Brake control system

• US 20020038974A1
• Filed: 10/04/2001
• Published: 04/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: N.I.R., Inc.
• Original Assignee: N.I.R., Inc.
• Inventors: Dinan, Michael E., Reinhold, Eugene P., Lamke, Isidore I., Plummer, Robert D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,802,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 303/7
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 11/108 to a trailer fluid system
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/20 with control of pump driving means
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 characterised by specified functions of the control system components

Abstract

A brake control system for towed vehicles is disclosed which provides for controlled application of hydraulic brakes in a towed vehicle in response to the application of the brakes of the towing vehicle. The system is designed in two preferred embodiments. The first embodiment is a self-contained design adapted for use with rental trailers, for example, where a plurality of towed vehicles will be associated with a particular trailer. The second embodiment is intended for hard wiring in connection with the towed and towing vehicles. In each case, superior performance is obtained because the system operates the brake system of the towed vehicle in a unique manner.

Claims

1. A brake control system for a multiple towing arrangement, comprising:

a unit installed on a towed vehicle, including a hydrostatic pump, and a drive motor for the pump, the pump being operatively connected to the brake system of the towed vehicle to control operation thereof;

a control operatively connected to at least one parameter of the towing vehicle, said control operative to apply power to the motor for said pump; and

a breakaway operatively connected between the control and the towing vehicle.

2. The brake control system of claim 1 further including a battery for supplying electrical energy to the motor through said control.

3. The brake control system of claim 2 wherein said battery is mounted on the towed vehicle and is rechargeable from the towing vehicle.

4. The brake control system of claim 1 wherein said unit is direct wired to the towing vehicle, the battery power for said motor being supplied by a battery in the towing vehicle.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said unit is adapted to assist either electric or hydraulic brakes of the towing vehicle, further including a selector unit mounted in the towing vehicle for selecting the brake system.

6. A brake control system comprising:

a first unit mounted on a vehicle to be towed, the first unit including an electric motor and a pump, a reservoir of hydraulic fluid associated with the pump, and a connection between the pump and the brake system of the towed vehicle;

a battery for supplying power to the motor;

a microprocessor electrically connected to the battery and the first unit; and

an interconnection between the microprocessor and the brake system of the towing vehicle to enable the microprocessor to determine when the towing vehicle has brakes applied.

7. The brake control system of claim 6 wherein the battery and microprocessor are associated with the first unit and the only interconnection with the towing vehicle is with the brake system thereof;

8. The brake control system of claim 7 further including a breakaway switch mechanically connected between the towed vehicle and the towing vehicle and electrically connected to the microprocessor.

9. The brake control system of claim 6 wherein the battery for supplying power to the motor is the battery of the towing vehicle and power for the pump and pump motor is supplied from the towing vehicle.

10. The brake control system of claim 6 wherein said microprocessor includes a timer circuit for intermittently applying the brakes of the towed vehicle.

11. The brake control system of claim 6 where said microprocessor provides a backup mode which applies brakes to the towed vehicle while the towed vehicle and towing vehicle are backing.

12. The brake control system of claim 7 further including a charging circuit for charging the battery.

14. The control system of claim 13 wherein the battery and microprocessor are associated with the first unit and the only interconnection with the towing vehicle is through the brake system thereof.

15. The control system of claim 14 further including an enclosure, the enclosure having said pump, motor, battery, and microprocessor physically associated with it.

16. The brake control system of claim 13 for supplying power to the motor is associated with the towing vehicle.

17. The brake control system of claim 15 further including a charging circuit for charging the battery.

18. The brake control system of claim 16 wherein the battery is mounted on the towed vehicle and is rechargeable from the towing vehicle.

19. The brake control system of claim 18 wherein said unit is directly wired to the vehicle.

20. The brake control system of claim 19 wherein said unit is adapted to assist either electric or hydraulic brakes of the towing vehicle, further including a selector switch mounted in the towing vehicle for selecting the applicable brake system of the towing vehicle.

13. A brake control system comprising:

A first unit mounted on a vehicle to be towed, the first unit including an electric motor and a pump, a reservoir of hydraulic fluid associated with the pump, and a connection between the pump and the brake system of the towed vehicle;

a battery for supplying power to the motor;

a microprocessor electrically connected to the battery and the first unit;

an interconnection between the brake system of the towing vehicle to enable the microprocessor to determine when the towing vehicle has brakes applied; and

a backup mode associated with said microprocessor to enable the microprocessor to command application of brakes to the towed vehicle, while the towed vehicle and the towing vehicle are backing in reverse.