Tractor trailer anti-trailer swing system and method
First Claim
1. A trailer anti-swing brake control method for articulated vehicles (10) of the type comprising a tractor (12) and a trailer (14) connected at an articulating connection (34/176) defining a pivot axis (176) about which the trailer is pivotable relative to the tractor, an articulation angle (AA) of said vehicle defined by the included angle defined by a longitudinally extending axis of the trailer passing through said pivot axis (202) relative to a longitudinally extending axis of the tractor passing through said pivot axis (200), a tractor brake system, a trailer brake system, a driver operated brake effort demand device (76/78) for providing a demand input signal indicative of the magnitude of operators demand for vehicle braking, trailer brake control means (174) responsive in at least one operating mode for causing the trailer brake system to be applied with an operating force generally proportional to the magnitude of said demand input signal, said control method characterized by:
- determining (170/172) a value indicative of at least articulation angle (AA), and a second order or higher time derivative of articulation angle (d2 AA/dt2) and providing articulation input signals indicative thereof; and
receiving and processing said input signals (70) according to predetermined logic rules to detect the existence of conditions indicative of at least one of incipient and initial trailer brake induced trailer swing events and generating output signals in response to detection of the existence of said conditions; and
responding (174) by said control means to said output signals by causing the trailer brake system brakes to be applied with a substantially reduced force (210-212) regardless of the magnitude of said demand input signal;
said processing said input signals to determine the existence of said conditions comprising (A) starting a timer if (i) sensing that the operator has demanded at least partial braking, (ii) sensing that initial articulation angle and the initial timer derivative of articulation angle are in the same direction of rotation about said pivot axis and (iii) sensing that the absolute value the initial time derivative of articulation angle (d2 AA/dt2) exceeds the absolute value of a first reference value (REF1) and (B) generating said output signals if, after starting said timer and prior to time exceeding a predetermined time reference, (i) the current value of the time derivative of articulation angle changes direction and remains in the changed direction and (ii) the absolute value of the current value of the time derivative of articulation angle exceeds the absolute value of a second reference value (REF2).
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A brake control system/method for preventing or arresting and minimizing trailer brake induced trailer-swing in an articulated vehicle (10) is provided. The control system/method senses or calculates values indicative of articulation angle (AA) and a second order or higher time derivative thereof (d2 AA/dt2) and processes same to sense conditions indicative of a trailer brake induced trailer-swing event.
33 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A trailer anti-swing brake control method for articulated vehicles (10) of the type comprising a tractor (12) and a trailer (14) connected at an articulating connection (34/176) defining a pivot axis (176) about which the trailer is pivotable relative to the tractor, an articulation angle (AA) of said vehicle defined by the included angle defined by a longitudinally extending axis of the trailer passing through said pivot axis (202) relative to a longitudinally extending axis of the tractor passing through said pivot axis (200), a tractor brake system, a trailer brake system, a driver operated brake effort demand device (76/78) for providing a demand input signal indicative of the magnitude of operators demand for vehicle braking, trailer brake control means (174) responsive in at least one operating mode for causing the trailer brake system to be applied with an operating force generally proportional to the magnitude of said demand input signal, said control method characterized by:
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determining (170/172) a value indicative of at least articulation angle (AA), and a second order or higher time derivative of articulation angle (d2 AA/dt2) and providing articulation input signals indicative thereof; and receiving and processing said input signals (70) according to predetermined logic rules to detect the existence of conditions indicative of at least one of incipient and initial trailer brake induced trailer swing events and generating output signals in response to detection of the existence of said conditions; and responding (174) by said control means to said output signals by causing the trailer brake system brakes to be applied with a substantially reduced force (210-212) regardless of the magnitude of said demand input signal; said processing said input signals to determine the existence of said conditions comprising (A) starting a timer if (i) sensing that the operator has demanded at least partial braking, (ii) sensing that initial articulation angle and the initial timer derivative of articulation angle are in the same direction of rotation about said pivot axis and (iii) sensing that the absolute value the initial time derivative of articulation angle (d2 AA/dt2) exceeds the absolute value of a first reference value (REF1) and (B) generating said output signals if, after starting said timer and prior to time exceeding a predetermined time reference, (i) the current value of the time derivative of articulation angle changes direction and remains in the changed direction and (ii) the absolute value of the current value of the time derivative of articulation angle exceeds the absolute value of a second reference value (REF2). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A trailer anti-swing brake control system for articulated vehicles (10) of the type comprising a tractor (12) and a trailer (14) connected at an articulating connection (34/176) defining a pivot axis (176) about which the trailer is pivotable relative to the tractor, an articulation angle (AA) of said vehicle defined by the included angle defined by a longitudinally extending axis of the trailer passing through said pivot axis (202) relative to a longitudinally extending axis of the tractor passing through said pivot axis (200), a tractor brake system, a trailer brake system, a driver operated brake effort demand device (76/78) for providing a demand input signal indicative of the magnitude of operators demand for vehicle braking, trailer brake control means (174) responsive in at least one operating mode for causing the trailer brake system to be applied with an operating force generally proportional to the magnitude of said demand input signal, said control system characterized by:
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means for determining (170/172) a value indicative of at least articulation angle (AA), and a second order or higher time derivative of articulation angle (d2 AA/dt2) and providing articulation input signals indicative thereof; and means for receiving and processing said input signals (70) according to predetermined logic rules to detect the existence of conditions indicative of at least one incipient and initial trailer brake induced trailer swing events and generating output signals in response to detection of the existence of said conditions; and control means (174) responsive to said output signals by causing the trailer brake system brakes to be applied with a substantially reduced force (210-212) regardless of the magnitude of said demand input signal; and said processing said input signals to determine the existence of said conditions comprising (A) starting a timer if (i) sensing that the operator has demanded at least partial braking, (ii) sensing that initial articulation angle and the initial time derivative of articulation angle are in the same direction of rotation about said pivot axis and (iii) sensing that the absolute value of the initial time derivative of articulation angle (d2 AA/dt2) exceeds the absolute value of a first reference value and (B) generating said output signals if, after starting said timer and prior to time exceeding a predetermined time reference, (i) the current value of the time derivative of articulation angle changes direction and remains in the changed direction and (ii) the absolute value of the current value of the time derivative of articulation angle exceeds the absolute value of a second reference value. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A trailer anti-swing brake control method for articulated vehicles (10) of the type comprising a tractor (12) and a trailer (14) connected at an articulating connection (34/176) defining a pivot axis (176) about which the trailer is pivotable relative to the tractor, an articulation angle (AA) of said vehicle defined by the included angle defined by a longitudinally extending axis of the trailer passing through said pivot axis (202) relative to a longitudinally extending axis of the tractor passing through said pivot axis (200), a tractor brake system, a trailer brake system, a driver operated brake effort demand device (76/78) for providing a demand input signal indicative of the magnitude of operators demand for vehicle braking, trailer brake control means (174) responsive in at least one operating mode for causing the trailer brake system to be applied with an operating force generally proportional to the magnitude of said demand input signal, said control method characterized by:
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determining (170/172) a value indicative of at least articulation angle (AA), and a second order or higher time derivative of articulation angle (d2 AA/dt2) and providing articulation input signals indicative thereof; and receiving and processing said input signals (70) according to predetermined logic rules to detect the existence of conditions indicative of at least one of incipient and initial trailer brake induced trailer swing events and generating output signals in response to detection of the existence of said conditions; said processing said input signals to determine the existence of said conditions comprising (A) starting a timer if (i) sensing that the operator has demanded at least partial braking, (ii) sensing that initial articulation angle and the initial time derivative of articulation angle are in the same direction of rotation about said pivot axis and (iii) sensing that the absolute value of the initial time derivative of articulation angle (d2 AA/dt2) exceeds the absolute value of a first reference value and (B) generating said output signals if, after starting said timer and prior to time exceeding a predetermined time reference, (i) the current value of the time derivative of articulation angle changes direction and remains in the changed direction (ii) the absolute value of the current value of the time derivative of articulation angle exceeds the absolute value of a second reference value. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification