System and Method for Failsafe Operation of a Tractor Protection Control Module
AssigneeBendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
InventorsRyan S. Hurley, Randy J. Salvatora, Subashish Sasmal, Edward F. Hoban
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electronically-controlled tractor protection control module in a tractor prevents air flow from an air reservoir to a gladhand when a signal is received that indicates a trailer is not coupled with the gladhand. This prevents air from being vented out the gladhand when the tractor’s service brakes are applied. However, a failure can occur that prevents this signal from being received or acted upon, which would result in air being vented out the gladhand. To address this problem, an air flow restrictor is used to limit the amount of air that is vented in such a situation.
Claims9
A method comprising:
- supplying air from a first reservoir in a tractor to a relay that controls air flow to a braking system of a trailer in response to the first reservoir being at or above a first pressure;
- supplying air from a second reservoir in the tractor to the relay in response to the first reservoir not being at or above the first pressure;
- and restricting a rate at which air is supplied from the second reservoir to the relay to prevent a pressure in the second reservoir from dropping below a second pressure that would cause the tractor to automatically park.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.