Freightliner Corporation

Cary N Coverdill

Michael Von Mayenburg

Steven A Wright

Gary W Rossow

Doug Loutzenheiser

Long V Nguyen

Judith Estep

James Tipka

A method and apparatus involves selectively relieving the load from the rearmost wheels of a trailer to shorten the effective wheel base of the trailer. When the effective wheel base is shortened, off-tracking of the trailer during turning is reduced. The load may relieved while the trailer and vehicle are traveling at, for example, less than a first speed, with the vehicle turning at least at a first angle. The axle may be reloaded when the vehicle speed is increased to a second speed above the first speed and the vehicle is turning at an angle which is less than the first angle.

Vehicle rear axle load relief method and system

A master clock on a truck maintains vehicle standard time for the purposes of monitoring and recording vehicle performance data throughout the vehicle. Vehicle performance data is stored for a predefined period of time in response to detecting predefined events. Instances of vehicle performance data are time stamped with vehicle standard time. The master vehicle clock can also maintain the local time displayed to the driver. In response to inputs from the driver, the difference between driver local time and vehicle standard time is computed and the updated local time is displayed to the driver.

Method and system for recording vehicle data relative to vehicle

A method for determining installed electronic devices on a truck and for providing a centralized reset to clear faults in the installed electronics. An instrumentation control unit in the cab of a truck determines installed electronics by requesting electronics on a shared data link to transmit data on the data link. The control unit identifies the installed devices from the transmitted data. Data describing the installed devices including manufacturer, model, and installed software can be obtained and displayed for diagnostic purposes. The instrumentation control unit provides a centralized reset for resetting the electronic devices on the data link.

Truck with monitored and resettable electronic control units

A diagnostic method and system in a truck monitors voltages reported by electrical control units in a truck via a shared communication path called the data link. When a data logging unit on the data link detects an event, it persistently stores monitored data measured during a period that may span before and after the event occurred. The voltages measured and reported by electrical control units during this period are used to diagnose electrical wiring problems or other electrical problems in the electrical control units.

Diagnostic method and system for electrical system in a truck

A master clock on a truck maintains vehicle standard time for the purposes of monitoring and recording vehicle performance data throughout the vehicle. Vehicle performance data is stored for a predefined period of time in response to detecting predefined events. Instances of vehicle performance data is time stamped with vehicle standard time. The master vehicle clock can also maintain the local time displayed to the driver. In response to inputs from the driver, the difference between driver local time and vehicle standard time is computed and the updated local time is displayed to the driver.

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Boring, OR, United States of America

Cary N Coverdill