Independent trailer sway controller
First Claim
1. An independent trailer sway controller configured to be mounted on a trailer, the independent trailer sway controller comprising:
- a first electrical connector operable to selectively couple the independent trailer sway controller to an electrically-actuated frictional trailer braking system;
a second electrical connector operable to selectively couple the independent trailer sway controller to a hydraulically-actuated frictional trailer braking system;
trailer length input operable to receive length data indicating a length of the trailer and output the length data;
a sway sensor operable to sense sway of the trailer and output sway data;
a trailer sway detector module operable to receive the length data and the sway data, determine a level of trailer sway based on the length data and the sway data, determine whether the level of trailer sway exceeds a predetermined threshold, and output a trailer sway condition signal if the level of trailer sway exceeds the predetermined threshold; and
a brake controller module operable to receive the trailer sway condition signal and, in response, output a brake enable signal over at least one of the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector to be received by a trailer braking unit to enable a trailer brake to apply braking force to one or more trailer wheels to mitigate trailer sway.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An independent trailer sway controller and method for mitigating trailer sway. The independent trailer sway controller is a modular unit swappable between different trailer types. The independent trailer sway controller includes a trailer length input for receiving length data indicating a length of the trailer and a sway sensor for measuring sway movement of the trailer. The independent trailer sway controller also includes a trailer sway detector module that receives the length data and sway data and determines a level of trailer sway based on the length data and sway data. If the level of trailer sway exceeds the predetermined threshold, a brake controller outputs control signals that activate trailer brakes, which are part of an electric brake system or hydraulic brake system.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. An independent trailer sway controller configured to be mounted on a trailer, the independent trailer sway controller comprising:
-
a first electrical connector operable to selectively couple the independent trailer sway controller to an electrically-actuated frictional trailer braking system; a second electrical connector operable to selectively couple the independent trailer sway controller to a hydraulically-actuated frictional trailer braking system; trailer length input operable to receive length data indicating a length of the trailer and output the length data; a sway sensor operable to sense sway of the trailer and output sway data; a trailer sway detector module operable to receive the length data and the sway data, determine a level of trailer sway based on the length data and the sway data, determine whether the level of trailer sway exceeds a predetermined threshold, and output a trailer sway condition signal if the level of trailer sway exceeds the predetermined threshold; and a brake controller module operable to receive the trailer sway condition signal and, in response, output a brake enable signal over at least one of the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector to be received by a trailer braking unit to enable a trailer brake to apply braking force to one or more trailer wheels to mitigate trailer sway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method of mitigating sway of a trailer with an independent trailer sway controller configured to be mounted on a trailer, the method comprising:
-
receiving length data indicating a length of the trailer from a trailer length input on the independent trailer sway controller; receiving sway data output from a sway sensor indicating sway rate of the trailer; determining a level of trailer sway based on the length data and the sway data; determining whether the level of trailer sway exceeds a predetermined threshold; generating and outputting braking control signals over one of a first electrical connector coupling the independent trailer sway controller to an electrically-actuated frictional trailer braking system and a second electrical connector coupling the independent trailer sway controller to a hydraulically-actuated frictional trailer braking system if the level of trailer sway exceeds the predetermined threshold, wherein outputting the braking control signals causes a brake of the trailer to apply braking force, thereby mitigating sway of the trailer. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification