Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.

Hayes Wheels International, Inc.

Michael A Hedding

Michael C McGrath

Charles L Robertson

David Sullivan

Brian J Stockford

Wayne M Groleau

Matthew J Knox

William J Lewandowski

An electric trailer brake controller includes a deceleration sensor for generating a brake control signal. The controller also includes a device to decrease the sensitivity of the deceleration sensor to spurious inputs. Additionally, the controller includes a brake current limiting circuit that progressively reduces the current supplied to the controlled trailer brake when the brake current exceeds a predetermined level.

Device for activating trailer electric wheel brakes

A decration sensor includes a pendulum which is suspended within an U-shaped bucket. The pendulum carries a permanent magnet which is adjacent to a Hall Effect device mounted upon the bucket. Both the pendulum and bucket are carried in an open ended housing which permits movement of the bucket relative to the pendulum to adjust for surface angles when the sensor is mounted upon a vehicle. Upon the deceleration of the vehicle, the pendulum move relative to the Hall Effect Device. As a result of the changing magnetic field, a voltage is generated by the Hall Effect Device which is directly proportional to the vehicle deceleration.

Deceleration sensor for an electric brake controller

An electric trailer brake control device includes a delay circuit to prevent actuation of the trailer brakes when the towing vehicle hazard flasher is actuated.

An electronic controller for actuating electric wheel brakes on a towed vehicle which includes a device for sensing the electric current flowing to the towed vehicle wheel brakes. The device is operative to interrupt the flow of electric current if the current flow becomes excessive. The controller also retains gain settings if the supply of power to the controller is interrupted and has a visual display for indicating results of self-diagnostic testing.

Electronic trailer brake controller

An electrical short circuit protection device for an electric trailer brake controller includes a fuse connected between the controller and the trailer brakes and an acoustic piezoelectric transducer connected across the fuse. Upon a short circuit fault developing in the trailer brakes, the fuse opens and the transducer generates an audio warning signal.

Short circuit safety audible monitor

An electronic brake controller for actuating electric wheel brakes of a towed vehicle which includes a sleep mode.

Electronic trailer brake controller with sleep mode

An electronic brake controller for actuating electric wheel brakes of a towed vehicle which includes a zero adjusting circuit for a pendulum in an inertia sensor.

Electronic trailer brake controller with pendulum zero adjust

An electronic brake controller for actuating electric wheel brakes of a towed vehicle which includes a remote manual control.

Electronic trailer brake controller with remote manual control

An electronic brake controller for actuating electric wheel brakes of a towed vehicle in response to actuation of the brakes of an associated towing vehicle. The brake controller includes a sensor for producing a brake control signal which is representative of the desired braking of the towed vehicle. The controller also includes a microprocessor for responsive to the brake control signal for generating an output signal for actuating the electric wheel brakes of the towed vehicle.

An electronic brake controller for actuating electric wheel brakes of a towed vehicle in response to braking of an associated towing vehicle. The controller includes a microprocessor responsive to the braking of the towing vehicle for generating an output signal for actuating the towed vehicle brakes in accordance with a brake response curve. The brake response curve can include a non-linear portion.

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Canton, MI, United States of America

Michael A Hedding