Anti-jackknifing and skidding control system
First Claim
1. An anti-jackknifing and skidding control system for a vehicle having a towed section and a towing section and including left wheel and right wheel brakes and actuating means therefor, said control system comprising at least one accelerometer means located adjacent a rear portion of the towed section and having a sensitive axis perpendicular to the direction of forward movement of the vehicle for detecting left and right acceleration of the rear portion of the towed section and producing an output signal responsive thereto, coordinated turn detection means coupled to said towed section and producing a coordinated turn signal, combining means coupled to said accelerometer means and said coordinated turn detection means for distinguishing a proper maneuver from a jackknifing and skidding condition by combining said output signal with said coordinated turn signal to produce a first electrical signal responsive to detected acceleration to the left and a second electrical signal responsive to detected acceleration to the right, and coupling means for coupling said first electrical signal to the actuating means controlling the left wheel brake for applying a braking action only to the left wheel brakes and for coupling said second electrical signal to the actuating means controlling the right wheel brake for applying a braking action only to the right wheel brakes, whereby a differential braking action is achieved only for a jackknifing and skidding condition and not for a proper maneuver, and transducer means coupled between said accelerometer means and said combining means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An anti-jackknifing and skidding control system for trailer trucks is described, wherein a linear accelerometer located on the rear of the trailer detects left or right skidding and provides automatic differential braking action to the left or right wheels depending on the direction of skidding to be corrected. The system distinguishes a usual coordinated turn or truck maneuver from a skidding condition to correct only for the latter. In addition, wheel locking is prevented by releasing the braking action, when such wheel locking is detected.
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Citations
14 Claims
- 1. An anti-jackknifing and skidding control system for a vehicle having a towed section and a towing section and including left wheel and right wheel brakes and actuating means therefor, said control system comprising at least one accelerometer means located adjacent a rear portion of the towed section and having a sensitive axis perpendicular to the direction of forward movement of the vehicle for detecting left and right acceleration of the rear portion of the towed section and producing an output signal responsive thereto, coordinated turn detection means coupled to said towed section and producing a coordinated turn signal, combining means coupled to said accelerometer means and said coordinated turn detection means for distinguishing a proper maneuver from a jackknifing and skidding condition by combining said output signal with said coordinated turn signal to produce a first electrical signal responsive to detected acceleration to the left and a second electrical signal responsive to detected acceleration to the right, and coupling means for coupling said first electrical signal to the actuating means controlling the left wheel brake for applying a braking action only to the left wheel brakes and for coupling said second electrical signal to the actuating means controlling the right wheel brake for applying a braking action only to the right wheel brakes, whereby a differential braking action is achieved only for a jackknifing and skidding condition and not for a proper maneuver, and transducer means coupled between said accelerometer means and said combining means.
Specification