Abstract:
An improved configuration for a vehicle system having a brake system component mounted to an air reservoir and an apparatus for positioning or leveling the brake system component relative to a reference point. The apparatus may include a first end portion having one or more contact points for engaging the reservoir along a curved surface and a second end portion positioned proximate to the component. The apparatus being adapted resist relative movement between the component and the reservoir.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Commercial vehicles, such as for example tractor-trailers, may utilize an anti-lock brake electronic control unit (ABS ECU) to control braking on air-braked heavy duty trailers, semi-trailers and dollies. To conserve space on the vehicle, the electronic control unit may be mounted onto a compressed air reservoir in the vehicle&#39;s brake system. For example, the electronic control unit and a valve assembly may be integrated into a single, self-contained unit or module that may mount to the supply port of the air reservoir, via a nipple, for example. Directly mounting the module to the reservoir in this manner is beneficial because it reduces the number of pneumatic lines and/or electrical wiring required and it avoids using space on the truck rail/frame, which truck manufacturers prefer since space on the rail/frame is limited. 
         [0002]    Trailer roll stability systems are also available for use on commercial vehicles. These systems may utilize a lateral acceleration sensor to determine if the trailer&#39;s lateral force is high enough to cause instability. Based on the lateral acceleration information and other factors, a roll stability system controller may be utilized to automatically intervene to regain stability. The lateral acceleration sensor must typically be mounted in a specific orientation in order to provide accurate acceleration readings. For example, a lateral acceleration sensor may need to be mounted substantially horizontal as measured on level ground. Therefore, lateral acceleration sensors are often mounted on the vehicle frame to control their position. 
         [0003]    Today&#39;s trailer roll stability systems typically utilize the ABS ECU as the system controller to execute the system&#39;s control logic. In order to achieve adequate roll stability control, most trailer roll stability system modules are configured to control the brakes on the left and right side of the trailer independently. Thus, known modules include two controllers and two relay valves, one for each side of the trailer. Due to the additional hardware, these two-channel modules are considered too heavy to nipple-mount to the service air reservoir. Thus, the ABS ECU, when used in conjunction with the trailer toll stability system, must be frame or rail mounted. 
         [0004]    Providing a trailer roll stability module that may mount to a compressed air reservoir on a vehicle is desirable. Further, incorporating a lateral acceleration sensor with the module and providing an apparatus to ensure the sensor is properly positioned is also desirable. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The present invention relates generally to vehicle air brake systems. In particular the present invention relates to an improved system configuration in which a brake system component brake system component mounted to an air reservoir. 
         [0006]    In accordance with one inventive aspect, a brake system component is provided which may mount to the air reservoir and an apparatus is provided for positioning or leveling the brake system component relative to a reference point. In one embodiment, the brake system component may be an electronic control module, such as a antilock brake electronic control unit or a trailer roll stability system controller. The apparatus may be a bracket that mounts to the module such that a portion of the apparatus engages the reservoir to resist rotation undesired movement of the module relative to the reservoir. 
         [0007]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided to aid in the positioning of a lateral acceleration sensor. In one embodiment, the lateral acceleration sensor is mounted onto a brake system component and the apparatus resists undesired movement of the brake system component. In a more specific embodiment, the brake system component is a trailer roll stability module and the lateral acceleration sensor is mounted onto a printed circuit board used in the module. In still a further embodiment, the trailer roll stability module is mounted onto a compressed air reservoir and the apparatus resists relative movement between the module and the reservoir. 
         [0008]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a trailer roll stability system control module is provided, which may nipple mount to a compressed air reservoir. In one embodiment, the trailer roll stability module is configured as a single channel unit and includes a lateral acceleration sensor. A leveling device may be included to ensure that the lateral acceleration sensor remains properly positioned relative to a reference point. 
         [0009]    Further aspects and concepts will become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the following description and appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    In the accompanying drawing, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, embodiments of the invention are illustrated, which, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to exemplify embodiments of the invention: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a component mounted to a reservoir according to one embodiment of an apparatus illustrating principles of present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the component mounted to the reservoir of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the component mounted to the reservoir of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a partial sectional perspective view of the component mounted to the reservoir of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a positioning apparatus illustrating the principles of the present invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of a positioning apparatus illustrating the principles of present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    While various aspects and concepts of the invention are described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects and concepts may be realized in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof. Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects and features of the invention, such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, devices, software, hardware, control logic and so on may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or identified herein as conventional or standard or later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the aspects, concepts or features of the invention into additional embodiments within the scope of the present invention even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Additionally, even though some features, concepts or aspects of the invention may be described herein as being a preferred arrangement or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such feature is required or necessary unless expressly so stated. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present invention however, such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to be critical values or ranges only if so expressly stated. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a portion of an antilock brake system of a commercial vehicle. The system  10  may include an air reservoir  12  for storing compressed air, a brake system component  14 , such as for example an electronic control module, which may be mounted to the reservoir along an axis  16 , and an apparatus  18  for aiding the proper positioning of the component  14  relative to a reference point, such as for example level ground or the reservoir  12 . The apparatus  18  may aid in establishing a position of the component  14  relative to the reference point, and/or may aid in maintaining the position of the component relative to the reference point. 
         [0019]    The air reservoir  12 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , is configured to store a supply of compressed air for use in the air brake system  10  of the vehicle. The reservoir  12  may have a generally cylindrical configuration with a curved outer side surface  20 , as is known in the art. Other configurations of the air reservoir  12 , however, are possible. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the air reservoir  12  may include a supply port  22  located on the side surface  20 . The supply port  22  may include a female thread for facilitating connection with a pneumatic line or a component of the brake system. 
         [0020]    In the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 , the brake system component  14  may be realized as an electronic control module. The electronic control module  14  may include a valve portion  24 , such as a modulator relay valve, and an electronic control unit portion  26 , such as an anti-lock brake system electronic control unit (ABS ECU). The electronic control unit portion  26  may include a lateral acceleration sensor  27 . In one embodiment, the lateral acceleration sensor  27  may be mounted to or integrated with a printed circuit board  28  used by the control unit portion  26 . The lateral acceleration sensor  27  may be mounted on the circuit board by any appropriate method, such as for example, soldering, as is known in the art. 
         [0021]    Vehicle roll stability systems, such as for example the Bendix® Trailer Roll Stability Program (TRSP), may utilize a lateral acceleration sensor to monitor the lateral forces on the vehicle. The electronic control module  14  and the lateral acceleration sensor  27  may, therefore, be components in a vehicle trailer roll stability system. The accuracy of a lateral acceleration sensor is dependent, in part, on being positioned substantially horizontal as measured relative to level ground. Thus, to obtain an accurate lateral acceleration reading, the lateral acceleration sensor  27  in  FIG. 4  is positioned and maintained such that the angle θ, as shown in  FIG. 4 , is kept small or zero, such as for example within about ±5 degrees of horizontal as measured from level ground. 
         [0022]    In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 , the printed circuit board  28 , when installed in the module  14 , resides along a top portion of the module. When the module  14 , is mounted to the reservoir  12 , the installer should ensure that the printed circuit board  28  and lateral acceleration sensor  27  are horizontal. 
         [0023]    The valve portion  24  may include a valve body  29  and a supply port  30 . The supply port  30  may include female threads for facilitating connection with the air reservoir  12  or another brake system component. The valve portion  24  may be an electro-pneumatic control valve, such as a modulator relay valve, for precisely modifying the brake pressure on command. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the electronic module  14  may mount to the air reservoir  12  via a nipple  32 , such as ¾″ NPT nipple, threaded between the reservoir supply port  22  and the module supply port  30 . The electronic module  14 , however, may mount to the reservoir  12  by any suitable means. 
         [0025]    The threaded connection between the module  14  and reservoir  12 , however, may allow the module, and lateral acceleration sensor  27 , to be improperly positioned. For example, a technician during maintenance on the vehicle might inadvertently rotate the module  14  to a position where the lateral acceleration sensor  27  is not substantially horizontal. Further, if the current module  14  is replaced, the new module might not be properly positioned when installed. As a result, the trailer roll stability system may not function properly. 
         [0026]    Since the lateral acceleration sensor  27  may be mounted on the module  14 , a means may be provided for aiding the initial positioning of the component and in maintaining the component in a position that allows the lateral acceleration sensor to function accurately. The apparatus  18 , as described herein, may provide this function. The exemplary embodiment of the apparatus  18  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , may be used as both a guide during installation of the module onto the reservoir and as a device for maintaining the component  14  substantially in position relative to the reservoir  12  so that the position of the lateral acceleration sensor  27  is not substantially disturbed. 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus  18 . The apparatus  18  may be configured as a thin plate having two substantially parallel side faces  34 , a first end portion  36 , and a second end portion  38  The apparatus  18 , however, may be configured in a variety of ways. The first end portion  36  may include one or more reservoir contact points or areas  40 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the contact points or areas  40  are located on two tabs  42  extending generally perpendicular relative to the side faces  34  of the apparatus  18 . However, any configuration of the contact points  40  that aid in aligning and maintaining the position of the reservoir mounted component  14  are possible. 
         [0028]    The second end portion  38  may fixably connect to the first end portion  36 . For example, the first and second end portions  36 ,  38  may be formed as a single, rigid component. The second end portion  38  is configured to interface with the component  14  and may include one or more mounting openings  43 . The mounting openings  43  may be configured to receive fasteners  44  for mounting the apparatus  18  to the module  14 , such as for example via mounting holes  45  in the module. The second end portion  38 , however, may be configured in a variety of ways. For example, the apparatus  18  may attach to the component  14  by any suitable means or the apparatus may be configured to attach to the reservoir  12  while utilizing an interfacing portion to block rotation of the reservoir mounted component. 
         [0029]    The apparatus  18  may be made from a variety of rigid materials. For example, the apparatus  18  may include metal, such as aluminum or stainless steel, glass reinforced plastic, or other similar materials. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , when the module  14  is threadably mounted to the reservoir  12  via the nipple  32 , the apparatus  18  may mount to the module  14  via the fasteners received through the opening  43 . The mounting openings  43  may be formed as slots that allow the apparatus  18  to be adjustably moved into contact with the reservoir  12 . In this position, the contacts points  40  on the apparatus  18  engage the reservoir  12  along its curved surface  20 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the surface of the reservoir  18  extends between the contact points  40  when the apparatus  18  is moved into position. Thus, any attempted rotation of the apparatus  18  and module  14  about the axis  16  is restricted by the engagement between of the reservoir surface  20  and the contact points  40 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 6  illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of the apparatus according to the principles of the present invention. The apparatus  18 ′ is substantially similar to the apparatus  18  of  FIG. 3  in that it includes a first end portion  36  including one or more reservoir contact points or areas  40 ′ and a second end portion  38 ′ for interfacing with the component  14 . In the apparatus of  FIG. 4 , however, the configuration of the contact points differs from the apparatus  18  of  FIG. 3  in that it does not include the tabs  42 . Instead, the contacts points  40 ′ extend axially from the apparatus  18 ′. 
         [0032]    The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Modification and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.