# US 2019/0315330 A1 · Apparatus and method for trailer service brake control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0315330 A1 - Document ID: US20190315330A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/955,175 - Filed: 2018-04-17 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-17 - Assignees: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC - Applicants: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC - Inventors: Phillip J Kasper; David J Taneyhill; Paul C Niglas; Gerhard Wieder - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190315330A1 ## CPC - B60T 7/20: specially for trailers, e.g. in case of uncoupling of {or overrunning by} trailer (inertia-actuated overrun brakes B60T13/08) - B60T 15/043: {controlling service pressure brakes (B60T15/048 takes precedence)} - B60D 1/26: for remote control, e.g. for releasing - B60D 1/62: involving supply lines, electric circuits or the like - B60T 7/085: {by electrical means, e.g. travel, force sensors} - B60T 8/1708: {for lorries or tractor-trailer combinations} - B60T 8/172: Determining control parameters used in the regulation, e.g. by calculations involving measured or detected parameters {(B60T8/17551 takes precedence)} - B60T 8/342: {Pneumatic systems} - B60T 8/36: including a pilot valve responding to an electromagnetic force - B60T 8/72: responsive to a difference between a speed condition, e.g. deceleration, and a fixed reference - B60T 13/662: {characterised by specified functions of the control system components} - B60T 13/683: {in pneumatic systems or parts thereof (in vacuum systems B60T13/72)} - B60T 7/107: {with electrical power assistance} - B60T 8/323: {Systems specially adapted for tractor-trailer combinations} - 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 - B60D: VEHICLE CONNECTIONS ## Abstract A system on a tractor for controlling trailer service brakes comprises a manually operated trailer brake switch, a first electropneumatic valve in communication with a pressure source and a controller. The controller has an input communicating with the trailer brake switch, an output communicating with the electropneumatic valve and control logic. The control logic receives an input from the trailer brake switch indicating a driver's request to apply the trailer service brakes of the combination vehicle, determines if a predetermined condition exists and transmits a signal to the output to the electropneumatic valve. The electropneumatic valve transmits pressure to a trailer service control line to actuate the trailer service brakes in response to the trailer brake switch and existence of the predetermined condition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system on a tractor for controlling trailer service brakes comprising: a manually operated trailer brake switch; a first electropneumatic valve in communication with a pressure source on the tractor; and a controller, the controller having: an input communicating with the trailer brake switch; an output communicating with the first electropneumatic valve; and control logic, the control logic: receiving an input from the trailer brake switch indicating a driver's request to apply the trailer service brakes of the combination vehicle; determining if a predetermined condition exists; and transmitting a signal to the output to the first electropneumatic valve, wherein the first electropneumatic valve transmits pressure to a trailer service control line to actuate the trailer service brakes in response to the trailer brake switch and existence of the predetermined condition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system as in claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is one or more of a speed of the tractor being less than a predetermined speed and a pressure at the pressure source being greater than a predetermined pressure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system as in claim 2, wherein the predetermined speed is about five miles per hour. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system as in claim 2, wherein the predetermined pressure is about sixty psi. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system as in claim 1, the controller further having a communications port for receiving signals regarding the predetermined condition. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system as in claim 1, the control logic further transmitting a signal to the output to the electropneumatic valve to release the trailer service brakes in response to the predetermined condition not being met. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system as in claim 1, further comprising an indicator, wherein the control logic transmits a signal to the indicator to indicate the status of the trailer service brakes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system as in claim 1, the control logic further transmitting a signal to the output to the first electropneumatic valve to maintain the trailer service brakes as actuated in response to the trailer brake switch being maintained in the active position and a speed of the combination vehicle being less than a predetermined speed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system as in claim 8, wherein the first electropneumatic valve deactuates the trailer service brakes after a predetermined time period from actuation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system as in claim 1, wherein the controller is integrated with another vehicle controller. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system as in claim 1, further comprising a second valve, wherein the second valve communicates pneumatically with the first electropneumatic valve and the trailer service control line to reduce the pressure delivered to the trailer service brakes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system as in claim 11, wherein the second valve is a second electropneumatic valve, wherein the control logic transmits a signal to the second electropneumatic valve to variably control the amount of pressure delivered to the trailer service brakes. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system as in claim 11, wherein the second valve is a pneumatic reduction valve. ### Claim 14 A method for controlling trailer service brakes comprising: receiving an input from a trailer brake switch indicating a request to apply trailer service brakes; determining whether the vehicle meets a predetermined condition; transmitting a signal to actuate the trailer service brakes in response to the activation of the trailer brake switch and the existence of the predetermined condition. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as in claim 14, wherein the predetermined condition is one or more of a speed of the tractor being less than a predetermined speed, a time period from actuation being less than a predetermined time period and a supply pressure being greater than a predetermined pressure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as in claim 15, wherein the predetermined speed is about five miles per hour. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method as in claim 15, wherein the predetermined pressure is about sixty psi. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method as in claim 15, wherein the predetermined time period is about three minutes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method as in claim 14, further comprising indicating the status of the trailer service brakes to the driver. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method as in claim 14, wherein transmitting a signal to actuate the trailer service brakes comprises actuating a first electropneumatic valve and a second valve. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The method as in claim 14, wherein transmitting a signal comprises transmitting a wireless signal to actuate the trailer service brakes. ### Claim 22 A system on a tractor for controlling trailer service brakes comprising: means for receiving a request to activate the trailer service brakes; means for determining a predetermined condition of a vehicle; and means for transmitting pressure to a trailer service braking system to actuate the trailer service brakes independent of the tractor service brakes in response to the request to activate the trailer service brakes and the predetermined condition being at least one of the speed of the vehicle being less than a predetermined speed, the supply pressure of the tractor being greater than a predetermined pressure and a time period from actuation of the trailer service brakes being less than a predetermined time period.