Trailer vehicle brake-control module

• US 8,082,086 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2008
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BV (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Wabco GmbH (Wabco Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Heise, Bernd, Risse, Rainer, Stender, Axel, Witte, Norbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Winner, Tony H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scharich, Marc
• Application Number:
  US12/291,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20090120747A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 188/1.11 E, 188/1.11 R, 188/3.R, 280/422, 280/427, 280/428, 340/453, 340/454, 701/70, 701/71, 701/76, 701/77, 701/81
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/66 Electrical control in fluid-pressure brake systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1708 for lorries or tractor-trailer combinations

Abstract

A brake-control module for a first trailer of a tractor-trailer combination reduces braking response time for the second trailer and subsequent trailers in the vehicle train. The brake-control module includes a tractor interface. The tractor interface includes a tractor CAN interface for connecting to a tractor CAN connector of a tractor, a tractor voltage-supply interface for connecting to a tractor voltage-supply connector of the tractor, and a tractor warning-light interface for connecting to a tractor warning-light connector of the tractor. The brake-control module further includes a second-trailer interface for connection of a second trailer that is coupled to the first trailer. The second-trailer interface includes a second-trailer CAN interface for connecting to a second-trailer CAN connector of the second trailer, a second-trailer voltage-supply interface for connecting to a voltage connector of the second trailer, and a second-trailer warning-light interface for connecting to a second-trailer warning-light connector of the second trailer.

Claims

1. A brake-control module for a first trailer of a tractor-trailer combination, comprising:

a tractor interface, including;

a tractor CAN interface for connection to a tractor CAN connector of a tractor of the tractor-trailer combination coupled to the first trailer;

a tractor voltage-supply interface for connection to a tractor voltage-supply connector of the tractor; and

a tractor warning-light interface for connection to a tractor warning-light connector of the tractor; and

a second-trailer interface, comprising;

a second-trailer CAN interface for connection to a second-trailer CAN connector of a second trailer of said tractor-trailer combination coupled to the first trailer;

a second-trailer voltage-supply interface for connection to a voltage connector of the second trailer; and

a second-trailer warning-light interface for connection to a second-trailer warning-light connector of the second trailer.

2. The brake-control module according to claim 1, wherein the first trailer further comprises:

a braking system; and

a CAN data bus configured to control the braking system and deliver electrical energy to the braking system.

3. The brake-control module according to claim 2, wherein voltage supply to the second trailer and the braking system is protected against overload.

4. The brake-control module according to claim 1, further comprising means for delivering CAN data to the second-trailer CAN interface, the CAN data including encoded commands received via the tractor CAN interface.

5. The brake-control module according to claim 1, wherein the tractor interface further comprises a single plug connector configured to enable connection of the tractor interface to the tractor via a single connecting cable.

6. The brake-control module according to claim 1, wherein the second-trailer interface further comprises a single plug connector configured to enable connection of the second-trailer interface to the second trailer via a single connecting cable.

7. The brake-control module according to claim 1, wherein each of the tractor CAN interface and the second-trailer CAN interface is a 24-V CAN interface.

8. The brake-control module according to claim 2, further comprising an integrated braking system for the first trailer.

9. A vehicle trailer, comprising a brake-control module according to claim 1.

10. A vehicle, comprising:

a tractor;

a first trailer coupled to said the tractor; and

a second trailer coupled to the first trailer, at least one of the first trailer and the second trailer including a brake-control module according to claim 1.