Speed responsive trailer stabilizer with zero slack
First Claim
1. Apparatus for stabilizing a towed vehicle joined to a towing vehicle by a towing connection permitting said vehicles to turn relative to each other about a yaw axis, said apparatus comprising:
- turning resistance means for at times providing a resistance to said relative turning movement between said towed and towing vehicles about said yaw axis;
coupling means for mechanically transmitting the turning resistance provided by said turning resistance means to said towed and towing vehicles;
and extensible means for biasing said towed vehicle away from said towing vehicle such that tension is placed on said towing connection and substantially all slack is removed from said towing connection and from said coupling means whereby even slight relative turning movement between said towed and towing vehicles about said yaw axis is resisted by said turning resistance means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A trailer stabilizer is comprised of a hydraulic assembly having a pair of hydraulic units for providing viscous fluid resistance to relative turning movements between a trailer and a towing vehicle. The assembly includes flow controls for varying turning resistance in response to turning rate and vehicle speed. Slack removal members constantly bias interconnected couplings to provide rate sensing and turning resistance with zero mechanical slack. A brake control system actuates towed vehicle brakes in response to hydraulic system pressure and includes speed responsive components preventing brake application below a predetermined speed. Circuitry is also provided for varying braking force in response to vehicle speed and turning rate, for adjusting braking force according to trailer size and road conditions, and for testing braking force adjustments.
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Citations
81 Claims
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1. Apparatus for stabilizing a towed vehicle joined to a towing vehicle by a towing connection permitting said vehicles to turn relative to each other about a yaw axis, said apparatus comprising:
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turning resistance means for at times providing a resistance to said relative turning movement between said towed and towing vehicles about said yaw axis; coupling means for mechanically transmitting the turning resistance provided by said turning resistance means to said towed and towing vehicles; and extensible means for biasing said towed vehicle away from said towing vehicle such that tension is placed on said towing connection and substantially all slack is removed from said towing connection and from said coupling means whereby even slight relative turning movement between said towed and towing vehicles about said yaw axis is resisted by said turning resistance means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Apparatus for stabilizing a towed vehicle joined to a towing vehicle by a towing connection permitting said vehicles to turn relative to each other about a yaw axis, said towed vehicle having brakes for retarding towed vehicle motion, said apparatus comprising:
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turn sensing means for at times providing a signal responsive to relative turning movement between said towed and towing vehicles about said yaw axis; coupling means for mechanically transmitting said relative turning movement to said turn sensing means; brake actuator means for actuating said brakes to retard towed vehicle motion in response to said signal; and extensible means for biasing said towed vehicle away from said towing vehicle such that tension is placed on said towing connection and substantially all slack is removed from said towing connection and from said coupling means such that even slight relative turning movement between said towed and towing vehicles about said yaw axis causes actuation of said brakes by said brake actuator means. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Apparatus for stabilizing a towed vehicle joined to a towing vehicle by a towing connection permitting said vehicles to turn relative to each other about a yaw axis, said towed vehicle having brakes for retarding towed vehicle motion, said apparatus comprising:
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turning resistance means for at times resisting said relative turning movement between said towed and towing vehicles about said yaw axis; and turn control means for jointly controlling both the resistance to turning provided by said turning resistance means and the retardation to towed vehicle motion provided by said brakes, said turn control means including speed responsive means for providing said joint control in response to the speed of the joined vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A stabilizing apparatus for controlling the brakes of a towed vehicle joined to a towing vehicle by a towing connection permitting turning movement of said towed vehicle relative to said towing vehicle about a yaw axis, said apparatus comprising:
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signal generating means connected between said towed and towing vehicles for providing a signal having at least one characteristic responsive to the rate of a change of angle caused by a single relative turning movement between said towed and towing vehicles about said yaw axis; and
,actuator means for actuating said brakes in response to said at least one signal characteristic, said actuator means being effective to vary the magnitude of retardation to towed vehicle motion provided by said brakes in response to the magnitude of said rate of angle change caused by a single relative turning movement between said vehicles in either direction about said yaw axis. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. Apparatus for stabilizing a towed vehicle joined to a towing vehicle by a towing connection permitting said vehicles to turn relative to each other about a yaw axis, said towed vehicle having brakes for retarding towed vehicle motion, said apparatus comprising:
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turn sensing means for at times providing a signal responsive to relative turning movement between said towed and towing vehicles about said yaw axis; coupling means for mechanically transmitting said relative turning movement to said turn sensing means; brake actuator means for actuating said brakes to retard towed vehicle motion in response to said signal; and control means for controllably varying the retardation to towed vehicle motion provided by said brakes in response to the speed of the joined vehicles.
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22. Apparatus for stabilizing a towed vehicle having brakes and joined to a towing vehicle by a towing connection permitting said vehicles to turn relative to each other about a yaw axis, said apparatus comprising:
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turning resistance means for providing a controllably variable resistance to said turning movement of said towed and towing vehicles relative to each other about said yaw axis; brake actuator means for actuating said brakes to provide controllably variable retardation of towed vehicle motion; and
,control means for varying both the resistance to turning provided by said turning resistance means and the retardation to towed vehicle motion provided by said brake actuator means in response to the rate of said relative turning movement. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
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Specification