Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for automatic calibration of electronic trailer brake gain. An example apparatus includes a trailer brake gain calibration module programmed to compare a calculated trailer brake torque to at least one of a first or second threshold, adjust a gain value based upon satisfaction of at least one of the first or second threshold, and apply a pressure to a trailer brake based on the gain value.

A vehicle brake system includes a brake control device, a vehicle acceleration sensor, and a trailer brake controller. The trailer brake controller outputs an initial trailer brake torque demand based on an input received from the brake control device and adjusts the initial trailer brake torque demand to converge a signal from the vehicle acceleration sensor to an expected negative acceleration value correlated with the input from the brake control device.

Systems and methods are provided for controlling operation of a trailer brake system associated with an agricultural vehicle-trailer combination. A coupling force between the vehicle and the trailer is determined and used to control operation of the trailer brake system in dependence thereon. A primary control strategy is used in dependence on the determined coupling force being within a coupling force range; and one or more secondary control strategies are used in dependence on the determined coupling force being outside of the coupling force range.

The present disclosure provides an emergency braking system, an emergency braking method and a semitrailer, capable of improving the braking effect of the vehicle, thereby achieving improved safety for the vehicle. The system includes: a sensor component configured to collect sensed information on an environment where a semitrailer is located; and a braking controller configured to determine whether there is a risk of collision for the semitrailer based on the sensed information, and if so, calculate a maximum adhesive force that can be provided by a road surface the semitrailer is currently on, determine a first braking pressure corresponding to each wheel based on the maximum adhesive force and axle load information, and transmit to a braking system a first braking instruction carrying the first braking pressure for each wheel.

A transportation safety apparatus for a vehicle combination, the vehicle combination including a leading vehicle that pulls a trailing vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of force sensors for measuring pressure on opposite sides of the trailing vehicle; a wheel direction sensor for measuring aim angle at which tires on the leading vehicle aim said leading vehicle; at least one of: a) a plurality of position sensors for measuring angle difference between the leading vehicle and the trailing vehicle; and b) an angle sensor for measuring centerline angle between a leading centerline of the leading vehicle and a trailing centerline of the trailing vehicle; and a processing unit for signaling jack knife risk based on force measured by one of the force sensors, the wheel direction sensor, and at least one of the angle difference and the centerline angle.

A method for brake control of a vehicle combination (1) having a tractor vehicle (2) and a trailer vehicle (3) with an electrically controllable trailer control valve (9) changes an assigned trailer control valve characteristic curve (p_normal) stored in an electronic controller (6) for normal operation of the vehicle combination (1) or replaces it with a trailer control valve characteristic curve for special operation (p_special) in the event that a special operation of the vehicle combination (1) is detected or predicted, which special operation, under consideration of relevant parameters, differs from the normal operation or is evaluated as being potentially impermissible.

A traction saddle disposed on a tractor for connection with a traction pin of a trailer, is provided. The traction saddle includes a base, a gear set, and a damper. A gear carrier of the gear set fixes planetary gears of the gear set, the planetary gears are meshed with an inner ring gear of the gear set, and the inner ring gear is fixed to the base. The gear carrier is used for fixing the traction pin to rotate with the traction pin. The planetary gears are meshed with a sun gear of the gear set to drive the sun gear to rotate, and the damper is connected to the sun gear to apply resistance. In addition, a traction pin, a tractor, a trailer, and a truck are also provided.

A method controls a brake system of a vehicle combination. The switching valve in the second setting (anti-jackknifing braking function active) outputs a reservoir pressure into a trailer pressure line to actuate the trailer service brakes dependent on the anti-jackknifing braking demand. When service braking demand and anti-jackknifing braking demand are simultaneously present, an anti-jackknifing and a service braking ratio value are determined, a switchover criterion is checked dependent on the ratio values. The criterion is satisfied if the service braking ratio value exceeds a specified fraction of the anti-jackknifing braking ratio value when the anti-jackknifing braking function is active and falls below the specified fraction when the anti-jackknifing braking function is inactive; and, if the criterion is satisfied, the switching valve is switched over to activate the anti-jackknifing braking function and implement the anti-jackknifing braking demand, or to deactivate the anti-jackknifing braking function and implement the service braking demand.

An electric system of a vehicle including an electronically controlled braking system. The electric system has a steering angle sensor unit, at least one control module, at least one first inertia sensor and an electronic braking system central control unit EBS ECU. The at least one control module is external to the steering angle sensor unit. The at least one control module is also external to the EBS ECU. At least one of the at least one control module has mounted within it one of the at least one first inertia sensor.

A method for mitigating sway of a trailer being towed by a leading vehicle is disclosed. The method may involve using a controller of the vehicle to determine when a trailer sway condition has arisen that requires a mitigating action. The controller may be used to actuate a plurality of brakes of the vehicle, or to increase braking pressure being applied by a driver of the vehicle, when the trailer is detected as swaying toward a centerline of the vehicle from one side or another of the vehicle centerline. The controller may further be used to release the plurality of brakes, or to decrease a braking pressure being commanded by the driver, before the trailer has swayed past the vehicle centerline, and to repeatedly apply and release the vehicle brakes only while the trailer is detected as swaying toward the vehicle centerline, until the trailer sway condition has been mitigated.