Abstract: The embodiments presented herein relate to a system and method for integrating electronic parking brake and service brakes to improve performance of spring brake requests at road speed. In one embodiment, a vehicle is provided comprising: a park brake; a service brake, a controller, and a valve. The controller is configured to: receive a request to apply the park brake while the vehicle is moving above a threshold speed; and in response to receiving the request, simultaneously attempt to apply both the parking brake and the service brake. The valve is configured to prevent simultaneous application of both the park brake and the service brake and allow only the service brake to be applied in response to the valve receiving sufficient pneumatic output to apply the service brake. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A disc brake system includes a torque plate having a mounting portion with an opening shaped to receive a vehicle axle and a carrier portion integrally formed with the mounting portion as a one-piece unit. The carrier portion includes an inboard leading pad support, an inboard trailing pad support, an outboard leading pad support, and an outboard trailing pad support. One or both of an inboard and/or outboard brake pad include a bearing surface engaged by a bearing surface on one of the pad supports when the disc brake system is actuated such that at least a portion of the at least one inboard and/or outboard brake pads is put in tension. At least one of the pad supports may include a slot defining the bearing surface. Methods of actuating and assembling the disc brake system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A disc brake system includes a carrier and an adapter plate having bearing surfaces configured to engage, or abut, when the disc brake system is actuated such that at least a portion of the adapter plate is put in tension. A brake pad includes a backing plate supported by the adapter plate and a friction material supported by the backing plate. The adapter plate has opposite leading and trailing ends defining a space therebetween, wherein the space is configured to receive a brake pad. A support plate extends between and connects the leading and trailing ends, wherein the support plate is laterally spaced from the space between the leading and trailing ends. The support plate and the leading and trailing ends define a cavity configured to receive a brake pad. A method of actuating a disc brake system is also provided.

Abstract: A parking brake apparatus is provided for a vehicle including a vehicle drive train that extends between a vehicle propulsion engine and a vehicle wheel. The parking brake apparatus comprises a wheel drum located away from the vehicle wheel and fixedly attached to a drivetrain shaft that extends along a portion of the vehicle drive train between the vehicle propulsion engine and the vehicle wheel. The parking brake apparatus also comprises activatable drum brake components disposed in an interior chamber of the wheel drum. When activated, the drum brake components apply a clamping force to the wheel drum to prevent the wheel drum and the drivetrain shaft fixedly attached thereto from rotating and thereby preventing the vehicle wheel from rotating to provide the vehicle with a parking brake functionality.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for an adaptive cruise control that controls a speed of a host vehicle as a passing vehicle quickly passes through a trajectory of the host vehicle. In one form, a system includes at least one processor that is configured to determine that a passing vehicle is entering a trajectory in which the host vehicle is travelling based on a longitudinal speed, a longitudinal acceleration, a lateral speed, and a lateral acceleration of the passing vehicle; determine to maintain a follow distance of an adaptive cruise control system of the host vehicle to at least one target vehicle in the trajectory in which the host vehicle is traveling prior to the passing vehicle entering the trajectory; and to maintain the follow distance to the at least one target vehicle while the passing vehicle passes through the trajectory in which the host vehicle is traveling.

Abstract: An autonomous emergency braking apparatus is provided for a host vehicle having one or more sensors providing one or more sensor signals indicative of status of at least one vehicle adjacent to the host vehicle. The autonomous emergency braking apparatus comprises a vehicle controller arranged to (i) monitor the one or more sensor signals indicative of the status of the at least one vehicle adjacent to the host vehicle, and (ii) provide at least one control signal for controlling extent of deceleration of the host vehicle based upon the status of the at least one vehicle adjacent to the host vehicle in the event of the host vehicle colliding with a vehicle in front of the host vehicle.

Abstract: A lift axle can be provided on a truck during or after manufacturing to allow the truck to carry more load. The lift axle can be selectively lifted above the road (e.g., when the truck is empty) and lowered onto the road (e.g., when carrying load requiring an extra axle). There are various challenges in designing a braking system for a lift axle. The embodiments presented herein provide a lift axle brake system that can overcome these challenges. In one embodiment, a lift axle brake system is used that is based on a brake system used to brake a towed vehicle towed by a towing vehicle. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for automatically controlling braking and/or wheel speed at a dolly to increase maneuverability. In one form, a system comprises a memory, a first sensor, and at least one processor. The first sensor is configured to determine at least one of a distance from a dolly to a forward trailer or an angle from the dolly to the forward trailer. The at least one processor is configured to: determine that a forward trailer is moving in a reverse direction; determine a steering angle of a vehicle coupled to the forward trailer; measure a rotation of the forward trailer based on information received from the first sensor; and apply at least one of braking or wheel speed control to at least one wheel of the dolly based on the measured rotation of the forward trailer and the determined steering angle of the forward trailer.

Abstract: A power line communication (PLC) self-test for tractor-trailers is provided. The self-test can be performed in a brake controller comprising a PLC transmitter configured to couple with a power line providing power from a tractor to at least one trailer coupled with the tractor. In the self-test, the brake controller causes the PLC transmitter to send a PLC test message on the power line and determines whether the brake controller received the PLC test message from a PLC receiver. If the brake controller did not receive the PLC test message from the PLC receiver, a fault message is generated. The PLC receiver can be in the brake controller or in a PLC receive electronic control unit (ECU), for example. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A brake system includes a caliper having an opening and an anchor. The anchor has a through hole. A pad shield includes a shell covering at least a portion of the opening in the caliper and a washer lug having an opening aligned with the through hole. A retainer bar is disposed across the opening in the caliper and engages the pad shield. A retainer pin is disposed through the through hole of the anchor and the opening of the washer lug, wherein the retainer pin engages and holds the retainer bar against the pad shield. A pad shield and methods of using and assembling the air disc brake system are also provided.

Abstract: An air disc brake system includes a carrier having a mounting feature and a guide pin having longitudinally spaced first and second ends, a through hold having a first center axis and an outer cylindrical surface having a second center axis. The first and second axes are spaced apart a distance D such that the outer cylindrical surface and through hole are eccentric. A caliper includes a bore with spaced apart first and second ends. The guide pin is received in the bore, and the caliper is slidably mounted on outer cylindrical surface of the guide pin. A fastener is disposed in the through hole and includes a first end engaged with the mounting feature and a second end engaged with the guide pin. An eccentric guide pin, a tool for adjusting the eccentric guide pin, and methods of using and assembling the air disc brake system are also provided.

Abstract: A park brake controller with multiple communication channels and failsafe methods for use therewith are provided. In one embodiment, a park brake controller is provided comprising a plurality of transceivers. In response to at least one of the plurality of transceivers not being able to receive, from a communication network in a vehicle, a park brake request and vehicle sensor data, the park brake request and vehicle sensor data are sent in a different, more-robust form to be received by another one of the plurality of transceivers. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: An air treatment system includes an electric compressor for compressing air, an air flow valve positioned in a delivery line downstream of the electric compressor, and an electropneumatic valve connected to the air flow valve. A controller having control logic receives a system pressure and activates the electropneumatic valve. The control logic activates the electropneumatic valve to provide a pneumatic control signal to the air flow valve to partially close the delivery line in response to the system pressure being greater than a first predetermined pressure.

Abstract: Embodiments are presented herein for a panable camera with trailer length and object detection for vehicles equipped with cameras to supplement or replace mirrors commonly used today. In one embodiment, a vehicle controller is provided comprising: one or more processors; a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium. The program instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: cause a side-view camera on a tractor to capture image(s) of leading, lower, upper and/or trailing edges of a trailer coupled with the tractor; and estimate a length of the trailer based on the image(s) captured by the side-view camera. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: When a leak occurs in one service circuit of a multi-circuit braking system, the leak can prevent replenishing the non-leaking service reservoir. To address this problem, a shared backup reservoir can be used to replenish the non-leaking service reservoir. A valve can be used to allow flow from the backup reservoir to whichever service reservoir is under higher pressure, as low pressure would indicate a leak. Additional valve(s) can be used to impede flow from the service reservoirs to the backup reservoir to prevent the service reservoirs from being drained if the backup reservoir is subject to a leak.

Abstract: An air disc brake system includes a carrier having a mounting feature and a guide pin having a longitudinally extending relief passage. A caliper includes a longitudinally extending bore having spaced apart first and second ends, wherein the guide pin is received in the bore, and wherein the caliper is slidably mounted on the guide pin with the relief passage in fluid communication with the first and second ends of the bore. A fastener couples the guide pin to the carrier. A cap is coupled to the caliper and closes a second end of the bore. Methods of using and assembling the air disc brake system are also provided.

Abstract: A park brake controller with multiple communication channels and failsafe methods for use therewith are provided. In one embodiment, a park brake controller is provided comprising a plurality of transceivers. In response to at least one of the plurality of transceivers not being able to receive, from a communication network in a vehicle, a park brake request and vehicle sensor data, the park brake request and vehicle sensor data are sent in a different, more-robust form to be received by another one of the plurality of transceivers. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A vehicle controller programming system is provided for enabling a user to program a vehicle controller for a vehicle that is being retrofitted with the vehicle controller. The system comprises a data storage unit for storing a database of a plurality of configurators and a corresponding database of a plurality of vehicle product portfolios. Each configurator and its corresponding portfolio are associated with a specific vehicle specification. The system also comprises a user interface unit for (i) receiving a set of vehicle characteristics that is associated with the vehicle, (ii) selecting one of the configurators and its corresponding portfolio based upon the set of vehicle characteristics, and (iii) creating a job based upon the selected configurator and its corresponding portfolio to enable a user to execute the job to program the vehicle controller.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a foot brake module is provided comprising: a sensor configured to generate a brake demand; a first transceiver configured to receive a brake demand generated by a second foot brake module of a vehicle; a processor configured to determine which of the brake demand generated by the second foot brake module and the brake demand generated by the sensor is greater; and a second transceiver configured to send the greater brake demand to a brake controller of the vehicle. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.

Abstract: Embodiments are presented herein for trailer sway detection and mitigation using a camera mirror system. In one embodiment, a vehicle controller is provided comprising: one or more processors; a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium. When executed by the one or more processors, the program instructions cause the one or more processors to: monitor images captured by at least one image capture device to detect sway of a trailer being towed by a tractor; and in response to detecting sway of the trailer, cause a braking system to apply a brake to attempt to reduce to the sway of the trailer.