Anti-jackknifing method and apparatus

An anti-jackknifing method and apparatus for preventing uncontrolled skidding or jackknifing of a trailer towed by a tow vehicle. The method includes the step of continuously disabling one of the rear trailer brakes throughout a period when slippery road conditions are encountered so that the associated wheel is allowed to rotate freely. The apparatus for disabling the particular brake is actuable by the driver whenever slippery road conditions are anticipated, and are deactuated by the driver when such conditions no longer prevail.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention relates to an anti-jackknifing method and apparatus, and 
particularly to such an apparatus and method for a tow vehicle-trailer 
arrangement. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
A tow vehicle-trailer arrangement in which the trailer is articulated or 
capable of lateral movement independently of the tow vehicle is subject to 
sideways skidding of jackknifing of the trailer out of control of the 
driver. This dangerous condition frequently occurs when the tow vehicle or 
truck and trailer are heavy-duty vehicles operating in an empty or lightly 
loaded condition on wet or slippery roads. Braking by the driver must be 
carefully controlled to prevent the trailer from skidding laterally or 
jackknifing. 
Federal and State authorities have required that heavy-duty truck-trailer 
combinations be equipped with electronic anti-skid systems or the 
equivalent to provide automatic maintenance of brake balance. It is 
believed that the skid control systems developed to satisfy such 
requirements all operate on the principle that brake unbalance is the 
primary cause of truck jackknifing accidents. 
A typical prior art system becomes operative whenever the angular 
relationship between the tow vehicle and the trailer undergoes a 
predetermined change. The system sends separate braking commands to the 
various brakes to compensate left and right braking forces to thereby 
maintain stability. U.S. Pat. No. 3,894,773, issued July 15, 1975, and 
entitled "Differential Braking System for Tractor-Trailer Trucks", 
discloses one such system. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,362, issued Nov. 23, 1976, and entitled 
"Anti-Jackknifing and Skidding Control System", teaches a system utilizing 
a linear accelerometer located on the rear of the trailer to detect left 
or right skidding and to provide automatic differential braking to the 
left or right wheels, depending upon the direction of skidding. 
Such prior art systems are relatively expensive, sophisticated, and usurp 
braking control of the tow vehicle and trailer from the driver. In 
addition, certain automatic skid control systems of the prior art have 
malfunctioned to such an extent that truck operators are hesitant to rely 
upon them. 
In summary, the systems of the prior art do not provide a simple and 
inexpensive way of enabling a tow vehicle-trailer combination to be 
effectively braked and at the same time keep the trailer from jackknifing. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to the present invention, there is a complete departure from the 
prior art concept of applying braking action on all of the wheels equally 
to prevent uncontrolled lateral skidding or jackknifing of the trailer. 
The present anti-jackknifing method comprises the step of continuously 
disabling one of the left and right rear brake means on the trailer and, 
in some instances, on the tow vehicle, throughout a period of time that 
slippery road conditions are encountered. As a consequence of such 
disablement, the rear wheel or wheels associated with the particular brake 
means are unbraked and rotate freely, tending to maintain the trailer in a 
straight line of travel. 
The apparatus utilized to practice the aforementioned method comprises 
disabling means coupled to one of the left and right rear brake means of 
the trailer, such disabling means being actuable to render such brake 
means inoperative so that braking of the trailer is ineffective to brake 
the associated rear trailer wheel or wheels. The apparatus includes 
control means manually operative to actuate the disabling means for an 
extended period of time, rather than intermittently. Thus, the present 
method and apparatus establish an unbalanced braking condition, and rely 
upon what might be termed a "free-rolling" wheel to maintain the trailer 
in a straight line of travel. 
In a heavy-duty truck-trailer application the rear wheels at each side of 
the trailer comprise dual tires and a brake drum, with the complete 
assembly weighing in excess of 300 pounds. This mass, rotating and 
incapable of locking up and skidding, tends to roll in a straight line 
even though the other wheels may be completely braked, locked up, and 
skidding. 
In a heavy-duty truck-trailer application the present apparatus typically 
comprises a solenoid actuated valve located in the air conduit which 
supplies air to the air brakes. The solenoid is selectively energized by 
closing a switch or the like, which is preferably located where it can 
easily be reached by the operator for actuation at any time slippery or 
other unfavorable road conditions are anticipated or encountered. The 
present anti-jackknifing apparatus and method are adapted not only for 
installation on new trucks and trailers, but also are adapted for use on 
the many thousands of older trucks and trailers that are not equipped with 
any kind of anti-skid system. 
Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from 
consideration of the following description taken in connection with the 
accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a heavy-duty tow vehicle or truck 
10 is illustrated towing a pull trailer 12. The truck 10 is characterized 
by a front axle and a pair of rear axles having dual wheels at each end. 
The trailer 12 is a two-axle vehicle having dual wheels at the ends of 
both the front axle and the rear axle 18. The truck 10 and trailer 12 
constitute separate bodies articulated at a connecting pivot point which 
is defined by the point of connection of the trailer tongue 20 to the 
truck 10. 
The illustrated truck and trailer combination are merely exemplary of one 
application for the present method and apparatus. The method and apparatus 
are also applicable to many other trailer arrangements, including 
so-called "semis" which include a tractor or cab and a trailer which 
partially overlies the cab frame. In some instances a second trailer is 
pivoted to the first trailer, providing two points of articulation, and 
the present system can be used on both trailers. Where road conditions are 
particularly severe, the present system can also be used on the trailing 
axle of the truck 10 if the truck 10 has many axles. 
The present method and apparatus will also work with various types of 
braking systems. Pneumatic or air brakes are described herein by way of 
example, but the method and apparatus are also applicable to other brakes, 
such as electric brakes and hydraulic brakes or the like. 
When reference is made in the present disclosure and claims to a "rear" 
wheel, the term is intended to comprehend, in a trailer having multiple 
trailing or rear axles, the wheel or wheels at one end of at least one of 
the axles. Further, as will be seen, it is preferred to associate the 
present apparatus with the right rear wheel or wheels of the trailer, 
although it is also possible to associate it with the left rear wheel or 
wheels. The right rear wheel arrangement is preferred because the slope or 
crown of most roadways, and the consequent construction of the rear axle 
of most heavy-duty trucks, tends to induce lateral skidding or jackknifing 
of the trailer to the right, as viewed in FIG. 1. 
The typical air brake system of heavy-duty trucks such as the truck 10 
includes an air relay valve 22 connected by an air conduit or hose 24 to 
an air supply or tank 26. The air tank 26 is maintained at a predetermined 
level of air pressure by a suitable air compressor (not shown). 
An air conduit or hose 28 connects the relay valve 22 to a solenoid valve 
34, and a similar air conduit or hose 29 connects the valve 34 to the air 
chamber of a usual and conventional air brake 30. The brake 30 is 
mechanically connected by a linkage 32 to the brake friction pad assembly 
(not shown) associated with the dual right rear wheels 16. As will be 
apparent, driver actuation of the brake system, as by depression of the 
usual brake pedal, normally routes air under pressure to the brake 30 to 
actuate the linkage 32 and thereby slow or brake the wheels 16. According 
to the present invention, the valve 34 is normally open to allow such air 
to flow to the brake 30. However, when the solenoid 36 of the valve 34 is 
energized, the valve spool of the valve 34 is moved to a position which 
cuts off or blocks the flow of air to the air brake 30, and simultaneously 
vents to atmosphere any air which is under pressure in the brake 30. 
The valve 34 may be any of many commercially available valves suitable to 
accomplish the functions just described. One suitable type of valve is a 
three-way, normally open valve manufactured by ISI Fluid Power, Inc., 
Troy, Mich. The valve 34 includes an inlet port (not shown) in fluid 
communication with the air hose 28, an outlet port (not shown) in fluid 
communication with the air hose 29 leading to the air brake 30, and a 
third port (not shown) in fluid communication with atmosphere. 
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the valve 34 is normally 
operative to allow air to pass to the air brake 30 whenever the driver or 
operator actuates the brake system to brake all the wheels of the trailer. 
However, upon energization of the solenoid 36, the usual spool of the 
valve 34 is moved to prevent air from passing through the valve 34 to the 
air brake 30, and to vent to atmosphere any air which may be in the 
chamber of the air brake 30. This insures that the wheel 16 is free to 
rotate despite any previous braking action which may have been initiated 
by the driver. 
The valve 34 and solenoid 36 comprise disabling means for the air brake 30, 
and such means are actuable by manually operative control means which 
comprise, as best seen in FIG. 3, a toggle switch 38 in electrical circuit 
with a truck battery 40 which is connected to ground. In the open position 
of the switch 38 the solenoid 36 is deenergized and air is able to pass 
through the valve 34 to the air brake 30. In the closed position of the 
switch 38 current passes from the battery 40 to energize the solenoid 36, 
the circuit being completed to ground from the solenoid 36 through a 
warning or indicating light 42. Such energization of the solenoid 36 
actuates the valve 34 to block passage of any air to the air brake 30, and 
to vent any high-pressure air in the brake 30 to atmosphere. 
Preferably the toggle switch 38 and indicator light 42 are located on the 
truck dashboard (not shown) for convenient operation and viewing by the 
truck driver. 
In a vehicle braking system utilizing electric brakes, the present 
anti-jackknifing apparatus would be modified to the extent that the toggle 
switch 38 would be operative to suitably energize and de-energize the 
solenoid associated with the electric brakes. In similar fashion, the 
present method and apparatus are adapted for use with hydraulic brakes by 
employing electrically operated hydraulic valves, as will be apparent to 
those skilled in the art. 
In operation, the truck driver closes the switch 38 whenever he encounters 
or anticipates encountering rainy or icy conditions productive of slippery 
roads. This cuts off or blocks air to the air brake 30 for the right 
wheels 16. The light 42 indicates the disabled condition of the air brake 
30. Thereafter, upon depression of the brake pedal (not shown) all of the 
truck and trailer wheels are braked except the right rear wheels. Even if 
all other wheels lock up and skid, the right wheels 16 and their 
associated mass of tires and hub continue to roll and tend to maintain the 
trailer in a straight line path. In icy conditions the usual chains on the 
wheels provide additional mass and traction and further tend to maintain 
the trailer in a straight line path. 
Despite the absence of braking of the right wheels 16 in the present 
system, the total braking force on the trailer and vehicle compares 
favorably with what the braking force would be if all of the wheels of the 
trailer were locked up and skidding. The braking force also compares 
favorably with the braking force developed by prior art electronic 
automatic skid control systems since such systems generally do not apply a 
steady braking force, but rather intermittently apply a braking force to 
the left or to the right wheels, depending upon the direction of lateral 
movement of the trailer. Such intermittent braking significantly reduces 
the total braking force. 
FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of an anti-jackknifing apparatus 
applied to left rear wheels 14 of trailer 12. Identical elements to those 
shown and described in FIG. 3 are used with the only difference being that 
such elements are now applied to left rear wheels 14. 
In summary, the method and apparatus of the present invention permit 
effective braking of heavy-duty trucks and trailers without jackknifing, 
the free-rolling wheel or wheels exerting a stabilizing effect in 
maintaining the trailer in a straight line path. 
Various modifications and changes may be made with regard to the foregoing 
detailed description without departing from the spirit of the invention.