Abstract: A system and method for determining the speed and direction of rotation of a wheel in a vehicle are provided. The system includes a tone wheel configured for rotation with the vehicle wheel and a wheel speed sensor facing the tone wheel. The sensor generates different pluralities of phase-shifted signals responsive to rotation of the tone wheel depending on the direction of rotation of the vehicle wheel. A controller receives one of the pluralities of phase-shifted signals from the sensor, receives a direction signal indicative of the direction of rotation of the vehicle wheel from a source other than the sensor, and associates the plurality of phase-shifted signals with the direction of rotation of the vehicle wheel indicated by the direction signal in a memory.

Abstract: A wheel speed sensor assembly includes a sensor having a housing configured to be received within a bore in a mounting block such that the sensor is spaced from, and faces, an exciter ring and senses rotation of the exciter ring. The housing extends along a longitudinal axis and defines a key on a radially outer surface having first and second portions having different heights. The first portion is configured to be received within a first keyway that is formed in the mounting block and is in communication with the bore in the mounting block. A clamping sleeve is configured to secure the sensor within the bore in the mounting block. The clamping sleeve defines a bore configured to receive the housing of the sensor and a second keyway in communication with the bore in the clamping sleeve. The second portion of the key is received within the second keyway.

Abstract: In the event of a pneumatic trailer connection failure between a tractor and trailer of, e.g., a commercial vehicle, a pressure protection valve (PPV) is provided on the air line between a double check valve that supplies air from one or more service reservoirs and a trailer parking valve without a flow restrictor, which transmits the air to the trailer connection for supplying the trailer brakes. When output pressure on the PPV drops below a predetermined closing pressure threshold due to the connection failure, the PPV closes to protect the tractor brake air supply. Upon restoration of the trailer connection and upon input pressure at the PPV exceeding a predetermined opening pressure threshold, the PPV opens and the trailer brake system is charged more quickly than can be achieved using a conventional trailer parking valve with a flow restrictor.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for determining an amount of wear on a brake pad in a disc brake includes a shaft extender having a first end coupled to one end of a shaft of an adjustment mechanism of a caliper of the disc brake for rotation with the shaft about a rotational axis and a second end defining a shaft extension. A sensor generates a signal indicative of a degree of rotation of the shaft extension with the signal indicative of the amount of wear on the brake pad. The sensor includes a body coupled to the shaft extension and configured for rotation about an offset axis offset from the rotational axis in response to rotation of the shaft extension about the rotational axis and a measurement device configured to generate the signal responsive to rotation of the body about the offset axis. A housing encloses the sensor.

Abstract: A clearance sensing vehicle brake slack adjuster includes a housing coupled to a brake actuator and supporting a driving worm wheel engaging the brake cam shaft and a driving worm screw having a threaded portion meshed with the driving worm wheel and transferring a brake actuating force, imparted by the brake actuator to the housing, to the driving worm wheel and cam shaft. A wear adjustment mechanism for the adjuster includes a control worm wheel and a clutch ring disposed about the driving worm screw and a wrap spring engaging surfaces of the control worm wheel and the clutch ring. The control worm wheel is in mesh with a control worm screw. The clutch ring is disposed on a side of the control worm wheel opposite the threaded portion of the driving worm screw and includes teeth engaging corresponding teeth on the driving worm screw.

Abstract: An absorbent apparatus is provided for an air dryer purge air cleaner. The absorbent apparatus comprises a volume for containing absorbent material. The absorbent apparatus also comprises absorbent material that is both oleophilic and hydrophobic and is packed in the volume to provide a packed bed of absorbent material with a predetermined packing density. The packing of the material provides for a first and second flow path of an effluent stream through the absorbent material.

Abstract: A method for providing location-dependent recording modes for an event detection and reporting system of a vehicle includes detecting that the vehicle is approaching or is in an area in which the recordation of data is restricted by rule, and operating the event detection and reporting system in a restricted mode in response to detecting that the vehicle is approaching or is in the area in which the recordation of data is restricted. The method also includes recording, while the event detection and reporting system is in the restricted mode, either correlated video or non-video data in an obscured format, and the other of the correlated video or non-video in an unobscured format.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a trailer parking brake status indicator in a tractor is provided that allow an operator to deactivate the indicator when the tractor is operating without a trailer using a pre-existing operator interface. The apparatus includes means for determining whether a trailer is coupled to the tractor and a controller configured to execute, when a determination whether the trailer is coupled to the tractor cannot be made, a process for controlling activation and deactivation of the indicator. The process includes determining whether a speed of the tractor meets a predetermined condition relative to a predetermined speed. The process further includes monitoring, after determining that the speed of the tractor meets the predetermined condition relative to the predetermined speed, for an activation command to activate a parking brake on the trailer. The process further includes deactivating the trailer parking brake status indicator responsive to the activation command.

Abstract: A method for providing event data from cross-referenced data memories of an on-vehicle event detection and reporting system includes cross-referencing event data stored in an event buffer with continuous video data stored in a continuous DVR memory. A request for additional data corresponding to a detected driving or vehicle event may be received by the on-vehicle system, where the request includes an event identifier corresponding to a detected driving or vehicle event. The requested additional data is identified in the DVR memory using the event identifier and based on said cross-referencing between the event data with the continuous video data stored in the DVR memory. The identified additional data is then transmitted from the DVR memory for display on a user computer.

Abstract: A system for controlling compounding in a vehicle brake actuator includes first and second valves configured to control, respectively, a first fluid pressure in a parking brake chamber of a brake actuator that acts against a spring force applied by a spring of the actuator to a pushrod of the actuator and a second fluid pressure in a service brake chamber of the actuator that applies a fluid force to the pushrod. A controller is configured to receive first and second fluid pressure signals indicative of the first and second fluid pressures, determine a total brake actuator force applied to the pushrod responsive to the first and second fluid pressure signals and control at least one of the first and second valves responsive to the total brake actuator force to adjust a corresponding one of the first and second fluid pressures and thereby obtain an adjusted total brake actuator force.

Abstract: Systems and methods monitor driver behavior for vehicular fleet management in a fleet of vehicles using driver-facing imaging device. The systems and methods herein relate generally to vehicular fleet management for enhancing safety of the fleet and improving the performance of the fleet drivers, and further relate to monitoring the operation of fleet vehicles using one or more driver-facing imaging devices disposed in the fleet vehicles for recording activities of the fleet drivers and their passengers, storing information relating to the monitored activities, selectively generating warnings related to the monitored activities, and reporting the monitored activities to a central fleet management system for use in enhancing the safety of the vehicles of the fleet and for helping to improve the performance of the fleet drivers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating an image of the surroundings of an articulated vehicle are provided. According to an aspect of the invention, a processor determines a relative position between a first vehicle of an articulated vehicle and a second vehicle of the articulated vehicle; receives a first image from a first camera arranged on the first vehicle and a second image from a second camera arranged on the second vehicle; and combines the first image and the second image based on the relative position between the first vehicle and the second vehicle to generate a combined image of surroundings of the articulated vehicle.

Abstract: Vehicle brake performance monitoring is provided. The braking capabilities are dynamically 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. Desired gaps between the platooning vehicles may be modified in accordance with the learned or otherwise calculated or determined relative braking capabilities as necessary or desired. During every vehicle stop, the vehicle and axle loads together with information on the time from brake apply to when the vehicle decelerates is monitored and entered as a data point defining the vehicle response delay. The axle loads and the ABS Activation of a wheel end for a given pressure is further selectively used to create another data point. The data points are selectively used to develop overall performance (e.g., quality score) of the brake system.

Abstract: A system for controlling wheel brakes in a first vehicle platooning with a second vehicle includes a transceiver in the first vehicle that receives a brake command from the second vehicle to apply a wheel brake in the first vehicle. A controller in the first vehicle generates, responsive to the brake command, a first set of control signals that control delivery of fluid pressure to the wheel brake and implement a braking event. The controller may further detect a wheel slip condition indicative of slip in a wheel of the first vehicle during the braking event and generate, when the condition occurs, a second set of control signals to control delivery of fluid pressure to the wheel brake. The control signals are generated in accordance with braking profiles that differ from braking profiles used by the controller during braking events occurring in the absence of the brake command.

Abstract: Various examples of park brake interface modules which are utilized as human machine interfaces (HMI) in vehicles are provided. In one example, a park brake interface module for a vehicle includes an actuation member mounted to an electromechanical switch to actuate the park brake. The actuation member includes a finger pad opposite the front surface and the actuation member is movable between a brake apply position and a brake release position to actuate the vehicle park brake. In another example, the actuation member is pivotally mounted to the electromechanical switch device and the actuation member is pivotable between the brake apply position and the brake release positions to actuate the park brake.

Abstract: A system and method for assembling and using a map supports advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) on a host vehicle. The map indicates which roadway segments can support automated driving. The map may also indicate which vehicle sensor signal interpretation and vehicle control algorithms shall be used on those segments. The map may be assembled on a host vehicle, transmitted to a server and collated with maps from other vehicles equipped with ADAS. The host vehicle may download the other maps from the server for use in locations where the driver assistance sensor input from the host vehicle may not be dependable.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for cooling a high heat-generating vehicle component having a coolant loop. The apparatus comprises an air compressor assembly including a heat-sinking portion that can be thermally coupled to the coolant loop to transfer heat energy away from the coolant loop to enhance cooling of the vehicle component.

Abstract: A parking brake apparatus is provided for a vehicle having components of a parking brake system and a number of devices providing a plurality of output signals indicative of a plurality of vehicle factors. The parking brake apparatus comprises an electronic controller arranged to (i) monitor the output signals indicative of a plurality of vehicle factors, and (ii) provide one or more control signals to be applied to components of the parking brake system to apply parking brakes based upon a predefined sequence of the plurality of vehicle factors having been met.

Abstract: A parking brake apparatus is provided for a vehicle having components of a parking brake system and devices for providing a plurality of output signals indicative of a plurality of vehicle factors. The parking brake apparatus comprises an electronic controller that monitors the output signals indicative of a plurality of vehicle factors, monitors for a pre-startup sequence of the plurality of vehicle factors having been met, monitors for a driver request to unpark the vehicle, monitors for a pre-release sequence of the plurality of vehicle factors having been met, and applies one or more control signals to components of the parking brake system to release parking brakes based upon a valid pre-startup sequence of the plurality of vehicle factors having been met, a driver request to unpark the vehicle, and at least one valid pre-release sequence of the plurality of vehicle factors having been met.

Abstract: A method and controller are provided for delaying activation of autonomous emergency braking of a host vehicle, based on a determination that autonomous emergency braking is not needed because a forward vehicle in front of the host vehicle is turning out of the path of the host vehicle. The controller receives inputs from sensors arranged on the host vehicle and includes a processor for determining whether and when to activate autonomous emergency braking. The processor includes control logic that determines whether a forward vehicle is present in front of the host vehicle and whether the forward vehicle is expected to turn out of a path of the host vehicle prior to the host vehicle reaching a current position of the forward vehicle. Based on the inputs from the sensors, the control logic determines whether to delay activation of the autonomous emergency braking of the host vehicle for a time value.