Apparatus and method for trailer service brake control

A system for controlling a trailer service brake, the system comprising:

• a controller on a tractor portion of an associated vehicle, the controller including:
• an input electrically communicating with a trailer brake switch on the tractor portion;
• a processor operatively coupled to the input;
• a memory, operatively coupled to the processor, including control logic executable by the processor to:
• process a trailer control request signal, received by the input from a trailer brake switch, transmitted in response to the trailer brake switch receiving a request to actuate the trailer service brake on a trailer portion of an associated vehicle;
• and
• generate a trailer service brake control signal based on the trailer control request signal;
• and
• an output, operatively coupled to the processor, transmitting the trailer service brake control signal for controlling fluid communication of pressurized air from an associated reservoir on a trailer portion of the vehicle to an associated brake on the trailer portion;
• and
• a trailer control valve device on a trailer portion of the associated vehicle, the trailer control valve device including:
• an electrical input, communicating with the output of the controller, receiving the trailer service brake control signal;
• a pneumatic output fluidly communicating the pressurized air from the reservoir to the brake based on the trailer service brake control signal.

A system for transmitting a service brake control signal, the system comprising:

• a controller on a tractor portion of an associated vehicle, the controller including:
• an input electrically communicating with a trailer control switch on the tractor portion;
• a processor operatively coupled to the input;
• a memory, operatively coupled to the processor, including control logic executable by the processor to:
• process a trailer control request signal, received by the input from a trailer contril switch, transmitted in response to the trailer control switch receiving a request to actuate a service brake on the associated vehicle;
• and
• generate the service brake control signal based on the trailer control request signal;
• and
• an output, operatively coupled to the processor, transmitting the service brake control signal for controlling the service brake on the associated vehicle.

A method for controlling a pressure at a trailer control pressure line on a tractor portion of an associated vehicle, the controller comprising:

• receiving a request to actuate a trailer service brake on a trailer portion of an associated vehicle;
• transmitting a trailer control request signal transmitted in response to the request;
• generating a first trailer service brake control signal based on the trailer control request signal;
• and
• generating a second trailer service brake control signal based on a requested pressure included in the trailer control request signal, the requested pressure being up to a full pressure of pressurized air in an associated tractor reservoir on the tractor portion of the associated vehicle;
• and
• transmitting the first trailer service brake control signal and the second trailer service brake control signal for controlling fluid communication of pressurized air from the associated tractor reservoir to the trailer control pressure line.

A system for controlling a pressure at a trailer control pressure line on a tractor portion of an associated vehicle and transmitting a service brake control signal, the system comprising:

• a controller on the tractor portion of the associated vehicle, the controller including:
• an input electrically communicating with a trailer control switch on the tractor portion;
• a processor operatively coupled to the input;
• a memory, operatively coupled to the processor, including control logic executable by the processor to:
• process a trailer control request signal, received by the input from a trailer control switch, transmitted in response to the trailer control switch receiving a request to actuate a service brake of the associated vehicle;
• generate a first trailer service brake control signal based on the trailer control request signal;
• generate a second trailer service brake control signal based on a requested pressure included in the trailer control request signal, the requested pressure being up to a full pressure of pressurized air in an associated tractor reservoir on the tractor portion of the associated vehicle;
• and
• generate the service brake control signal, based on at least one of i) the trailer control request signal and ii) the first trailer service brake control signal and the second trailer service brake control signal, for controlling the service brake of the associated vehicle;
• and
• an output, operatively coupled to the processor, transmitting i) the first trailer service brake control signal and the second trailer service brake control signal for controlling fluid communication of pressurized air from the tractor reservoir to the associated trailer control pressure line and ii) the service brake control signal for controlling the service brake.