A trailer braking device includes tow vehicle that has plurality of wheels and a trailer that is towable behind the tow vehicle which has wheels to roll along a roadway when the trailer is being towed. A plurality of vehicle motors is attached to a respective one of the plurality of wheels associated with the tow vehicle. Each of the vehicle motors is actuatable into a braking condition for braking the tow vehicle. A plurality of trailer motors is each of the trailer motors is attached to a respective one of the wheels on the trailer. Each of the plurality of trailer motors is actuatable into a braking condition for braking the trailer or an assist condition for urging the trailer forwardly reducing fuel consumption of the tow vehicle.

Towed vehicles can be extremely heavy. Accordingly, it is too much of a burden to the braking system of a towing vehicle to not have brakes on the towed vehicle. Controlling the brakes of the towed vehicle must be accurately applied otherwise undesirable conditions can be created. There is a need for a method for controlling braking of a towed vehicle. This method comprises receiving a first signal via a communication bus of a towing vehicle, the first signal relating to at least one operating condition of at least one the towing vehicle and a towed vehicle, sending a second signal to brakes of the towed vehicle, the second signal based on said first signal.

Methods and systems are provided for controlling deceleration of a vehicle towing a trailer. In an embodiment, a method includes: generating, by a processor, trailer brake command data to pulsate brakes of the trailer; in response to the generating the trailer brake command data, storing, in a data storage device of the vehicle, a first set of deceleration data; generating, by the processor, vehicle brake command data to pulsate brakes of the vehicle; in response to the generating the vehicle brake command data, storing, in the data storage device, a second set of deceleration data; determining, by the processor, a maximum vehicle brake torque threshold where a maximum trailer brake output occurs based on the first set of deceleration data and the second set of deceleration data; and controlling, by the processor, the brakes of the trailer based on the maximum vehicle brake torque threshold.

A method for a utility vehicle, in particular a towing vehicle or a vehicle combination with a utility vehicle, includes the following steps carried out with a control unit of the utility vehicle. A status message is received from an electric drive of the utility vehicle or a trailer vehicle towed by the utility vehicle, which indicates that a braking torque can be provided via the electric drive. An offer message, which indicates an offered braking torque, is then generated depending on the status message. Furthermore, the offer message is sent out to or for at least one further control unit of the utility vehicle. The disclosure includes a braking control unit and a braking system for carrying out the method and a utility vehicle or a vehicle combination with the braking control unit or the braking system. The disclosure includes a computer program product for carrying out the method.

The main innovation in the braking system presented for patent protection is that it avoids the use of a main brake valve, as well as the other cocks and valves used presently in the air brakes. The pressure in the brake chambers is regulated hydraulically or electrically at the input of each brake chamber individually. This minimizes, to the extent possible, the delay in the execution of the brake commands given by the driver. ABS control will also be individual for each wheel and will work several times faster and more accurately. Overall, the system will use much fewer air ducts, will be simpler and more secure. The diagnostics will be much faster and easier. For reequipping the vehicles with the presented braking system, no changes in their design are required.

A vehicle includes a steering system, a vehicle speed detector, a brake system, and a control system. The control system is coupled with steering system for implementing a backup mode for reversing a trailer including controlling the steering system to maintain the trailer along a path. The control system is further coupled with the speed detector and the brake system and selectively outputs a rate-limited brake torque demand to the brake system to maintain a vehicle speed below a threshold speed.

Various embodiments of a method, system and controller for determining whether to actuate the service brakes of a trailer are disclosed. In accordance with one aspect, the controller includes an input for receiving a stop lamp signal from an associated tractor, an input for receiving a control line pressure signal of the trailer, a control output for transmitting a braking control signal and control logic. The method includes receiving a stop lamp signal, receiving a control line pressure signal and determining whether to transmit a braking control signal to the service brakes of the trailer in response to the stop lamp signal being on and the control line pressure signal being less than a pressure threshold.

A braking control system associated with a towed apparatus is provided. The braking control system includes an intelligent control, an accelerometer electrically coupled to the intelligent control, a global positioning receiver electrically coupled to the intelligent control, and a visual indicator operatively coupled to the intelligent control. The braking control system may also include a wireless RF receiver operatively coupled to the intelligent control.

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 is for safely braking a trailer of a vehicle combination including a motor vehicle and the trailer. The motor vehicle has an electronically controllable pneumatic motor vehicle braking system and the trailer has a pneumatic trailer braking system. The motor vehicle braking system and the trailer braking system are connected at least by a trailer control line and a trailer feed line. The trailer braking system has at least one trailer brake circuit including a trailer supply reservoir for making available a trailer supply pressure for the trailer brake circuit, service brake actuators and spring brake actuators. In response to a demand for safe braking of the trailer, the motor vehicle brings about lowering of the trailer supply pressure in the trailer brake circuit, with the result that the spring brake actuators of the trailer are applied and safely brake the trailer.