Patent Abstract:
A circuit ( 26 ) for configuring a seven-terminal receptacle socket ( 10 ) in a towing vehicle to properly accommodate the particular one of several possible electric circuit configurations in a particular trailer that is being towed by the towing vehicle. The particular electric circuit configuration in the trailer—FIGS.  3, 4, 5, 6  are four possible configurations—depends on the particular lamps ( 52, 54, 56, 58, 72, 74 ) and brakes ( 50, 80 ) in the trailer.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to electrical systems of motor vehicles, especially motor vehicles that are capable of towing trailers and that have receptacle sockets with which trailer connector plugs are mated when the trailers are being towed. More particularly, the invention relates to a circuit for configuring such a receptacle socket to accommodate various trailers having diverse circuits depending upon the particular electrical equipment in a particular trailer.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Certain motor vehicles, such as medium duty trucks for example, are capable of towing various types of non-fifth-wheel trailers. Such a towing vehicle has a trailer hitch at the rear, a pintle- or ball-type hitch for example, and such a trailer has a coupling at its front that releasably connects to the vehicle hitch.  
         [0003]     Regardless of the particular trailer type or model, a trailer&#39;s electrical equipment will include various exterior lamps, including lamps capable of signaling a stop, a right turn, and a left turn. The right turn and left turn lamps are also used for hazard warning. Additional lamps that are typically present include: clearance, side marker, and identification lamps; and tail and license plate lamps. For placing such lamps under the control of the correct circuits in the towing vehicle, the trailer electrical system comprises a connector plug, typically forming a termination for one end of a multi-conductor cable, that mates with a receptacle socket in the towing vehicle.  
         [0004]     Trailers that are equipped with certain types of brakes have circuits that require proper connection with circuits in the towing vehicles, and those connections occur through mated connector plugs and receptacle sockets.  
         [0005]     A trailer that has electric trailer brakes requires electric current from an electric trailer brake controller in the towing vehicle. The electric trailer brake controller may be coupled with the vehicle service brake system to apply the trailer brakes in correlation with how hard the driver is applying the service brakes and/or have a separate actuator that allows the driver to apply the trailer brakes independently of application of the vehicle service brakes. The current to the trailer brakes passes through mated terminals in the plug and socket in an amount correlated with the how hard the driver is applying the service brakes in the vehicle, or optionally how hard the driver is applying the trailer brakes via the manual actuator of the trailer brake controller.  
         [0006]     A trailer that has air-actuated trailer brakes requires air from the towing vehicle brake system in order to apply the trailer brakes. While that by itself does not involve any connection between the trailer electric system and the towing vehicle electric system, the presence of an ABS controller as part of the trailer air brake system does.  
         [0007]     The industry has adopted certain standards for such receptacle sockets, and an example of one such standard is SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Standard J560. A receptacle socket compliant with that standard is sometimes referred to as a seven-pin, or seven-terminal, trailer socket, or connector. The standard specifies certain “pin-outs” for the seven individual terminals. Six terminals are arrayed in a circle at 60° intervals while the seventh is located at the center of the circle. Which circuits in the towing vehicle are connected to which terminals in the receptacle socket depends on the particular circuits in a particular trailer.  
         [0008]     According to SAE Standard J560, the receptacle socket terminals are designated numerically in order, No. 1 through No. 7. Viewed axially in the direction looking at the open end of the receptacle socket, terminal No. 1 is at the 12:00 position, terminal No. 2 is at the 2:00 position, terminal No. 3 is at the 4:00 position, terminal No. 4 is at the 6:00 position, terminal No. 5 is at the 8:00 position, terminal No. 6 at the 10:00 position, and terminal  7  No. 7 is at the center.  
         [0009]     The Standard specifies that: terminal No. 1 is a ground return from the trailer to the towing vehicle; terminal No. 2 is a feed for clearance, side marker, and identification lamps; terminal No. 3 is a feed for a left turn signal; terminal No. 4 is a feed for a stop signal; terminal No. 5 is a feed for a right turn signal; and terminal No. 6 is a feed for tail and license plate lamps. When a trailer is equipped with electric trailer brakes, terminal No. 7 is a feed for electric current that actuates the trailer brakes. When a trailer is equipped with air brakes, terminal No. 7 may not necessarily be used; however, when an ABS controller is associated with the trailer air brakes to endow them with ABS capability, terminal No. 7 provides a continuous D.C. power supply voltage for the ABS controller.  
         [0010]     Hence, the Standard recognizes two distinct possibilities for trailer electric systems based on type of trailer brake system.  
         [0011]     There are also two distinct possibilities for stop and turn signal lamp circuits in a trailer: 1) circuits that serve separate stop and turn signal lamps; and 2) circuits that serve combination stop and turn signal lamps.  
         [0012]     A trailer that has separate stop and turn signal lamps has: 1) at least one right stop lamp, or lamp assembly; 2) at least one left stop lamp, or lamp assembly; 3) at least one right turn signal lamp, or lamp assembly; and 4) at least one left turn signal lamp, or lamp assembly.  
         [0013]     A trailer that has combination stop and turn signal lamps has: 1) at least one right combination stop/turn signal lamp, or lamp assembly; and 2) at least one left stop/turn signal lamp, or lamp assembly.  
         [0014]     These possibilities for different stop/turn signal lamps and different brakes lead to four possible circuit configurations for a trailer.  
         [0015]     Configuration No. 1: Electric trailer brakes and combination stop and turn signal lamps.  
         [0016]     Configuration No. 2: Electric trailer brakes and separate stop and turn signal lamps.  
         [0017]     Configuration No. 3: Air trailer brakes and separate stop and turn signal lamps.  
         [0018]     Configuration No. 4: Air trailer brakes and combination stop and turn signal lamps.  
         [0019]     The receptacle socket in a towing vehicle is typically hard-wired for a particular one of these four configurations, enabling the vehicle to tow a trailer having that particular configuration. If a towing vehicle were to tow a vehicle having a different configuration, it has been the practice to provide an additional receptacle socket that is properly hard-wired for that different configuration. Hence, towing vehicles may have multiple receptacle sockets, each for properly connecting the particular electric system in a trailer to the towing vehicle electric system.  
         [0020]     Certain passenger vehicles (many domestic-built) have combination stop and turn signal lamps while others (many non-domestic-built) have separate stop and turn signals. Domestic laws and regulations typically mandate that stop lamps be red. Consequently, combination stop and turn signal lamps in a motor vehicle will illuminate red whenever the driver is applying the brakes. Should the driver give a turn signal while applying the brakes, the lamp toward the side of the turn will flash red, while the opposite lamp remains continuously on as long as the brakes continue to be applied. Should the driver give a turn signal while not applying the brakes, the lamp toward the side of the turn will flash red, while the opposite lamp remains off. Combination stop and turn signal lamps in a trailer can simply be connected in parallel with the combination stop and turn signal lamps in the towing vehicle via the mated connector plug and receptacle socket.  
         [0021]     The operation of stop lamps in a motor vehicle having separate stop and turn separate stop lamps is obviously independent of operation of the turn signal lamps, and vice versa. Separate stop and turn signal lamps in a trailer towed by such a vehicle can simply be connected in parallel with the separate stop and turn signal lamps in the vehicle via the mated connector plug and receptacle socket so that their operation is essentially slaved to that of the stop and turn signal lamps in the vehicle.  
         [0022]     The rear turn signal lamps in a vehicle that has separate stop and turn signal lamps may have a color other than red, amber being an example of such an alternate color. Amber turn signal lamps may also be used in trailers having separate stop and turn signal lamps. So long as the towing vehicle has separate stop and turn signal lamps, the particular color of the separate trailer turn signal lamps is unimportant. That is not the case however when the towing vehicle has combination stop and turn signal lamps.  
         [0023]     Were a receptacle socket in a vehicle having combination stop and turn signal lamps to be used to feed the stop and turn signal lamps in a trailer having separate stop and turn signal lamps, the trailer turn signal lamps would illuminate concurrently with the stop lamps. But should the trailer turn signal lamps be amber, a color that by itself is permissible under certain government regulations for signaling a turn, the unintended happenstance of amber turn signal lamps also signaling a stop may be impermissible, and hence should be avoided.  
         [0024]     Were a receptacle socket in a vehicle having separate stop and turn signal lamps to be used to feed the stop and turn signal lamps in a trailer having combination stop and turn signal lamps, the trailer stop lamps would not illuminate concurrently with the stop lamps in the vehicle. That would also be impermissible, and hence should be avoided.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]     The present invention relates to a circuit for configuring a receptacle socket in a towing vehicle to properly accommodate the particular one of several possible electric circuit configurations in the particular trailer that is being towed by the towing vehicle, the particular electric circuit configuration in the trailer depending on the particular electrical equipment in the trailer.  
         [0026]     The present invention serves to accommodate each of the four numbered configurations identified above so that when a towing vehicle that has combination stop and turn signal lamps is used to tow a trailer whose electric system fits any one of the four configurations, the trailer electric system will properly relate to the towing vehicle electric system.  
         [0027]     The invention avoids the need to provide a towing vehicle with multiple receptacle sockets, each hard-wired for a particular trailer circuit configuration. The invention comprises a switch-controlled circuit by which the driver of the towing vehicle selects a receptacle socket configuration appropriate to the particular stop/turn signal lamp configuration in the trailer to be towed.  
         [0028]     Proper configuring of the center terminal in the seven-terminal receptacle socket for the particular type of trailer brakes is accomplished automatically. The default configuration is for a trailer having electric trailer brakes. When a trailer has air brakes, the tractor protection valve must be depressed to release the trailer parking brakes. That action operates a pressure switch, or sensor, in an air line in the vehicle that re-configures the center terminal for trailer air brakes.  
         [0029]     The invention is believed to provide a better solution for accommodating various trailer electric systems without having a separate receptacle socket for each possible trailer circuit configuration. It avoids the possibility that a connector plug in a trailer will be plugged into an incorrect receptacle socket in a towing vehicle where all socket receptacles have the same geometry. The invention also aids in helping to avoid unintended accidental violations of applicable government regulations.  
         [0030]     One general aspect of the invention relates to a towing vehicle for towing a trailer. The trailer has right and left stop and turn signal lamps, and those lamps may be either combination lamps or separate lamps. The towing vehicle has a combination right rear stop and turn signal lamp, a combination left rear stop and turn signal lamp, a separate right front turn signal lamp, and a separate left front turn signal lamp.  
         [0031]     A right feed terminal in a receptacle socket in the towing vehicle feeds a right lamp of the trailer to signal a right turn. A left feed terminal feeds a left lamp of the trailer to signal a left turn. A selector in the towing vehicle selects either combination stop and turn signal lamps on the trailer or separate stop and turn signal lamps on the trailer.  
         [0032]     The towing vehicle has a first circuit device operated by the selector to connect the combination right rear stop and turn signal lamp to the right feed terminal when the selector is selecting combination stop and turn signal lamps on the trailer and to connect the right front turn signal lamp to the right feed terminal when the selector is selecting separate stop and turn signal lamps on the trailer.  
         [0033]     The towing vehicle also has a second circuit device operated by the selector to connect the combination left rear stop and turn signal lamp to the left feed terminal when the selector is selecting separate stop and turn signal lamps on the trailer and to connect the left front turn signal lamp to the left feed terminal when the selector is selecting separate stop and turn signal lamps on the trailer.  
         [0034]     Another general aspect of the invention relates to a towing vehicle for towing a trailer having brakes that may be either electric brakes or ABS-controlled air brakes. The towing vehicle has a receptacle socket comprising a brake feed terminal for brakes in the trailer. A circuit device in the towing vehicle selectively connects the brake feed terminal to battery voltage in the towing vehicle when the trailer brakes are ABS-controlled air brakes and to an electric trailer brake controller in the towing vehicle when the trailer brakes are electric trailer brakes.  
         [0035]     The foregoing, along with further aspects, features, and advantages of the invention, will be seen in the following disclosure of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention depicting the best mode contemplated at this time for carrying out the invention. The disclosure includes drawings, briefly described as follows. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0036]      FIG. 1  is a view looking at the open end of a seven-terminal receptacle socket for receiving a mating trailer connector plug.  
         [0037]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a circuit associated with the receptacle socket in a towing vehicle in accordance with principles of the invention.  
         [0038]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing the condition of the circuit of  FIG. 2  with the electric system of a trailer having electric trailer brakes and separate stop and turn signal lamps connected to the towing vehicle by plugging a connector plug in the towing vehicle into the receptacle socket.  
         [0039]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram showing the condition of the circuit of  FIG. 2  with the electric system of a trailer having electric trailer brakes and combination stop and turn signal lamps connected to the towing vehicle by plugging a connector plug in the towing vehicle into the receptacle socket.  
         [0040]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram showing the condition of the circuit of  FIG. 2  with the electric system of a trailer having air brakes and combination stop and turn signal lamps connected to the towing vehicle by plugging a connector plug in the towing vehicle into the receptacle socket.  
         [0041]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram showing the condition of the circuit of  FIG. 2  with the electric system of a trailer having air brakes and separate stop and turn signal lamps connected to the towing vehicle by plugging a connector plug in the towing vehicle into the receptacle socket. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0042]      FIG. 1  shows a receptacle socket  10  compliant with SAE Standard J560 comprising six terminals  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  arrayed in a circle at 60° intervals and a seventh terminal  24  located at the center of the circle. The trailer connector plug that plugs into receptacle socket  10  is not shown.  
         [0043]     According to SAE Standard J560, terminal  12  is a ground return from the trailer to the towing vehicle; terminal  14  is a feed for clearance, side marker, and identification lamps; terminal  16  is a feed for a left turn signal, terminal  18  is a feed for a stop signal; terminal  20  is a feed for a right turn signal, and terminal  22  is a feed for tail and license plate lamps.  
         [0044]     When a trailer is equipped with electric trailer brakes, terminal  24  is a feed for electric current that actuates the trailer brakes. When a trailer is equipped with air brakes, terminal  24  may not necessarily be used; however, when an ABS controller is associated with the trailer air brakes to endow them with ABS capability, terminal  24  provides a continuous D.C. power supply voltage for the ABS controller.  
         [0045]      FIG. 2  shows a presently preferred embodiment of inventive circuit  26  to comprise three relays  28 ,  30 ,  32  and a selector switch  34 . Switch  34  is shown as one of several switches in a multiplexed switch pack. The other circuit device shown in  FIG. 2  is an electric system controller  36  of the towing vehicle. The electric system of the towing vehicle comprises a negative ground D.C. power supply comprising a battery  38 .  
         [0046]     The towing vehicle has combination stop and turn signal lamps at the right and left rear of the vehicle. The right rear combination stop and turn signal lamp is marked by the reference numeral  40 , and the left rear combination stop and turn signal lamp, by the reference numeral  42 . At its right front the vehicle comprises a right turn signal lamp  44 , and at its left front, a left turn signal lamp  46 .  
         [0047]     Stop and turn signal switches (not specifically shown) control lamps  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46  in the following manner.  
         [0048]     When no turn signal is given, application of the vehicle service brakes will cause lamps  40  and  42  to illuminate continuously as long as the service brakes continue to be applied. If the turn signal switch is operated to signal a turn while the service brakes are being applied, the lamp  40  or  42  to the side of the turn will begin to flash while the opposite lamp  40  or  42  continues to remain continuously on. The front turn signal lamp  44  or  46  to the side of the turn will also flash while the corresponding rear lamp is flashing, but the opposite front turn signal lamp will remain off.  
         [0049]     If the turn signal switch is operated to signal a turn while the service brakes are not being applied, both the lamp  40  or  42  to the side of the turn and the corresponding front lamp  44  or  46  will begin to flash while the opposite rear lamp  40  or  42  and the opposite front lamp  44  or  46  remain off.  
         [0050]     The presence of a hazard warning switch in the vehicle electric system will also operate lamps  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  by causing all of them to flash when the hazard warning switch is switched on. The hazard warning function in effect overrides brake and turn signal functions.  
         [0051]     Relay  28  comprises a solenoid coil  28 SC and a movable contact  28 MC that is operated by coil  28 SC. When coil  28 SC is not energized, contact  28 MC completes a circuit between a terminal  28 T 1  and a terminal  28 T 2 . When coil  28 SC is energized, contact  28 MC breaks the circuit from terminal  28 T 2  to make a circuit between a terminal  28 T 1  and a terminal  28 T 3 .  
         [0052]     Relay  30  comprises a solenoid coil  30 SC and a movable contact  30 MC that is operated by coil  30 SC. When coil  30 SC is not energized, contact  30 MC completes a circuit between a terminal  30 T 1  and a terminal  30 T 2 . When coil  30 SC is energized, contact  30 MC breaks the circuit from terminal  30 T 2  to make a circuit between a terminal  30 T 1  and a terminal  30 T 3 .  
         [0053]     Relay  32  comprises a solenoid coil  32 SC and a movable contact  32 MC that is operated by coil  32 SC. When coil  32 SC is not energized, contact  32 MC completes a circuit between a terminal  32 T 1  and a terminal  32 T 2 . When coil  32 SC is energized, contact  32 MC breaks the circuit from terminal  32 T 2  to make a circuit between a terminal  32 T 1  and a terminal  32 T 3 .  
         [0054]     Coil  28 SC is connected between terminals  28 T 4  and  28 T 5  in relay  28 . Terminal  28 T 4  is connected to the positive power supply voltage in the vehicle. Terminal  28 T 5  is connected to a terminal  36 T 1  of system controller  36 .  
         [0055]     Coil  30 SC is connected between terminals  30 T 4  and  30 T 5  in relay  30 . Terminal  30 T 4  is connected to the positive power supply voltage in the vehicle. Terminal  30 T 5  is connected to terminal  36 T 1 . This places the two coils in parallel under the control of controller  36 .  
         [0056]     Controller  36  comprises another terminal  36 T 2  that is connected to switch  34 . When switch  34  is operated to a first position, controller  36  assumes a state that does not energize coils  28 SC,  30 SC. When switch  34  is operated to a second position, controller  36  assumes a state that does energize coils  28 SC,  30 SC.  
         [0057]     Coil  32 SC is connected between terminals  32 T 4  and  32 T 5  in relay  32 . Terminal  32 T 4  may or may not be connected to the vehicle ignition switch (not specifically shown). If the towing vehicle has air brakes, as will be seen in the configurations of  FIGS. 5 and 6 , terminal  32 T 4  will be connected to the ignition switch via wiring in the vehicle. Terminal  32 T 5  will also be connected through a pressure switch to ground. If the towing vehicle lacks air brakes, no switch  48  will be present and so terminal  32 T 5  is left unconnected. Terminal  32 T 4  may or may not be connected. A towing vehicle that lacks air brakes is unlikely to tow a trailer that does. A trailer that has electric brakes will be connected to an electric trailer brake controller in the towing vehicle via relay  32 , as will be seen in the configurations of  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  
         [0058]     Terminal  32 T 3  is connected to the positive power supply voltage, and when the towing vehicle lacks air brakes and is to tow a trailer that has electric trailer brakes, terminal  32 T 2  is connected to an electric trailer brake controller in the towing vehicle.  
         [0059]     Terminal  32 T 1  is connected to terminal  24  in receptacle socket  10 ; terminal  28 T 1  to terminal  20 ; and terminal  30 T 1  to terminal  16 .  
         [0060]      FIG. 3  shows the relevant portion of the electric system of a trailer having electric trailer brakes  50  and separate stop and turn signal lamps on right and left sides, lamp  52  being the right stop lamp, lamp  54  being the left stop lamp, lamp  56  being the right turn signal lamp, lamp  58  being the left turn signal lamp. The trailer comprises a connector plug  60  at an end of a multi-conductor cable having conductors connected with brakes  50  and lamps  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 , as shown.  
         [0061]     Because stop lamps  52 ,  54  are separate from turn signal lamps  56 ,  58 , the stop lamps are connected to a terminal in plug  60  that mates with terminal  18  in receptacle socket  10 . The stop lamp feed to terminal  18  in the towing vehicle is identified by the numeral  61 . Stop lamps  52 ,  54  will thereby illuminate concurrently with vehicle stop lamps  40 ,  42  when the driver of the towing vehicle applies the vehicle service brakes. Turn signal lamps  56 ,  58  are connected via respective conductors to respective terminals in plug  60  that mate with respective terminals  20 ,  16  in receptacle socket  10 .  
         [0062]      FIG. 3  also shows the condition of circuit  26  for this trailer configuration. Because the trailer has separate stop and turn signal lamps, selector switch  34  has been placed in its second position, causing coils  28 SC,  30 SC to be energized. That causes the respective feeds for trailer turn signal lamps  56 ,  58  to come from the front turn signal lamps  44 ,  46  respectively in the towing vehicle. Because the operation of turn signal lamps  44 ,  46  is unaffected by application of the vehicle service brakes, actuation of the brakes does not affect lamps  56 ,  58 . Hence, lamps  56 ,  58  can be any color compliant with applicable regulations.  
         [0063]      FIG. 3  also shows an electric trailer brake controller  62  in the towing vehicle. With the towing vehicle lacking air brakes, coil  32 SC is not energized, and consequently the output of controller  62  is fed through to electric trailer brakes  50  via terminal  24  in receptacle socket  10  and a terminal in plug  60  mating with terminal  24 .  
         [0064]      FIG. 4  shows the relevant portion of the electric system of a trailer having electric trailer brakes  50  and combination stop and turn signal lamps  72 ,  74  on right and left sides respectively. The trailer comprises a connector plug  60  at an end of a multi-conductor cable having conductors connected with brakes  50  and lamps  72 ,  74  as shown.  
         [0065]     Lamp  72  is connected to a terminal in plug  60  that mates with terminal  20  in receptacle socket  10 . Lamp  74  is connected to a terminal in plug  60  that mates with terminal  16  in receptacle socket  10 .  
         [0066]      FIG. 4  also shows the condition of circuit  26  for this trailer configuration. Selector switch  34  has been placed in its first position, causing coils  28 SC,  30 SC not to be energized. That causes the respective feeds for receptacle socket terminals  20  and  16  to come from the rear vehicle lamps  40 ,  42  respectively, slaving lamp  72  to lamp  40  and lamp  74  to lamp  42 . Trailer lamps  72 ,  74  will therefore operate in the exact same manner as the combination rear stop and turn signal lamps in the vehicle, rendering the trailer lamps compliant with applicable regulations. When no separate stop lamp or lamps is or are present in the trailer, the trailer electric system has no need for the stop lamp feed provided by terminal  18 .  
         [0067]      FIG. 4  also shows an electric trailer brake controller  62  in the towing vehicle. With the towing vehicle lacking air brakes, coil  32 SC is not energized, and consequently the output of controller  62  is fed through to electric trailer brakes  50  via terminal  24  in receptacle socket  10  and a terminal in plug  60  mating with terminal  24 .  
         [0068]      FIG. 5  shows the relevant portion of the electric system of a trailer having air brakes  80  and combination stop and turn signal lamps  72 ,  74  on right and left sides respectively. The trailer comprises a connector plug  60  at an end of a multi-conductor cable having conductors connected with lamps  72 ,  74  as shown.  FIG. 5  shows the trailer having an ABS controller  82  associated with air brakes  80 . Another conductor of the multi-conductor cable connects ABS controller  82  to a terminal in plug  60  that mates with terminal  24 .  
         [0069]     Because a trailer having air brakes is unlikely to be towed by a towing vehicle lacking air brakes, it is understood that the towing vehicle in  FIG. 5  does have air brakes and that the air line or lines are properly connected between the towing vehicle and the trailer. The air brake system in the towing vehicle comprises a tractor protection valve  85  and a trailer charge valve  87  arranged as shown in the relevant portion of the air brake included in  FIG. 5 . Charge valve  87  is depressed when a trailer having air brakes is coupled to the towing vehicle and serves to supply air to tractor protection valve  85 , which then applies air pressure to a line  89  leading to the trailer brakes to release the trailer brakes. The pressure in line  89  is sensed by a pressure switch  84  in the towing vehicle. Switch  84  is connected between terminal  32 T 5  and ground. Terminal  32 T 4  is connected to the ignition switch  86  in the towing vehicle.  
         [0070]     Consequently, when ignition switch  86  is turned on and the trailer charge valve  87  is depressed, coil  32 SC is energized, causing positive battery voltage to be delivered to terminal  24 , thereby supplying battery voltage for ABS controller  82 . Line  89  is not pressurized when a non-air brake trailer is coupled to the towing vehicle. It is also not pressurized when no trailer is coupled to the towing vehicle.  
         [0071]     Because  FIG. 5  shows the same circuit configuration for the combination stop and turn signal lamps as in  FIG. 4 , a description of the operation of those lamps need not be repeated.  
         [0072]      FIG. 6  shows the relevant portion of the electric system of a trailer having air brakes  80  and separate stop and turn signal lamps  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 . The operation of the respective lamp and brake circuits shown in  FIG. 6  can be understood from previous descriptions of  FIGS. 3 and 5 , and so no description will be given here in the interest of brevity.  
         [0073]     For any of the four described trailer configurations, all that a driver of the towing vehicle need do is operate switch  34  to select the proper lamp configuration in the trailer to be towed. If the trailer has air brakes, the proper circuit for them will be achieved automatically when the driver turns on the ignition switch, and the tractor protection valve is depressed.  
         [0074]     While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it should be appreciated that principles of the invention are applicable to all embodiments that fall within the scope of the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1