초록 ▼

An adjustable cab extender assembly (200) adapted to couple to a vehicle (100) including a tractor (102) coupled to a trailer (104) is provided. The assembly includes a dynamic cab extender (206) adjustable in length and operable to be disposed in a gap (106) extending between the tractor and the tr

An adjustable cab extender assembly (200) adapted to couple to a vehicle (100) including a tractor (102) coupled to a trailer (104) is provided. The assembly includes a dynamic cab extender (206) adjustable in length and operable to be disposed in a gap (106) extending between the tractor and the trailer. The assembly includes a speed sensor (268) operable to sense a speed of the vehicle. The assembly also includes a control system (208) coupled in signal communication with the speed sensor and coupled to the dynamic cab extender. The control system is operable to automatically adjust a longitudinal length of the dynamic cab extender to selectively adjust a proximity of a trailing edge of the dynamic cab extender relative to a front end of the trailer when the sensed speed exceeds a selected speed. The control system may also place the dynamic cab extender in a stowed position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An adjustable cab extender assembly adapted to couple to a vehicle including a tractor coupled to a trailer, the assembly comprising:(a) a dynamic cab extender adjustable in length and operable to be disposed in a gap extending between a back end of the tractor and a front end of the trailer; (b)

1. An adjustable cab extender assembly adapted to couple to a vehicle including a tractor coupled to a trailer, the assembly comprising:(a) a dynamic cab extender adjustable in length and operable to be disposed in a gap extending between a back end of the tractor and a front end of the trailer; (b) a speed sensor operable to sense a speed of the vehicle; and (c) a control system coupled in signal communication with the speed sensor and coupled to the dynamic cab extender, wherein the control system is operable to automatically adjust a longitudinal length of the dynamic cab extender to selectively adjust a proximity of a trailing edge of the cab extender relative to the front end of the trailer when the sensed speed exceeds a selected speed. 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the dynamic cab extender is further comprised of a first panel and a second panel, wherein the first panel is reciprocal within a cavity of the second panel to adjust the longitudinal length of the dynamic cab extender.3. The assembly of claim 2 further comprising an extender actuator coupled to the first panel and the second panel, the extender actuator adjustable in length to reciprocate the first panel relative to the second panel, wherein the extender actuator is oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the dynamic cab extender is configurable between a stowed position and a deployed position in which the cab extender is oriented substantially parallel with the sides of the tractor.5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the control system is adapted to configure the dynamic cab extender into the stowed position when the speed of the vehicle falls below a predetermined speed.6. The assembly of claim 4, further comprising a linkage assembly coupled to the dynamic cab extender and adaptable to couple to the back end of the tractor, wherein the linkage assembly is operable to rotate the dynamic cab extender between the stowed position and the deployed position.7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the linkage assembly is comprised of a first link coupled in an end to end relationship with a second link, wherein a first end of the first link is adaptable to couple to a back surface of the tractor and a first end of the second link is coupled to the dynamic cab extender, and wherein the second ends of the first and second links are coupled to one another.8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the first link is coupled to a joint having at least two axes of freedom of movement, the joint adapted to couple the first link to the back end of the tractor.9. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the second link is coupled to a joint having two axes of freedom of movement, the joint adapted to couple the second link to the cab extender.10. The assembly of claim 7, further including a deployment actuator coupled to the linkage assembly, the deployment actuator adjustable in length to reciprocate the dynamic cab extender from the deployed position to the stowed position.11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the control system is adapted to configure the dynamic cab extender into a stowed position when the speed of the vehicle is less than a predetermined speed.12. The assembly of claim 1 further including a fixed cab extender adapted to be coupled to the vehicle so as to span a portion of the gap, wherein the fixed cab extender is adapted to substantially align with a lateral side of the vehicle.13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the fixed cab extender has a selected length chosen to permit the tractor to pivot about the trailer a selected angular range without the front of the trailer contacting the fixed cab extender.14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the selected angular range is greater than about 90 degrees.15. An adjustable cab extender assembly adapted to couple to a vehicle including a tractor coupled to a trailer, the assembly comprising:(a) a dynamic cab extender operable to be disposed in a gap extending between a back end of the tractor and a front end of the trailer; and (b) a control system coupled to the dynamic cab extender, the control assembly including; (i) a first actuator adapted to adjust a longitudinal length of the dynamic cab extender to selectively adjust the proximity of a trailing edge of the dynamic cab extender to the front end of the trailer; and (ii) a second actuator adapted to configure the dynamic cab extender between a stowed position and a deployed position in which the dynamic cab extender is substantially aligned with a lateral side of the vehicle. 16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the dynamic cab extender is further comprised of a first panel reciprocal at least partially within a cavity of a second panel to adjust the longitudinal length of the dynamic cab extender.17. The assembly of claim 15, further comprising a linkage assembly coupled to the dynamic cab extender and adaptable to couple to the back end of the tractor, wherein the linkage assembly is operable to reciprocate the dynamic cab extender between the stowed position and the deployed position.18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the linkage assembly is comprised of a first link coupled in an end to end relationship with a second link, wherein a first end of the first link is adaptable to couple to a back surface of the tractor and a first end of the second link is coupled to the dynamic cab extender, and wherein the second ends of the first and second links are coupled to one another.19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the first link is coupled to a joint having two axes of freedom of movement, the joint adapted to couple the first link to the back end of the tractor.20. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the second link is coupled to a joint having two axes of freedom of movement, the joint adapted to couple the second link to the dynamic cab extender.21. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the control system further includes a speed sensor adapted to sense a speed of the vehicle and wherein the control system is adapted to configure the dynamic cab extender into the deployed position when the speed of the vehicle exceeds a selected speed.22. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the control system further includes a speed sensor adapted to sense a speed of the vehicle and wherein the control system is adapted to configure the dynamic cab extender into the stowed position when the speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined speed.23. The assembly of claim 15 further including a fixed cab extender adapted to be coupled to the vehicle so as to span a portion of the gap, wherein the fixed cab extender is adapted to substantially align in the gap with the dynamic cab extender when the dynamic cab extender is in the deployed position.24. The assembly of claim 23, wherein the fixed cab extender has a selected length chosen to permit the tractor to pivot about the trailer a selected angular range without the front of the trailer contacting the fixed cab extender.25. An adjustable cab extender assembly adapted to couple to a vehicle including a tractor coupled to a trailer, the assembly comprising:a dynamic cab extender adjustable in length and adapted to be coupled to the vehicle, the dynamic cab extender configurable between a deployed position in which the dynamic cab extender is oriented substantially coplanar with a lateral side of the vehicle in a gap extending between a back end of the tractor of the vehicle and a front end of the trailer of the vehicle, a stowed position in which the dynamic cab extender is stowed behind the back end of the tractor within the gap and inclined relative to the lateral side of the vehicle, and an extended position in which the dynamic cab extender is oriented substantially coplanar with the lateral side of the vehicle in the gap, wherein a length of the dynamic cab extender when in the extended position exceeds a length of the dynamic cab extender when in the deployed position. 26. The assembly of claim 25, further comprising a control system for selectively actuating the dynamic cab extender between the stowed, deployed, and extended positions, wherein the control system is adapted to configure the dynamic cab extender into the deployed position when the speed of the vehicle exceeds a selected speed.27. The assembly of claim 25, further comprising a control system for selectively actuating the dynamic cab extender between the stowed, deployed, and extended positions, wherein the control system is adapted to configure the dynamic cab extender into the stowed position when the speed is below a predetermined speed.28. The assembly of claim 25, wherein the dynamic cab extender is further comprised of a first panel reciprocal at least partially within a cavity of a second panel to adjust the length of the dynamic cab extender.29. The assembly of claim 25 further including a fixed cab extender adapted to be coupled to the vehicle so as to span a portion of the gap, wherein the fixed cab extender is adapted to substantially align in the gap with the dynamic cab extender when the dynamic cab extender is in the deployed position.30. A method of adjusting a longitudinal length of a cab extender disposed in a gap located between a tractor and a trailer, the method comprising:(a) sensing a speed of the tractor; and (b) automatically adjusting a longitudinal length of the dynamic cab extender to selectively position a trailing edge of the dynamic cab extender a selected distance from a front end of the trailer when the sensed speed of the tractor exceeds a selected speed. 31. The method of claim 30, further comprising configuring the dynamic cab extender between a deployed position in which the dynamic cab extender is oriented substantially parallel with the lateral sides of the tractor and a stowed position in which the dynamic cab extender is disposed substantially perpendicular to the lateral sides of the tractor.32. The method of claim 31, further comprising automatically configuring the dynamic cab extender in the stowed position when the sensed speed of the tractor is less than a predetermined speed.33. The method of claim 30, further comprising adjusting the longitudinal length of the dynamic cab extender by reciprocating a first panel of the dynamic cab extender at least partially within a cavity of a second panel of the dynamic cab extender.