Trailer sway detection and method for reducing trailer sway utilizing trailer brakes

摘要

When a trailer is pulled by a tow vehicle where the trailer begins to sway to the left and right of the tow vehicle a large sway can result in loss of control of the trailer and or tow vehicle. The field of the present invention is a system and method of controlling a trailer sway which comprises determining the sway of the trailer utilizing an electronic sensor and independently applying the left and or right trailer brakes at varying levels to reduce trailer sway the traditional single braking signal power from the tow vehicle is separated into two independent braking signals for each of the left and right brakes. All brakes are applied whenever the traditional braking signal goes active where trailer battery power is utilized to independently activate the left and or right brakes during trailer sway.

主权项

1. A method for detecting a sway event in a trailer, comprising the steps of:
receiving a signal corresponding to a sway angle; comparing the signal to an activation threshold; measuring a duration for which the signal exceeds the activation threshold; detecting the sway event when the duration exceeds the activation threshold for a predetermined time; incrementing a sway counter upon detection of the sway event; and generating a brake control signal after the sway counter has been incremented at least twice.