the wheel, the motor/generator, and the controller are co-operatively configured such that, while the towing vehicle information of the towing vehicle is received by the controller:
 the drive mode or the generator mode is selectively activated by the controller based on the towing vehicle information. 
   
     
     
         10 . The active converter dolly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the motor is an electric motor.   
     
     
         11 . The active converter dolly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the controller is configured to receive the towing vehicle information from the towing vehicle.   
     
     
         12 . The active converter dolly of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a communication interface operably coupled to the controller for providing the towing vehicle information from the towing vehicle to the controller.   
     
     
         13 . The active converter dolly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the motor, the wheel, and the controller are co-operatively configured such that, while: (i) the trailer connector is connected to the trailer, and the connecting portion is connected to the towing vehicle, such that a towing configuration is established, the towing vehicle including a wheel and an engine configured to apply a torque to the wheel, (ii) the wheel of the active converter dolly and the wheel of the towing vehicle are supported on a reaction surface, and (iii) a motive force is being applied to the towing configuration in response to the co-operative application of the torque applied to the wheel of the active converter dolly by the motor and the torque applied to the wheel of the towing vehicle by the engine:
 displacement of the towing configuration, across the reaction surface, is effectible by the motive force. 
   
     
     
         14 . A method of controlling an active converter dolly, the active converter dolly including a wheel and a motor configured to apply a torque to the wheel, the method comprising:
 receiving towing vehicle information of a towing vehicle;   generating a motor control signal based on the towing vehicle information; and   operating the motor, via the motor control signal, to apply the torque to the wheel.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the towing vehicle information includes information relating to characteristics of the towing vehicle.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the towing vehicle information includes information relating to an engine of the towing vehicle.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the information relating to the engine of the towing vehicle includes information relating to performance capabilities of the engine.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the information relating to performance capabilities of the engine include information relating to a maximum towing capacity of the engine.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the amount of torque that is applied to the wheel by the motor is based on the received towing vehicle information.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the operating of the motor, via the motor control signal, to apply the torque to the wheel, includes a change in the amount of torque that is applied to the wheel, by the motor.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the receiving of the towing vehicle information of the towing vehicle is effectuated by receiving of the towing vehicle information from the towing vehicle.   
     
     
         22 . An active converter dolly comprising:
 a frame including:
 a connecting portion for connecting to a trailer or a towing vehicle; 
 a trailer connector for connecting to a trailer; 
   a first wheel rotatably coupled to the frame and disposed on a first side of the frame;   a second wheel rotatably coupled to the frame and disposed on a second side of the frame that is opposite the first side;   a first motor;   a second motor;   a controller operably coupled, independently, to the first motor and to the second motor;   wherein:
 the first motor is operable, via the controller, in a drive mode for applying torque to the first wheel; and 
 the second motor is operable, via the controller, in a drive mode for applying torque to the second wheel; 
 the controller, the first motor, the second motor, the first wheel, and the second wheel are co-operatively configured such that:
 differential traction steering of the active converter dolly is effectible via application of a first torque to the first wheel and a second torque to the second wheel that is different from the first torque. 
 
   
     
     
         23 . The active converter dolly of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the application of the first torque to the first wheel and the second torque to the second wheel that is different from the first torque is for effecting application of a differential torque to the first and second wheels.   
     
     
         24 . The active converter dolly of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the controller, the first motor, the second motor, the first wheel, and the second wheel are co-operatively configured such that the operability of the first motor, via the controller, and the operability of the second motor, via the controller, are independent.   
     
     
         25 . The active converter dolly of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the controller, the first motor, the second motor, the first wheel, and the second wheel are co-operatively configured such that, while the trailer connector is connected to the trailer, and the connecting portion is connected to the towing vehicle, such that a towing configuration is established:
 differential traction steering of the towing configuration is effectible via application of the first torque to the first wheel and the second torque to the second wheel that is different from the first torque. 
   
     
     
         26 . The active converter dolly of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the first motor is an electric motor; and   the second motor is an electric motor.   
     
     
         27 . The active converter dolly of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the controller is configured to receive towing vehicle information of the towing vehicle;   wherein:
 the controller, the first motor, the second motor, the first wheel, and the second wheel are co-operatively configured such that, while the towing vehicle information of the towing vehicle is received by the controller:
 the first motor is operable, via the controller, for applying torque to the first wheel, based on the towing vehicle information; and 
 the second motor is operable, via the controller, for applying torque to the second wheel, based on the towing vehicle information. 
 
   
     
     
         28 . The active converter dolly of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a battery for powering each one of the first and second motors.   
     
     
         29 . The active converter dolly of  claim 28 , wherein:
 the first motor is a first motor/generator; and   the second motor is a second motor/generator; and   the first motor/generator is further operable in a generator mode, for converting kinetic energy generated by rotation of the first wheel into electrical energy, and storing the electrical energy in the battery of the active converter dolly; and   the second motor/generator is further operable in a generator mode, for converting kinetic energy generated by rotation of the second wheel into electrical energy, and storing the electrical energy in the battery.   
     
     
         30 . The active converter dolly as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein:
 the controller is operably coupled, independently, to the first motor/generator and to the second motor/generator, for selectively activating the first motor/generator and the second motor/generator in either the drive mode or the generator mode.   
     
     
         31 . The active converter dolly as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein:
 the controller, the first motor/generator, the second motor/generator, the first wheel, and the second wheel are co-operatively configured such that, while: (i) the first motor/generator is operating in the drive mode, and (ii) the second motor/generator is operating in the drive mode:
 differential traction steering of the active converter dolly is effectible via application of the first torque to the first wheel and the second torque to the second wheel that is different from the first torque. 
   
     
     
         32 . The active converter dolly as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein:
 the controller, the first motor/generator, the second motor/generator, the first wheel, and the second wheel are co-operatively configured such that, while: (i) the trailer connector is connected to the trailer, and the connecting portion is connected to the towing vehicle, such that the towing configuration is established, (ii) the first motor/generator is operating in the drive mode, and (iii) the second motor/generator is operating in the drive mode:
 differential traction steering of the towing configuration is effectible via application of the first torque to the first wheel and the second torque to the second wheel that is different from the first torque. 
   
     
     
         33 . The active converter dolly as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein:
 the controller, the first motor/generator, the second motor/generator, the first wheel, and the second wheel are co-operatively configured such that, while: (i) the first motor/generator is operating in the generator mode, and (ii) the second motor/generator is operating in the generator mode:
 a first regenerative braking force is applied to the first wheel, and a second regenerative braking force is applied to the second wheel, such that the kinetic energy of each of the first wheel and the second wheel is converted into electrical energy via regenerative braking, the electrical energy being stored in the battery. 
   
     
     
         34 . The active converter dolly as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein:
 the first regenerative braking force is applied to the first wheel by the first motor/generator, and the second regenerative braking force is applied to the second wheel via the second motor/generator.   
     
     
         35 . The active converter dolly of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the controller is configured to receive towing vehicle information of the towing vehicle;   wherein:
 the controller, the first motor/generator, the second motor/generator, the first wheel, and the second wheel are co-operatively configured such that, while the towing vehicle information of the towing vehicle is received by the controller:
 the drive mode or the generator mode of the first motor/generator is selectively activated, via the controller, based on the towing vehicle information; and 
 the drive mode or the generator mode of the second motor/generator is selectively activated, via the controller, based on the towing vehicle information. 
 
   
     
     
         36 . The active converter dolly of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the controller, the first motor/generator, the second motor/generator, the first wheel, and the second wheel are co-operatively configured such that the operability of the first motor/generator, via the controller, and the operability of the second motor/generator, via the controller, are independent.