International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC

Lawrence D Hasfjord

Brian P Marshall

Erik C Wilson

David V Rodgers

Stanton E Miller

Steven Randall Lovell

Kenneth Bultemeier, Jr

Richard S Justice

Michael P Harding

David Bowers

Chris L Wilson

Byron Dunham

A motor vehicle () has a chassis () with wheels () on which the motor vehicle travels, a powertrain having an engine () coupled to at least one of the wheels, a primary brake system () for braking the motor vehicle via foundation brakes at the wheels, and a secondary brake system for braking the vehicle via at least one powertrain brake mechanism () that can apply brake torque to at least one of the wheels to which the powertrain is coupled. The primary brake system has a mechanical operator () that when operated by a driver causes pressure to be created in the primary brake system for operating the foundation brakes to apply brake torque correlated with magnitude of the pressure. A device () signals a controller () that the foundation brakes are being applied. A selector () available to the driver signals the controller for selectively enabling use of the secondary brake system in conjunction with the primary brake system.

Motor vehicle braking system and method

A vehicle according to the present invention has an internal combustion engine that is controlled by an engine-control computer that is operable, when the vehicle is parked, to operate in an idle-management mode to automatically start and stop idling operation of the internal combustion engine in order to maintain desirable electrical system energy levels, maintain desirable fluid temperatures of the internal combustion engine, and/or enable maintenance of comfortable occupant cabin temperatures. Each vehicle according to the present invention has a unique configuration of safety-interlock provisions that affect when and if an idle-management mode of operation of the engine-control computer is initiated and/or maintained.

Vehicle with engine idle-management system

A method of operating a retarder control system for a drivetrain retarder such as an engine compression brake of a heavy-duty truck vehicle is disclosed. The method of operation includes three novel subsets each of which controls the operational state and the resistance level at which the drivetrain retarder is operated dependent at least partially upon one or more factors including speeds of one or more drivetrain components, vehicle speed, rotational speed of one or more undriven wheels, position of a brake control member, elapsed time of activation of a brake control member and/or elapsed time from a change in a selected resistance level at which the retarder control system is commanded to effect operation of the drivetrain retarder.

Method and system for controlling a drivetrain retarder

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Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America

Lawrence D Hasfjord