Speed responsive trailer stabilizer with zero slack

Apparatus for stabilizing a towed vehicle joined to a towing vehicle by a towing connection permitting said vehicles to turn relative to each other about a yaw axis, said towed vehicle having brakes for retarding towed vehicle motion, said apparatus comprising:

• turn sensing means for at times providing a signal responsive to relative turning movement between said towed and towing vehicles about said yaw axis;
• coupling means for mechanically transmitting said relative turning movement to said turn sensing means;
• brake actuator means for actuating said brakes to retard towed vehicle motion in response to said signal;
• and extensible means for biasing said towed vehicle away from said towing vehicle such that tension is placed on said towing connection and substantially all slack is removed from said towing connection and from said coupling means such that even slight relative turning movement between said towed and towing vehicles about said yaw axis causes actuation of said brakes by said brake actuator means.

Apparatus for stabilizing a towed vehicle joined to a towing vehicle by a towing connection permitting said vehicles to turn relative to each other about a yaw axis, said towed vehicle having brakes for retarding towed vehicle motion, said apparatus comprising:

• turn sensing means for at times providing a signal responsive to relative turning movement between said towed and towing vehicles about said yaw axis;
• coupling means for mechanically transmitting said relative turning movement to said turn sensing means;
• brake actuator means for actuating said brakes to retard towed vehicle motion in response to said signal;
• and control means for controllably varying the retardation to towed vehicle motion provided by said brakes in response to the speed of the joined vehicles.

Apparatus for stabilizing a towed vehicle having brakes and joined to a towing vehicle by a towing connection permitting said vehicles to turn relative to each other about a yaw axis, said apparatus comprising:

• turning resistance means for providing a controllably variable resistance to said turning movement of said towed and towing vehicles relative to each other about said yaw axis;
• brake actuator means for actuating said brakes to provide controllably variable retardation of towed vehicle motion;
• and,
• control means for varying both the resistance to turning provided by said turning resistance means and the retardation to towed vehicle motion provided by said brake actuator means in response to the rate of said relative turning movement.