System for detecting trailer instability
First Claim
1. A vehicle steering mechanism to compensate for instabilities comprising:
- a vehicle frame;
a front axle coupled to said vehicle frame, said front axle further coupled to two front wheels;
a rear axle coupled to said vehicle frame, said rear axle further coupled to two rear wheels;
an actuator for changing the direction and angle of said two rear wheels;
a trailer hitch coupled to said frame;
at least one sensor for measuring instability in said trailer hitch;
a controller processing said measured instability; and
wherein said controller controls said actuator and the direction and angle of said two rear wheels to compensate for said measured instability.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle steering mechanism to compensate for instabilities including a vehicle frame, a front axle coupled to the vehicle frame, the front axle further coupled to two front wheels, a rear axle coupled to the vehicle frame, the rear axle further coupled to two rear wheels, an actuator for changing the direction and angle of the two rear wheels, a trailer hitch coupled to the frame, at least one sensor for measuring instability in the trailer hitch, a controller processing the measured instability, and where the controller controls the actuator and the direction and angle of the two rear wheels to compensate for the measured instability.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A vehicle steering mechanism to compensate for instabilities comprising:
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a vehicle frame;
a front axle coupled to said vehicle frame, said front axle further coupled to two front wheels;
a rear axle coupled to said vehicle frame, said rear axle further coupled to two rear wheels;
an actuator for changing the direction and angle of said two rear wheels;
a trailer hitch coupled to said frame;
at least one sensor for measuring instability in said trailer hitch;
a controller processing said measured instability; and
wherein said controller controls said actuator and the direction and angle of said two rear wheels to compensate for said measured instability. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15)
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9. A method of compensating for trailer instability for a vehicle and trailer tow configuration comprising
determining if an instability in the vehicle and trailer tow configuration is present; - and
actuating a four-wheel steering system to compensate for a determined instability. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A trailer hitch for a vehicle comprising:
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a first member coupled;
second members coupled to said first member in a substantially perpendicular configuration; and
sensors coupled to said second members and in contact with the frame of the vehicle to sense vehicle loads. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification