Trailer brake control
AssigneeFca US LLC
InventorsEsaias A Pech, Emily A Robb, Daniel P Cashen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for determining a trailer brake magnitude for a trailer brake system of a trailer being towed by a vehicle includes determining connection of a trailer to a vehicle, determining at least one trailer parameter relating to a size, shape or a weight of the trailer, and determining a trailer braking magnitude as a function of the at least one trailer parameter.
Claims18
A method for determining a trailer brake magnitude for a trailer brake system of a trailer being towed by a vehicle, comprising:
- determining connection of a trailer to a vehicle;
- determining at least one trailer parameter relating to a size, shape or a weight of the trailer;
- determining a weight of at least some things within the vehicle to enable determination of a weight of the vehicle including the things within the vehicle;
- determining a trailer braking magnitude as a function of the at least one trailer parameter and the weight of the vehicle including the things within the vehicle;
- and
- controlling the trailer brake system as a function of the determined trailer brake magnitude.
A method for determining a trailer brake magnitude for a trailer brake system of a trailer being towed by a vehicle, comprising:
- determining connection of a trailer to a vehicle;
- determining at least one trailer parameter relating to a size, shape or a weight of the trailer;
- determining a trailer braking magnitude as a function of the at least one trailer parameter;
- and
- controlling the trailer brake system as a function of the determined trailer brake magnitude,
- wherein the at least one trailer parameter includes an estimated weight of the trailer, and the estimated weight of the trailer is determined by a load sensor of the vehicle, the load sensor is an inflated member located in a connection area between the vehicle and the trailer, and
- wherein the estimated weight of the trailer is determined as a function of a pressure of the inflated member and a location of an axle of the trailer relative to the vehicle.
A system for determining a trailer brake magnitude for a trailer being towed by a vehicle, comprising:
- one or more sensors that provide an output from which a weight of a trailer can be estimated;
- a control system communicated with the one or more sensors, and responsive to the output provided from the one or more sensors to determine a trailer brake magnitude as a function of the weight of the trailer;
- and
- a trailer brake actuator associated with a trailer brake system and operable to apply a trailer brake of the trailer brake system, the trailer brake actuator being driven by the control system as a function of the determined trailer brake magnitude,
- wherein a) the weight of the trailer is estimated by a load sensor of the vehicle, the load sensor is an inflated member located in a connection area between the vehicle and the trailer, and the estimated weight of the trailer is determined as a function of a pressure of the inflated member and a location of an axle of the trailer relative to the vehicle, or b) one or more sensors are provided that provide an output from which a weight of at least some things within the vehicle can be determined, and the trailer brake magnitude is determined as a function of the weight of the at least some things within the vehicle, or both a) and b).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.