Stability enhancing system for tow-vehicle towing trailer assembly

• US 7,731,302 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tandy Engineering & Associates, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tandy Engineering & Associates, Inc.
• Inventors: Tandy, Donald Frank Jr., Tandy, Donald Frank Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US11/416,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20070257549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• Field of Search: 303/7, 303/123, 303/124
• US Class Current: 303/7
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/06 Tractor-trailer swaying
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1708 for lorries or tractor-trailer combinations
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1755 Brake regulation specially adapted to control the stability of the vehicle, e.g. taking into account yaw rate or transverse acceleration in a curve road vehicle drive control systems for control of driving stability otherwise than by controlling a particular sub-unit B60W30/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/241 Lateral vehicle inclination
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/245 Longitudinal vehicle inclination
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/246 Change of direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/248 Trailer sway, e.g. for preventing jackknifing

Abstract

A system for providing enhanced force and motion stability and management for a tow-vehicle towing a trailer assembly is disclosed. The system includes a tow-vehicle with an electronic stability enhancing system in communication with a processor with memory, and sensors located on the tow-vehicle are used for detecting engagement with a trailer and communicating with a trailer electrical system and the processor. Computer instructions instruct the processor to identify specifications representing the tow-vehicle and the trailer and to calculate at least one force, at least one motion, and combinations thereof, affecting the tow-vehicle and trailer assembly. Computer instructions provide instructions for braking to at least one wheel of the tow-vehicle using the at least one force, the at least one motion, the electronic stability enhancing system, and the specifications of the tow-vehicle towing the trailer assembly.

Claims

1. A stability enhancing control system for a tow-vehicle with a connected trailer assembly, wherein the stability enhancing control system comprises:

a. a real time electronic stability enhancing system with vehicle simulation modeling with a tow-vehicle connected to a trailer assembly;

b. a processor with memory located on the tow-vehicle and in communication with the electronic stability enhancing system;

c. sensors located on the tow-vehicle for detecting engagement with a trailer, wherein the sensors are adapted to communicate with a trailer electrical system on the trailer and with the processor on the tow-vehicle;

d. computer instructions configured for instructing the processor to identify specifications representing the tow-vehicle, wherein the specifications comprise a member selected from the group consisting of;

a tow-vehicle length, a tow-vehicle height, a tow-vehicle width, a tow-vehicle weight, a tow-vehicle inertia value, a tow-vehicle wheel configuration, a tow-vehicle tire characteristic, a tow-vehicle suspension characteristic, and combinations thereof;

e. computer instructions configured for instructing the processor to identify specifications representing the trailer, wherein the specifications comprise at least one trailer characteristic;

f. computer instructions configured for calculating at least one force, at least one motion, and combinations thereof, affecting the tow-vehicle with the connected trailer assembly, wherein the at least one force, the at least one motion, and combinations thereof, are a member selected from the group consisting of;

a lateral force, a translational motion, an angular motion, a steering input, a steering rate, a vehicle speed, a braking force, a braking pressure, a throttle position, a brake pedal position, a wheel speed, and combinations thereof; and

g. computer instructions for applying braking to at least one wheel of the tow-vehicle using;

the at least one force, the at least one motion, and combinations thereof, the electronic stability enhancing system, and the specifications of the tow-vehicle with the connected trailer assembly.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the tow-vehicle comprises a brake adjacent to each wheel of the tow-vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the brake is a member selected from a group of brake types consisting of:

an electric brake, a surge brake, a hydraulic brake, a pneumatic brake, and combinations thereof.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the brake on the tow-vehicle consists of a different type of brake type than a brake on the trailer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the trailer has no brake.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the trailer comprises between one and fifteen axles.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the tow-vehicle is a member selected from the group consisting of:

a passenger car, a tractor, a sport utility vehicle, a pick-up truck, a medium truck, a heavy truck, a semi-truck, a van, a recreational vehicle, a bus, or other motorized vehicle having a brake adjacent to each wheel.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the trailer is a member selected from the group consisting of:

an equipment trailer, a pop-up trailer, semi-trailer, tandem trailer, a recreational trailer, a house trailer, a boat trailer, a horse trailer, a utility trailer, a motorcycle trailer, a race car trailer, an enclosed trailer, a dump trailer, a car hauler trailer, or other trailer having at least two wheels.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensors located on the tow-vehicle comprise a device for detecting a completed electrical circuit, other integrated circuit systems, and combinations thereof.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the sensors identify the existence of a trailer when a connection is completed between a lighting system of the tow-vehicle and a lighting system of the trailer.

11. The system of claim1, wherein the sensor is a member selected from the group consisting of:

a position sensor, a force sensor, a wheel speed sensor, a torque sensor, a steering wheel angle sensor, a steering wheel rate sensor, and combinations thereof.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the trailer characteristic comprises a member selected from the group consisting of:

a trailer length, a trailer width, a trailer height, a trailer weight, a trailer wheel configuration, a trailer wheel size, a trailer wheel diameter, a trailer tire characteristic, a trailer suspension characteristic, a trailer dimensional characteristic, a trailer inertia value, and combinations thereof.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer instructions use the specifications and characteristics of the tow-vehicle and the trailer to reduce sway, pitch, roll, and yaw of the tow-vehicle with the connected trailer assembly when at least one characteristic exceeds a preset limit.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer instructions adjust engine power to alter at least one motion, at least one force, or combinations thereof, of the tow-vehicle with the connected trailer assembly.