Horizon Global Americas Inc.

Tekonsha Engineering Company

Other

Cequent Electric Products

Tekonsha Towing Systems, Inc.

Cequent Performance Products, Inc.

Bruce Edward Smith

Chandrakumar Kulkarni

Marcia S Albright

Larry Eccleston

Mark William Austin

Richard Lyons Hilsbos

Dennis Michael Morse

Fred Brickley

Mitchell Auerbach

Stephen A Zavodny

David S Roth

John B Harner

A trailer mounted proportional brake controller for a towed vehicle and a method of controlling the brakes of a towed vehicle is described. The brake control unit may control the brakes of a towed vehicle. The brake control unit may include a power control unit and a hand control unit. The power control unit may be connected to the brakes of the towed vehicle and the power control unit may be capable of selectively controlling the brakes of the towed vehicle based on a set of braking parameters. The hand control unit may be configured to remotely communicate with the power control unit. The hand control unit may be capable of transmitting information to the power control unit to adjust at least one of the braking parameters and receiving information from the power control unit.

Universal trailer mounted proportional brake controller

Vehicle brake controller

Vehicle brake controller bracket

Electronic controller for towed vehicle brakes

An apparatus and system for automated operation of the brakes on a towed vehicle, in particular the conventional hydraulic brakes on an automotive vehicle, by controlled actuation of its own brake pedal or other such conventional operating component which is normally manipulated by the operator of the vehicle. The preferred embodiment of the system utilizes a power-actuated tension member such as a cable which is attachable to the towed vehicle brake pedal to pull it downward and thus apply the vehicle brakes in controlled response to commands from a controller mountable at a remote location such as on the towing vehicle, and the controller preferably includes, and operates in response to, an inertia sensor and related system which monitors deceleration of the towing vehicle caused by application of its brakes etc., as well as a manual control for selective optional braking of the towed vehicle by the tow vehicle driver at any desired time. The apparatus and system further includes a power unit typically mounted on the towed vehicle (e.g., under the hood) has a drive motor that operates through a controllable slip clutch, preferably a magnetically engageable and controllable clutch device, for generating the pulling force applied to the towed vehicle brake pedal by the cable/tension member. Also, the power unit preferably includes a vacuum pump or other power assist unit coupled to the towed vehicle power brake system unit, to enable use of that system when the brake pedal is pulled down by the cable during the remotely controlled braking process.

Brake actuation system for towed vehicles

A brake control unit for providing a brake output signal to a brake load includes a processor, an accelerometer and a memory subsystem. The accelerometer is coupled to the processor and provides a brake control signal to the processor, which is configured to provide the brake output signal to the brake load in response to the brake control signal. The memory subsystem is coupled to the processor and stores processor executable code, which causes the processor to automatically set at least one of a gain level and a boost level for the brake control unit.

Brake control unit

A brake control unit for providing a brake output signal to a brake load includes a processor, an accelerometer and a memory subsystem. The accelerometer is coupled to the processor and provides a brake control signal to the processor, which is configured to provide the brake output signal to the brake load in response to the brake control signal. The memory subsystem is coupled to the processor and stores processor executable code, which causes the processor to automatically acquire an operating point of the brake control signal when the brake control unit is mounted within a range of operating positions.

A brake control unit provides a properly oriented brake control display irrespective of whether the brake control unit is installed in a normal or inverted mode. The brake control unit determines whether a brake control signal is asserted when the brake control unit is connected to a vehicle power supply. If so, the brake control display is inverted. Alternatively, the brake control unit determines orientation by monitoring a position sensitive device. The brake control unit is also capable of determining and displaying the status of a brake load on the brake control display. In addition, the brake control unit is capable of determining and displaying an output voltage of the brake control unit on the brake control display.

Electronic brake controller and display

An electrical charging circuit for applying a controlled charge to a receiving device, such as a battery, and particularly such as a battery carried on a towed vehicle such as a trailer for actuating the trailer brakes during emergency situations such as unexpected disconnection from the towing vehicle, i.e., break-away. In a basic sense, the charging circuit includes a voltage potential-responsive element or component for sensing the charged level of the receiving device coupled to the circuit and enabling or disabling the circuit charging operation, together with a variable-conductance circuit component for producing a generally constant charging voltage output to the receiving device over a wide range of applied voltages but also operable to provide a first amount of current flow to the receiving device at a given applied voltage and temperature but a second a limited amount of current flow when the voltage across the charging circuit is sufficiently large. In its most preferred embodiment, the voltage responsive component may be a diode switch, and the variable-conductance circuit component may be a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistor.

Battery charger for towed vehicles and the like

Microprocessor-based control for trailer brakes

Growing community of inventors

Leo, IN, United States of America

Bruce Edward Smith