Controller and method for monitoring trailer brake applications

A controller on a tractor for monitoring trailer brake applications comprising:

• a tractor brake application input for receiving a signal indicative of a tractor brake application;
• a trailer brake activation input for receiving a signal indicative of a trailer brake activation;
• an automated braking application input for receiving a signal indicative of an automated brake application;
• and
• control logic, the control logic:
• receiving the signal indicative of a tractor brake application;
• accumulating the number of signals indicative of the tractor brake applications for a predetermined time period;
• accumulating the number of trailer brake activations for the predetermined time period;
• accumulating the number of signals indicative of an automated brake application;
• subtracting the accumulated number of automated brake applications from the accumulated number of trailer brake applications to obtain a difference;
• comparing the difference with the accumulated number of tractor brake applications;
• and
• recording an excess trailer brake application flag in response to the difference being greater than the accumulated number of tractor brake applications.

A system for monitoring trailer brake applications comprising:

• a brake sensor for indicating a driver initiated foot brake application;
• a trailer controller having control logic:
• receiving a signal indicative of a trailer brake activation;
• totaling a number of signals indicative of a trailer brake activation during a predetermined time period;
• and
• transmitting the total number of signals to a tractor controller;
• the tractor controller in communication with the brake sensor and the trailer controller and having control logic:
• receiving the total number of signals indicative of a trailer brake activation from the trailer controller;
• receiving a signal indicative of a foot brake application by a driver from the brake sensor;
• receiving a signal indicative of an automated brake application;
• subtracting the total number of signals indicative of an automated brake application from the total number of signals indicative of a trailer brake activation to obtain a difference;
• totaling a number of signals indicative of a foot brake application by a driver during the predetermined time period;
• comparing the difference with the total number of signals indicative of a foot brake application by a driver;
• recording an excess trailer brake application flag in response to the difference being greater than the total number of signals indicative of a foot brake application by a driver.

A method for monitoring trailer brake applications comprising:

• receiving a signal indicative of a trailer brake activation at a trailer controller;
• totaling a number of signals indicative of a trailer brake activation during a predetermined time period;
• and
• transmitting the total number of signals indicative of trailer brake activations to a tractor controller;
• receiving the total number of signals indicative of trailer brake activations at the tractor controller;
• receiving a signal indicative of a foot brake application from the brake sensor;
• totaling a number of signals indicative of a foot brake application during the predetermined time period;
• totaling a number of signals indicative of an automated brake application;
• subtracting the total number of signals indicative of an automated brake application from the total number of signals indicative of a trailer brake activation to obtain a difference;
• comparing the difference with the total number of signals indicative of a foot brake application by a driver;
• and
• recording an excess trailer brake application flag in response to the difference being greater than the total number of signals indicative of a foot brake application.

A method for monitoring trailer brake applications comprising:

• receiving a signal indicative of a trailer brake activation at a tractor controller;
• totaling a number of signals indicative of a trailer brake activation during a predetermined time period;
• and
• receiving a signal indicative of a foot brake application from the brake sensor;
• totaling a number of signals indicative of a foot brake application during the predetermined time period;
• totaling a number of signals indicative of an automated brake application;
• subtracting the total number of signals indicative of an automated brake application from the total number of signals indicative of a trailer brake activation to obtain a difference;
• comparing the difference with the total number of signals indicative of a foot brake application;
• and
• recording an excess trailer brake application flag in response to the difference being greater than the total number of signals indicative of a foot brake application.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer instructions:

• receiving a trailer brake application signal each time a trailer brake is applied;
• receiving a foot brake application signal each time a foot brake is applied;
• receiving an automated braking application signal each time an automated braking action is initiated;
• determining a total number of trailer brake applications based on the number of times the trailer brake application signal is received;
• determining a total number of foot brake applications based on the number of times the foot brake application signal is received;
• determining a total number of signals indicative of an automated brake application based on the number of times the automated braking application signal is received;
• subtracting the total number of signals indicative of an automated brake application from the total number of signals indicative of a trailer brake activation to obtain a difference;
• comparing the difference with the total number of foot brake applications;
• and
• recording an excess trailer brake flag in response to the difference being greater than the total number of foot brake applications.

A tractor controller comprising:

• means for determining a total number of trailer brake applications;
• means for determining a total number of foot brake applications;
• means for determining a total number of automated braking applications;
• and
• control logic that;
• compares the total number of trailer brake applications with the total number of automated braking applications;
• and
• records an excess trailer brake flag in response to the difference between the total number of trailer brake applications and the total number of automated braking applications being greater than the total number of foot brake applications.