Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates generally to a lighting
protection system for trailer unlts of what ls commonly
known as tractor-traller rigs.
A common problem with operating tractor-trailer
rigs at night is for an operator to cut a corner t~o short
and thereby scrape the rear of the trailer against a curb, ~ -
parked car, or a corner light post, etc. When such an
accident occurs it has been a common excuse that the operator
could not see where the rear of the tractor was because
it was too dark. Other common type accidents would be ~
-or an operator to lose a wheel in a ditch when crossing - -
a four lane highway or making a U-turn on a highway. -
The prior art shows various type lighting devices
for attachment to motor vehicles to allow the operator to
see the side edges of the road ànd/or the vehicle itself.
None of these prior art devices, however, are arranged for
the simple electrical installation as is dlsclosed in this
invention. Existing prior patents which may be pertinent
to this invention are as follows: Pat. No. 1,496,140, issued
June 3, 1924 to S. S. Tuttle; Pat. No. 1,535,894, issued
April 28, 1925 to R. T. Biddle; Pat. No. 1,611,706, issued
December 21, 1926 to E. I. Adolphson et al; Pat. No. 3,023,344,
issued February 27, 1962 to J. L. Owings; Pat. No. 3,017,500,
issued January 16, 1962 to H. A. Pe~zopane; and Pat. No.
3,457,397, issued July 22, 1969 to M. E. Tindall.
~ n ob~ect of the present invention is to provide
a traller protector lighting system which is easily connect-
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ible to the exis~ing wiring in such trailers.
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Another ob~ect of this invention ls to provide a
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light protecting system which only operates when the existing
llghting systems o~ the trailer are energi ed.
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A further ob~ect of this lnvention is to provlde
a novcl llghting protecting system for trailers which is
easlly connectible to the existin~ wiring, and only will
operate when the running light system of the traller is
energized and only when at least part of the turn signal
llghting system is energized.
A still further object of this invention is to
provide addtional protecting lights in the form of backup
lights which are only energizable when the existing running
light system is energized and the turn signal system is
energized in the emergency position. -
One of the big advantages of the novel system
-disclosed herein is the fact that no extra wiring is needed
between the tractor and the trailer. This system is very
easy to install and service, and will provide the extra
protection which a driver needs in order to avoid the
accidents which are common in the field. Such accidents -
as occur when the driver turns a little too short. These
have been most common at night because oE the difficulty
for the operator in seeing the rear portion of the trailer.
Flgure l is a top plan view of the simplest
form of this invention as applied to a tractor-trailer rig. -~
Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the
novel circuit connections for this system.
Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing reference
numeral 10 indicates the tractor-trailer rig as it is -~
turning a corner 14. A lamp post 15 is indicated on said
~corner. A simple version of the lighting protecting system
~ is shown by general by reference numeral 1~. This shows a
', 30 single side protecting light mounted on each of the trailer.
The ligXts are placed quite close to and above the rear ~;
~heels of the trailer.
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Figurc 2 shows ~ schemntic of thc llghting
~ys~e~n and t~le ~nore common application thereof which
includes two side lights on each side of the trailer.
These side lights are illustrated by reference numerals 16.
As indicated on the schematic these lights 16 are placed
frontand rear of the tandem wheels 11 and of course would
be mounted somewhat above the wheels. The lower set of
lights 16 which as indicated would be the right side of
the trailer are connected by means of wiring 18 to a
switch relay 20. This switch relay 20 is preferably of
the thermal delay activative type with normally open
contacts 26. However, once the relay is triggered on it
will remain on (with contacts 26 closed) for short periods
of time even though the primary energization for the coil
28 may be intermittent. This is an important feature of
this invention. The point 22 is connected by means (not
shown) to the existing running light wiring of the trailer.
The point 24 from the relay is conn~cted to the existing
trailer wiring for the right turn signal lights. The
operation of the electrical circuit is quite simple. ~t
night with the running lights energized point 22 has a
constant voltage supply thereto and if a right turn is
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signalled for, at that moment, point 24 will also be
energized. Energization of point 24 will cause current
to flow through the coil 28 closing the switch contacts 26
and thereby energizing line 18 and side lights 16. It is
f ehus clear that the system will only operate at night when ~ -
the runnlng lights are energized and for the righ~ lights
only when the right turn signal is energized.
The left turn protecting lights are similarly
connected. Wiring 38 connects the left side lights 16 to
a similar relay 20 which is identical to that of the relay
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discussed above. The only dif~erenc is that point 34 i8
connected to the left turn signal wiring for the trailer.
Of course, when the existing running lights are energlzed
point 22 will be hot and iE a le~t turn is made point 34
then becomes intermittently hot and because of the thermal
delay action the contacts 26 will remain closed and the
left side lights 16 will be energized throughout the turn.
Shortly after a turn is made either right or left points
24 or 34 will become deenergized and shortly thereafter
the respective relays will open the respective contacts
26 to deenergize the appropriate side lights.
Another new and novel feature of this invention
is in the provision for additional protecting lights in
the form of backup lights 40. These, of course, would be
mounted at the rear of the trailer. These are connected
by wiring 42 to a third thermal active relay shown in ~ ;
the center of Figure 2. This r~lay is identical to the
first two relays described above and has the same reference
numerals applied thereto. The difference here is in the
connection of said relay to the energization circuits.
~iring 44 connects the switch contact portion of the relay
to the right side wiring 18, and wiring 46 connects the
energization coil 28 to the left side wiring 38. It can
thus be seen that when both the lines 18 and 38 are energiæed
then the backup switch relay will operate to energize the
baGkup lights 40~ The only time that both lines 18 and
38 are energized is when both the existing running light
clrcuit is energized and both turn signal l~nes connected
to polnts 24 and 34 as above-are energized. This condition
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occurs when the operator puts his normal turn signal indicator -
into the emergency positon. ~s is well known when put
into emergency position all the turn signal lights
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intermittently flash and of course the points 24 and 34
are being intcr~ittently energized.
This lighting protecting system is quite unique
and offers many advantages over any known prior art system.
It uses the existing wiring systems in a trailer and only
adds the minimum of extra parts. It gives the operator
full control over these additional lights and gives him
added flexibility when turning and/or backing.
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