Hydraulic full power brake system for trailers
First Claim
1. A trailer brake system comprising:
- a trailer brake component adapted to directly brake a trailer wheel;
a brake control unit fluidly connected to said trailer brake component to hydraulically apply said trailer brake component in response to a braking request;
a power unit fluidly connected to said brake control unit to supply hydraulic fluid to said brake control unit; and
a system control unit electrically connected to said power unit and said brake control unit, said system control unit controlling said power unit to maintain a predetermined supply level of hydraulic fluid, and wherein said system control unit generates an electric control signal that is communicated to said brake control unit in response to the braking request to hydraulically apply said trailer brake component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A trailer brake system includes a full power hydraulic brake system that is electrically controlled by a system control unit. The trailer brake system includes a power unit that maintains a pressurized supply of hydraulic fluid and a brake control unit that is fluidly connected between the power unit and trailer wheel brake components. The power unit includes an electric motor driven pump and accumulator that is in fluid communication with a trailer supply reservoir. The brake control unit includes an inlet valve that is fluidly connected to the accumulator and an outlet valve that is fluidly connected to the trailer supply reservoir. The system control unit generates control signals to the power unit and brake control unit to respectively maintain a desired pressure level in the accumulator, and to apply the trailer wheel brake components through the brake control unit.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A trailer brake system comprising:
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a trailer brake component adapted to directly brake a trailer wheel;
a brake control unit fluidly connected to said trailer brake component to hydraulically apply said trailer brake component in response to a braking request;
a power unit fluidly connected to said brake control unit to supply hydraulic fluid to said brake control unit; and
a system control unit electrically connected to said power unit and said brake control unit, said system control unit controlling said power unit to maintain a predetermined supply level of hydraulic fluid, and wherein said system control unit generates an electric control signal that is communicated to said brake control unit in response to the braking request to hydraulically apply said trailer brake component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 20, 21, 22)
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10. A trailer brake system comprising:
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a first trailer brake component adapted to directly brake a first trailer wheel;
a second trailer brake component adapted to directly brake a second trailer wheel that is positionable on an opposite side of a trailer from the first trailer wheel;
a brake control unit fluidly connected to said first and said second trailer brake components wherein said brake control unit includes a pressure transducer, an inlet valve, and an outlet valve that cooperate with each other to hydraulically apply said first and said second trailer brake components in response to a braking request;
a power unit fluidly connected to said brake control unit to supply hydraulic fluid to said brake control unit wherein said power unit includes an electric motor, a pump driven by said electric motor, an accumulator having a predetermined pressure level, and a trailer supply reservoir fluidly connected to said accumulator such that said electric motor drives said pump to maintain said accumulator at the predetermined pressure level by pumping fluid from the trailer supply reservoir to said accumulator; and
a system control unit electrically connected to said power unit and said brake control unit, said system control unit controlling said power unit to maintain a predetermined supply level of hydraulic fluid by actuating said electric motor, and wherein said system control unit generates an electric control signal that is communicated to said brake control unit in response to the braking request to hydraulically apply said first and said second trailer brake components. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for controlling a trailer brake system comprising the steps of:
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(a) fluidly connecting a brake control unit to a trailer brake component such that the trailer brake component can be hydraulically applied in response to a braking request to directly brake a trailer wheel;
(b) fluidly connecting a power unit to the brake control unit to supply hydraulic fluid to the brake control unit;
(c) electrically connecting a system control unit to the power unit and controlling the power unit to maintain a predetermined supply level of hydraulic fluid; and
(d) electrically connecting the system control unit to the brake control unit and generating an electric control signal that is communicated to the brake control unit in response to the braking request to hydraulically apply the trailer brake component. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 23)
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Specification