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: 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: 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: Default trailer model data stored in a memory device of a braking control apparatus is used to generate a default trailer braking signal for activating brakes on a default towed vehicle. An application trailer braking model different than the default trailer braking model is determined based on application trailer configuration data alone or in combination with the default trailer braking model. The application trailer configuration data is representative of an application value of an equipment parameter of the towed vehicle. Compensated trailer braking control data is determined by applying primal trailer braking control data representative of a primal trailer braking control signal to the determined application trailer braking model, and an output circuit generates a compensated trailer braking control signal for delivery to a modulator valve that is responsive to the compensated trailer braking control signal to activate brakes on the towed vehicle.

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 redundant parking brake apparatus is provided for a vehicle having components of a parking brake system. The redundant parking brake apparatus comprises a first parking brake controller arranged to (i) monitor a first signal indicative of a request to apply parking brakes of the vehicle, and (ii) provide one or more control signals to be applied to components of the parking brake system to apply the parking brakes in response to receiving the first signal. The redundant parking brake apparatus also comprises a second parking brake controller arranged to (i) initiate a timer counter in response to receiving the first signal, and (ii) provide one or more control signals to be applied to components of the parking brake system to apply the parking brakes when the timer counter has reached a predetermined count.

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.

Abstract: Embodiments are presented for trailer sway detection and braking distribution 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. The program instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: monitor images captured by at least one image capture device to detect sway of a plurality of trailers being towed by a tractor; estimate a relative weight of each of the plurality of trailers based on the detected sway; determine braking force to apply to each of the plurality of trailers based on the estimated relative weight of each of the plurality of trailers; and send an electronic signal to a braking system of each of the plurality of trailers to apply the determined braking force to each of the plurality of trailers.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for using a pneumatic line as a backup communication channel for first and secondary park brake controllers. In one embodiment, a park brake system is provided comprising a first park brake controller and a second park brake controller. The first park brake controller is configured to selectively alter air pressure in an air line of a vehicle to pneumatically communicate a message to the second park brake controller after a loss of electronic communication with the second park brake controller. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: An air disc brake system includes a carrier and a guide pin mounted to the carrier. A caliper is slidably mounted on the guide pin. The caliper has an annular groove extending radially outwardly from an inner circumferential surface. The caliper is moveable relative to the guide pin from a non-braking position to a braking position. A friction ring is disposed in the annular groove and is deformable from a first configuration when the caliper is in the non-braking position to a second configuration when the caliper is in the braking position. The friction ring biases the caliper from the braking position to the non-braking position. Methods of using and assembling the air disc brake system are also provided.

Abstract: A park brake controller and method are provided for control verification handling of an external park brake request. In one embodiment, a park brake controller comprises one or more processors and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions. The program instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: receive a request to park a vehicle, wherein the request is associated with a control level; receive information about a speed of the vehicle; and determine an action to take in response to the request based on the control level of the request and the speed of the vehicle. Other embodiments are provided.