TRAILER SWAY CONTROL APPARATUS

• US 3,758,165 A
• Filed: 12/02/1971
• Issued: 09/11/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph A. Savelli
• Original Assignee: Joseph A. Savelli
• Inventors: Savelli, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buchler, Milton
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kunin, Stephen G.
• Application Number:
  US05/204,200
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 180/103-104 188/3R,112 280/432 303/7,20
• US Class Current: 303/20
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/741 acting on an ultimate actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/06 Tractor-trailer swaying
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1708 for lorries or tractor-trailer combinations

Abstract

Apparatus for use in regard to a tow vehicle and a trailer vehicle for automatically applying retardation of movement to the trailer vehicle to eliminate a sway condition which may occur in the trailer vehicle. Sway action of a trailer can be eliminated by applying forces which tend to urge relative movement between the tow vehicle and the trailer vehicle in a direction one from the other. Therefore, momentary retardation of the rate of movement of the trailer vehicle eliminates the sway of the trailer. Sensing mechanism senses that the trailer is in a sway condition and the sensing mechanism causes operation of mechanism which operates the brakes of the trailer for retarding the rate of movement of the trailer with respect to the rate of movement of the tow vehicle. The sensing mechanism is capable of distinguishing between a sway condition of the trailer, in which the trailer moves angularly with respect to the tow vehicle, and an angular condition which exists when the tow vehicle is pulling the trailer around a curve or corner or the like. The sensing mechanism is also capable of sensing the rate of operation of the tow vehicle and does not sense or attempt to prevent angular movement between the trailer vehicle and the tow vehicle if the tow vehicle operation is less than a predetermined rate, such as occurs in parking of the trailer, etc.

Claims

1. Apparatus for automatically eliminating a sway condition in a trailer vehicle which is towed by a tow vehicle, the trailer vehicle having brakes for retarding the rate of movement thereof, comprising:

sensing means sensing an angular condition between the trailer vehicle and the tow vehicle, brake applicator means for operation of the brakes of the trailer vehicle, the sensing means including means sensing oscillatory angular movement between the trailer vehicle and the tow vehicle as the trailer vehicle angularly moves in one direction followed by angular movement of the trailer vehicle in the opposite direction, the sensing means including timer means timing the occurrence of angular movement of the trailer in one direction followed by angular movement of the trailer vehicle in the opposite direction within a predetermined period of time, the sensing means including control means for actuation of the brake applicator means when the timer means times the occurrence of angular movement of the trailer vehicle in one direction followed by angular movement of the trailer vehicle in the opposite direction within said predetermined period of time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the sensing means includes timer means for deactivation of the brake applicator means after a predetermined Period of time.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the sensing means includes means deenergizing the control means when operation of the tow vehicle is below a predetermined rate.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the tow vehicle includes an engine having distributor mechanism and in which the means deenergizing the control means when operation of the tow vehicle is below a predetermined rate comprises means connected to distributor mechanism of the engine of the tow vehicle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the timer means includes a pair of timer members and in which the sensing means includes means joining the timer members one to the other for alternate operation thereof.

6. Apparatus for automatically eliminating a sway condition in a trailer vehicle having retardation means, the trailer vehicle being towed by a tow vehicle which is pivotally attached thereto, comprising:

switch means, means operably connected to the switch means for operation of the switch means with pivotal movement between the trailer vehicle and the tow vehicle, circuit closure means joined to the switch means for closing of the circuit closure means with operation of the switch means, timer means connected to the circuit closure means for operation of the timer means with operation of the circuit closure means, means connecting the timer means to the circuit closure means for operation of the circuit closure means with operation of the timer means, control means for operation of the retardation means of the trailer vehicle, the control means being connected to the circuit closure means fo operation of the control means with operation of the circuit closure means.

7. Apparatus for eliminating a sway condition of a trailer vehicle which is towed by a tow vehicle, the trailer vehicle having retardation means, comprising:

first switch means, means for operation of the first switch means with angular movement of the trailer vehicle to the right with respect to the tow vehicle, second switch means, means for operation of the second switch means with angular movement of the trailer vehicle to the left with respect to the tow vehicle, first latching circuit closure means, the first latching circuit closure means being connected to the first switch means for operation of the first latching circuit closure means with operation of the first switch means, second latching circuit closure means, the second latching circuit closure means being connected to the second switch means for operation of the second latching circuit closure means with operation of the second switch means, timer means connected to the latching circuit closure means for energization of the timer means with operation of the latching circuit closure means, the timer means also being connected to the latching circuit closure means for unlatching thereof, actuator means joined to the latching circuit closure means for operation of the actuator means with operation of the first latching circuit closure means and the second latching circuit closure means, the actuator means being connected to the retardation means of the trailer vehicle for operation of the retardation means by the actuator means.

8. Apparatus for automatically eliminating sway of a trailer vehicle which is towed by a tow vehicle, comprising:

retardation means for retarding the movement of the trailer vehicle, sensing means sensing angular movement of the trailer vehicle with respect to the tow vehicle, the sensing means including actuator means for operation of the retardation means, the sensing means including means sensing angular movement of the trailer vehicle with respect to the tow vehicle as a result of a sway condition of the trailer vehicle, the sensing means also including means sensing angular movement of the trailer vehicle with respect to the tow vehicle which is the result of a condition other than a sway condition, the sensing means including timer means distInguishing between angular movement of the trailer vehicle with respect to the tow vehicle which is a result of a sway condition and angular movement of the trailer vehicle with respect to the tow vehicle which is the result of a condition other than a sway condition, the sensing means including means for actuation of the actuator means only upon the sensing of angular movement of the trailer vehicle which is a result of sway condition.

9. Apparatus for elimination of a sway condition in a trailer vehicle which is pivotally attached to a tow vehicle for tow behind the tow vehicle, comprising:

first switch means, sensing means sensing angular movement of the trailer vehicle, the sensing means joined to the first switch means for operation of the first switch means when the trailer vehicle pivotally moves to the left with respect to the tow vehicle, second switch means, the sensing means also being joined to the second switch means for operation of the second switch means with pivotal movement of the trailer vehicle to the right with respect to the tow vehicle, timer means, means joining the timer means to the first switch means and to the second switch means for operation of the timer means with operation of either of the switch means, means joining the timer means to the first switch means and to the second switch means for operation of the switch means by operation of the timer means. retardation means for retarding the rate of movement of the trailer vehicle, means joining the retardation means to the switch means for activation of the retardation means with operation of both the first switch means and the second switch means.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 in which the timer means includes a pair of timer members and which includes means for connecting the timer members one to the other for alternating operation thereof.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 which includes retardation time control means and means joining the retardation time control means to the retardation means for deactivation of the retardation means by operation of the retardation time control means.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 which includes rate means joined to the tow vehicle, sensitizing means for sensitizing the retardation means, and means joining the rate means to the sensitizing means for sensitizing the retardation means when the rate of operation of the tow vehicle is above a predetermined rate.

13. Apparatus for automatically eliminating sway of a trailer vehicle which is towed by a tow vehicle, comprising:

braking means for retarding movement of the trailer vehicle, sensing means sensing angular movement of the trailer vehicle with respect to the tow vehicle, the sensing means including actuator means for operation of the braking means, the sensing means including means sensing angular movement of the trailer vehicle with respect to the tow vehicle as a result of a sway condition of the trailer vehicle, the sensing means also including means sensing angular movement of the trailer vehicle with respect to the tow vehicle which is a result of a condition other than a sway condition, the sensing means including oscillatory sensing means distinguishing between angular movement of the trailer vehicle with respect to the tow vehicle which is a result of a sway condition and angular movement of the trailer vehicle with respect to the tow vehicle which is the result of a condition other than a sway condition, the sensing means including means for actuation of the actuator means only upon the sensing of angular movement of the trailer which is a result of a sway condition.