Method and system for enhanced braking in a tractor unit
AssigneeJ.C. Bamford Excavators Limited
InventorsThomas George Sutton, Lawrence Lyndon Helmick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for controlling the braking effort of a tractor unit relative to the braking effort of a trailer being towed by the tractor unit comprises: activating an enhanced braking mode in the tractor unit; receiving a braking command from an operator input device whilst in the enhanced braking mode; increasing a tractor unit speed demand on the tractor unit whilst receiving the braking command; and applying the brakes to the trailer and tractor unit, wherein the braking effort applied to the tractor unit is reduced relative to the trailer due to the increased speed demand.
Claims16
A method for controlling the braking effort of a tractor unit relative to the braking effort of a trailer being towed by the tractor unit, the method comprising:
- activating an enhanced braking mode in the tractor unit;
- receiving, from an operator input device whilst in the enhanced braking mode, a common braking command for both the tractor unit and the trailer;
- increasing a tractor unit speed demand on the tractor unit whilst receiving the common braking command for both the tractor unit and the trailer;
- and
- applying the brakes to the trailer and the tractor unit according to the common braking command, wherein the braking effort applied to the tractor unit is less than the braking effort applied to the trailer due to the increased speed demand.
A tractor unit configured to tow a trailer, the tractor unit comprising:
- a prime mover;
- a transmission in which the transmission ratio is controllable via a controller;
- and,
- the controller configured to:
- receive an enhanced braking mode activation signal from an operator of the tractor unit;
- receive, from an operator input device whilst in the enhanced braking mode, a common braking command for both the tractor unit and the trailer;
- increase a tractor unit speed demand on the tractor unit whilst receiving the common braking command for both the tractor unit and the trailer;
- and
- apply the brakes to the trailer and the tractor unit according to the common braking command, wherein the braking effort applied to the tractor unit is less than the braking effort applied to the trailer due to the increased speed demand.
A method for controlling the braking effort of a tractor unit relative to the braking effort of a trailer being towed by the tractor unit, the method comprising:
- activating an enhanced braking mode in the tractor unit;
- receiving, from an operator input device whilst in the enhanced braking mode, a common braking command for both the tractor unit and the trailer;
- increasing a tractor unit speed demand on the tractor unit whilst receiving the common braking command for both the tractor unit and the trailer;
- applying the common braking command to a brake of the tractor unit and a brake of the trailer, wherein the braking effort applied to the tractor unit is less than the braking effort applied to the trailer due to the increased speed demand.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.