An apparatus and method for automatic actuation and control of an air braking system on a commercial vehicle, under a warning of collision conditions, has multiple stages of operation, which supplements the normal brake pedal activation and control of the air brake operation under the driver's foot control. Automatic actuation has two stages: (1) impending collision automatic activation and control for 1.4 second closure; and (2) imminent collision automatic activation and control for 0.9 seconds closure. A determination of closure occurring in excess of 1.6 seconds, turns off the warning, and also deactivates the automatic activation and control. A modification to a standard air brake system structure enables the addition of the automatic activation and control stages. When an impending collision signal is received, an activation component operates valves to pressurize the rear brakes to 40 psi. When the air pressure at the rear brakes rises to 20 psi, other valves pressurize the front brakes. This first stage automatic operation stops or slows the vehicle with 40 psi on the rear brakes and 20 psi on the front brakes. When an imminent collision signal is received, the activation component opens valves to pressurize the rear brakes to 120 psi. Once the air pressure at the rear brakes rises to 20 psi, the front brakes are also pressurized. This second stage automatic operation stops the vehicle with 120 psi on the rear brakes and 80 psi on the front brakes, unless restricted to a lower pressure by the brake system manufacturer. The driver can deactivate the automatic braking functions by stepping on the brake pedal or by operating the vehicle turn signals.

An air actuated brake system for use on a heavy-duty vehicle having a frame. Each of a first pair of air actuated brake assemblies is mounted to a first axle supported by the frame. Each of a second pair of air actuated brake assemblies is mounted to a second axle supported by the frame. A source of pressurized air is provided. Valve structure is in fluid communication with the source of pressurized air. The valve structure is located substantially central relative to each of the air actuated brake assemblies. Conduits of substantially equal length and/or volume fluidly connect the valve structure with the first pair of air actuated brake assemblies and with the second pair of air actuated brake assemblies to actuate the air actuated brake assemblies at substantially the same time.

An air brake sound system configured to discharge compressed air to simulate an air brake system on a vehicle that does not employ air brakes. The system includes at least one air receiver tank for housing pressurized gas, at least one discharge tank, and a series of valves for controlling the flow and discharge of pressurized gas during fill events and discharge events. Some embodiments further include an air compressor for refiling the air receiver tank. With a multitude of discharge tanks set adjacent to a vehicle's tires, the system can mimic the sound profile of a vehicle with air brakes.

An air delivery system is operable to on-board compressed air to an associated work vehicle from an associated or auxiliary source such as for example an external large compressor or air storage tank for assisting a tire inflation system (TIS) of the associated work vehicle to expedite tire inflation particularly when transitioning to a desired raised tire pressure, and is further operable to off-board compressed air from a compressor of the TIS system on-board the associated work vehicle for delivery from the TIS to an associated or external compressed air consuming device such as an implement attached with the associated work vehicle or the like. A bi-directional air delivery retrofit kit provides on-boarding and off-boarding of an extra-vehicular compressed air product relative to an associated work vehicle. A dual source air delivery system provides pressurized air to an air storage device from on-board and off-board pressurized air sources.

When a brake system on a commercial vehicle, lateral acceleration and/or yaw of the vehicle are monitored and compared to a first predetermined threshold. If the first predetermined threshold is exceeded, a precharge command is sent to the brake system to precharge one or more air chambers by temporarily deactivating a modulator valve and activating an antilock traction relay valve in order to charge the air chambers up to a level permitted by the modulator valve. Upon detecting a panic braking event, a command signal is sent to the brake system to release the precharged air to facilitate braking.

An electro-pneumatic tractor protection valve assembly (8) including a trailer supply input (84) for receiving a supply pressure, a trailer service output (87) for delivering a trailer supply pressure, a first supply input (81) for receiving a primary driver brake pressure, a second supply input (82) for receiving a secondary driver brake pressure, a dual brake valve (14) actuated by a brake pedal (10) and supplying the brake control pressures, a vent opening (86) for venting an internal conduit, a first electrically controlled pneumatic valve (92) to receive a first electric control signal for trailer assistance braking, and a trailer control output (85) for delivering a trailer brake control pressure. The valve assembly includes one single casing (8a) accommodating the first supply input (81), the second supply input (82), the trailer supply input (84), the trailer control output (85), the vent opening (86) and the trailer service output (87).

An apparatus and method for automatic actuation and control of an air braking system on a commercial vehicle, under a warning of collision conditions, has multiple stages of operation, which supplements the normal brake pedal activation and control of the air brake operation under the driver's foot control. Automatic actuation has two stages: (1) impending collision automatic activation and control for 1.4 second closure; and (2) imminent collision automatic activation and control for 0.9 seconds closure. A determination of closure occurring in excess of 1.6 seconds, turns off the warning, and also deactivates the automatic activation and control. A modification to a standard air brake system structure enables the addition of the automatic activation and control stages. When an impending collision signal is received, an activation component operates valves to pressurize the rear brakes to 40 psi. When the air pressure at the rear brakes rises to 20 psi, other valves pressurize the front brakes. This first stage automatic operation stops or slows the vehicle with 40 psi on the rear brakes and 20 psi on the front brakes. When an imminent collision signal is received, the activation component opens valves to pressurize the rear brakes to 120 psi. Once the air pressure at the rear brakes rises to 20 psi, the front brakes are also pressurized. This second stage automatic operation stops the vehicle with 120 psi on the rear brakes and 80 psi on the front brakes, unless restricted to a lower pressure by the brake system manufacturer. The driver can deactivate the automatic braking functions by stepping on the brake pedal or by operating the vehicle turn signals.

A brake pressure modulator (1) of an electronic braking system of a utility vehicle includes pressure control circuits (13, 14) respectively associated with a braking circuit of a vehicle axle, each pressure control circuit (13, 14) comprises a compressed air supply system (4, 5), at least one redundancy control pressure path (21), at least one ventilation path (19, 19a) and a common electronic control unit (2). Said pressure control circuits (13, 14) can be controlled independently from each other by the electronic control unit (2). Each pressure control circuit (13, 14) has an independent ventilation path (19, 19a) and at least one of the pressure control circuits (13, 14) has an independent redundancy control pressure path (21) and at least one other of the pressure control circuits (13, 14) comprises a device (16a) for forced venting in the event of a failure by means of the associated ventilation path (19a).

A control valve includes a diaphragm with a flow path with a predetermined cross-section from a brake pipe to a first side of the diaphragm and another flow path having another predetermined cross-section from a second side of the diaphragm to atmosphere. A dump valve prevents flow from the brake pipe to atmosphere. A method for operating a control valve includes supplying brake pipe air to a first side of a diaphragm through a flow path having a predetermined cross-section and permitting or preventing reference air flow to atmosphere through another flow path having another predetermined cross-section. The method further includes supplying reference air to a dump valve that prevents brake pipe air flow to atmosphere.

An apparatus and method for automatic actuation and control of an air braking system on a commercial vehicle, under a warning of collision conditions, has multiple stages of operation, which supplements the normal brake pedal activation and control of the air brake operation under the driver's foot control. Automatic actuation has two stages: (1) impending collision automatic activation and control for 1.4 second closure; and (2) imminent collision automatic activation and control for 0.9 seconds closure. A determination of closure occurring in excess of 1.6 seconds, turns off the warning, and also deactivates the automatic activation and control. A modification to a standard air brake system structure enables the addition of the automatic activation and control stages. When an impending collision signal is received, an activation component operates valves to pressurize the rear brakes to 40 psi. When the air pressure at the rear brakes rises to 20 psi, other valves pressurize the front brakes. This first stage automatic operation stops or slows the vehicle with 40 psi on the rear brakes and 20 psi on the front brakes. When an imminent collision signal is received, the activation component opens valves to pressurize the rear brakes to 120 psi. Once the air pressure at the rear brakes rises to 20 psi, the front brakes are also pressurized. This second stage automatic operation stops the vehicle with 120 psi on the rear brakes and 80 psi on the front brakes, unless restricted to a lower pressure by the brake system manufacturer. The driver can deactivate the automatic braking functions by stepping on the brake pedal or by operating the vehicle turn signals.