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US 5,282,641 AGranted
Truck/trailer control system
OwnerRichard J. McLaughlininventor
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OwnerRichard J. McLaughlininventor
Estimating the term…
Automatic Trailer Control System--containing four principle inventions. One part of the invention provides automatic trailer steering control to the trailer to cause a delayed turn of the trailer steering mechanism while maneuvering a turn. A second part of the invention provides an electro-magnetic braking system, to the trailer, which is controlled by the same Microcomputer system that controls the trailer turning. The third part of the invention utilizes the electro-magnetic braking system as an alternator/generator to be used as an auxiliary battery charging system. A fourth part of the invention uses the electro-magnetic braking system as a motor to drive the trailer wheels as an assist during trucking operations. All operational functions are controlled by the Microcontroller based control system mounted on the trailer rear wheel platform. Sensors are placed on the truck/trailer operating system to obtain operational information needed for the control of the system.
In a vehicle having a truck unit with an engine, and front truck wheels mounted for turning in unison to each side relative to straight forward alignment and a trailer unit joined to said truck unit in articulated fashion by a coupling therebetween, said trailer unit having a trailer body and at least a set of rear wheels mounted on a rear trailer wheel axle assembly the improvement comprising:
In a vehicle having a truck with an engine with a tachometer coupled thereto to generate an engine speed signal and a body having a rear wheel axle with rear wheels thereon and transmission means through which said engine drives said rear wheel axle in rotation, the improvement comprising a magnetic motor assembly means including rotor means coupled to rotate with said rear wheel axle and stator means disposed about and stationary relative to said rotor means, tilt sensing means on said body generating a tilt information signal indicative of fore and aft angular orientation of said body, and electronic drive control means coupled to receive said tilt information signal and said engine speed signal to energize said stator means to selectively and alternatively operate said magnetic motor assembly means as a magnetic motor assisting said transmission means in rotating said rear wheel axle and as a magnetic brake opposing said transmission means and retarding rotation of said rear wheel axle to an extent dependent upon said engine speed signal and said fore and aft orientation signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.