Abstract: A parking brake apparatus is provided for an autonomously drivable vehicle having components of a parking brake system for applying a parking brake. The parking brake apparatus comprises a first controller arranged to provide one or more control signals to be applied to components of the parking brake system to apply the parking brake in response to a signal requesting the parking brake to be applied. The parking brake apparatus also comprises a second controller arranged to provide one or more control signals to be applied to other components of the parking brake system to apply the parking brake in response to unavailability of the first controller to cause the parking brake to be applied.

Abstract: A system on a tractor for controlling trailer service brakes comprises a manually operated trailer brake switch, a first electropneumatic valve in communication with a pressure source and a controller. The controller has an input communicating with the trailer brake switch, an output communicating with the electropneumatic valve and control logic. The control logic receives an input from the trailer brake switch indicating a driver's request to apply the trailer service brakes of the combination vehicle, determines if a predetermined condition exists and transmits a signal to the output to the electropneumatic valve. The electropneumatic valve transmits pressure to a trailer service control line to actuate the trailer service brakes in response to the trailer brake switch and existence of the predetermined condition.

Abstract: A parking brake apparatus for a vehicle includes a parking brake controller controlling a parking brake system and arranged to obtain one or more input signals indicative of one or more actions from one or more vehicle systems other than the parking braking system. The parking brake controller is also arranged to provide one or more control signals to be applied to components of the parking brake system to apply parking brakes based upon an adaptive time delay to prevent a vehicle rollaway when the one or more input signals are indicative of the one or more actions meeting respective one or more predetermined conditions.

Abstract: An interface module for a vehicle comprises a circuit board having a light emitting device and at least one stationary light pipe for conveying the light emitted from the light emitting device. The interface module also includes at least one electromechanical switch having a moveable actuation member and a feedback device associated with moveable actuation member. The feedback device aligns with the at least one stationary light pipe when the at least one electromechanical switch is assembled in the interface module, wherein the light emitted from the light emitting device is visible through the feedback device.

Abstract: A system controlling an electronic parking brake of a vehicle includes an input device receiving an input pattern from an operator and a parking brake controller receiving the input pattern from the input device. The parking brake controller determines if the input pattern is a respective predetermined pattern for setting the electronic parking brake to one of a primary mode and a secondary mode. If the parking brake controller determines the input pattern is the predetermined pattern for setting the electronic parking brake to the secondary mode, the parking brake controller transmits an electronic control signal for releasing the electronic parking brake until a subsequent input pattern received by the input device is the predetermined pattern for setting the electronic parking brake to the primary mode.

Abstract: A parking brake controller comprises at least one input for receiving a signal indicative of at least one vehicle factor, a control input for receiving a request to unpark the vehicle, an output for transmitting a control signal to a parking brake valve and control logic. The control logic determines the at least one vehicle factor indicates the vehicle can be unparked, determines an unpark request has been received, and transmits a control signal to the parking brake valve only in response to the unpark request being received while the at least one vehicle factor is being met.

Abstract: A parking brake apparatus is provided for a vehicle having components of a parking brake system. The parking brake apparatus comprises a parking brake controller arranged to (i) obtain a first signal indicative of whether a hill start assist system is installed on the vehicle, and (ii) provide one or more control signals to be applied to components of the parking brake system to apply parking brakes when the first signal is indicative of a hill start assist system installed on the vehicle is present and a second signal indicative of the hill start assist system being activated is received.

Abstract: An interface module for a vehicle comprises a circuit board having a light emitting device and at least one stationary light pipe for conveying the light emitted from the light emitting device. The interface module also includes at least one electromechanical switch having a moveable actuation member and a feedback device associated with moveable actuation member. The feedback device aligns with the at least one stationary light pipe when the at least one electromechanical switch is assembled in the interface module, wherein the light emitted from the light emitting device is visible through the feedback device.

Abstract: A parking brake apparatus for a vehicle includes a parking brake controller controlling a parking brake system and arranged to obtain one or more input signals indicative of one or more actions from one or more vehicle systems other than the parking braking system. The parking brake controller is also arranged to provide one or more control signals to be applied to components of the parking brake system to apply parking brakes based upon an adaptive time delay to prevent a vehicle rollaway when the one or more input signals are indicative of the one or more actions meeting respective one or more predetermined conditions.

Abstract: A parking brake apparatus is provided for an autonomously drivable vehicle having components of a parking brake system for applying a parking brake. The parking brake apparatus comprises a first controller arranged to provide one or more control signals to be applied to components of the parking brake system to apply the parking brake in response to a signal requesting the parking brake to be applied. The parking brake apparatus also comprises a second controller arranged to provide one or more control signals to be applied to other components of the parking brake system to apply the parking brake in response to unavailability of the first controller to cause the parking brake to be applied.

Abstract: A parking brake apparatus is provided for an autonomously drivable vehicle having components of a parking brake system for applying a parking brake. The parking brake apparatus comprises a first controller arranged to provide one or more control signals to be applied to components of the parking brake system to apply the parking brake in response to a signal requesting the parking brake to be applied. The parking brake apparatus also comprises a second controller arranged to provide one or more control signals to be applied to other components of the parking brake system to apply the parking brake in response to unavailability of the first controller to cause the parking brake to be applied.

Abstract: A parking brake apparatus is provided for a power unit having air brake parking components and to which a towed unit having air brake parking components can be connected. The parking brake apparatus comprises a controller arranged to monitor a pressure signal indicative of a delivery air pressure applied to the air brake parking components of the towed unit when the towed unit is connected to the power unit. The controller is also arranged to provide a status signal indicative of whether or not a towed unit is connected to the power unit based upon the pressure signal. The controller further enables the status signal to be processed to control application or release of any combination of air brake parking components of the power unit and the towed unit to park or unpark the power unit as well as the towed unit, if connected to the power unit.

Abstract: A system controlling an electronic parking brake of a vehicle includes an input device receiving an input pattern from an operator and a parking brake controller receiving the input pattern from the input device. The parking brake controller determines if the input pattern is a respective predetermined pattern for setting the electronic parking brake to one of a primary mode and a secondary mode. If the parking brake controller determines the input pattern is the predetermined pattern for setting the electronic parking brake to the secondary mode, the parking brake controller transmits an electronic control signal for releasing the electronic parking brake until a subsequent input pattern received by the input device is the predetermined pattern for setting the electronic parking brake to the primary mode.

Abstract: A parking brake apparatus is provided for a power unit having air brake parking components and to which a towed unit having air brake parking components can be connected. The parking brake apparatus comprises a controller arranged to monitor a pressure signal indicative of a delivery air pressure applied to the air brake parking components of the towed unit when the towed unit is connected to the power unit. The controller is also arranged to provide a status signal indicative of whether or not a towed unit is connected to the power unit based upon the pressure signal. The controller further enables the status signal to be processed to control application or release of any combination of air brake parking components of the power unit and the towed unit to park or unpark the power unit as well as the towed unit, if connected to the power unit.

Abstract: A parking brake controller comprises at least one input for receiving a signal indicative of at least one vehicle factor, a control input for receiving a request to unpark the vehicle, an output for transmitting a control signal to a parking brake valve and control logic. The control logic determines the at least one vehicle factor indicates the vehicle can be unparked, determines an unpark request has been received, and transmits a control signal to the parking brake valve only in response to the unpark request being received while the at least one vehicle factor is being met.

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 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: 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 parking brake apparatus is provided for an autonomously drivable vehicle having components of a parking brake system for applying a parking brake. The parking brake apparatus comprises a first controller arranged to provide one or more control signals to be applied to components of the parking brake system to apply the parking brake in response to a signal requesting the parking brake to be applied. The parking brake apparatus also comprises a second controller arranged to provide one or more control signals to be applied to other components of the parking brake system to apply the parking brake in response to unavailability of the first controller to cause the parking brake to be applied.

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.