# US 2017/0282870 A1 · Vehicle trailer parking brake > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0282870 A1 - Document ID: US20170282870A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/086,779 - Filed: 2016-03-31 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: GRANT L. MEADE; NORMAN J. WEIGERT; VYACHESLAV BEREZIN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282870A1 ## CPC - B60T 8/1708: {for lorries or tractor-trailer combinations} - F16D 65/18: adapted for drawing members together {, e.g. for disc brakes} - B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES ## Abstract Methods and systems are provided for controlling braking for a trailer that is connected to a vehicle. In accordance with one embodiment, a trailer includes a connector, a parking brake, an actuator, and a processor. The connector is configured to connect the trailer to a vehicle. The parking brake is disposed onboard the trailer. The actuator is coupled to the parking brake. The processor is configured to cause the actuator to engage the parking brake in accordance with engagement instructions provided from the vehicle to the trailer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a parking brake configured to be installed on a trailer that is configured to be connected to a vehicle; an actuator coupled to the parking brake; and a processor configured to be installed on the trailer, the processor configured to cause the actuator to engage the parking brake in accordance with engagement instructions provided from the vehicle to the trailer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to cause the actuator to release the parking brake in accordance with release instructions provided from the vehicle to the trailer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to cause the actuator to: engage the parking brake of the trailer in tandem with a respective engagement of a separate parking brake of the vehicle; and release the parking brake of the trailer in tandem with a respective release of the separate parking brake of the vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to cause the actuator to: engage the parking brake of the trailer when a driver of the vehicle or the vehicle braking system requests parking brake engagement; and release the parking brake of the trailer when the driver of the vehicle or the vehicle braking system requests parking brake release. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the parking brake comprises: one or more brake pads; one or more brake discs; and a cable that is configured to: receive tension via the actuator, to thereby cause the brake pads to contact the brake discs, when the engagement instructions are provided form the vehicle to the trailer; and have tension released via the actuator, to thereby cause the brake pads to no longer contact the brake discs, when the release instructions are provided form the vehicle to the trailer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, further comprising: a transceiver coupled to the processor and configured to receive the engagement instructions and the release instructions from the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the transceiver is configured to receive the engagement instructions and the release instructions from the vehicle via a wired connection. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the transceiver is configured to receive the engagement instructions and the release instructions from the vehicle via a wireless connection. ### Claim 9 A trailer comprising: a connector configured to connect the trailer to a vehicle; a parking brake disposed onboard the trailer; an actuator coupled to the parking brake; and a processor configured to cause the actuator to engage the parking brake in accordance with engagement instructions provided from the vehicle to the trailer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The trailer of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to cause the actuator to control the parking brake in accordance with control instructions provided from the vehicle to the trailer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The trailer of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to cause the actuator to: engage the parking brake of the trailer in tandem with a respective engagement of a separate parking brake of the vehicle; and release the parking brake of the trailer in tandem with a respective release of the separate parking brake of the vehicle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The trailer of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to cause the actuator to: engage the parking brake of the trailer when a driver of the vehicle or the vehicle braking system requests parking brake engagement; and release the parking brake of the trailer when the driver of the vehicle or the vehicle braking system requests parking brake release. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The trailer of claim 10, wherein the parking brake comprises: one or more brake pads; one or more brake discs; and a cable that is configured to: receive tension via the actuator, to thereby cause the brake pads to contact the brake discs, when the engagement instructions are provided form the vehicle to the trailer; and have tension released via the actuator, to thereby cause the brake pads to no longer contact the brake discs, when the release instructions are provided form the vehicle to the trailer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The trailer of claim 10, further comprising: a transceiver coupled to the processor and configured to receive the engagement instructions and the release instructions from the vehicle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The trailer of claim 14, wherein the transceiver is configured to receive the engagement instructions and the release instructions from the vehicle via a wired connection. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The trailer of claim 14, wherein the transceiver is configured to receive the engagement instructions and the release instructions from the vehicle via a wireless connection. ### Claim 17 A method comprising: receiving engagement instructions from a vehicle to a trailer for engagement of a parking brake of the trailer, wherein the trailer is connected to the vehicle; and in response to the engagement instructions, causing an actuator on the trailer to engage a parking brake of the trailer in tandem with a separate parking brake of the vehicle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: receiving release instructions from the vehicle to the trailer for release of the parking brake of the trailer; and in response to the release instructions, causing the actuator to release the parking brake of the trailer in tandem with the separate parking brake of the vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the engagement instructions and the release instructions are received at the trailer via a wired connection with the vehicle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the engagement instructions and the release instructions are received at the trailer via a wireless connection with the vehicle.