Anti-jackknifing control apparatus and method for active converter dolly
AssigneeElectrans Technologies Ltd.
InventorsBrian Layfield, Brian Fan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosure is directed at an apparatus, method and computer readable medium for a self-powered towed vehicle in a road train or tractor-trailer vehicle configuration to detect and respond to forward jack-knifing risk conditions. The apparatus may detect jack-knifing risk conditions based on sensors and information including sensors to detect an angle of misalignment between the towed vehicle and the vehicle directly in front of it in the road train. The apparatus may respond to the presence of a jack-knifing risk condition by reducing or eliminating the motive rotational force applied to the wheels of the towed vehicle.
Claims28
An apparatus for releasably coupling a second trailer to a first trailer that is releasably coupled to a towing vehicle in a tractor-trailer vehicle configuration, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- at least one pair of wheels rotatably coupled to the frame;
- at least one motor operably coupled to at least one wheel of the at least one pair of wheels, wherein the at least one motor is operable in a drive mode for applying motive rotational force to the at least one wheel;
- a forward jack-knifing detection system for detecting a jack-knifing risk condition of the tractor-trailer vehicle configuration, the forward jack-knifing detection system comprising:
- a first wheel speed sensor operably coupled to the first wheel of the at least one pair of wheels for sensing a first wheel speed;
- and
- a second wheel speed sensor operably coupled to the second wheel of the at least one pair of wheels for sensing a second wheel speed;
- and
- wherein detecting the jack-knifing risk condition comprises detecting a low-traction condition based on at least the first wheel speed and the second wheel speed;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to the at least one motor for selectively activating and deactivating the drive mode,
- the controller being configured to deactivate the drive mode based at least in part on the detection of a jack-knifing risk condition by the forward jack-knifing detection system.
A method for preventing jack-knifing of a tractor-trailer vehicle configuration using a converter dolly towing a second trailer behind a first trailer, the first trailer being towed by a towing vehicle, the converter dolly comprising at least one axle having at least a first wheel on a left side of the converter dolly and a second wheel on the right side of the converter dolly, the first wheel being operably coupled to a first motor, the second wheel being operably coupled to a second motor, such that the first motor and second motor are each operable in a drive mode for applying a motive rotational force to the first or second wheel respectively,
- and a controller operably coupled to the first motor and the second motor for selectively activating and deactivating the drive mode,
- the method comprising:
- while the drive mode of the first motor and the drive mode of the second motor are activated:
- detecting a jack-knifing risk condition of the tractor-trailer vehicle configuration by a forward jack-knifing detection system;
- and
- deactivating the drive mode of the first motor and second motor based at least in part on the detection of the jack-knifing risk condition.
An apparatus for use with a towed vehicle being towed directly behind a front vehicle, the towed vehicle having one or more wheels driven by a drive and a controller for controlling the drive, the apparatus comprising a forward jack-knifing detection system that includes a position sensor and configured to:
- detect a jack-knifing risk condition by detecting the position of at least a part of the front vehicle relative to at least a part of the towed vehicle using the position sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.