Method and apparatus for detecting and correcting trailer induced yaw movements in a towing vehicle
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for correcting excessive yaw induced in a towing vehicle by a towed trailer, the apparatus comprising:
- a control valve adapted to be connected to the towing vehicle hydraulic brake system, said control valve operable to selectively actuate the towing vehicle wheel brakes;
a plurality of vehicle parameter sensors adapted to be mounted upon the towing vehicle; and
an electronic control unit also adapted to be mounted upon the towing vehicle, said electronic control unit electrically connected to said control valve and said vehicle parameter sensors, said control unit responsive to signals received from said vehicle parameter sensors to calculate an instability index for towing vehicle that is a function of the towing vehicle yaw rate and upon said instability index exceeding an predetermined instability threshold, said control unit is further responsive to cause said control valve to selectively apply the towing vehicle brakes to counter the towing vehicle yaw motion.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for determining the presence of excessive yaw rate in a vehicle by calculating an instability index that is a function of the vehicle yaw rate and generating an excessive yaw rate signal when the instability index exceeds a yaw rate threshold.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for correcting excessive yaw induced in a towing vehicle by a towed trailer, the apparatus comprising:
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a control valve adapted to be connected to the towing vehicle hydraulic brake system, said control valve operable to selectively actuate the towing vehicle wheel brakes;
a plurality of vehicle parameter sensors adapted to be mounted upon the towing vehicle; and
an electronic control unit also adapted to be mounted upon the towing vehicle, said electronic control unit electrically connected to said control valve and said vehicle parameter sensors, said control unit responsive to signals received from said vehicle parameter sensors to calculate an instability index for towing vehicle that is a function of the towing vehicle yaw rate and upon said instability index exceeding an predetermined instability threshold, said control unit is further responsive to cause said control valve to selectively apply the towing vehicle brakes to counter the towing vehicle yaw motion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for detecting excessive yaw induced in a towing vehicle by a towed trailer, the apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of vehicle parameter sensors adapted to be mounted upon the towing vehicle; and
an electronic control unit also adapted to be mounted upon the towing vehicle, said electronic control unit electrically connected to said vehicle parameter sensors, said control unit responsive to signals received from said vehicle parameter sensors to calculate an instability index for towing vehicle that is a function of the towing vehicle yaw rate and upon said instability index exceeding an predetermined instability threshold, the electronic control unit is further responsive to generate an excessive yaw motion signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for detecting excessive yaw rate for a towing vehicle towing a trailer, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a plurality of vehicle parameter sensors adapted to be mounted upon the towing vehicle and an electronic control unit adapted to be mounted upon the towing vehicle, the electronic control unit electrically connected to the vehicle parameter sensors;
(c) monitoring the vehicle parameter sensors with the electronic control unit to determine an instability index for the towing vehicle that is a function of the towing vehicle yaw rate; and
(d) comparing the instability index to a predetermined instability threshold, and upon the instability index exceeding the predetermined instability threshold, generating an excessive yaw motion signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification