Cable brake for trucks

Claim 1

IN A MANUAL BRAKE OPERATOR FOR VEHICLE BRAKES, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: A FRAME FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE VEHICLE; A SHAFT MOUNTED ON THE FRAME AT A FIXED POSITION RELATIVE THERETO; AN OPERATING LEVER HAVING AN ELONGATED OPENING THEREIN RECEIVING THE SHAFT TO PIVOTALLY MOUNT THE LEVER UPON THE FRAME TO ROCK ABOUT THE SHAFT AS A FIRST FULCRUM, SAID LEVER HAVING A RATCHET ENGAGING TOOTH; A RATCHET WHEEL AND DRUM ASSEMBLY ON SAID SHAFT AND ROTATABLE BY ENGAGEMENT OF THE TOOTH ON THE LEVER WITH THE RATCHET WHEEL TO WIND A BRAKE OPERATING CABLE ON THE DRUM WHEN THE DRUM AND LEVER ARE ROTATED IN THE FORWARD DIRECTION; A PAWL PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE FRAME, AND MEANS URGING THE PAWL TO A POSITION TO ENGAGE THE RATCHET WHEEL TO HOLD IT AGAINST REVERSE ROTATION INDUCED BY TENSION IN THE CABLE; STATIONARY MEANS MOUNTED DIRECTLY ON THE FRAME ENGAGEABLE WITH THE LEVER TO ESTABLISH A SECOND FULCRUM SPACED FROM THE FIRST FULCRUM AND ABOUT WHICH THE LEVER CAN ROCK, ROCKING MOVEMENT OF THE LEVER ABOUT THE SECOND FULCRUM IN A REVERSE DIRECTION SHIFTING THE LEVER TO A POSITION IN WHICH THE TOOTH ON THE LEVER IS OUT OF THE PATH OF THE RATCHET WHEEL; AND MEANS PROVIDING MUTUALLY ENGAGEABLE CAM SURFACES ON THE LEVER AND PAWL BROUGH INTO CONTACT BY SAID REVERSE ROCKING MOVEMENT OF THE LEVER, WHEREBY CONTINUED REVERSE MOVEMENT OF THE LEVER FORCES THE PAWL OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RATCHET WHEEL.