Trailer sway detection and method for reducing trailer sway utilizing trailer brakes
First Claim
1. A method for detecting a sway event in a trailer, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a signal corresponding to a sway angle;
comparing the signal to an activation threshold;
measuring a duration for which the signal exceeds the activation threshold;
detecting the sway event when the duration exceeds the activation threshold for a predetermined time;
incrementing a sway counter upon detection of the sway event; and
generating a brake control signal after the sway counter has been incremented at least twice.
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Abstract
When a trailer is pulled by a tow vehicle where the trailer begins to sway to the left and right of the tow vehicle a large sway can result in loss of control of the trailer and or tow vehicle. The field of the present invention is a system and method of controlling a trailer sway which comprises determining the sway of the trailer utilizing an electronic sensor and independently applying the left and or right trailer brakes at varying levels to reduce trailer sway the traditional single braking signal power from the tow vehicle is separated into two independent braking signals for each of the left and right brakes. All brakes are applied whenever the traditional braking signal goes active where trailer battery power is utilized to independently activate the left and or right brakes during trailer sway.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for detecting a sway event in a trailer, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a signal corresponding to a sway angle; comparing the signal to an activation threshold; measuring a duration for which the signal exceeds the activation threshold; detecting the sway event when the duration exceeds the activation threshold for a predetermined time; incrementing a sway counter upon detection of the sway event; and generating a brake control signal after the sway counter has been incremented at least twice. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for detecting a sway event in a trailer, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a signal corresponding to a sway angle, wherein the sway angle defines a deviation by the trailer from an aligned position behind a tow vehicle and wherein the signal corresponding to the sway angle has a variable amplitude corresponding to the sway angle; comparing the signal to an activation threshold; measuring a duration for which the signal exceeds the activation threshold; detecting the sway event when the duration exceeds the activation threshold for a predetermined time; generating a brake control signal responsive to detecting the sway event; and determining a variable amplitude of the brake control signal as a function of the variable amplitude of the signal corresponding to the sway angle. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for detecting a sway event in a trailer, comprising:
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a sensor configured to generate a signal corresponding to a sway angle; a memory configured to store a plurality of instructions; a processor configured to receive the signal and to execute the plurality of instructions to; compare the signal to an activation threshold, measure a duration for which the signal exceeds the activation threshold, detect the sway event when the duration exceeds the activation threshold for a predetermined time, increment a sway counter upon detection of the sway event, and generate a brake control signal after the sway counter has been incremented at least twice. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A system for detecting a sway event in a trailer, comprising:
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a sensor configured to generate a signal corresponding to a sway angle, wherein the sway angle defines a deviation by the trailer from an aligned position behind a tow vehicle and wherein the signal corresponding to the sway angle has a variable amplitude corresponding to the sway angle; a memory configured to store a plurality of instructions; processor configured to receive the signal and to execute the plurality of instructions to; compare the signal to an activation threshold, measure a duration for which the signal exceeds the activation threshold, detect the sway event when the duration exceeds the activation threshold for a predetermined time, generate a brake control signal responsive to detecting the sway event, and determine a variable amplitude of the brake control signal as a function of the variable amplitude of the signal corresponding to the sway angle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification