Trailer brake control device of tractor-trailer combination vehicle for suppression of side sway of trailer
First Claim
1. In a tractor-trailer combination vehicle including a tractor, a trailer and a joint having a vertical pivot axis and connecting the trailer with the tractor, the tractor and the trailer each having a longitudinal axis, wheels and brake means for braking the wheels, a trailer brake control device comprising a means for detecting hitch angle expanded by the longitudinal axis of the trailer relative to the longitudinal axis of the tractor around the vertical pivot axis of the joint, and a control means for automatically selectively actuating the brake means of the trailer to apply a braking force, wherein the control means controls the actuation of the trailer brake means based upon at least two operational conditions such that the control means automatically starts the actuation of the trailer brake means when hitch angle increases beyond a threshold value determined therefor and automatically ends the actuation of the trailer brake means when a duration determined for the actuation of the trailer brake means lapses.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a tractor-trailer combination vehicle, a trailer brake control device has a detector of hitch angle expanded by the longitudinal axis of the trailer relative to the longitudinal axis of the tractor around a vertical pivot axis of a joint between the tractor and the trailer, and a controller for selectively actuating brakes of the trailer, wherein the controller controls the actuation of the trailer brakes based upon at least two operational conditions such that the controller starts the actuation of the trailer brakes when the hitch angle increases beyond a threshold value determined therefor and ends the actuation of the trailer brakes when a duration determined for the actuation of the trailer brakes lapses.
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Citations
15 Claims
- 1. In a tractor-trailer combination vehicle including a tractor, a trailer and a joint having a vertical pivot axis and connecting the trailer with the tractor, the tractor and the trailer each having a longitudinal axis, wheels and brake means for braking the wheels, a trailer brake control device comprising a means for detecting hitch angle expanded by the longitudinal axis of the trailer relative to the longitudinal axis of the tractor around the vertical pivot axis of the joint, and a control means for automatically selectively actuating the brake means of the trailer to apply a braking force, wherein the control means controls the actuation of the trailer brake means based upon at least two operational conditions such that the control means automatically starts the actuation of the trailer brake means when hitch angle increases beyond a threshold value determined therefor and automatically ends the actuation of the trailer brake means when a duration determined for the actuation of the trailer brake means lapses.
Specification