Stability enhancing system for tow-vehicle and trailer assembly combination with two processors
First Claim
1. A stability enhancing control system for a tow-vehicle with a connected trailer assembly, wherein the stability enhancing control system comprises:
- a. an electronic stability enhancing system for making comparisons of measured force values and motions values of the trailer assembly to known threshold values as preset limits, to alter driving forces as;
braking forces, yaw forces, swaying forces, roll forces, and combinations thereof;
b. a first processor with a first memory located on the tow-vehicle and in communication with the electronic stability enhancing system;
c. the second processor with a second memory located on the trailer, wherein the second processor is in communication with the first processor on the tow-vehicle;
d. tow-vehicle sensors located on the tow-vehicle for detecting the engagement with a trailer, wherein the tow-vehicle sensors communicate with a trailer electrical system on the trailer and the first processor on the tow-vehicle;
e. trailer sensors located on the trailer for detecting a force, a motion and combinations thereof, wherein the trailer sensors communicate with the trailer electrical system, the first processor on the tow-vehicle, and the second processor on the trailer;
f. computer instructions for instructing the first processor and the second processor to identify specifications representing the tow-vehicle and specifications representing the trailer, 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 wheel size, a tow-vehicle tire characteristic, a tow-vehicle suspension characteristic, and combinations thereof, and at least one trailer characteristic;
g. computer instructions for calculating at least one force, at least one motion, and combinations thereof affecting the tow-vehicle and the connected trailer assembly, wherein the at least one force, at least one motion, or 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 steering torque, a vehicle speed, a braking force, a braking pressure, a wheel speed, a throttle position, a brake pedal position, and combinations thereof;
h. 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, or combinations thereof, the electronic stability enhancing system, and the specifications of the tow-vehicle with the connected trailer assembly; and
i. computer instructions for applying braking to at least one wheel of the trailer using;
the at least one force, the at least one motion, or combinations thereof, the electronic stability enhancing system, the specifications of the tow-vehicle and connected trailer assembly, and the at least one trailer characteristic.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for providing enhanced stability, control, and management of a tow-vehicle with a connected trailer assembly combination by using an electronic stability enhancing system and two processors is disclosed. The first processor on the tow-vehicle and second processor on the trailer include memory with computer instructions for communicating with sensors located on the tow-vehicle and the trailer for detecting force, motion, and combinations thereof, as well as engagement with the trailer. Computer instructions instruct the processors to identify specifications and characteristics representing the tow-vehicle and the trailer and to calculate force values and motion values that affect the tow-vehicle and trailer assembly combination for comparison with known threshold values. Computer instructions provide instructions for stabilization, which can include braking to at least one wheel of the tow-vehicle and trailer using force values, motion values, the electronic stability enhancing system, and specifications of the tow-vehicle and trailer combination.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A stability enhancing control system for a tow-vehicle with a connected trailer assembly, wherein the stability enhancing control system comprises:
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a. an electronic stability enhancing system for making comparisons of measured force values and motions values of the trailer assembly to known threshold values as preset limits, to alter driving forces as;
braking forces, yaw forces, swaying forces, roll forces, and combinations thereof;b. a first processor with a first memory located on the tow-vehicle and in communication with the electronic stability enhancing system; c. the second processor with a second memory located on the trailer, wherein the second processor is in communication with the first processor on the tow-vehicle; d. tow-vehicle sensors located on the tow-vehicle for detecting the engagement with a trailer, wherein the tow-vehicle sensors communicate with a trailer electrical system on the trailer and the first processor on the tow-vehicle; e. trailer sensors located on the trailer for detecting a force, a motion and combinations thereof, wherein the trailer sensors communicate with the trailer electrical system, the first processor on the tow-vehicle, and the second processor on the trailer; f. computer instructions for instructing the first processor and the second processor to identify specifications representing the tow-vehicle and specifications representing the trailer, 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 wheel size, a tow-vehicle tire characteristic, a tow-vehicle suspension characteristic, and combinations thereof, and at least one trailer characteristic;g. computer instructions for calculating at least one force, at least one motion, and combinations thereof affecting the tow-vehicle and the connected trailer assembly, wherein the at least one force, at least one motion, or 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 steering torque, a vehicle speed, a braking force, a braking pressure, a wheel speed, a throttle position, a brake pedal position, and combinations thereof;h. 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, or combinations thereof, the electronic stability enhancing system, and the specifications of the tow-vehicle with the connected trailer assembly; andi. computer instructions for applying braking to at least one wheel of the trailer using;
the at least one force, the at least one motion, or combinations thereof, the electronic stability enhancing system, the specifications of the tow-vehicle and connected trailer assembly, and the at least one trailer characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification