Electropneumatic Towing Stabilizer System
First Claim
1. An electropneumatic towing stabilizer system comprising an apparatus comprising:
- a buffer arm unit comprising;
a cylinder that can be pivotably attached to a tow vehicle or a trailer; and
a piston that is movable within the interior of the cylinder and forms a substantially gastight seal with the interior wall of the cylinder and capable of being pivotably attached to a trailer or tow vehicle;
a gas line providing fluid communication between a valve block and the interior of said cylinder at a position between a cylinder head and said piston;
a valve block which can be actuated by electrical, mechanical, or hydraulic means under authority of a computer;
a sensor which can detect lateral motion and forward motion;
a computer which receives input from said sensor and commands actuation of said valve block; and
a pressurized gas reservoir in fluid communication with said valve block.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic stability control system is provided which determines the lateral acceleration and lateral velocity of a towed trailer and forward velocity of the tow vehicle. When the lateral acceleration and/or velocity of the towed trailer exceeds predetermined values established for the current forward velocity of the tow vehicle, the stability system meters a gas, such as compressed air, from a gas reservoir into at least one cylinder of a pair of buffer arms each comprising a piston that is pivotably attached to the towed trailer and a cylinder which is pivotably attached to the tow vehicle. Gas is metered into one or both buffer arm cylinders until the lateral acceleration and lateral velocity of the towed vehicle meets or is below predetermined values established for the forward velocity of the tow vehicle.
53 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electropneumatic towing stabilizer system comprising an apparatus comprising:
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a buffer arm unit comprising; a cylinder that can be pivotably attached to a tow vehicle or a trailer; and a piston that is movable within the interior of the cylinder and forms a substantially gastight seal with the interior wall of the cylinder and capable of being pivotably attached to a trailer or tow vehicle; a gas line providing fluid communication between a valve block and the interior of said cylinder at a position between a cylinder head and said piston; a valve block which can be actuated by electrical, mechanical, or hydraulic means under authority of a computer; a sensor which can detect lateral motion and forward motion; a computer which receives input from said sensor and commands actuation of said valve block; and a pressurized gas reservoir in fluid communication with said valve block. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for countering an undesired lateral motion of a towed trailer, said method comprising the steps of:
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detecting a lateral motion variable of a trailer and a forward speed of a tow vehicle or said trailer; determining if said detected lateral motion variable exceeds a predetermined allowable limit value specified for the detected forward speed; applying a pressurized gas from a pressurized gas reservoir to the cylinder interior of a buffer arm attached to the said towed trailer thereby applying a force to counter said undesired lateral motion if said detected lateral motion variable exceeds said predetermined allowable limit value. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A kit comprising:
- at least one buffer arm, a computer, a valve block, a pressurized or pressurizable gas reservoir, at least one gas line, a computer, and a sensor.
- View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
Specification