A system and method of controlling individual trailer brakes on a towed trailer supporting numerous fault tolerant behaviors including activating each operational brake when a brake is shorted. System operates in multiple modes where it operates with traditional brake controllers, operates in a degraded braking mode without a brake controller and in the preferred mode it retrieves vehicle information from tow vehicle and then communicates with a brake actuator controller over the trailer brake wire. When braking system includes wheel sensors traditional antilock releases are provided and unlike other braking systems this brake actuator controller can maintain wheel speeds below the trailer speed reducing or eliminating periodic wheel releases. System also diagnoses the mechanical operation of the trailer brakes including; identifying when brake adjustment is required, when brake friction surfaces are degrading, as well as diagnosing sensors, braking signals and brake actuator interfaces.

The present invention relates to a method (M1) performed by a control device (100) for controlling driving operation of an articulated tracked vehicle (V). Said articulated tracked vehicle (V) comprises a drive arrangement (120) for operating the vehicle. The articulated tracked vehicle (V) comprises a first vehicle unit (V1) and a second vehicle unit (V2) steerably connected to the first vehicle unit (V1) by means of a steering device (D) for mutually pivoting said vehicle units (V1, V2). The mutual pivoting comprises roll movement about a roll axis (X). The steering device (D) comprises a roll arrangement (A2) for said roll movement. The method comprises the step of controlling (S1) the roll arrangement (A2) of the steering device (D) so as to control mutual roll movement of said vehicle units (V1, V2). The present invention also relates to a control device for controlling driving operation of an articulated tracked vehicle. The present invention also relates to a computer program and a computer readable medium.

A towing device operably provided on a trailer for powering and controlling the trailer. The towing device has an actuator operably connected with the trailer during a towing operation. The towing device also has at least one switch provided in the actuator and operable to variably control at least one motor/generator provided on the trailer. The at least one switch is also operable to send a first signal to the at least one motor/generator via a first force exerted on the actuator by a vehicle, and wherein a first torque is applied to at least one wheel on the trailer via the at least one motor/generator being operably engaged with the at least one wheel. In addition, the towing device may include a controller operably connected to the at least one switch and to the at least one motor/generator, to control the torque applied by the at least one motor/generator.

An electropneumatic brake system, for a commercial vehicle which is provided for pulling a trailer, includes at least one service brake circuit configured to activate service brake actuators, a parking brake circuit having parking brake actuators on at least one axle, a trailer brake circuit configured to provide a trailer brake pressure at a trailer brake pressure port, and a manually actuatable operating unit in a driver's cab. The manually actuatable operating unit has a first operating element and a second operating element. In the case of actuation of the first operating element when the vehicle is driving, the parking brake actuators are activated and a trailer brake pressure is output at the trailer brake pressure port. In the case of actuation of the second operating element when the vehicle is driving, only a trailer brake pressure is output.

Technologies and techniques for the restrained movement of a vehicle with a drive unit for accelerating the vehicle, and a braking unit for braking the vehicle. A restraining drive torque is generated by the drive unit, and a braking torque is generated by the braking unit to compensate for the restraining drive torque and thereby to generate a restraining torque in the vehicle, and braking the vehicle by reducing the drive torque. A device and a computer program product may be configured to implement the restraining movement processes and a storage may be configured with a processor to execute the computer program product.

A trailer oscillation and stability control device including an accelerometer and an angular rate sensor. An oscillation detection discriminator detects oscillatory lateral trailer motion in response to trailer displacement data derived from inputs from the angular rate sensor and acceleration signals received from the accelerometer, and then generates corresponding oscillatory event data. A brake controller generates a braking control signal in response to oscillatory event data received from the oscillation detection discriminator.

A method is proposed for stabilizing a tractor-trailer combination comprising a tractor vehicle and a trailer. The tractor vehicle has front and rear axle steering. The distinguishing feature of the method is that while driving, and braking while rounding a curved trajectory, the steering angle of the wheels on the rear axle is set to be in the same direction as the steering angle of the wheels on the front axle in order to stabilize the tractor-trailer combination.

A jackknife-prevention system for a tractor-trailer rig wherein the present invention is operable to engage the front brakes of the tractor-trailer tractor so as to oppose and reverse a jackknife movement upon detection thereof. The present invention includes a lateral-acceleration sensor that is mounted in the cab of a tractor trailer and transmits power from a source to a left-side circuit or right-side circuit if the tractor is skidding leftward or rightward, respectively. A steering direction sensor is configured to transmit power from said left-side circuit to both of two stopcock assemblies when steering is leftward or from said right-side circuit to both of two stopcock assemblies when steering is rightward, the stopcock assemblies responding to power input by decompressing both front-wheel brake chambers. This action, allowing the front wheels to roll when steered in the direction of a sideward skid, helps align the tractor with its trajectory.

A method of controlling the braking of a tractor-trailer combination, in which the tractor includes a drive train having an engine and at least one ground-engaging member driveably connected thereto, at least one ground-engaging member of the tractor includes at least one tractor brake, and at least one ground-engaging member of the trailer includes at least one trailer brake, the operation of which depends at least in part on the operative condition of the at least one tractor brake, includes the steps of, on the initiation of operation of the at least one tractor brake and the at least one trailer brake to brake the tractor-trailer combination, commencing operation of a timer that times the duration of operation of the at least one tractor brake and/or the at least one trailer brake. On a parameter related to the duration of braking effort timed by the timer reaching or exceeding a threshold value, the method then includes adjusting the braking effort applied by the at least one trailer brake in order to achieve or maintain a chosen braking performance of the tractor-trailer combination.

A vehicle is provided with: a main vehicle body having an attachment portion to which a towed vehicle can be attached, and a first onboard unit and a second onboard unit attached to the main vehicle body, the first onboard unit and the second onboard unit being installed so as to be capable of communicating with a roadside device. The first onboard unit has type information relating to the type of the main vehicle body, and is provided at a position at which communication with the roadside device is possible both when the towed vehicle is attached to the attachment portion and when the towed vehicle is not attached to the attachment portion. The second onboard unit is provided at a position at which communication with the roadside device is possible when the towed vehicle is not attached to the attachment portion and at which communication with the roadside device is not possible when the towed vehicle is attached to the attachment portion.