Vehicle rear axle load relief method and system

A method of operating a vehicle and trailer, the trailer having at least two rear wheel supporting axles, one of said at least two rear wheel supporting axles comprising a rearmost axle, the method comprising:

• determining the speed of the vehicle;
• determining whether the vehicle is turning;
• relieving the load on the rearmost axle when the speed of the vehicle is determined to be no greater than a first speed and the vehicle is determined to be turning at least at a first angle;
• and
• in which the step of relieving the load comprises the step of relieving air pressure from an air bag suspension system coupled to the rearmost axle to thereby relieve the load from the rearmost axle.

A method of operating a vehicle and trailer, the trailer having at least two rear wheel supporting axles, one of said at least two rear wheel supporting axles comprising a rearmost axle, the method comprising:

• determining the speed of the vehicle;
• determining whether the vehicle is turning;
• relieving the load on the rearmost axle when the speed of the vehicle is determined to be no greater than a first speed and the vehicle is determined to be turning at least at a first angle;
• and
• including the step of subsequently increasing the load on the rearmost axle when the speed of the vehicle is determined to be at least at a second speed which is greater than the first predetermined speed and the vehicle is determined to be turning at a second angle which is less than the first angle.

A method of operating a vehicle and trailer, the trailer having at least two rear wheel supporting axles, one of said at least two rear wheel supporting axles comprising a rearmost axle, the method comprising:

• determining the speed of the vehicle;
• determining whether the vehicle is turning;
• relieving the load on the rearmost axle when the speed of the vehicle is determined to be no greater than a first speed and the vehicle is determined to be turning at least at a first angle;
• and
• including the step of subsequently increasing the load on the rearmost axle after the load on the rearmost axle has been relieved for a predetermined period of time in the absence of a vehicle operator activated over-ride which delays the step of increasing the load on the rearmost axle beyond the predetermined period of time.

A method of operating a vehicle and trailer, the trailer having at least two rear wheel supporting axles, one of said at least two rear wheel supporting axles comprising a rearmost axle, the method comprising:

• determining the speed of the vehicle;
• determining whether the vehicle is turning;
• relieving the load on the rearmost axle when the speed of the vehicle is determined to be no greater than a first speed and the vehicle is determined to be turning at least at a first angle;
• in which the step of relieving the load comprises the step of venting an air bag suspension system coupled to the rearmost axle;
• and
• the method further including the step of selectively ceasing the venting of the air bag suspension system coupled to the rearmost axle to reload the rearmost axle.

A method of operating a vehicle and trailer, the trailer having at least two rear wheel supporting axles, one of said at least two rear wheel supporting, axles comprising a rearmost axle, the method comprising:

• determining the speed of the vehicle;
• determining whether the vehicle is turning;
• relieving the load on the rearmost axle when the speed of the vehicle is determined to be no greater than a first speed and the vehicle is determined to be turning at least at a first angle;
• and
• in which the first predetermined speed is no more than about fifteen miles per hour and the first predetermined angle is no more than about five degrees.

A method of operating a vehicle and trailer, the trailer having at least two rear wheel supporting axles, one of said at least two rear wheel supporting axles comprising a rearmost axle, the method comprising:

• determining the speed of the vehicle;
• determining whether the vehicle is turning;
• relieving the load on the rearmost axle when the speed of the vehicle is determined to be no greater than a first speed and the vehicle is determined to be turning at least at a first angle;
• and
• including the step of detecting whether a parking brake for the vehicle is engaged and preventing the relieving of the load on the rear axle if the parking brake is engaged.

A method of operating a vehicle and trailer, the trailer having at least two rear wheel supporting axles, one of said at least two rear wheel supporting axles comprising a rearmost axle, the method comprising:

• determining the speed of the vehicle;
• determining whether the vehicle is turning;
• relieving the load on the rearmost axle when the speed of the vehicle is determined to be no greater than a first speed and the vehicle is determined to be turning at least at a first angle;
• and
• in which the step of relieving the load comprises the step of automatically relieving the load on the rearmost able when the speed of the vehicle is determined to be no greater than a first speed and the vehicle is determined to be turning at least at a first angle.

A method of operating a vehicle and trailer, the trailer having at least two rear wheel supporting axles, one of said at least two rear wheel supporting axles comprising a rearmost axle, the method comprising:

• determining the speed of the vehicle;
• determining whether the vehicle is turning;
• relieving the load on the rearmost axle when the speed of the vehicle is determined to be no greater than a first speed and the vehicle is determined to be turning at least at a first angle;
• including the step of detecting whether a vehicle operator actuated over-ride is activated;
• and
• including the step of detecting whether a parking brake for the vehicle is engaged, and in which the step of relieving the load comprises the step of automatically relieving the load on the rearmost axle when the speed of the vehicle is determined to be no greater than a first speed and the vehicle is determined to be turning at least at a first axle unless the parking brake of the vehicle is engaged or the over-ride is activated.

A method of operating a vehicle and trailer, the trailer having at least two rear wheel supporting axles, one of said at least two rear wheel supporting axles comprising a rearmost axle, the method comprising:

• determining the speed of the vehicle;
• determining whether the vehicle is turning;
• relieving the load on the rearmost axle when the speed of the vehicle is determined to be no greater than a first speed and the vehicle is determined to be turning at least at a first angle;
• including the step of detecting whether a vehicle operator actuated over-ride is activated;
• and
• in which the step of relieving the load comprises the step of automatically relieving the load on the rearmost axle when the speed of the vehicle is determined to be no greater than a first speed and the vehicle is determined to be turning at least at a first angle unless the over-ride is activated.

A method of operating a vehicle and trailer, the trailer having at least two rear wheel supporting axles, one of said at least two rear wheel supporting axles comprising a rearmost axle, the method comprising:

• determining the speed of the vehicle;
• determining whether the vehicle is turning;
• relieving the load on the rearmost axle when the speed of the vehicle is determined to be no greater than a first speed and the vehicle is determined to be turning at least at a first angle;
• including the step or detecting whether a parking brake for the vehicle is engaged;
• and
• in which the step of relieving the load comprises the step of automatically relieving the load on the rearmost axle when the speed of the vehicle is determined to be no greater than a first speed and the vehicle is determined to be turning at least at a first angle unless the parking brake of the vehicle is engaged.

A method of operating a vehicle and trailer, the trailer having at least two rear wheel supporting axles, one of said at least two rear wheel supporting axles comprising a rearmost axle, the method comprising:

• determining the speed of the vehicle;
• determining whether the vehicle is turning;
• relieving the load on the rearmost axle when the speed of the vehicle is determined to be no greater than a first speed and the vehicle is determined to be turning at least at a first angle;
• and
• including the step of relieving the load in response to a vehicle operator actuated instruction to relieve the load if the parking brake is not engaged and the vehicle is traveling at a speed which is no greater than the first speed regardless or whether the vehicle is determined to be turning.

A method of operating a vehicle and trailer, the trailer having at least two rear axles, one of said at least two rear axles comprising a rearmost axle, the method comprising:

• determining the speed of the vehicle;
• determining whether the vehicle is turning;
• relieving the load on the rearmost axle when the speed of the vehicle is determined to be no greater than a first speed and the vehicle is determined to be turning at least at a first angle;
• in which the step of relieving the load comprises the step of relieving pressure from an air bag suspension system coupled to the rearmost axle to thereby relieve the load from the rearmost axle;
• increasing the load on the rearmost axle when (a) the speed of the vehicle is determined to be at least at a second speed for a predetermined time, the second speed being greater than the first speed, and providing the vehicle is determined to be turning at a second angle which is less than the first angle, or (b) upon the lapsing of a delay time following the relieving of the load on the rearmost axle;
• wherein the step of relieving the load comprises the step of venting an air bag suspension system coupled to the rearmost axle;
• and
• wherein the step of increasing the load comprises the step of ceasing venting of the air bag suspension system when the speed of the vehicle is determined to be at least at the second predetermined speed for the predetermined time, and the vehicle is turning at a second predetermined angle which is less than the first predetermined angle.

A method of operating a vehicle and trailer, the trailer having a front portion and a rear portion, the method comprising:

• moving a vehicle along a roadway;
• selectively shifting the location at which the rear portion of the trailer is supported forwardly while the vehicle is moving;
• and wherein
• the step of selectively shifting the location comprises the step of shifting the location forwardly while the vehicle is traveling at no more than a first speed and the vehicle is determined to be tuning at least at a first angle.

A vehicle and trailer comprising:

• a trailer body and at least two rear axles supporting the body, one of said at least two rear axles comprising a rearmost axle;
• a rearmost axle suspension system coupling the rearmost axle to the trailer;
• a speed sensor operable to determine the speed at which the vehicle is traveling;
• a vehicle turn detector operable to determine whether the vehicle is turning;
• a processor coupled to the speed sensor and to the turn detector so as to receive speed signals corresponding to the speed of the vehicle and turn signals corresponding to the turning of the vehicle;
• a suspension controller coupled to the rearmost axle, the suspension controller being responsive to a relieve axle load signal to cause the load on the rearmost axle to be relieved and being responsive to an axle reload signal to cause the load on the rearmost axle to increase;
• the processor being coupled to the suspension controller to cause the delivery of the relieve axle load signal and axle reload signal to the suspension controller;
• the processor being responsive to the speed signals and turn signals so as to selectively cause the delivery of the relieve axle load signal to the suspension controller in the event the speed signals indicate the vehicle is traveling at a speed which is no greater than a first speed and the vehicle is turning at an angle which is at least as sharp as a first angle, thereby resulting in a reduction in the load on the rearmost axle, the processor also being responsive to the speed signals and turn signals so as to cause the delivery of a reload axle signal in the event (a) the speed signals indicate that the vehicle is traveling at a second speed which is not less than the first speed and the vehicle is turning at a second angle which is not sharper than the first angle, or (b) after a period of time from the relieving of the load on the rearmost axle, thereby resulting in the reloading of the rearmost axle.

A vehicle and trailer comprising:

• a trailer having a body and at least two rear axles supporting the body, one of said at least two rear axles comprising a rearmost axle;
• rearmost axle suspension means for coupling the rearmost axle to the trailer;
• a speed sensor operable to determine the speed at which the vehicle is traveling;
• a vehicle turn detector operable to determine whether the vehicle is turning;
• processor means for coupling to the speed sensor and to the turn detector so as to receive speed signals corresponding to the speed of travel of the vehicle and turn signals corresponding to the turning of the vehicle;
• suspension controller means coupled to the rearmost axle suspension means and to the processor means, the suspension controller means comprising means for relieving the load on the rearmost axle in response to a relieve axle load signal and for increasing the load on the rearmost axle in response to a reload axle signal;
• the processor means comprising means for selectively delivering the relieve axle load signal and reload axle signal to the suspension controller means, the processor means comprising means responsive to the speed signals and turn signals for selectively delivering the relieve load axle signal to the suspension controller in the event the speed signals indicate the vehicle is traveling at a speed which is no greater than a first speed and the vehicle is turning at an axle which is at least as sharp as a first angle, thereby resulting in a reduction in the load on the rearmost axle, the processor means also comprising means for delivering the reload axle signal after a period of time following the delivery of the relieve load axle signal, thereby resulting in the reloading of the rearmost axle.