Electric trailer brake controller with an adjustable accelerometer mounting
First Claim
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1. A device for sensing the deceleration of a vehicle comprising:
- a support member adapted to be secured to the vehicle, said support member including a pair of spaced apart support arms that define an open space therebetween;
a base member disposed between said support member arms within said open space, said base member being pivotable about an axis;
at least one accelerometer mounted upon said base member; and
a positioning device connected to said base member, said positioning device operable to rotate said base member relative to said base member, whereby said accelerometer is oriented relative to the surroundings.
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Abstract
An accelerometer is mounted upon a movable base member that is disposed within an electric brake controller housing with a lever attached to the moveable base, the lever being external to the brake controller housing to allow orientation of the accelerometer within the housing.
76 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A device for sensing the deceleration of a vehicle comprising:
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a support member adapted to be secured to the vehicle, said support member including a pair of spaced apart support arms that define an open space therebetween; a base member disposed between said support member arms within said open space, said base member being pivotable about an axis; at least one accelerometer mounted upon said base member; and a positioning device connected to said base member, said positioning device operable to rotate said base member relative to said base member, whereby said accelerometer is oriented relative to the surroundings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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7. The device according to claim 7 further including a signal conditioning circuit carried by said base member, said signal conditioning circuit electrically connected between said accelerometer and said electric brake control circuit and operative to modify said brake control signal generated by said accelerometer.
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14. A method for mounting an electric brake controller comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a brake controller having a housing, the brake controller including an accelerometer mounted upon an adjustable base member that is disposed within the brake controller housing, the base member having an accessible positioning device that is operative to rotate the accelerometer relative to the brake controller housing; (b) mounting the brake controller upon a towing vehicle; (c) positioning the towing vehicle upon a horizontal surface; and (d) manipulating the positioning device to orient the accelerometer in a horizontal position. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification