Vehicle Braking Methods and Related Apparatuses
First Claim
1. A method of controlling the motion of a coupled tractor-trailer combination in which the tractor includes a drive train having an engine and at least one ground-engaging member driveably connected thereto via an adjustable ratio transmission;
- and the trailer includes at least one ground engaging member having at least one trailer brake, the method comprising the steps of;
a. detecting whether one or more preconditions relating to tractor-trailer combination dynamics is/are occurring;
b. detecting whether one or more further prevailing conditions that are indicative of a likelihood of adverse tractor-trailer combination dynamics is/are occurring; and
c. if at least one of said one or more preconditions and at least one of said one or more further conditions are occurring, effecting a control action selected from a list including at least one of activating the at least one trailer brake or adjusting an adjustable parameter of the drive train in order to effect controlled deceleration of the tractor-trailer combination.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of controlling the motion of a coupled tractor-trailer combination in which the tractor includes a drive train having an engine and at least one ground-engaging member driveably connected to thereto via an adjustable ratio transmission may generally include detecting whether one or more preconditions relating to motion of the tractor-trailer combination is/are occurring. The method may also include detecting whether one or more further prevailing conditions that are indicative of a likelihood of adverse vehicle motion is/are occurring. In addition, if at least one precondition and at least one further condition are occurring, the method may include effecting a control action selected from the list including activating the at least one trailer brake and/or adjusting a adjustable parameter of the drive train in order to effect controlled deceleration of the tractor-trailer combination.
37 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of controlling the motion of a coupled tractor-trailer combination in which the tractor includes a drive train having an engine and at least one ground-engaging member driveably connected thereto via an adjustable ratio transmission;
- and the trailer includes at least one ground engaging member having at least one trailer brake, the method comprising the steps of;
a. detecting whether one or more preconditions relating to tractor-trailer combination dynamics is/are occurring; b. detecting whether one or more further prevailing conditions that are indicative of a likelihood of adverse tractor-trailer combination dynamics is/are occurring; and c. if at least one of said one or more preconditions and at least one of said one or more further conditions are occurring, effecting a control action selected from a list including at least one of activating the at least one trailer brake or adjusting an adjustable parameter of the drive train in order to effect controlled deceleration of the tractor-trailer combination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- and the trailer includes at least one ground engaging member having at least one trailer brake, the method comprising the steps of;
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12. A method of deactivating control of the motion of a coupled tractor-trailer combination in which the tractor includes a drive train having an engine and at least one ground-engaging member driveably connected thereto via an adjustable ratio transmission;
- and the trailer includes at least one ground engaging member having at least one trailer brake, the method comprising the steps of;
a. detecting termination of one or more preconditions relating to tractor-trailer combination dynamics; b. detecting termination of one or more further prevailing conditions that are indicative of a likelihood of adverse tractor-trailer combination dynamics; and c. if termination of at least one of said one or more preconditions and/or at least one of said one or more further prevailing conditions is detected, terminating a control action selected from a list including at least one of activating the at least one trailer brake or adjusting an adjustable parameter of the drive train. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21)
- and the trailer includes at least one ground engaging member having at least one trailer brake, the method comprising the steps of;
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20. (canceled)
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22. (canceled)
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23. (canceled)
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24. (canceled)
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25. (canceled)
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26. (canceled)
Specification