Trailer stability control apparatus

• US 20040232652A1
• Filed: 05/23/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Rule, David S., Namuduri, Chandra Sekhar
• Granted Patent: US 7,354,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/455.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/322 using fluid dampers fluid dampers per se F16F9/00

Abstract

A trailer stability control apparatus for a vehicle and a trailer includes a trailer hitch assembly interconnecting a rear end of the vehicle and a front end of the trailer. The trailer stability control apparatus also includes at least one controllable damper connected to the trailer hitch assembly. The trailer stability control apparatus further includes a controller electrically connected to the at least one controllable damper for providing continuously controllable damping forces between the vehicle and the trailer.

Claims

1. A trailer stability control apparatus for a vehicle and a trailer comprising:

a trailer hitch assembly interconnecting a rear end of the vehicle and a front end of the trailer;

at least one controllable damper connected to said trailer hitch assembly; and

a controller electrically connected to said at least one controllable damper for providing continuously controllable damping forces between the vehicle and the trailer.

2. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one controllable damper is of a linear type.

3. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one controllable damper is of a rotary type.

4. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one controllable damper is of a magneto-rheological fluid type.

5. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said trailer hitch assembly comprises a first hitch member operatively connected to the vehicle and a second hitch member operatively connected to the trailer.

6. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including at least one first bearing operatively supported by said first hitch member and at least one second bearing operatively supported by said second hitch member.

7. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said at least one controllable damper comprises a single controllable damper interconnecting said at least one first bearing and said at least one second bearing.

8. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said at least one first bearing is offset by an angle relative to a vertical axis through said at least one second bearing.

9. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 7 including a post to elevate said first bearing above said first hitch member and wherein said at least one first bearing is offset by an angle relative to a vertical axis through said post.

10. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said at least one first bearing and said at least one second bearing are of a spherical type.

11. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said at least one first bearing comprises a pair of first bearings connected to said first hitch member and said at least one second bearing comprises a pair of second bearings connected to said second hitch member.

12. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said at least one controllable damper comprises a first controllable damper interconnecting one of said pair of first bearings and one of said pair of second bearings and a second controllable damper interconnecting another of said pair of first bearings and another of said pair of second bearings.

13. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said controller includes at least one output current driver for controlling current through a coil of said at least one controllable damper.

14. A stability control apparatus comprising:

a vehicle having a rear end;

a trailer having a front end;

a trailer hitch assembly interconnecting said rear end of said vehicle and said front end of said trailer;

at least one controllable damper connected to said trailer hitch assembly; and

a controller electrically connected to said at least one controllable damper for providing continuously controllable damping forces between said vehicle and said trailer.

15. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said at least one controllable damper is of a linear type.

16. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said at least one controllable damper is of a rotary type.

17. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said at least one controllable damper is of a magneto-rheological fluid type.

18. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said trailer hitch assembly comprises a first hitch member operatively connected to the vehicle and a second hitch member operatively connected to the trailer.

19. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 18 including at least one first bearing operatively supported by said first hitch member and at least one second bearing operatively supported by said second hitch member.

20. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said at least one controllable damper comprises a single controllable damper interconnecting said at least one first bearing and said at least one second bearing.

21. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said at least one second bearing is offset by an angle relative to a vertical axis through said at least one first bearing.

22. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 21 including a post to elevate said first bearing above said first hitch member and wherein said at least one first bearing is offset by an angle relative to a vertical axis through said post.

23. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said at least one first bearing and said at least one second bearing are of a spherical type.

24. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said at least one first bearing comprises a pair of first bearings connected to said first hitch member and said at least one second bearing comprises a pair of second bearings connected to said second hitch member.

25. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 24 wherein said at least one controllable damper comprises a first controllable damper interconnecting one of said pair of first bearings and one of said pair of second bearings and a second controllable damper interconnecting another of said pair of first bearings and another of said pair of second bearings.

26. A stability control apparatus comprising:

a vehicle having a rear end;

a trailer having a front end;

a first hitch member connected to said rear end of said vehicle and a second hitch member connected to said front end of said trailer;

a single controllable damper interconnecting said first hitch member and said second hitch member; and

a controller electrically connected to said controllable damper and said second controllable damper for providing continuously controllable damping forces between said vehicle and said trailer.

27. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 26 wherein said at least one first bearing is offset by an angle relative to a vertical axis through said at least one second bearing.

28. A trailer stability control apparatus as set forth in claim 26 including a post to elevate said first bearing above said first hitch member and wherein said at least one first bearing is offset by an angle relative to a vertical axis through said post.

29. A stability control apparatus comprising:

a vehicle having a rear end;

a trailer having a front end;

a first hitch member connected to said rear end of said vehicle and a second hitch member connected to said front end of said trailer;

a first controllable damper and a second controllable damper interconnecting said first hitch member and said second hitch member; and

a controller electrically connected to said first controllable damper and said second controllable damper for providing continuously controllable damping forces between said vehicle and said trailer.