Surge brake combination vehicle stabilizer
First Claim
1. Apparatus for automatically eliminating a sway condition in a trailer towed by a tow vehicle and having brakes for retarding its rate of movement, comprising a hitch connecting the trailer to the tow vehicle, sensing means on the hitch for sensing the amplitude and direction of hitch lateral force, the sensing means including a reaction wheel and means for rotating the reaction wheel through an angle corresponding to hitch lateral force, and means connected to the sensing means for operating the trailer brakes for automatically eliminating a sway condition in the trailer including a pair of pistons reciprocating in associated cylinders operatively connected to the brakes, and means connecting the pistons to the reaction wheel for moving the pistons differentially in the cylinders in response to movement of the reaction wheel to operate the brakes for eliminating the sway condition in the trailer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for automatically eliminating a sway condition of a trailer having surge brakes and towed by a tow vehicle. The hitch connects the trailer to the tow vehicle and has a reaction wheel for sensing hitch lateral force and for automatically controlling the trailer brakes to eliminate the sway condition.
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Citations
10 Claims
- 1. Apparatus for automatically eliminating a sway condition in a trailer towed by a tow vehicle and having brakes for retarding its rate of movement, comprising a hitch connecting the trailer to the tow vehicle, sensing means on the hitch for sensing the amplitude and direction of hitch lateral force, the sensing means including a reaction wheel and means for rotating the reaction wheel through an angle corresponding to hitch lateral force, and means connected to the sensing means for operating the trailer brakes for automatically eliminating a sway condition in the trailer including a pair of pistons reciprocating in associated cylinders operatively connected to the brakes, and means connecting the pistons to the reaction wheel for moving the pistons differentially in the cylinders in response to movement of the reaction wheel to operate the brakes for eliminating the sway condition in the trailer.
Specification