Trailer detection apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for detecting the connection of a trailer to a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a pressure switch responsive to air pressure magnitude in a pneumatic park brake system of said trailer for developing a signal indicative thereof;
an electronic control unit receiving a signal from said pressure switch and determining therefrom whether a trailer is connected to said vehicle, said electronic control unit sending at least one vehicle operational instruction to at least one other vehicle operation control module as a function of whether said electronic control unit has determined that a trailer is connected or is not connected to said vehicle.
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Abstract
Apparatus and method for detecting the connection of a trailer to a vehicle. The apparatus is connected to a pneumatic pressure line of the trailer'"'"'s service braking system, and measures the pressure of the system to determine if the trailer is properly connected to the vehicle when the vehicle'"'"'s engine is running. Further, the apparatus also contains an algorithm that monitors the signals from other vehicle systems, and uses that information to determine the trailer characteristics. The vehicle engine control system receives information from the apparatus and adjusts the various vehicle systems accordingly.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting the connection of a trailer to a motor vehicle, comprising:
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a pressure switch responsive to air pressure magnitude in a pneumatic park brake system of said trailer for developing a signal indicative thereof; an electronic control unit receiving a signal from said pressure switch and determining therefrom whether a trailer is connected to said vehicle, said electronic control unit sending at least one vehicle operational instruction to at least one other vehicle operation control module as a function of whether said electronic control unit has determined that a trailer is connected or is not connected to said vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of detecting the presence of a trailer attached to a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting the pressure of a pneumatic park brake system of said trailer and developing a first signal indicating whether said park brake system is pressurized or is not pressurized; and communicating vehicle operational instructions to at least one of a trailer control unit, antilock brake system unit, transmission control unit, and electronic stability control unit based on said detected signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification