Jackknife warning system for trailered vehicle
First Claim
1. A jackknife warning system for a vehicle including a tractor and a trailer, the system comprising:
- a trailer-turning sensor, comprising a rotatable control wheel, a wheel support apparatus attachable to a chassis of the tractor supporting the rotatable control wheel and configured to move the control wheel into rolling engagement with a bottom surface of the trailer, and a counter operable to count a number of rotations or partial rotations of the control wheel as the trailer pivots with respect to the tractor during a vehicle turn;
an electronic controller programmed to receive the number of wheel rotations or partial rotations from the counter, calculate a degree of trailer rotation with respect to the tractor corresponding to the number of wheel rotations or partial rotations, and to generate an alarm signal when the degree of rotation of the trailer with respect to the tractor reaches a first setpoint; and
an alarm device for emitting an alarm in response to the alarm signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A jackknife warning system for a trailered vehicle. A rotation sensor, mounted to a chassis of a tractor, engages an underside of a semi-detached trailer and senses rotation of the trailer with respect to the tractor. A pressure sensor senses pressure applied to a set of brakes for the vehicle. When rotation of the trailer reaches a first setpoint, and pressure applied to the brakes reaches a second setpoint, an alarm is emitted. The alarm can either be a right alarm or a left alarm, depending on if the vehicle is jackknifing to the right or to the left. The brake pressure setpoint can be adjusted by the driver based on the load being carried or on road conditions.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A jackknife warning system for a vehicle including a tractor and a trailer, the system comprising:
-
a trailer-turning sensor, comprising a rotatable control wheel, a wheel support apparatus attachable to a chassis of the tractor supporting the rotatable control wheel and configured to move the control wheel into rolling engagement with a bottom surface of the trailer, and a counter operable to count a number of rotations or partial rotations of the control wheel as the trailer pivots with respect to the tractor during a vehicle turn; an electronic controller programmed to receive the number of wheel rotations or partial rotations from the counter, calculate a degree of trailer rotation with respect to the tractor corresponding to the number of wheel rotations or partial rotations, and to generate an alarm signal when the degree of rotation of the trailer with respect to the tractor reaches a first setpoint; and an alarm device for emitting an alarm in response to the alarm signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
6. A jackknife warning system for a vehicle including a tractor and a trailer, the system comprising:
-
a trailer-turning sensor, attachable to a chassis of the tractor and engageable with the trailer, capable of sensing rotation of the trailer with respect to the trailer; a controller programmed to generate an alarm signal when rotation of the trailer with respect to the tractor reaches a first setpoint; and an alarm device for emitting an alarm in response to the alarm signal; wherein the trailer-turning sensor includes a wheel maintained in rolling engagement with an underside of the trailer which is electronically connected to the controller, and wherein the trailer-turning sensor further includes an encoder converting rotations or partial rotations of the wheel into counts, and transmits the counts to the controller.
-
-
13. A jackknife warning system for a vehicle including a tractor and a trailer, comprising:
-
a trailer-turning sensor, attachable to a chassis of the tractor and engageable with the trailer, capable of sensing rotation of the trailer with respect to the tractor; a pressure sensor sensing a pressure applied to a set of brakes for the vehicle; a controller programmed to generate an alarm signal when the rotation of the trailer with respect to the tractor reaches a first setpoint and the pressure applied to the brakes reaches a second setpoint; and an alarm device for emitting an alarm in response to the alarm signal.
-
Specification