Steering control system for a towed axle
First Claim
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1. A trailer, comprising:
- a chassis having a hitch;
an axle having a pair of tractive elements rotatably coupled to the chassis;
an actuator coupled to the chassis and positioned to steer the pair of tractive elements; and
a processing circuit having an input for receiving a transmission gear of a tractor vehicle and a variable output for engaging the actuator, wherein the processing circuit is configured to control the steering of the pair of tractive elements according to a control strategy that varies based on the transmission gear of the tractor vehicle.
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Abstract
A trailer includes a chassis having a hitch, an axle having a pair of tractive elements rotatably coupled to the chassis, an actuator coupled to the chassis and positioned to steer the pair of tractive elements, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit has an input for receiving a transmission gear of a tractor vehicle and a variable output for engaging the actuator. The processing circuit is configured to control the steering of the pair of tractive elements according to a control strategy that varies based on the transmission gear of the tractor vehicle.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A trailer, comprising:
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a chassis having a hitch; an axle having a pair of tractive elements rotatably coupled to the chassis; an actuator coupled to the chassis and positioned to steer the pair of tractive elements; and a processing circuit having an input for receiving a transmission gear of a tractor vehicle and a variable output for engaging the actuator, wherein the processing circuit is configured to control the steering of the pair of tractive elements according to a control strategy that varies based on the transmission gear of the tractor vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vehicle, comprising:
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a tractor vehicle having a transmission configured to provide a transmission state relating to at least one of a selected transmission gear and an obtained transmission gear; a trailer, comprising; a chassis; an axle having a pair of tractive elements rotatably coupled to the chassis; and an actuator coupled to the chassis and positioned to steer the pair of tractive elements; and a processing circuit having an input for receiving the transmission state and a variable output for engaging the actuator, wherein the processing circuit is configured to control the steering of the pair of tractive elements according to a control strategy that varies based on the transmission state. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A steering control method for a trailer including a chassis, an axle having a pair of tractive elements rotatably coupled to the chassis, and an actuator coupled to the chassis and positioned to steer the pair of tractive elements, the method comprising:
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identifying a transmission gear of a tractor vehicle with a processing circuit; controllably steering the pair of tractive elements such that the trailer follows the tractor vehicle when the transmission gear is a forward gear; and centering the pair of tractive elements to facilitate maneuvering the trailer when the transmission gear is a reverse gear. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification