Abstract: A trailer spring brake valve is provided for a vehicle air braking system. The trailer spring brake valve comprises a number of components arranged to cooperate together to provide type of brake priority based upon trailer weight.

Abstract: A wheel speed sensor comprises a body, the body being overmolded and having a head zone and a coil zone. The wheel speed sensor also includes a cylindrical metallic canister fitted on the coil zone of the body, wherein the head zone has an equal or smaller diameter than the cylindrical metallic canister. The wheel speed sensor also comprises a cable, wherein the cable extends from the head zone. The wheel speed sensor is sized to be blindly insertable entirely through a bore in an associated mounting apparatus.

Abstract: A wheel speed sensor comprises a body, the body being overmolded and having a head zone and a coil zone. The wheel speed sensor also includes a cylindrical metallic canister fitted on the coil zone of the body, wherein the head zone has an equal or smaller diameter than the cylindrical metallic canister. The wheel speed sensor also comprises a cable, wherein the cable extends from the head zone. The wheel speed sensor is sized to be blindly insertable entirely through a bore in an associated mounting apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for supporting a component mounting plate that is suspended between a first trailer beam and a second trailer beam. The apparatus comprises a pair of top supporting members including (i) a first top supporting member secured to the plate, and (ii) a second top supporting member secured to the plate. Each of the first and second top members spans between and engages the first and second trailer beams. The apparatus also comprises a pair of bottom supporting members including a first bottom supporting member and a second bottom supporting member. The apparatus further comprises a pair of fastening mechanisms including (i) a first fastening mechanism that secures at least the first top member to the plate, and (ii) a second fastening mechanism that secures at least the second top member to the plate.

Abstract: Platoon management control systems and methods arrange two or more vehicles cooperatively travelling seriatim as a platoon along an associated roadway into a platoon arrangement in accordance with their relative braking capabilities and other brake-related performance characteristics such as braking efficiency. Braking efficiency can change over time and is in general affected by many factors such as brake temperature, brake type, burnishing, vehicle weight, number of tires, tire wear, vehicle loading, road surface type and weather conditions. The relative braking capabilities are learned or otherwise calculated or determined in each vehicle and shared between the vehicles of the platoon. The platoon may be reorganized based on differences between the learned or otherwise calculated or determined relative braking capabilities.

Abstract: A controller is adapted to output a predetermined input voltage signal across a Wheatstone bridge electrical circuit including a spring as a resistance in one leg of the Wheatstone bridge. The controller receives a response of a measured voltage across the Wheatstone bridge. The controller compares the predetermined input voltage with the measured voltage and determines a status of the spring based on the comparison.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for supporting a component mounting plate that is suspended between a first trailer beam and a second trailer beam. The apparatus comprises a pair of top supporting members including (i) a first top supporting member secured to the plate, and (ii) a second top supporting member secured to the plate. Each of the first and second top members spans between and engages the first and second trailer beams. The apparatus also comprises a pair of bottom supporting members including a first bottom supporting member and a second bottom supporting member. The apparatus further comprises a pair of fastening mechanisms including (i) a first fastening mechanism that secures at least the first top member to the plate, and (ii) a second fastening mechanism that secures at least the second top member to the plate.

Abstract: A braking controller and method in a towing vehicle towing one or more towed vehicles as a combination vehicle provides brake control of the one or more towed vehicles based on a level of braking force applied to the towing vehicle. A non-enhanced braking mode applies a first level of braking force to the towed vehicles in a predetermined reduced proportion relative to the level of braking force applied to the towing vehicle, and an enhanced braking mode applies a second level of braking force to the towed vehicles greater than the first level of braking force. The enhanced braking mode strategy is used unless trailer capability information reported by one or more the trailers fails to match against expected trailer capability information.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for supporting a component mounting plate that is suspended between a first trailer beam and a second trailer beam. The apparatus comprises a pair of top supporting members including (i) a first top supporting member secured to the plate, and (ii) a second top supporting member secured to the plate. Each of the first and second top members spans between and engages the first and second trailer beams. The apparatus also comprises a pair of bottom supporting members including a first bottom supporting member and a second bottom supporting member. The apparatus further comprises a pair of fastening mechanisms including (i) a first fastening mechanism that secures at least the first top member to the plate, and (ii) a second fastening mechanism that secures at least the second top member to the plate.

Abstract: A controller is adapted to output a predetermined input voltage signal across a Wheatstone bridge electrical circuit including a spring as a resistance in one leg of the Wheatstone bridge. The controller receives a response of a measured voltage across the Wheatstone bridge. The controller compares the predetermined input voltage with the measured voltage and determines a status of the spring based on the comparison.

Abstract: A braking controller and method in a towing vehicle towing one or more towed vehicles as a combination vehicle provides brake control of the one or more towed vehicles based on a level of braking force applied to the towing vehicle. A non-enhanced braking mode applies a first level of braking force to the towed vehicles in a predetermined reduced proportion relative to the level of braking force applied to the towing vehicle, and an enhanced braking mode applies a second level of braking force to the towed vehicles greater than the first level of braking force. The enhanced braking mode strategy is used unless trailer capability information reported by one or more the trailers fails to match against expected trailer capability information.

Abstract: A platoon management control system and method for local detection and determination of a non-platooning vehicle inserted or otherwise disposed between and/or adjacent to one or more platooning vehicle(s). A platooning vehicle determines a forward physical distance between itself and a vehicle physically ahead, and compares the determined physical distance with a value of a rearward distance to the platooning vehicle received from a next ahead platooning vehicle. The vehicle physically ahead is determined to be the next ahead platooning vehicle in accordance with a correspondence between the determined physical distance and the received value of the rearward distance. Conversely, the vehicle physically ahead is determined to be a non-platooning vehicle in accordance with a mis-correspondence between the determined physical distance and the received value of the rearward distance.

Abstract: When detecting a maladjusted brake component on a commercial vehicle, wheel end temperature is determined as a function of resistance measured by a wheel speed sensor at a wheel end. The measured temperature is compared to low and high temperature thresholds defined by a thermal model, as well as to one or more other wheel speed sensor temperatures. If the measured temperature is below the low temperature threshold and substantially different than the one or more other wheel speed sensors, the brake is determined to be under-adjusted and brake force at the under-adjusted brake is increased. If the measured temperature is above the high temperature threshold and substantially different than the one or more other wheel speed sensors, then the brake is determined to be over-adjusted, and brake force is reduced or modulated at the over-adjusted brake to prevent overheating.

Abstract: Platoon management control systems and methods arrange two or more vehicles cooperatively travelling seriatim as a platoon along an associated roadway into a platoon arrangement in accordance with their relative braking capabilities and other brake-related performance characteristics such as braking efficiency. Braking efficiency can change over time and is in general affected by many factors such as brake temperature, brake type, burnishing, vehicle weight, number of tires, tire wear, vehicle loading, road surface type and weather conditions. The relative braking capabilities are learned or otherwise calculated or determined in each vehicle and shared between the vehicles of the platoon. The platoon may be reorganized based on differences between the learned or otherwise calculated or determined relative braking capabilities.

Abstract: When a vehicle is determined to be traveling on a rough road, wherein increased air consumption is expected by vehicle components, a warning threshold that triggers an alert regarding excessive air consumption is increased. A duty cycle for an on-board air compressor is also increased to a level just below the increased warning threshold. In this manner, the air compressor duty cycle can be increased to meet the increased air pressure demand caused by the rough road conditions without triggering false positive alerts or distracting the driver.

Abstract: A braking controller and method in a towing vehicle towing one or more towed vehicles as a combination vehicle provides brake control of the one or more towed vehicles based on a level of braking force applied to the towing vehicle. A non-enhanced braking mode applies a first level of braking force to the towed vehicles in a predetermined reduced proportion relative to the level of braking force applied to the towing vehicle, and an enhanced braking mode applies a second level of braking force to the towed vehicles greater than the first level of braking force. The enhanced braking mode strategy is used unless trailer capability information reported by one or more the trailers fails to match against expected trailer capability information.

Abstract: A braking controller and method in a towing vehicle towing one or more towed vehicles as a combination vehicle provides brake control of the one or more towed vehicles based on a level of braking force applied to the towing vehicle. A non-enhanced braking mode applies a first level of braking force to the towed vehicles in a predetermined reduced proportion relative to the level of braking force applied to the towing vehicle, and an enhanced braking mode applies a second level of braking force to the towed vehicles greater than the first level of braking force. The enhanced braking mode strategy is used unless trailer capability information reported by one or more the trailers fails to match against expected trailer capability information.

Abstract: When detecting a maladjusted brake component on a commercial vehicle, wheel end temperature is determined as a function of resistance measured by a wheel speed sensor at a wheel end. The measured temperature is compared to low and high temperature thresholds defined by a thermal model, as well as to one or more other wheel speed sensor temperatures. If the measured temperature is below the low temperature threshold and substantially different than the one or more other wheel speed sensors, the brake is determined to be under-adjusted and brake force at the under-adjusted brake is increased. If the measured temperature is above the high temperature threshold and substantially different than the one or more other wheel speed sensors, then the brake is determined to be over-adjusted, and brake force is reduced or modulated at the over-adjusted brake to prevent overheating.

Abstract: A controller determines a load weight associated with a plurality of pneumatically independent circuits of a vehicle suspension system. The controller is adapted to receive a first electronic pressure signal, which is based on a first pneumatic signal representative of a first pneumatic pressure in a first of the plurality of pneumatically independent circuits, and receive a second electronic pressure signal, which is based on a second pneumatic signal representative of a second pneumatic pressure in a second of the plurality of pneumatically independent circuits. The controller is also adapted to determine the load weight based on the first electronic pressure signal and the second electronic pressure signal. The controller is also adapted to control an operation of a function of an associated vehicle based on the load weight.

Abstract: A trailer having a liftable first axle and an air suspended second axle includes a controller, a first valve coupled to the first axle and a second valve coupled to the second axle. The controller receives an air suspension exhaust request signal and a pressure signal from an air suspension bellows coupled to the second axle. The controller transmits an air suspension control signal to the second valve in response to the air suspension exhaust request signal and transmits a lift axle control signal to the first valve to lower the first axle in response to the pressure signal being less than a predetermined pressure value.