A refrigeration system can include an electrical generator coupled to a mechanical interface, the mechanical interface configured to transfer mechanical energy from a vehicle to the electrical generator, and a control module connected to the electrical generator via electrical wiring. The refrigeration system can also include an electrically-driven refrigeration unit coupled to the control module, and a battery coupled to the control module via electrical wiring. The control module can be adapted to provide electrical power to the refrigeration unit from the electrical generator or the battery and is further adapted to charge the battery with electrical energy not needed for operating the refrigeration unit.

The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling operation of an articulated vehicle combination (AVC), the AVC comprising a tractor unit comprising a primary prime mover for propulsion of the AVC, a first trailer unit coupled to the tractor unit by a first articulated coupling, a dolly comprising a secondary prime mover, the dolly being coupled to the first trailer unit by a second articulated coupling, and a second trailer unit coupled to the dolly by a third articulated coupling, the method comprising determining at least one property indicative of a stability of the AVC; comparing the property with a predetermined property specific range; and controlling the secondary prime mover to generate a propulsion torque for the AVC when the property is within the predetermined property specific range.

Through-the-road (TTR) hybrid designs using control strategies such as an equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS) or an adaptive ECMS are implemented at the supplemental torque delivering electrically-powered drive axle (or axles) in a manner that follows operational parameters or computationally estimates states of the primary drivetrain and/or fuel-fed engine, but does not itself participate in control of the fuel-fed engine or primary drivetrain. BSFC type data particular to the paired-with fuel-fed engine allows an ECMS implementation (or other similar control strategy) to adapt to efficiency curves for the particular fuel-fed engine and to improve overall efficiencies of the TTR hybrid configuration.

A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.

A method for having a vehicle follow a desired curvature path is provided. The vehicle has at least one differential with a differential lock connected to at least one driven wheel axle of the vehicle. The method includes providing information regarding state of the differential lock, the state being either that the differential lock is activated or unlocked, and when the differential lock is activated, calculating a yaw moment of the vehicle caused by the differential lock; and compensating for a deviation from the desired curvature path caused by the yaw moment such that a resulting steering angle is equal to or less than a maximum allowed steering angle of the vehicle. The compensation is a feed forward compensation.

A transmission includes an input shaft and an output shaft, the input shaft selectively accepting a torque input from a prime mover, and the output shaft selectively providing torque output to a driveline. A controller determines a shaft displacement angle representing an angle value of rotational displacement difference between at least two shafts of the transmission, and performs a transmission operation responsive to the shaft displacement angle.

A refrigeration system can include an electrical generator coupled to a mechanical interface, the mechanical interface configured to transfer mechanical energy from a vehicle to the electrical generator, and a control module connected to the electrical generator via electrical wiring. The refrigeration system can also include an electrically-driven refrigeration unit coupled to the control module, and a battery coupled to the control module via electrical wiring. The control module can be adapted to provide electrical power to the refrigeration unit from the electrical generator or the battery and is further adapted to charge the battery with electrical energy not needed for operating the refrigeration unit.

A tire failure detection device includes a steering angle sensor for sensing a steering angle, a yaw rate sensor for sensing a yaw rate, and a control unit. The control unit calculates side-slip energy based on the output signal of the steering angle sensor and the output signal of the yaw rate sensor, and determines that a failure has occurred in a tire when the side-slip energy exceeds a first threshold.

The invention relates to a vehicle combination having a towing vehicle and a trailer, wherein the trailer has a drive which is coupled to a wheel of the trailer, wherein a control unit is provided and is designed to receive a signal of a sensor, wherein the control unit controls the operation of the drive as a function of the signal. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for controlling a drive in a vehicle combination.

Through-the-road (TTR) hybrid designs using control strategies such as an equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS) or an adaptive ECMS are implemented at the supplemental torque delivering electrically-powered drive axle (or axles) in a manner that follows operational parameters or computationally estimates states of the primary drivetrain and/or fuel-fed engine, but does not itself participate in control of the fuel-fed engine or primary drivetrain. BSFC type data particular to the paired-with fuel-fed engine allows an ECMS implementation (or other similar control strategy) to adapt to efficiency curves for the particular fuel-fed engine and to improve overall efficiencies of the TTR hybrid configuration.