Patent ID: 11951868
Assignee: ELECTRANS TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  Y | IPC B

Claim 12:
13. An apparatus for releasably coupling a second trailer to a first trailer that is releasably coupled to a towing vehicle in a tractor-trailer vehicle configuration, the apparatus comprising:
a frame;
a first trailer connector assembly disposed at a first end of the frame for releasably coupling the apparatus to the first trailer such that the apparatus translates with the first trailer;
a second trailer connector assembly for releasably coupling the apparatus to the second trailer such that the second trailer translates with the apparatus;
at least one pair of wheels; and
a kinetic energy recovery device adapted to recover energy from regenerative braking of at least one wheel of the at least one pair of wheels, comprising:
at least one motor-generator operably coupled to the at least one wheel, wherein the at least one motor-generator is operable in:
a drive mode for applying motive rotational force to the at least one wheel; and
a generator mode for converting the kinetic energy to the electrical energy, the generator mode effecting deceleration of the at least one wheel;

an energy storing device for storing the electrical energy;
a controller operably coupled to the at least one motor-generator for selectively activating the drive mode or the generator mode; and
a communication interface operably coupled to the controller for providing vehicle data from the towing vehicle to the controller;
wherein the first trailer connector assembly, the second trailer connector assembly, the at least one wheel, and the kinetic energy recovery device are cooperatively configured such that while the first trailer translates with the towing vehicle, and the releasable coupling of the apparatus to the first trailer and to the second trailer is effected, braking by the towing vehicle is with effect that the kinetic energy recovery device converts kinetic energy generated by rotation of the at least one wheel to electrical energy.