Trailer Brake Temperature Correction Using Coupling Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural vehicles, such as tractors, often lack advanced trailer brake systems and sensors, making it difficult to accurately determine trailer brake temperature and coupling force, which can lead to instability and safety issues during braking, especially when trailers are not equipped with on-board systems like ABS or ESP.
Innovation Solution
A control system that uses a vehicle control unit to determine a base temperature value for the trailer brake system, calculates a corrected temperature value based on the coupling force between the vehicle and trailer, and generates control signals to manage the trailer brake system, allowing for more accurate temperature determination and improved braking performance without the need for additional sensors on the trailer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If trailer brake temperature is determined using base value only, then system complexity is low, but temperature determination precision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct temperature sensing (mechanical/physical sensor on trailer) with an indirect calculation method using vehicle control unit computations based on coupling force and base temperature values. This substitution achieves precise temperature determination without adding complex sensor systems to the trailer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary calculation approach where the vehicle control unit acts as a mediator between the trailer brake system and temperature monitoring. Instead of direct measurement, the system uses intermediate parameters (coupling force, base temperature) to derive the temperature value, reducing system complexity while maintaining precision.
2Measurement precision
If coupling force is not monitored, then device complexity is low, but trailer brake temperature determination accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle control unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls the trailer brake system and simultaneously monitors coupling force to determine temperature. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated monitoring equipment, reducing overall system complexity while improving temperature determination accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle control unit utilizes its own computational capabilities and existing sensor data to self-determine coupling force and temperature values. The system serves itself by using its control functions to also perform monitoring and calculation tasks, avoiding additional independent monitoring systems.
3Measurement precision
If trailer is equipped with on-board assistant systems like ABS or ESP, then coupling force determination is accurate, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of coupling force determination from complex on-board assistant systems (ABS, ESP) and implements it independently through the vehicle control unit. By separating this specific function from the full-featured assistant systems, the patent achieves accurate coupling force determination without the complexity and cost of complete ABS or ESP installations on the trailer.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for controlling operation of a trailer brake system associated with an agricultural vehicle-trailer combination, comprising: determining a base value for a temperature associated with the trailer brake system; determining a coupling force between the vehicle and the trailer; determining a corrected value for the temperature associated with the trailer brake system in dependence on the determined coupling force; and controlling one or more components of the vehicle trailer combination in dependence on the corrected value.