Trailer Brake Distribution Control for Articulation Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle systems comprising a tractor and a trailer experience instability during certain driving conditions, such as downhill driving or high-speed braking, leading to potential misalignment and safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling the vehicle system by detecting key parameters like rotation angle, towing force, steering angle, speed, and brake health status to determine instability, and applying a targeted braking distribution to stabilize the system, considering brake health status to optimize wear and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the trailer is coupled to the tractor with a hitch allowing pivoting, then the vehicle system achieves articulation and maneuverability, but the system becomes unstable during downhill driving or high-speed braking
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors the rotation angle between tractor and trailer, and based on this feedback, automatically adjusts brake distribution to counteract instability. The system detects when the rotation angle exceeds thresholds and responds by applying brakes to realign the articulation, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains stability while preserving articulation freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes braking parameters (brake force distribution between tractor and trailer brakes) based on detected rotation angles and driving conditions. By adjusting brake application intensity and distribution according to the rotation angle parameter, the system stabilizes the articulation without restricting its natural movement capability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If braking force is applied to stabilize the vehicle system, then instability is reduced, but brake wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system applies braking force selectively and proportionally based on the detected rotation angle. Instead of continuous or maximum braking, the system applies partial brake force only when and where needed to correct articulation instability, minimizing unnecessary brake wear while achieving sufficient stabilization effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The system distributes brake force locally to specific wheels based on the direction and magnitude of articulation instability. By applying brakes selectively to individual wheels rather than uniformly to all brakes, the system achieves effective stabilization while minimizing overall brake wear through targeted intervention.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the rotation angle between tractor and trailer increases, then the system can adapt to terrain variations, but uncontrolled rotation leads to misalignment and safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors the rotation angle and compares it against predetermined thresholds. When the rotation angle exceeds safe limits, the feedback mechanism triggers automatic brake application to realign the articulation, preventing uncontrolled rotation while allowing natural articulation movements for terrain adaptation within safe parameters.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 3
AI summary
A method for controlling a vehicle system comprising a tractor (3), a trailer (5) coupled to the tractor, and brakes, comprises detecting: a rotation angle (α) and a towing force (TF) of the trailer; a steering angle (θ) of the tractor; a speed (V) of the vehicle system; and a brake health status of one or more of the brakes. The method further comprises: determining if the vehicle system is in un unstable condition based on rotation angle, towing force, steering angle and speed; if the vehicle system is in the unstable condition, determining a braking distribution among the brakes for reducing the instability, based on rotation angle, towing force, steering angle, speed, and brake health status. The vehicle system is braked according to the braking distribution.