Tractor trailer integrated jackknife control device

• US 5,690,347 A
• Filed: 04/15/1996
• Issued: 11/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Doanld M. Juergens
• Original Assignee: Tractor Trailer Safety Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Novesky, Timothy A., Juergens, Eugene H., Rychtik, Jerome
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberleitner, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, PAMELA
• Application Number:
  US08/632,220
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 303/7, 303/20, 303/123, 188/112 A, 188/125, 188/126, 188/142, 188/175, 188/329, 188/330, 280/432, 280/DIG. 14
• US Class Current: 280/432
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/683 in pneumatic systems or parts thereof in vacuum systems B60T13/72
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/06 Tractor-trailer swaying
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/246 Change of direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/248 Trailer sway, e.g. for preventing jackknifing
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/0878 the fifth wheel coupling incorporating braking or restraining means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 188/01 Panic braking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 280/14 Tractor-trailer backing connections

Abstract

An integrated jackknife control device for a tractor trailer assembly requires minimal if any modification to the existing fifth wheel coupler of the tractor trailer. The device comprises a computer controlled braking system including one or more pivot brakes acting directly on the trailer body, sensors which detect tractor trailer conditions indicative of incipient or full-fledged jackknifing and possibly other hazardous conditions such as collision or panic braking, and a proportional controller which causes one or more brake to apply a resistive force directly to the trailer which increases proportionally with a sensed degree of trailer jackknifing. The braking system preferably will automatically remain in a standby mode during backing maneuvers and will allow the operator to actuate the braking system manually and also to reset or return the braking system to a standby condition.

Claims

1. A braking system for inhibiting a trailer of a tractor trailer assembly from jackknifing, said trailer comprising an underframe which has a front end portion supported on said tractor and a rear end portion supported on wheels, said braking system comprising:

(A) a source of pressurized fluid;

(B) a proportional control valve having an inlet port connected to said source of pressurized fluid and having an outlet port, said valve being controllable to selectively pressurize fluid in said outlet port to a variable level ranging from 0% of a maximum pressure level to 100% of said maximum pressure level;

(C) a fluid pressure cylinder fluidically coupled to said outlet of said valve;

(D) a friction brake which is mechanically coupled to said fluid pressure cylinder and which is located adjacent said underframe of said trailer;

(E) means for detecting an incipient trailer jackknife condition; and

(F) means, coupled to said means for detecting and to said proportional control valve, for automatically controlling said proportional control valve to actuate said fluid pressure cylinder in response to a detected incipient jackknife condition to cause said brake to apply a resistive force to said underframe of said trailer that increases proportionally with a detected degree of trailer jackknifing.

2. A braking system as defined in claim 1, wherein

said source of pressurized fluid comprises a source of pressurized air,

said valve comprises a proportional control pneumatic valve, and

said fluid pressure cylinder comprises a pneumatic cylinder.

3. A braking system as defined in claim 1, wherein

said means for automatically controlling comprises a computer which transmits signals to said valve, and

said means for detecting comprises a sensor assembly which is electronically coupled to said computer, which monitors a physical relationship between said trailer and said tractor, and which is capable of generating and transmitting to said computer a signal indicative of a degree of trailer jackknifing, and further comprising

a feedback sensor which is electronically coupled to said computer and which is capable of generating and transmitting to said computer a signal indicative of a current operational state of said brake.

4. A braking system as defined in claim 3, wherein said sensor assembly comprises a tractor velocity sensor and at least one of 1) a sensor monitoring an angle of inclination of said trailer relative to said tractor, and 2) a sensor providing a signal indicative of an overrunning inertia of said trailer relative to said tractor.

5. A braking system as defined in claim 3, further comprising a manual controller which is electronically coupled to said computer, said manual controller including a reset switch which, when activated, causes said computer to reset said brake 1) from a braking condition 2) to a non-braking condition.

6. A braking system as defined in claim 1, wherein said brake includes a friction pad which moves non-linearly upon brake application.

7. A braking system as defined in claim 6, wherein said brake comprises an eccentric pivot brake the friction pad of which is pivotable about a pivot axis which is parallel with but offset from a central longitudinal rotational axis of said brake.

8. A braking system for inhibiting a trailer of a tractor trailer assembly from jackknifing, said system comprising:

(A) a source of pressurized fluid;

(B) a proportional control valve having an inlet port connected to said source of pressurized fluid and having an outlet port, said valve being controllable to selectively pressurize fluid in said outlet port to a variable level ranging from 0% of a maximum pressure level to 100% of said maximum pressure level;

(C) a fluid pressure cylinder fluidically coupled to said outlet of said valve; and

(D) a friction brake which is mechanically coupled to said fluid pressure cylinder, said brake being dimensioned and configured to apply a resistive force to said trailer which increases proportionally to the fluid pressure in said outlet port of said valve, wherein said friction brake is a pivot brake which comprises

(1) a stationary mounting bracket,

(2) a cylinder having a friction pad mounted along at least a portion of an outer radial periphery thereof, and

(3) a cylinder support which is

     1) eccentrically mounted on an axial end of said cylinder,

     2) rotatably mounted on said mounting bracket, and

     3) mechanically coupled to said fluid pressure cylinder.

9. A braking system as defined in claim 8, wherein said friction pad has grooves formed in a braking surface thereof to channel debris away from said pad.

10. A braking system for inhibiting a trailer of a tractor trailer assembly from jackknifing, said system comprising:

(A) a source of pressurized fluid;

(B) a proportional control valve having an inlet port connected to said source of pressurized fluid and having an outlet port, said valve being controllable to selectively pressurize fluid in said outlet port to a variable level ranging from 0% of a maximum pressure level to 100% of said maximum pressure level;

(C) a fluid pressure cylinder fluidically coupled to said outlet of said valve; and

(D) a friction brake which is mechanically coupled to said fluid pressure cylinder, said brake being dimensioned and configured to apply a resistive force to said trailer which increases proportionally to the fluid pressure in said outlet port of said valve, wherein said fluid pressure cylinder includes an axially movable rod, and wherein said brake is a pivot brake which comprises

a stationary mounting bracket comprising a base and two opposed end legs extending upwardly from said base, each of said end legs having a hole formed therethrough,

a metal cylinder having a central axis, opposed axial ends, and an outer radial periphery, a friction pad being mounted on at least a portion of said outer radial periphery of said cylinder, said friction pad extending along substantially an entire axial length of said cylinder and extending around at least 30% of the circumference of said cylinder, said friction pad having semi-circular grooves formed in an outer peripheral surface thereof, and

a support rod which

     1) extends eccentrically through said cylinder and out of said opposed axial ends thereof so as to be parallel with but offset from said central axis of said cylinder,

     2) is rotatably journaled in said holes in said legs of said mounting bracket, and

     3) is mechanically coupled to said fluid pressure cylinder by a crank having a first end attached to said support rod and a second end attached to said rod of said fluid pressure cylinder.

11. A vehicle comprising:

(A) a tractor including a cab and a trailer support frame presenting an upper horizontal surface;

(B) a trailer having a lower horizontal surface which extends along at least substantially an entire longitudinal length of said trailer;

(C) a fifth wheel coupler connecting said tailer to said tractor, said fifth wheel coupler including

(1) a lower plate mounted on said upper surface of said support frame, said lower plate having a socket formed therein,

(2) an upper plate mounted on said lower surface of said trailer, and

(3) a king pin which is attached to said upper plate, which extends downwardly from said upper plate, and which is received in said socket in said lower plate; and

(D) a braking system mounted on said tractor, said braking system including a brake which is mounted on said trailer support frame, said brake including a friction pad which is movable non-linearly with respect to said lower horizontal surface of said trailer from a first, inoperative position in which it is spaced from said lower horizontal surface of said trailer to a second, braking position in which it directly engages said lower horizontal surface of said trailer at a location away from said upper plate so as to resist trailer jackknifing.

12. A vehicle as defined in claim 11, wherein said brake is located in from of said upper plate, and wherein said braking system further comprises second and third brakes located adjacent opposite lateral sides of said upper plate.

13. A vehicle as defined in claim 11, wherein said actuator comprises a proportional control valve, and further comprising

a computer which transmits signals to said valve,

a sensor assembly which is electronically coupled to said computer, which monitors physical relationships between said trailer and said tractor, and which is capable of generating and transmitting to said computer a signal indicative of a degree of trailer jackknifing, and

a feedback sensor which is electronically coupled to said computer and which is capable of generating and transmitting to said computer a signal indicative of a current operational state of said brake.

14. A vehicle as defined in claim 13, further comprising a manual controller which is mounted in said cab and which is electronically coupled to said computer, said manual controller including a reset switch which, when activated, causes said computer to reset said brake from a full-braking condition to a non-braking condition.

15. A vehicle comprising:

(A) a tractor including a cab and a trailer support frame presenting an upper horizontal surface;

(B) a trailer having a lower horizontal surface;

(C) a braking system mounted on said tractor, said braking system including a brake which is mounted on said trailer support frame, said brake including a friction pad which is movable from a first, inoperative position in which it is spaced from said lower horizontal surface of said trailer to a second, braking position in which it engages said lower horizontal surface of said trailer so as to resist trailer jackknifing, wherein said brake comprises an eccentric pivot brake the friction pad of which is pivotable about a pivot axis which is parallel with but offset from a central longitudinal axis of said brake; and

(D) an actuator which selectively causes said brake to rotate about said pivot axis by an amount which is proportional to a calculated degree of trailer jackknifing.

16. A vehicle comprising:

(A) a tractor including a cab and a trailer support frame presenting an upper horizontal surface;

(B) a trailer having a lower horizontal surface;

(C) a braking system mounted on said tractor, said braking system including a brake which is mounted on said trailer support frame, said brake including a friction pad which is movable from a first, inoperative position in which it is spaced from said lower horizontal surface of said trailer to a second, braking position in which it engages said lower horizontal surface of said trailer so as to resist trailer jackknifing, wherein said brake comprises an eccentric pivot brake the friction pad of which is pivotable about a pivot axis which is parallel with but offset from a central longitudinal axis of said brake; and

(D) an actuator which selectively causes said brake to rotate about said pivot axis by an amount which is proportional to a calculated degree of trailer jackknifing, and wherein said pivot brake comprises

a stationary mounting bracket comprising a base and two opposed end legs extending upwardly from said base, each of said end legs having a hole formed therethrough,

a metal cylinder having a central axis, opposed axial ends, and an outer radial periphery, a friction pad being mounted on at least a portion of said outer radial periphery of said cylinder, said friction pad extending along substantially an entire axial length of said cylinder and extending around at least 30% of the circumference of said cylinder, said friction pad having semi-circular grooves formed in an outer peripheral surface thereof to channel debris away from said pad, and

a support rod which

     1) extends eccentrically through said cylinder and said opposed axial ends thereof so as to be parallel with but offset from said central axis of said cylinder,

     2) is rotatably journaled in said holes in said legs of said mounting bracket, and

     3) is mechanically coupled to said fluid pressure cylinder by a crank having a first end attached to said support rod and a second end attached to a rod of said fluid pressure cylinder.

17. A braking system for inhibiting a trailer of a tractor trailer assembly from jackknifing, said system comprising:

(A) a source of pressurized fluid;

(B) a proportional control valve having an inlet port connected to said source of pressurized fluid and having an outlet port, said valve being controllable to selectively pressurize fluid in said outlet port to a variable level ranging from 0% of a maximum pressure level to 100% of said maximum pressure level;

(C) a fluid pressure cylinder fluidically coupled to said outlet of said valve;

(D) a friction brake which is mechanically coupled to said fluid pressure cylinder, said brake including a friction pad which moves non-linearly upon brake application to apply a resistive force to said trailer which increases proportionally to the fluid pressure in said outlet port of said valve.

18. A braking system as defined in claim 17, wherein said brake comprises an eccentric pivot brake the friction pad of which is pivotable about a pivot axis which is parallel with but offset from a central longitudinal rotational axis of said brake.

19. A braking system as defined in claim 17, wherein said friction brake is a pivot brake which comprises

a stationary mounting bracket,

a cylinder having a friction pad mounted on at least a portion of an outer radial periphery thereof, and

a cylinder support which is 1) eccentrically mounted on an axial end of said cylinder, 2) rotatably mounted on said mounting bracket, and 3) mechanically coupled to said fluid pressure cylinder.