Towed vehicle brake controller

• US 6,837,551 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2003
• Issued: 01/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation (Hoppy Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: United States Steel Corporation (U.S. Steel)
• Inventors: Robinson, Bruce, Hostetler, Jeffrey, Bailey, David F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzlo, Benjamin A.
• Application Number:
  US10/408,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20030168908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 303/7, 303/20, 303/3, 303/124, 303/24.1, 303/15, 303/192, 188/112.R
• US Class Current: 303/7
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/74 with electrical assistance or drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/223 Devices for pressurising brake systems acting on pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/10 Disposition of hand control
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/107 with electrical power assistance

Abstract

A brake controller, for controlling the brakes of a towed vehicle, having a control module and a power module is provided. The control module is mounted in the cab of a vehicle used for towing, in such a manner that it can be easily seen and accessed by the driver. The control module is provided with an accelerometer, which can read acceleration forces in at least two axes, and a microprocessor which polls the accelerometer and sends braking information to the power module. The control module is also provided with a gain control, to adjust the amount of brake force information, a manual braking lever and a display panel. The power module, which may be mounted in a convenient location, preferably on the towed vehicle, receives the braking information from the control module and secures power from the towed vehicle to engage its brakes.

Claims

1. A vehicle towing system which comprises:

a towing vehicle for towing a towed vehicle having brakes;

a brake controller;

said brake controller including a multi-axis accelerometer; and

circuitry to sum sensed accelerations of said multi-axis accelerometer and to sense braking forces on said towing vehicle;

said circuitry being operable to cause the activation of the brakes of the towed vehicle in a manner that is insensitive to the position of the accelerometer.

2. A method of applying the brakes of a towed vehicle when it is in association with a towing vehicle, including the steps of:

providing a brake controller, said brake controller including a multi-axis accelerometer;

sensing braking forces on said towing vehicle;

summing sensed accelerations of said multi-axis accelerometer; and

activating the brakes of the towed vehicle in response to said summing and sensing steps.

3. A method of applying the brakes of a towed vehicle when it is in association with a towing vehicle, including the steps of:

providing a brake controller including a multi-axis accelerometer;

providing a microprocessor;

generating braking signals in response to braking situations in the towing vehicle;

providing power drivers; and

connecting said power drivers such that said braking signals cause said power drivers to engage the brakes of the towed vehicle.

4. A method of applying the brakes of a towed vehicle when it is in association with a towing vehicle, including the steps of:

providing a brake controller including a multi-axis accelerometer;

providing a microprocessor;

via said accelerometer, sensing forces in at least two axes of movement of the towing vehicle;

via said microprocessor, polling said multi-access accelerometer to determine acceleration forces on the towing vehicle;

computing changes in acceleration forces on the towing vehicle and generating a braking signal in response thereto;

braking the towed vehicle in response to said braking signals.

5. A method as described in claim 4, including the steps of providing power drivers and connecting said power drivers such that said braking signals cause said power drivers to engage the brakes of the towed vehicle.

6. A method as defined in claim 4, including the steps of coupling said microprocessor to the braking system of the towing vehicle, with said microprocessor generating a braking signal in response to changes in forces computed from reading the accelerometer only when the brakes of the towing vehicle are engaged as sensed by said microprocessor.

7. A method of applying the brakes of a towed vehicle when it is in association with a towing vehicle, including the steps of:

providing a brake controller, said brake controller including a multi-axis accelerometer;

via said accelerometer, determining the force of braking by determining the acceleration in two axes;

summing the acceleration in one axis with the acceleration in the other axis to determine the total acceleration;

providing braking signals to a microprocessor in response to the determined total acceleration; and

activating the brakes of the towed vehicle in response to signals provided by said microprocessor.

8. A method of applying the brakes of a towed vehicle when it is in an association with a towing vehicle, including the steps of,

providing a brake controller, said brake controller including a multi-axis accelerometer,

sensing braking forces on said towing vehicles;

summing sensed accelerations of said multi-axis accelerometer;

activating the brakes of the towed vehicle in response to said summing and said sensing steps in a manner that is insensitive to the position of the accelerometer.