INDEPENDENT TRAILER SWAY CONTROLLER

• US 20120041659A1
• Filed: 08/13/2010
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Robert Bosch LLC (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Greene, Ryan M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,571,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/30 for sway control , e.g. stabilising or anti-fishtail devices; Sway alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/64 Couplings or joints therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/06 Tractor-trailer swaying
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1708 for lorries or tractor-trailer combinations

Abstract

An independent trailer sway controller and method for mitigating trailer sway. The independent trailer sway controller is a modular unit swappable between different trailer types. The independent trailer sway controller includes a trailer length input for receiving length data indicating a length of the trailer and a sway sensor for measuring sway movement of the trailer. The independent trailer sway controller also includes a trailer sway detector module that receives the length data and sway data and determines a level of trailer sway based on the length data and sway data. If the level of trailer sway exceeds the predetermined threshold, a brake controller outputs control signals that activate trailer brakes, which are part of an electric brake system or hydraulic brake system.

Claims

1. An independent trailer sway controller mountable on a tongue of a trailer comprising:

trailer length input operable to receive length data indicating a length of the trailer and output the length data;

a sway sensor operable to sense sway of the trailer and output sway data;

a trailer sway detector module operable to

receive the length data and the sway data,

determine a level of trailer sway based on the length data and the sway data,

determine whether the level of trailer sway exceeds a predetermined threshold, and

output a trailer sway condition signal if the level of trailer sway exceeds the predetermined threshold; and

a brake controller module operable to receive the trailer sway condition signal and, in response, output a brake enable signal to be received by a trailer braking unit to enable a trailer brake to apply braking force to one or more trailer wheels to mitigate trailer sway.

2. The independent trailer sway controller of claim 1, further comprising a gain input device for receiving a gain amount from an operator, the gain amount adjusting the braking force applied to mitigate trailer sway.

3. The independent trailer sway controller of claim 1, wherein the brake enable signal is a pump control signal that causes a hydraulic pump of the trailer to pressurize hydraulic lines and, thereby, enable the trailer brake.

4. The independent trailer sway controller of claim 3, wherein the brake controller module further includes a valve control output coupled to a pressure release value of the hydraulic lines that, when controlled to open by the brake controller module, releases hydraulic fluid to disable the trailer brake.

5. The independent trailer sway controller of claim 1 further comprising:

a tow vehicle connector operable to selectively couple the independent trailer sway controller to a tow vehicle and

a trailer connector operable to selectively couple the independent trailer sway controller to the trailer.

6. The independent trailer sway controller of claim 1 further comprising

a first electric trailer connector operable to selectively couple the independent trailer sway controller to the trailer, which includes electric brakes, and

a second hydraulic trailer connector selectively operable to couple the independent trailer sway controller to a second trailer with hydraulic brakes.

7. The independent trailer sway controller of claim 1 further comprising a mode selector including at least an electric brake position and a hydraulic brake position, the electric brake position indicating to the independent trailer sway controller that the trailer brake is an electric brake and the hydraulic brake position indicating to the independent trailer sway controller that the trailer brake is a hydraulic brake.

8. The independent trailer sway controller of claim 1 further comprising a housing, wherein the trailer length input is coupled to an outside surface of the housing to receive input from an operator of the independent trailer sway controller.

9. The independent trailer sway controller of claim 1 further comprising

a housing including at least one of a pump run input device and a normally closed valve input device,

wherein activation of the pump run input device causes a hydraulic pump to pump hydraulic fluid through hydraulic lines to one of pressurize the hydraulic lines and bleed the hydraulic lines, and

wherein activation of the normally closed valve input device causes a normally closed valve to open to allow depressurization of hydraulic lines.

10. A method of mitigating sway of a trailer with an independent trailer sway controller comprising:

receiving length data indicating a length of the trailer from a trailer length input on the independent trailer sway controller;

receiving sway data output from a sway sensor indicating sway rate of the trailer;

determining a level of trailer sway based on the length data and the sway data;

determining whether the level of trailer sway exceeds a predetermined threshold;

generating and outputting braking control signals if the level of trailer sway exceeds the predetermined threshold, wherein outputting the braking control signals causes a brake of the trailer to apply braking force, thereby mitigating sway of the trailer.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

attaching the independent trailer sway controller to a tongue of the trailer;

electrically coupling the independent trailer sway controller to the trailer; and

electrically coupling the independent trailer sway controller to a tow vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detaching the independent trailer sway controller from the tongue of the trailer and decoupling the independent trailer sway controller from the trailer and the tow vehicle;

attaching the independent trailer sway controller to a second tongue of a second trailer;

electrically coupling the independent trailer sway controller to the second trailer; and

electrically coupling the independent trailer sway controller to a second tow vehicle, wherein the trailer includes a different type of braking system than the second trailer.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining a mode of the independent trailer sway controller, wherein the mode is one of an electric brake mode and a hydraulic brake mode.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a gain amount from an operator using a gain input device; and

adjusting the braking force applied to mitigate trailer sway using the received gain amount.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the braking control signals include a pump control signal output to a hydraulic pump of the trailer that pressurizes hydraulic lines and, thereby, enables the brake.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising disabling trailer brakes after mitigation of trailer sway by outputting a valve control signal to open a pressure release valve of the hydraulic lines.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the trailer length input is coupled to an outside surface of a housing of the independent trailer sway controller.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising illuminating a lamp to indicate that a trailer sway condition exists and illuminating a brake light to indicate enabling of the brake.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising

receiving a pump run control signal from a pump run button on a housing of the independent trailer sway controller;

and

in response, causing a hydraulic pump to pump hydraulic fluid through hydraulic lines to one of pressurize the hydraulic lines and bleed the hydraulic lines.

20. The method of claim 10, further comprising

receiving a valve open control signal from a normally closed valve button on a housing of the independent trailer sway controller;

and

in response, causing a normally closed valve to open to allow depressurization of hydraulic lines.