Anti-jackknifing method and apparatus

• US 4,223,767 A
• Filed: 01/22/1979
• Issued: 09/23/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Powell P. Ray
• Original Assignee: Powell P. Ray
• Inventors: Powell, P. Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): Reger, Duane A.
• Application Number:
  US06/005,148
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 180/282, 188/3 R, 188/112 A, 280/432, 280/446 B, 303/7, 303/101
• US Class Current: 188/112.00A
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/66 Electrical control in fluid-pressure brake systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/248 Trailer sway, e.g. for preventing jackknifing
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/0871 with stabilising means, e.g. to prevent jack-knifing, pitching, rolling, buck jumping stabilising in general B62D37/00; tractors B62D49/08

Abstract

An anti-jackknifing method and apparatus for preventing uncontrolled skidding or jackknifing of a trailer towed by a tow vehicle. The method includes the step of continuously disabling one of the rear trailer brakes throughout a period when slippery road conditions are encountered so that the associated wheel is allowed to rotate freely. The apparatus for disabling the particular brake is actuable by the driver whenever slippery road conditions are anticipated, and are deactuated by the driver when such conditions no longer prevail.

Claims

1. Anti-jackknifing apparatus for a trailer towed by a tow vehicle, said trailer including left and right rear wheels and left and right brake means operative to brake said left and right wheels, respectively, said apparatus comprising:

disabling means coupled to one of said left and right brake means and actuable for rendering only one of said left and right brake means inoperative whereby braking of said trailer by the driver of said tow vehicle is ineffective to brake the wheel or wheels associated with said one of said left and right brake means; and

,

control means manually operative in the tow vehicle to actuate said disabling means for an extended period of time whereby said disabling means is adapted to render said one of said left and right brake means continuously inoperative during travel of said trailer over slippery roads.

2. Anti-jackknifing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said disabling means is coupled to said right brake means.

3. Anti-jackknifing apparatus according to claim 1 and including second disabling means coupled to one of the left and right brake means of the tow vehicle and actuable to render said one of said left and right brake means of the tow vehicle inoperative whereby braking of the tow vehicle by the driver is ineffective to brake the wheel or wheels associated with said one of said left and right brake means of the tow vehicle;

and said control means also being manually operative to actuate said second disabling means.

4. Anti-jackknifing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said left and right brake means includes an air brake and an air conduit coupling said air brake to a source of air under pressure;

wherein said disabling means includes an air valve in said air conduit of one of said left and right brake means; and

wherein said control means in manually operative to actuate said air valve to block air flow through said air conduit to said air brake of said one of said left and right brake means.

5. Anti-jackknifing apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said control means includes a solenoid associated with said air valve and electrically energizable to actuate said air valve.

6. Anti-jackknifing apparatus according to claim 1 and including indicator means in electrical circuit with said solenoid to indicate when said solenoid is electrically energized.

7. Anti-jackknifing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control means includes switch means on the towing vehicle and manually operative by the towing vehicle driver to actuate said disabling means.

8. An anti-jackknifing method for preventing jackknifing of a trailer truck by a tow vehicle, wherein said trailer includes left and right rear wheels and left and right brake means operative to brake said left and right rear wheels, respectively, said method comprising the steps of:

continuously disabling from the tow vehicle only one of said left and right brake means throughout a period of time that slippery road conditions are encountered by said trailer whereby the wheel or wheels associated with said one of said left and right brake means is allowed to rotate freely to tend to maintain said trailer in a straight line of travel.

9. An anti-jackknifing method according to claim 8 and including the further step of terminating said disabling when good road conditions are encountered by said trailer.

10. Anti-jackknifing apparatus for a trailer towed by a tow vehicle, said trailer including left and right rear wheels, and further including left and right air brakes connected by conduit means to a source of air under pressure and operative to brake said left and right rear wheels, respectively, said apparatus comprising:

a solenoid valve in that portion of said conduit means leading to said right air brake, and electrically energizable to block air flow only to said right air brake whereby braking of said trailer by the driver of said tow vehicle is ineffective to brake the wheel or wheels associated with said right air brake; and

control means for electrically energizing said solenoid valve, and including switch means manually operative by the towing vehicle driver to effect energization of said solenoid valve for an extended period of time whereby said right air brake can be rendered continuously inoperative during travel of said trailer over slippery roads.