A method for finding an optimum trailer gain, comprising: applying trailer brake pulses to a trailer while a vehicle is coasting using a trailer brake of a trailer, wherein the trailer is coupled to the vehicle; monitoring an average deceleration of the vehicle and the trailer brake gain of the trailer brake pulses applied to the trailer while the vehicle is coasting; generating a graph of the average deceleration of the vehicle versus the trailer brake gain, wherein the graph includes a curve that illustrates a relationship between the average deceleration of the vehicle and the trailer brake gain of the trailer brake pulses applied to the trailer while the vehicle is coasting; and finding a bend point of the curve in the graph to determine an optimum trailer brake gain.

A method for finding an optimum trailer gain, comprising: applying trailer brake pulses to a trailer while a vehicle is coasting using a trailer brake of a trailer, wherein the trailer is coupled to the vehicle; monitoring an average deceleration of the vehicle and the trailer brake gain of the trailer brake pulses applied to the trailer while the vehicle is coasting; generating a graph of the average deceleration of the vehicle versus the trailer brake gain, wherein the graph includes a curve that illustrates a relationship between the average deceleration of the vehicle and the trailer brake gain of the trailer brake pulses applied to the trailer while the vehicle is coasting; and finding a bend point of the curve in the graph to determine an optimum trailer brake gain.

Disclosed is a sensor device for a towing vehicle coupling or as a component of a towing vehicle coupling, in particular a fifth-wheel coupling, with which a trailer vehicle can be coupled to a towing vehicle wherein the towing vehicle coupling has a coupling element for detachably coupling to a coupling counter element, in particular a fifth-wheel king pin, wherein the coupling element is/can be secured to the towing vehicle and the coupling counter element is/can be secured to the trailer vehicle, and in the coupled state forming a joint, they can rotate relative to one another about at least one joint rotational axis, wherein the sensor device has a follower, mounted on a bearing body such that it can rotate about a follower rotational axis, for detecting a rotation of the coupling counter element relative to the coupling element about the at least one joint rotational axis wherein the follower can rotate about the follower rotational axis by rotationally following the coupling counter element in a rotation about the at least one joint rotational axis, and the sensor device has at least one sensor for detecting a respective rotational position of the follower relative to the bearing body in relation to the follower rotational axis. The follower is arranged outside a bearing region of the joint, in which the coupling element and the coupling counter element are engaged with one another in a bearing manner, and the at least one sensor is arranged inside the follower and/or the follower forms a protective housing for the at least one sensor.

A towable crash-attenuating vehicle is shown having a frame; at least two axles coupled to the frame, each of the axles having wheels attached thereto; a T-shaped ballast coupled to the frame, and oriented such that the weight of the ballast is biased toward the front end of the frame; deflection shields coupled to the right and left sides of the frame, wherein the deflection shields cover the frame and a majority of the wheels on each side of the vehicle; a tow connection coupled to the front of the frame, pivotable from a deployed state to an undeployed state; an impact attenuator coupled to the rear of the frame; wherein the vehicle is provided with a brake system, and wherein said brake system may be locked and unlocked and wherein the vehicle is provided with an on-board mechanism for locking and unlocking the brake system.

A brake control signal amplification system that is designed to assist with the compliance to the FMVSS-121 Safety Standard for an air braked vehicle is described which comprises a trailer control module (TCM) that provides pneumatic signal to a trailer of the vehicle, a tractor protection valve (TPV) that protects a tractor air brake system in the event of a pneumatic disconnection from the trailer, and a pilot relay valve (PRV) coupled between the TCM and the TPV, wherein the PRV amplifies a control signal received from the TCM and delivers an amplified control signal to the to the TPV. The TPV delivers the amplified control signal to a control coupling for a trailer portion of a vehicle and delivers an air supply to a supply coupling for the trailer of the vehicle.

A control system and method for controlling a vehicle subsystem are provided. The control system includes a remote parameter sensor configured to generate a remote parameter signal indicative of a value of a universal parameter associated with an environment in which a vehicle is operating. The system further includes a local parameter sensor configured to generate a local parameter signal indicative of the value of the universal parameter and a local controller. The controller is configured to receive the local parameter signal along a first signal path, receive the remote parameter signal and a command signal configured for controlling a function of the vehicle subsystem along a second signal path, compare the local and remote parameter signals and implement the function of the vehicle subsystem responsive to the command signal if the remote parameter signal meets a predetermined condition relative to the local parameter signal.

A valve arrangement (2a, 2b) of a hydraulically braked tractor vehicle for controlling the brake pressure of a pneumatically braked trailer includes an electronically controlled trailer control valve (6) with an inlet valve (14), an outlet valve (16), a pneumatical relay valve (18), a breakaway valve (20) and a brake control pressure sensor (24). The valve arrangement also has a hydraulically controlled backup valve (8) with a hydraulically activated relay valve (46), a redundancy valve (112, 112′) and a hydraulic control pressure sensor (50). Output-side brake control lines (40; 62) are connected via a shuttle valve (10) to a brake coupling head (82). The valves (14, 16, 18, 20) and the pressure sensors (24, 50) of the trailer control valve (6), the valves (46, 112, 112′) of the backup valve (8) and the shuttle valve (10) may be combined in one trailer control module (98) with a single housing (100).

A trailer brake module includes a brake output driver configured to be connected to a power supply, a flyback diode, and a MOSFET arranged between the power supply and the flyback diode. The MOSFET is in series with the flyback diode.

A system for a vehicle and a trailer connected to the vehicle is provided. The system includes a trailer brake output circuit configured to output a trailer brake output signal, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to determine whether a value of a yaw rate of the trailer connected to the vehicle becomes greater than a threshold value, change a yaw rate oscillation counter in response to determining that the value of the yaw rate of the trailer becomes greater than the threshold value, instruct the trailer brake output circuit to output the trailer brake output signal to the trailer in response to the yaw rate oscillation becoming a first value, and activate trailer sway control in response to the yaw rate oscillation becoming a second value. The second value is greater than the first value.

A system for a vehicle and a trailer connected to the vehicle is provided. The system includes a trailer brake output circuit configured to output a trailer brake output signal, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to determine whether a value of a yaw rate of the trailer connected to the vehicle becomes greater than a threshold value, change a yaw rate oscillation counter in response to determining that the value of the yaw rate of the trailer becomes greater than the threshold value, instruct the trailer brake output circuit to output the trailer brake output signal to the trailer in response to the yaw rate oscillation becoming a first value, and activate trailer sway control in response to the yaw rate oscillation becoming a second value. The second value is greater than the first value.