Trailer Brake System
AssigneeContinental Automotive Systems, Inc.
InventorRalf Hiller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosure provides a trailer brake system that includes a sensor system and a brake control unit. The sensor system is supported by a trailer and includes at least one wheel speed sensor associated with each wheel of the trailer. The brake control unit is supported by the trailer and is in communication with a tow vehicle configured to tow the trailer. The brake control unit is configured to: receive sensor data from the sensor system, and receive a brake signal from the tow vehicle indicative of a driver pressing a brake pedal of the tow vehicle. The brake control unit is also configured to: determine, for each brake, a hydraulic pressure based on the sensor data and the brake signal; and apply pressure by way of brake lines to the brake associated with each wheel, based on the hydraulic pressure.
Claims19
A trailer brake system comprising:
- a sensor system supported by a trailer, the sensor system comprising at least one wheel speed sensor associated with each wheel of the trailer;
- and
- a brake control unit supported by the trailer and in communication with a tow vehicle configured to tow the trailer, the brake control unit configured to:
- receive sensor data from the sensor system;
- receive a brake signal from the tow vehicle indicative of a driver pressing a brake pedal of the tow vehicle;
- determine, for each brake, a hydraulic pressure based on the sensor data and the brake signal;
- and
- apply pressure by way of brake lines to the brake associated with each wheel, based on the hydraulic pressure.
A method for controlling a trailer brake system, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a brake control unit supported by a trailer, sensor data from one or more sensors, each sensor associated with a wheel of the trailer;
- receiving, at the brake control unit, a brake signal from a tow vehicle configured to tow the trailer, the brake signal indicative of a driver of the tow vehicle pressing a brake pedal of the tow vehicle;
- and
- executing, by the brake control unit, a behavior based on the sensor data, the behavior causing the brake control unit to adjust a hydraulic pressure to each wheel of the trailer.
A trailer brake system comprising:
- a sensor system disposed on a trailer having wheels, the sensor system comprising at least one wheel speed sensor associated with a wheel of the trailer;
- a hydraulic pump supported by the trailer and configured to apply pressure by way of a brake line to a brake associated with each one of the wheels when receiving a brake signal from a tow vehicle in communication with the hydraulic pump;
- and
- a hydraulic and electric control unit in communication with the hydraulic pump and the sensor system and having a computing processor processing data received from the sensor system, the hydraulic and electric control unit determining a hydraulic pressure applied to each brake based on data received from the sensor system when the hydraulic pump receives the brake signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.