Trailer brake control system with safety function
First Claim
1. A vehicle trailer control system comprising sensor means operable to provide measurements of the forces between a towing vehicle and a trailer, control means operable while the towing vehicle is in operation and in response to signals received from the sensor means corresponding to the measurements to assess the behaviour of the trailer relative to the towing vehicle, the control means being further operable to apply braking to the trailer to modify the trailer behaviour independently of operation of the towing vehicle brakes by the operator whereby at least load axially applied to the towing vehicle by the trailer is assessed substantially continuously, and the control means thereby applies braking to substantially ensure that a towing force acts upon the trailer, wherein the system has accelerometer means, the accelerometer means providing signals to the control means for determining velocity and direction of travel of the towing vehicle, wherein braking is enabled and disabled in pulsed manner until a towing force is restored.
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Abstract
A tow ball (14) is mounted to a bracket (16) by means of a spacer (20) which incorporates transducers (24) to provide signals indicating forces existing between the towing vehicle and the trailer. A control system is described which is operable to apply braking to the trailer to modify the trailer behavior independently of operation of the vehicle brakes by the operator.
68 Citations
22 Claims
- 1. A vehicle trailer control system comprising sensor means operable to provide measurements of the forces between a towing vehicle and a trailer, control means operable while the towing vehicle is in operation and in response to signals received from the sensor means corresponding to the measurements to assess the behaviour of the trailer relative to the towing vehicle, the control means being further operable to apply braking to the trailer to modify the trailer behaviour independently of operation of the towing vehicle brakes by the operator whereby at least load axially applied to the towing vehicle by the trailer is assessed substantially continuously, and the control means thereby applies braking to substantially ensure that a towing force acts upon the trailer, wherein the system has accelerometer means, the accelerometer means providing signals to the control means for determining velocity and direction of travel of the towing vehicle, wherein braking is enabled and disabled in pulsed manner until a towing force is restored.
- 7. A vehicle trailer control system comprising sensor means operable to provide measurements of the forces between a towing vehicle and a trailer, control means operable while the towing vehicle is in operation and in response to signals received from the sensor means corresponding to the measurements to assess the behaviour of the trailer relative to the towing vehicle, the control means being further operable to apply braking to the trailer to modify the trailer behaviour independently of operation of the towing vehicle brakes by the operator whereby at least load axially applied to the towing vehicle by the trailer is assessed substantially continuously, and the control means thereby applies braking to substantially ensure that a towing force acts upon the trailer, wherein the system has accelerometer means, the accelerometer means providing signals to the control means for determining velocity and direction of travel of the towing vehicle, wherein the vehicle trailer control system is operable to apply braking selectively to one side of the trailer or the other to correct misalignment.
- 13. A vehicle trailer control system comprising sensor means operable to provide measurements of the forces between a towing vehicle and a trailer, control means operable while the towing vehicle is in operation and in response to signals received from the sensor means corresponding to the measurements to assess the behaviour of the trailer relative to the towing vehicle, the control means being further operable to apply braking to the trailer to modify the trailer behaviour independently of operation of the towing vehicle brakes by the operator whereby at least load axially applied to the towing vehicle by the trailer is assessed substantially continuously, and the control means thereby applies braking to substantially ensure that a towing force acts upon the trailer, wherein the system has accelerometer means, the accelerometer means providing signals to the control means for determining velocity and direction of travel of the towing vehicle, wherein said accelerometer means is operable to provide information enabling the system to sense the towing vehicle turning, and wherein the vehicle trailer control system refrains from applying, braking to the trailer while the towing vehicle is turning.
Specification