Trailer sway detection and method for reducing trailer sway utilizing trailer brakes

• US 9,026,311 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tuson RV Brakes, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tuson RV Brakes, LLC
• Inventors: Pieronek, Donald, Hoogenakker, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US13/800,885
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 701/48, 701/36, 701/41, 701/50, 701/70, 280/455.1, 280/124.106, 340/431, 303/7, 180/165
• US Class Current: 701/48
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/30 for sway control , e.g. stabilising or anti-fishtail devices; Sway alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/06 Tractor-trailer swaying
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/20 specially for trailers, e.g. in case of uncoupling of or overrunning by trailer inertia-actuated overrun brakes B60T13/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1708 for lorries or tractor-trailer combinations
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/248 Trailer sway, e.g. for preventing jackknifing
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/14 Tractor-trailers, i.e. combinations of a towing vehicle and one or more towed vehicles, e.g. caravans; Road trains
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/22 Articulation angle, e.g. between tractor and trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/22 Articulation angle, e.g. between tractor and trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/147 Trailers, e.g. full trailers or caravans

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.

Claims

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.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the signal corresponding to the sway angle is generated by a gyroscope.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of determining a direction of sway as a function of the signal, wherein the brake control signal is selectively applied to one of a left brake and a right brake as a function of the direction of sway.

4. A method for detecting a sway event in a trailer, comprising the steps of:

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.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the steps are repeated at a periodic interval to determine the variable amplitude of the brake control signal required to reduce the variable amplitude of the signal corresponding to the sway angle.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein a control routine determines the variable, amplitude of the brake control signal, the method further comprising the step of tuning the control routine as a function of a difference in the amplitude of the brake control signal determined during a first periodic interval and the amplitude of the brake control signal determined during a second periodic interval.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the signal corresponding to the sway angle is generated by a gyroscope.

8. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of determining a direction of sway as a function of the signal, wherein the brake control signal is selectively applied to one of a left brake and a right brake as a function of the direction of sway.

9. A system for detecting a sway event in a trailer, comprising:

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.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the sensor is a gyroscope.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the processor is further configured to execute the plurality of instructions to:

determine a direction of sway as a function of the signal corresponding to the sway angle;

generate a first brake control signal responsive to the direction of sway being in a first direction; and

generate a second brake control signal responsive to the direction of sway being in a second direction.

12. A system for detecting a sway event in a trailer, comprising:

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.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the processor executes at a periodic interval to determine the variable amplitude of the brake control signal required to reduce the variable amplitude of the signal corresponding to the sway angle.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the processor is further configured to:

execute a control routine to determine the variable amplitude of the brake control signal, and

tune the control routine as a function of a difference in the amplitude of the brake control signal determined during a first periodic interval and the amplitude of the brake control signal determined during a second periodic interval.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the sensor is a gyroscope.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to execute the plurality of instructions to:

determine a direction of sway as a function of the signal corresponding to the sway angle;

generate a first brake control signal responsive to the direction of sway being in a first direction; and

generate a second brake control signal responsive to the direction of sway being in a second direction.