Brake system for a motor vehicle and trailer control module

A trailer control module for a brake system of a motor vehicle with a trailer having a pneumatic brake system, the trailer control module comprising:

• at least two electrical terminals configured to receive two independent but redundant electrical control input signals corresponding to a signal for a preset brake control outlet pressure;
• at least one pneumatic inlet terminal configured to receive compressed air from an air pressure source;
• at least one valve configured to adjust a constant air pressure from the air pressure source to the preset brake outlet pressure;
• a first one pneumatic outlet terminal configured to provide a brake supply outlet pressure to the pneumatic brake system of the trailer;
• a second pneumatic outlet terminal configured to provide the preset brake control outlet pressure to the pneumatic brake system of the trailer;
• and
• at least two control solenoid groups, each of the at least two control solenoid groups forming part of a control channel including at least one load valve and at least one exhaust valve, such that each of the at least two control solenoid groups is configured to control brake control outlet pressure by itself and independently from one another via its own control channel, wherein
• the at least one exhaust valve of a second one of the at least two control solenoid groups is a normally closed exhaust valve, and
• the normally closed exhaust valve and a feedback orifice are configured to provide a bistable parking brake operation for normally parked trailer control for each control channel.

A trailer control module for a brake system of a motor vehicle with a trailer having a pneumatic brake system, the trailer control module comprising:

• at least two electrical terminals configured to receive two independent but redundant electrical control input signals corresponding to a signal for a preset brake control outlet pressure;
• at least one pneumatic inlet terminal configured to receive compressed air from an air pressure source;
• at least one valve configured to adjust a constant air pressure from the air pressure source to the preset brake outlet pressure;
• a first one pneumatic outlet terminal configured to provide a brake supply outlet pressure to the pneumatic brake system of the trailer;
• a second pneumatic outlet terminal configured to provide the preset brake control outlet pressure to the pneumatic brake system of the trailer;
• and
• at least two control solenoid groups, each of the at least two control solenoid groups forming part of a control channel including at least one load valve and at least one exhaust valve, such that each of the at least two control solenoid groups is configured to control brake control outlet pressure by itself and independently from one another via its own control channel, wherein
• the at least one exhaust valve of a second one of the at least two control solenoid groups is a normally closed exhaust valve,
• the normally closed exhaust valve and a feedback orifice are configured to provide a bistable parking brake operation for normally parked trailer control for a first control channel, and
• the at least one exhaust valve of a first one of the at least two control solenoid groups is a normally opened exhaust valve configured to provide normally not parked trailer control for a second control channel.

A motor vehicle brake system comprising:

• at least two independent brake control units;
• and
• a trailer control module having
• at least two electrical terminals configured to receive two independent but redundant electrical control input signals corresponding to a signal for a preset brake control outlet pressure,
• at least one pneumatic inlet terminal configured to receive compressed air from an air pressure source;
• at least one valve configured to adjust a constant air pressure from the air pressure source to the preset brake outlet pressure,
• a first one pneumatic outlet terminal configured to provide a brake supply outlet pressure to the pneumatic brake system of the trailer,
• a second pneumatic outlet terminal configured to provide the preset brake control outlet pressure to the pneumatic brake system of the trailer;
• and
• an air pressure source configured to supply a constant pneumatic pressure to the brakes of a trailer,
• wherein each brake control unit is configured to provide an independent but redundant electric control signal to the trailer control module;
• wherein the trailer control module includes at least two control solenoid groups, each the at least two control solenoid groups forming part of a control channel including at least one load valve and at least one exhaust valve, such that each of the at least two control solenoid groups is configured to control brake control outlet pressure by itself and independently from one another via its own control channel;
• wherein the at least one exhaust valve of a first one of the at least two control solenoid groups is a normally opened exhaust valve configured to provide normally not parked trailer control for each control channel.

A motor vehicle brake system comprising:

• at least two independent brake control units;
• and
• a trailer control module having
• at least two electrical terminals configured to receive two independent but redundant electrical control input signals corresponding to a signal for a preset brake control outlet pressure,
• at least one pneumatic inlet terminal configured to receive compressed air from an air pressure source;
• at least one valve configured to adjust a constant air pressure from the air pressure source to the preset brake outlet pressure;
• a first one pneumatic outlet terminal configured to provide a brake supply outlet pressure to the pneumatic brake system of the trailer;
• a second pneumatic outlet terminal configured to provide the preset brake control outlet pressure to the pneumatic brake system of the trailer;
• an air pressure source configured to supply a constant pneumatic pressure to the brakes of a trailer;
• and
• at least two control solenoid groups, each of the at least two control solenoid groups forming part of a control channel including at least one load valve and at least one exhaust valve, such that each of the at least two control solenoid groups is configured to control brake control outlet pressure by itself and independently from one another via its own control channel;
• wherein each brake control unit is configured to provide an independent but redundant electric control signal to the trailer control module;
• wherein the at least one exhaust valve of a second one of the at least two control solenoid groups is a normally closed exhaust valve;
• and
• wherein the normally closed exhaust valve and a feedback orifice are configured to provide a bistable parking brake operation for normally parked trailer control for each control channel.

A motor vehicle brake system comprising:

• at least two independent brake control units;
• and
• a trailer control module having
• at least two electrical terminals configured to receive two independent but redundant electrical control input signals corresponding to a signal for a preset brake control outlet pressure,
• at least one pneumatic inlet terminal configured to receive compressed air from an air pressure source;
• at least one valve configured to adjust a constant air pressure from the air pressure source to the preset brake outlet pressure;
• a first one pneumatic outlet terminal configured to provide a brake supply outlet pressure to the pneumatic brake system of the trailer;
• a second pneumatic outlet terminal configured to provide the preset brake control outlet pressure to the pneumatic brake system of the trailer;
• an air pressure source configured to supply a constant pneumatic pressure to the brakes of a trailer;
• and
• at least two control solenoid groups, each of the at least two control solenoid groups forming part of a control channel including at least one load valve and at least one exhaust valve, such that each of the at least two control solenoid groups is configured to control brake control outlet pressure by itself and independently from one another via its own control channel;
• wherein each brake control unit is configured to provide an independent but redundant electric control signal to the trailer control module;
• wherein the at least one exhaust valve of a second one of the at least two control solenoid groups is a normally closed exhaust valve;
• wherein the normally closed exhaust valve and a feedback orifice are configured to provide a bistable parking brake operation for normally parked trailer control for a first control channel;
• and
• wherein the at least one exhaust valve of a first one of the at least two control solenoid groups is a normally opened exhaust valve configured to provide normally not parked trailer control for a second control channel.