Trailer braking control system for a towing vehicle
AssigneeLucas Industries public limited company
InventorMalcolm Brearley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A trailer braking control system which is adapted to modify trailer braking from a towing vehicle by regulating the coupling head service braking pressure signal generated on the towing vehicle in response to driver's demand pressure and measured values of longitudinal force exerted on the trailer coupling just before and during braking. At least two adaptive variables are developed on the towing vehicle, and on selected qualifying stops of the towing vehicle/trailer combination, one of these adaptive variables is chosen to be corrected at the end of that stop using average trailer thrust error signals for use in regulating trailer braking on subsequent stops.
Claims12
A braking control system in a towing vehicle for providing controlled braking pressures to a trailer vehicle when coupled to the towing vehicle, the system comprising:
- (a) trailer coupling means on the towing vehicle for connecting the towing vehicle to a trailer vehicle;
- (b) force sensing means at said trailer coupling means for detecting longitudinal thrust forces acting on the trailer coupling means between the towing vehicle and a trailer vehicle, when coupled thereto;
- (c) means for generating a service braking pressure signal on the towing vehicle for supply to the trailer vehicle;
- (d) means for establishing a braking pressure signal representative of a driver's input demand;
- (e) means for regulating said service braking pressure signal in response to driver's demand pressure and measured valued of longitudinal force exerted on said coupling means just before and during braking;
- (f) means for developing at least two adaptive variables in the control system on the towing vehicle for use in regulating said trailer service braking pressure signal derived from said driver's demand signal;
- (g) means for establishing whether a current stop constitutes a qualifying stop of a vehicle/trailer combination, meeting prescribed operating characteristics;
- (h) means for choosing one of said at least two adaptive variables to be corrected at that stop;
- (i) means for establishing average error signals in thrust forces applied by a trailer to the towing vehicle compared to a reference thrust level;
- and
- (j) means for correcting the chosen adaptive variable at the end of that stop using said average trailer thrust force error signals, for use in regulating said trailer service braking pressure signal on subsequent stops.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.