Trailer vehicle brake-control module
View Patent ↗A brake-control module for a first trailer of a tractor-trailer combination reduces braking response time for the second trailer and subsequent trailers in the vehicle train. The brake-control module includes a tractor interface. The tractor interface includes a tractor CAN interface for connecting to a tractor CAN connector of a tractor, a tractor voltage-supply interface for connecting to a tractor voltage-supply connector of the tractor, and a tractor warning-light interface for connecting to a tractor warning-light connector of the tractor. The brake-control module further includes a second-trailer interface for connection of a second trailer that is coupled to the first trailer. The second-trailer interface includes a second-trailer CAN interface for connecting to a second-trailer CAN connector of the second trailer, a second-trailer voltage-supply interface for connecting to a voltage connector of the second trailer, and a second-trailer warning-light interface for connecting to a second-trailer warning-light connector of the second trailer.
1. A brake-control module for a first trailer of a tractor-trailer combination, comprising:
a tractor interface, including:
a tractor CAN interface for connection to a tractor CAN connector of a tractor of the tractor-trailer combination coupled to the first trailer;
a tractor voltage-supply interface for connection to a tractor voltage-supply connector of the tractor; and
a tractor warning-light interface for connection to a tractor warning-light connector of the tractor; and
a second-trailer interface, comprising:
a second-trailer CAN interface for connection to a second-trailer CAN connector of a second trailer of said tractor-trailer combination coupled to the first trailer;
a second-trailer voltage-supply interface for connection to a voltage connector of the second trailer; and
a second-trailer warning-light interface for connection to a second-trailer warning-light connector of the second trailer.
2. The brake-control module according to claim 1 , wherein the first trailer further comprises:
a braking system; and
a CAN data bus configured to control the braking system and deliver electrical energy to the braking system.
3. The brake-control module according to claim 2 , wherein voltage supply to the second trailer and the braking system is protected against overload.
4. The brake-control module according to claim 1 , further comprising means for delivering CAN data to the second-trailer CAN interface, the CAN data including encoded commands received via the tractor CAN interface.
5. The brake-control module according to claim 1 , wherein the tractor interface further comprises a single plug connector configured to enable connection of the tractor interface to the tractor via a single connecting cable.
6. The brake-control module according to claim 1 , wherein the second-trailer interface further comprises a single plug connector configured to enable connection of the second-trailer interface to the second trailer via a single connecting cable.
7. The brake-control module according to claim 1 , wherein each of the tractor CAN interface and the second-trailer CAN interface is a 24-V CAN interface.
8. The brake-control module according to claim 2 , further comprising an integrated braking system for the first trailer.
9. A vehicle trailer, comprising a brake-control module according to claim 1 .
10. A vehicle, comprising:
a tractor;
a first trailer coupled to said the tractor; and
a second trailer coupled to the first trailer, at least one of the first trailer and the second trailer including a brake-control module according to claim 1 .