TRAILER BRAKING SYSTEM AND CONTROLLER

• US 20150081184A1
• Filed: 09/13/2013
• Published: 03/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Original Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Inventors: Braunberger, Fritz
• Granted Patent: US 9,834,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/06 Tractor-trailer swaying
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2260/09 Complex systems; Conjoint control of two or more vehicle active control systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/20 specially for trailers, e.g. in case of uncoupling of or overrunning by trailer inertia-actuated overrun brakes B60T13/08

Abstract

A trailer brake controller and system detects absolute deceleration of a trailer by incorporating an electronic gyroscope/accelerometer combination in order to accurately calculate the deceleration subtracting out the component which is due to the force of gravity. The controller and system also receives and reads information from the towing vehicle'"'"'s speed sensor. The system detects the deceleration of the trailer and sends a signal to a trailer brake activation circuit based upon an acceleration status of the trailer. In some embodiments, the system detects that the trailer is decelerating and the trailer control device sends a signal to the trailer braking system activation circuit to activate the trailer brakes. Particularly, the system is able to detect that the trailer is decelerating at an unsafe rate and to activate the trailer brakes and slow the trailer to a safe speed.

Claims

1. A trailer brake controller configured to be located within a trailer comprising:

a. an accelerometer-gyroscopic sensor for detecting an absolute acceleration of the trailer;

b. a trailer control device; and

c. a trailer braking system activation circuit,

wherein the accelerometer-gyroscopic sensor sends a signal to the trailer control device based upon the absolute acceleration of the trailer and the trailer control device operates the trailer brake activation circuit based upon the signal received from the accelerometer-gyroscopic sensor.

2. The trailer brake controller of claim 1 wherein the accelerometer-gyroscopic sensor sends a signal to the trailer control device that the trailer is decelerating and the control device sends a signal to the trailer braking system activation circuit to activate the trailer braking system.

3. The trailer brake controller of claim 2 wherein the accelerometer-gyroscopic sensor sends a signal to the trailer control device that the trailer is decelerating at an unsafe rate and the control device sends a signal to the trailer braking system activation circuit to activate the trailer braking system.

4. The trailer brake controller of claim 3 wherein the unsafe rate is dependent upon the weight of the trailer.

5. The trailer brake controller of claim 1 wherein the trailer brake controller acts independently from the braking system of the towing vehicle.

6. The trailer brake controller of claim 1 wherein the trailer brake controller receives a signal from the towing vehicle corresponding to a deceleration status of the towing vehicle.

7. The trailer brake controller of claim 6 wherein the trailer brake controller activates the trailer brake if the towing vehicle is decelerating at an unsafe rate.

8. The trailer brake controller of claim 7 wherein the unsafe rate is dependent upon the weight of the towing vehicle and the weight of the trailer.

9. The trailer brake controller of claim 1 wherein the trailer brake controller is installed as aftermarket equipment.

10. A trailer braking system comprising:

a. a towing vehicle speed sensor;

b. a trailer control device; and

c. a trailer braking system activation circuit,

wherein the trailer system control device receives a signal from the towing vehicle speed sensor and sends a signal to the trailer braking system activation circuit based upon the signal from the towing vehicle speed sensor.

11. The trailer braking system of claim 10 wherein the towing vehicle speed sensor sends a signal to the trailer brake control device that the towing vehicle is slowing and the trailer system control device sends a signal to the trailer braking system activation circuit to activate the trailer braking system.

12. The trailer braking system of claim 11 wherein the trailer system control device only sends the signal to the trailer braking system activation circuit when the vehicle slows below a threshold speed.

13. The trailer braking system of claim 10 wherein the towing vehicle speed sensor is located within the towing vehicle.

14. The trailer braking system of claim 13 wherein the vehicle speed sensor is installed on the towing vehicle at the factory.

15. The trailer braking system of claim 10 wherein the trailer system control device receives a wired signal from the towing vehicle speed sensor.

16. The trailer braking system of claim 10 wherein the trailer system control device receives a wireless signal from the towing vehicle speed sensor.

17. The trailer braking system of claim 10 further comprising an accelerometer-gyroscopic sensor for detecting an absolute acceleration of the trailer.

18. A method for controlling a trailer that is being pulled by a towing vehicle comprising:

a. sensing a deceleration value of the trailer; and

b. activating the trailer braking system if the deceleration value is greater than a threshold value.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the method further comprises sensing a weight of the trailer.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the threshold value is dependent upon the weight of the trailer.

21. A method for controlling a trailer that is being pulled by a towing vehicle comprising:

a. sensing a slowing of a towing vehicle;

b. sensing a slowing of a trailer; and

based upon the speed of the towing vehicle and the speed of the trailer activating a trailer braking system.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the trailer braking system is only activated if the trailer and the vehicle are slowing at an unsafe rate.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the method further comprises sensing a weight of the trailer.