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Trailer anti-swing system and method

  • US 5,029,948 A
  • Filed: 12/20/1989
  • Issued: 07/09/1991
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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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:

  • determining (170/172) a value indicative of at least one of articulation angle (AA), and a time derivative of articulation angle (dAA/dt, d2 AA/dt2) and providing at least one articulation input signal indicative thereof;

    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 command output signals in response to detection of the existence of said conditions; and

    responding (174) by said control means to said command 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.

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