Brake controller for trailer brakes

• US 6,012,780 A
• Filed: 02/26/1997
• Issued: 01/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cequent Performance Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Reese Products, Incorporated (TriMas Corporation)
• Inventors: Duvernay, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Matthew C.
• Application Number:
  US08/806,810
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 303/20, 303/24.1, 303/124, 303/123, 303/7.3, 303/15, 303/192
• US Class Current: 303/7
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/66 Electrical control in fluid-pressure brake systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/20 specially for trailers, e.g. in case of uncoupling of or overrunning by trailer inertia-actuated overrun brakes B60T13/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1708 for lorries or tractor-trailer combinations

Abstract

A system and method are provided for controlling brakes on a trailer being towed by a towing vehicle. The system includes an accelerometer for sensing inclination and a rate of deceleration of the towing vehicle and providing inclination and rate of deceleration control signals indicative thereof. A controller is provided that is responsive to the inclination and rate of deceleration control signals received from the accelerometer. The controller is operatively connected to an amplifier and these functions together to send a proportionate brake amperage output signal to control the brakes on the trailer.

Claims

1. A method for controlling brakes on a trailer being towed by a towing vehicle, comprising:

sensing rate of deceleration of one of the towing vehicle and the trailer;

sensing inclination of one of the towing vehicle and the trailer;

generating a variable deceleration signal as a function of said rate of deceleration and a variable inclination signal as a function of said sensed inclination;

sending a brake amperage output signal to control the brakes on the trailer; and

continuously proportioning said brake amperage output signal in accordance with both said deceleration and said inclination signals.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:

forwarding a towing vehicle brake actuation signal to a controller upon sensing the rate of deceleration of the towing vehicle;

forwarding the inclination signal to said controller upon sensing the inclination of one of said vehicles; and

wherein the steps of continuously proportioning and sending the brake amperage output signal to control the brakes of the trailer occur when the brake actuation control signal and the vehicle inclination signal are received by said controller.

3. The method of claim 2 further including the steps of:

sensing an ambient temperature; and

forwarding a sensed temperature signal to said controller to allow compensation for temperature drift during the step of sensing the rate of deceleration and the inclination of one of said trailer and said towing vehicles.

4. The method of claim 1 further including the step of indicating to a towing vehicle operator the brake amperage so that the operator is able to monitor operation of the towing vehicle and trailer.

5. The method of claim 4 further including the step of adjusting the brake amperage control signal dependent upon said indicating step by the operator.

6. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:

sensing an improper connection to the towing vehicle or the brakes of the trailer; and

indicating the improper connection to the towing vehicle operator.

7. The method of claim 6 further including the steps of protecting the brake control system in the event of improper connection to the towing vehicle and the brakes of the trailer utilizing circuit breakers/fuses.

8. A method for adjustably controlling brakes on a trailer being towed by a towing vehicle comprising the steps of:

sensing a deceleration of said towing vehicle;

sensing the actuation of said towing vehicle brakes;

forwarding a towing vehicle brake actuation signal to a controller upon sensing the deceleration of said vehicle;

sensing an inclination of one of said trailer and said towing vehicles;

forwarding a vehicle inclination signal as a function of said sensed inclination to said controller upon sensing said inclination;

sending a continuously proportionately adjusted brake output signal to control the brakes of the trailer when the brake actuation, the deceleration and the vehicle inclination signals are received by said controller.

9. The method of claim 8 further including the steps of:

indicating to a towing vehicle operator a brake control signal amperage so that the operator is able to monitor operation of the towing vehicle and trailer; and

manually adjusting the brake control signal dependent upon said indicating step.

10. A method for controlling brakes on a trailer being towed by a towing vehicle, comprising:

sensing rate of deceleration of one of the towing vehicle and the trailer;

sensing inclination of one of the towing vehicle and the trailer;

monitoring the sensed rate of inclination;

continually updating and storing the sensed inclination in a memory;

sensing the actuation of said towing vehicle brakes;

sending a brake amperage output signal to control the brakes on the trailer; and

proportioning said brake amperage output signal in accordance with both said stored sensed inclination and said deceleration signal.

11. The method of claim 10 further including the steps of:

sensing an ambient temperature; and

adjusting said brake amperage output signal to allow compensation for temperature drift during the step of sensing the rate of deceleration and the inclination of one of said trailer and said towing vehicles.