초록 ▼

A jackknife warning system for a trailered vehicle. A rotation sensor, mounted to a chassis of a tractor, engages an underside of a semi-detached trailer and senses rotation of the trailer with respect to the tractor. A pressure sensor senses pressure applied to a set of brakes for the vehicle. When

A jackknife warning system for a trailered vehicle. A rotation sensor, mounted to a chassis of a tractor, engages an underside of a semi-detached trailer and senses rotation of the trailer with respect to the tractor. A pressure sensor senses pressure applied to a set of brakes for the vehicle. When rotation of the trailer reaches a first setpoint, and pressure applied to the brakes reaches a second setpoint, an alarm is emitted. The alarm can either be a right alarm or a left alarm, depending on if the vehicle is jackknifing to the right or to the left. The brake pressure setpoint can be adjusted by the driver based on the load being carried or on road conditions.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A jackknife warning system for a vehicle including a tractor and a trailer, the system comprising:a trailer-turning sensor, comprising a rotatable control wheel, a wheel support apparatus attachable to a chassis of the tractor supporting the rotatable control wheel and co

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A jackknife warning system for a vehicle including a tractor and a trailer, the system comprising:a trailer-turning sensor, comprising a rotatable control wheel, a wheel support apparatus attachable to a chassis of the tractor supporting the rotatable control wheel and configured to move the control wheel into rolling engagement with a bottom surface of the trailer, and a counter operable to count a number of rotations or partial rotations of the control wheel as the trailer pivots with respect to the tractor during a vehicle turn;an electronic controller programmed to receive the number of wheel rotations or partial rotations from the counter, calculate a degree of trailer rotation with respect to the tractor corresponding to the number of wheel rotations or partial rotations, and to generate an alarm signal when the degree of rotation of the trailer with respect to the tractor reaches a first setpoint; andan alarm device for emitting an alarm in response to the alarm signal.