TRAILER"

DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention [0001]The present invention pertains to the field of farm vehicles, and in particular to the field of apparatuses for the braking process of vehicles consisting of a tractor and one or more trailers.

Background art [0002]The need is strongly felt in such a field to provide braking apparatuses provided with specific control systems which take into consideration the presence of the trailers, which obviously have a considerable impact on the braking performance of the entire vehicle. There are several apparatuses for the braking process of vehicles with a trailer.

[0003]For example, some solutions are disclosed in documents WO-A1-2018/077470, WO-A1-2016/192855, WO-A1-

2015/104168, EP2123528, WO-A1-2008/141740 and EP1800982. Object of the invention

[0004]It is the object of the present invention to provide a further apparatus for the braking process of vehicles with a trailer, the control system of which is particularly effective. [0005]Such an object is achieved by an apparatus for the braking process of a vehicle with a trailer according to claim 1. The dependent claims describe further advantageous embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings [0006]The features and advantages of the braking apparatus according to the present invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of non limiting example, according to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 diagrammatically shows a vehicle with tractor and trailer, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

- Figure 2 shows a diagram of the method for managing the braking process according to the present invention. Description of an embodiment

[0007]With reference to accompanying Figure 1, a vehicle 1 consists of a tractor 2 and at least one trailer 4, which is operatively connected to tractor 2 to be dragged by the latter. [0008]Tractor 2 comprises an internal combustion engine 6 and a gearbox assembly 8 connected to engine 6 and to the rear wheel axle 10 of tractor 2 to actuate it in rotation.

[0009]Tractor 2 further comprises electronic management means 100 for managing the braking process of the tractor and the trailer. Said management means 100 comprise vehicle control means 20, trailer braking control means 22, gearbox control means 24 and engine control means 26, all operatively connected to the vehicle control means 20. The vehicle control means 20 operate as masters with respect to the other control means 22, 24, 26, which operate as slaves.

[0010]A braking apparatus according to the present invention comprises a tractor brake system and a trailer brake system.

[0011]Tractor 2 comprises the tractor brake system, comprising a brake 12 applied to each wheel 10, for example to the hub thereof, which is adapted to apply a braking action to said wheel 10. The tractor brake system further comprises a brake assembly 40, comprising at least one brake pedal which may be actuated by a driver sitting in the driving cabin, a brake pump which may be actuated by the brake pedal and is operatively connected to each brake 12, and a brake sensor adapted to detect the actuation of the brake pedal, as well as a braking pressure sensor 42 for detecting and signaling the braking pressure applied by the brake pump.

[0012]According to one embodiment variant, the brake assembly 40 comprises a right brake pedal and a left brake pedal for the braking process of the right wheels alone and of the left wheels alone, respectively.

[0013]The brake sensor is operatively connected to the management means 100, and in particular to the vehicle control means 20, in order to signal the actuation of the brake pedal. Moreover, the braking pressure sensor 42 is operatively connected to the management means 100, and in particular to the vehicle control means 20, in order to signal the amount of the pressure generated by the actuation of the pump. [0014]Tractor 2 further comprises a trailer brake device comprising a hydraulic or pneumatic trailer pump 60 for the braking process of the trailer, preferably a main trailer tank 62 for storing pressurized oil or air, fed by the trailer pump 60, and a trailer brake master valve 70 supplied by means of the main trailer pump 60 and/or the main trailer tank 62, which is controlled by the brake assembly 12 and is operatively connected to the management means 100, and in particular to the trailer braking control means 22. [0015]The trailer brake device further comprises a trailer interface 78 for the hydraulic or pneumatic connection with trailer 4. In particular, the trailer interface 78 comprises a power socket 80 connected to the trailer brake master valve 70 for supplying pressurized oil or air to actuate the trailer brakes, and a signal socket 82 connected to the trailer brake master valve 70 for sending a hydraulic or pneumatic control signal for the braking process.

[0016]Moreover, tractor 2 preferably comprises a clinometer 50 for detecting the inclination of the tractor due to the slope of the road surface on which the tractor is traveling. The clinometer 50 is operatively connected to the management means 100, and in particular to the vehicle control means 20. [0017]Moreover, tractor 2 preferably comprises a display

30 for providing the driver with information, which is preferably located in the driving cabin of the tractor. Display 30 is operatively connected to the management means 100, and in particular to the vehicle control means 20.

[0018]Finally, tractor 2 further comprises an accelerator 90 for the acceleration of the vehicle. Accelerator 90 is also operatively connected to the management means 100, and in particular to the vehicle control means 20. [0019]According to one embodiment variant, accelerator 90 comprises an accelerator pedal which may be foot-operated by the driver and/or an accelerator knob which may be hand-operated by the driver.

[0020]Trailer 4 comprises a trailer brake system which may be connected to the trailer interface 78, comprising a secondary trailer brake valve 110 operatively connected to the power socket 80 by means of a trailer brake circuit 120 and to the signal socket 82, a trailer brake 112 applied to each wheel 114 of trailer 4, for example to the hub thereof, adapted to apply a braking action to said wheel 114, operatively connected to the secondary trailer brake valve 110, and preferably a secondary trailer tank 118 for storing pressurized oil or air for the trailer brake circuit. For example, the secondary trailer tank 118 is connected to the trailer brake circuit 120.

[0021]According to the invention, the management means 100, and the gearbox control means 24 in particular, are configured to detect the actual deceleration a _R for the vehicle on the basis of the longitudinal speed, for example on the basis of the rotation speed of the rear axle.

[0022]Moreover, the management means 100 are configured to calculate an expected deceleration a _E for the vehicle on the basis of parameters P, and a difference Aa between the expected deceleration and the actual deceleration (Aa = a _E - a _R) ; said management means 100, and the trailer braking management means 22 in particular, are also configured to bias the braking action of the trailer so as to reduce said difference Aa. [0023]In particular, the expected deceleration is calculated on the basis of the following parameters P:

PI) mechanical features of the trailer braking system (such as, for example, type of brake, diameter of the brake discs, type of pads);

P2) pressure of the fluid in the tractor brake system, preferably detected by the braking pressure sensor 42;

P3) inclination of the tractor, preferably detected by the clinometer 50; P4) action applied by the inertia of the engine (engine brake);

P5) mechanical features of the tractor (such as, for example diameter of the wheels, mass of the tractor), torque exerted by the idle engine (calculated on the basis of the power absorbed by the auxiliary devices connected to the engine - alternator, compressor, hydraulic pumps, fan - under inactive machine conditions, also with transmission engaged), state of the "trailer stretch" mode (only for CVT transmissions; this is a mode which allows the drive ratio which is blocked - while usually it would vary - to be acted on to allow the braking process and traction to co-exist to keep the train drawn); status of the "over performance" mode (only

CVT transmissions; this is a mode which allows the gradient of variation of transmission ratio to be intensified during the deceleration). Both the "trailer stretch" and "over performance" parameters apply a fixed offset to the desired deceleration.

[0024]The parameters P preferably are used according to the instantaneous value (pure values), while the expected deceleration a _E and/or the actual deceleration a _R are filtered so as to mitigate the effects of an oscillation which is too quick (filtered values).

[0025]By way of example, consider a vehicle travelling along a downhill road. When the driver actuates the brakes, the management means detect the actual deceleration, which obviously is affected by the thrust action of the trailer on the tractor and therefore is less intense than what the driver is expecting, they compare it with the expected deceleration and work on the braking process of the trailer, for example intensifying it, to ensure the pulling action on the tractor results in the vehicle decelerating, as expected by the driver. [0026]Innovatively, the braking apparatus according to the present invention meets the needs of the sector and, in particular, allows the vehicle to have a braking process similar to the one expected by the driver for the tractor alone.

[0027]It is clear that, in order to meet contingent needs, those skilled in the art may make changes to the braking apparatus described above, all contained within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims.