Brake control system, self contained electronic brake control device therefor and methods of making and using the scene

• US 6,364,432 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2000
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Claude W. Mixon
• Original Assignee: Claude W. Mixon
• Inventors: Mixon, Claude W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pezzlo, Benjamin A
• Application Number:
  US09/675,395
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 303/20, 303/124, 303/7
• US Class Current: 303/124
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/74 with electrical assistance or drive
• 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 8/246 Change of direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/248 Trailer sway, e.g. for preventing jackknifing
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/323 Systems specially adapted for tractor-trailer combinations

Abstract

An automated electronic brake control device comprises an upright enclosure having a separable cover, the enclosure containing an energy source, a breakaway safety switch, a controller comprising a grade and motion detection device, timer, relay and circuit breaker and means for connecting the electronic brake control device to the electrical circuity of a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle. Preferably, the brake control device is mounted upon the towed vehicle and the controller has capabilities of sensing a change of velocity in at least one direction. Electric circuitry connects the braking circuitry of the towing vehicle to the braking system of the towed vehicle such that when towing vehicle brakes are applied, the brake control device supplies power to the braking system of the towed vehicle proportional to the sensed change in velocity.

Claims

1. In an electric trailer braking system of a trailer having at least one pair of wheels fitted with electrically actuated brakes, said trailer braking system comprising a self contained electronic braking control device mounted upon said trailer, said electronic brake control device comprising an upright enclosure having a separable cover, said enclosure containing an energy source, a brake controller and means for connecting said electronic brake control device to the electrical circuitry of a towing vehicle and said trailer, said brake controller having means for sensing deceleration of said trailer and means for actuating said electrically actuated brakes of said trailer independent of a signal from vehicle towing said trailer the improvement wherein said brake controller contains a G-force indicator having no moving parts and wherein said G-force indicator comprises at least one piezoelectric crystal.

2. An electric trailer braking system as in claim 1 wherein said G-force indicator measures acceleration in any direction simultaneously along all orthogonal axes as the null output signal of said G-force indicator is set at 50% of the duty cycle.

3. An electric trailer braking system as in claim 2 wherein said G-force indicator outputs a signal proportional to the algebraic sum of said change along said orthogonal axes.

4. An electric trailer braking system as in claim 3 wherein said signal is an electrical signal, said electrical signal linear from a null point to a maximum.

5. An electric trailer braking system as in claim 4 wherein said brake controller sends electric power to said electric brakes on said trailer proportional to said electrical signal from said G-force indicator.

6. An electric trailer braking system as in claim 3 wherein said signal is a digital signal, said digital signal linear from a null point to a maximum.

7. An electric trailer braking system as in claim 3 wherein said brake controller converts said digital signal to an analog signal and sends electric power to said electric brakes on said trailer proportional to said digital signal from said G-force indicator.

8. A self contained electronic brake control device mounted upon a towed vehicle comprises an energy source, a charging circuit, a grade and motion sensing device, a timer, a relay, a circuit breaker, a breakaway safety switch, means for connecting said electronic brake control device to the electrical circuitry of a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle, said breakaway safety switch comprising a first connector affixed to said towing vehicle and a second connector affixed to said towed vehicle, the braking system of said towed vehicle actuated upon separation of said first connector of said breakaway safety switch from said second connector by applying electric power directly from said energy source to said the electric brakes of said towed vehicle.

9. A self contained electronic brake control device as in claim 8 wherein said charging circuit contains a solar panel.

10. A self contained electronic brake control device as in claim 8 wherein said grade and motion sensing device simultaneously senses a change in grade and in velocity in ±

X direction, ±

Y direction.

11. A self contained electronic brake control device as in claim 8 wherein said breakaway safety switch constitutes a parking brake when said towed vehicle is at rest and said first connector is separated from said second connector.