Tractor trailer with self-contained brake release capabilities for autonomous yard shifting

A method, comprising:

• storing a volume of pressurized air in a reservoir supported by a frame of a tractor trailer, the tractor trailer having a wheel assembly with an air-release brake assembly configured to respectively facilitate rotation of the wheel assembly responsive to a pressure of pressurized air within a brake inlet conduit being above a selected pressure level and to prevent rotation of the wheel assembly responsive to the pressure of the pressurized air within the brake inlet conduit being below the selected pressure level;
• receiving, by a trailer controller circuit via a wireless communication channel, a brake release command while the trailer is disposed in a stationary parked position, the trailer controller circuit supported by the frame;
• and
• using the trailer controller circuit to perform a self-contained brake release operation responsive to receipt of the brake release command by transitioning a flow valve supported by the frame in fluidic communication with the reservoir and the brake inlet conduit of the brake assembly from a first valve position in which the reservoir is fluidically isolated from the inlet brake conduit to a second valve position in which the reservoir is fluidically coupled to the inlet brake conduit and the pressurized air from the reservoir flows through the brake inlet conduit to the brake assembly at a pressure that is at or above the selected pressure level, wherein the trailer controller circuit determines, via a sensor, that the tractor trailer is not connected to receive pressurized air from an external source responsive to receipt of the brake release command, and performs the self-contained brake release operation responsive to the sensor.

A tractor trailer with self-contained brake release capabilities, the tractor trailer comprising:

• a frame supportable on a roadway by a wheel assembly, the wheel assembly having an air-release brake assembly configured to respectively facilitate rotation of the wheel assembly responsive to a pressure of pressurized air within a brake inlet conduit being above a selected pressure level and to reduce rotation of the wheel assembly responsive to the pressure of the pressurized air within the brake inlet conduit being below the selected pressure level;
• a coupling mechanism supported by the frame and configured for mating engagement with a transport vehicle for towed movement of the trailer;
• a reservoir supported by the frame and configured to store pressurized air;
• a flow valve supported by the frame in fluidic communication with the reservoir and the brake inlet conduit of the brake assembly;
• a sensor;
• and
• a trailer controller circuit supported by the frame and configured to perform a self-contained brake release operation while the trailer is in a stationary, parked position without a presence of pressurized air from an external source, the trailer controller circuit performing the self-contained brake release operation to release the brake assembly and permit relocation of the tractor trailer via rolling movement of the wheel assembly by, responsive to receipt of a wireless brake release command, determining via the sensor that no source of externally supplied pressurized air is present, and transitioning the flow valve from a first valve position in which the reservoir is fluidically isolated from the inlet brake conduit to a second valve position in which the reservoir is fluidically coupled to the inlet brake conduit and the pressurized air from the reservoir flows through the brake inlet conduit to the brake assembly at a pressure that is at or above the selected pressure level.

A tractor trailer with self-contained brake release capabilities, the tractor trailer comprising:

• a frame supportable on a roadway by a wheel assembly, the wheel assembly having an air-release brake assembly configured to respectively facilitate rotation of the wheel assembly responsive to a pressure of pressurized air within a brake inlet conduit being above a selected pressure level and to reduce rotation of the wheel assembly responsive to the pressure of the pressurized air within the brake inlet conduit being below the selected pressure level;
• a coupling mechanism supported by the frame and configured for mating engagement with a transport vehicle for towed movement of the trailer;
• a reservoir supported by the frame and configured to store pressurized air;
• a flow valve supported by the frame in fluidic communication with the reservoir and the brake inlet conduit of the brake assembly;
• and
• a trailer controller circuit supported by the frame and configured to perform a self-contained brake release operation while the trailer is in a stationary, parked position without a presence of pressurized air from an external source, the trailer controller circuit performing the self-contained brake release operation to release the brake assembly and permit relocation of the tractor trailer using the transport vehicle via rolling movement of the wheel assembly by, responsive to receipt of a wireless brake release command, transitioning the flow valve from a first valve position in which the reservoir is fluidically isolated from the inlet brake conduit to a second valve position in which the reservoir is fluidically coupled to the inlet brake conduit and the pressurized air from the reservoir flows through the brake inlet conduit to the brake assembly at a pressure that is at or above the selected pressure level;
• wherein the reservoir is filled with pressurized air from an external source of a selected tractor during a long haul transport mode of operation in which the tractor trailer is transported on a highway at a highway speed;
• and
• wherein upon subsequent parking and disconnection of the selected tractor from the tractor trailer, the pressurized air from the external source is retained within the reservoir and subsequently directed to the brake assembly, via the flow valve, to unlock the brake assembly and allow movement of the trailer assembly during the self-contained brake release operation using the transport vehicle.