Emergency brake control system

Claim 2

An emergency brake control system for selectively applying and releasing the pressure actuated brakes of a vehicle when failure occurs in a primary brake control system comprising; emergency reservoir means having pressure fluid normally maintained at a first predetermined pressure independent of the pressure level of the primary brake control system; conduit means for selectively communicating pressure fluid from the emergency reservoir means to the pressure-actuated brakes to apply said brakes; and emergency control means in fluid communication with the conduit means and including a manually operable emergency control valve which permits an operator of the vehicle to selectively apply and release the brakes when the emergency reservoir pressure is above a second predetermined pressure which is lower than the first predetermined pressure, and after the emergency reservoir pressure drops below the second predetermined pressure only permitting the operator to apply the brakes.

Claim 3

A fluid-actuated emergency brake control system for selectively applying and releasing the pressure actuated brakes of a vehicle when fluid pressure in a primary brake control system drops below a predetermined level comprising: emergency reservoir means; first conduit means for normally communicating pressure fluid to the emergency reservoir means from a fluid pressure source which source also supplies pressure fluid to the primary brake control system; First valve means for maintaining a first predetermined pressure in the emergency reservoir means independent of the pressure in the primary brake control system; second conduit means for selectively communicating pressure fluid from the emergency reservoir means to said pressure-actuated brakes to apply said brakes; and, emergency control means in fluid communication with the second conduit means and including a manually operable emergency control valve which permits an operator of the vehicle to selectively apply and release the brakes when the emergency reservoir pressure is above a second predetermined pressure which is lower than the first predetermined pressure, and after the emergency reservoir pressure drops below the second predetermined pressure only permitting the operator to apply the brakes.

Claim 4

A fluid-actuated emergency brake control system for selectively applying and releasing the pressure actuated brakes of a vehicle when fluid pressure in a primary brake control system drops below a predetermined level comprising: emergency reservoir means; first conduit means for normally communicating pressure fluid to the emergency reservoir means from a fluid pressure source which source also supplies pressure fluid to the primary brake control system; First valve means for maintaining a first predetermined pressure in the emergency reservoir means independent of the pressure in the primary brake control system; second conduit means for selectively communicating pressure fluid from the emergency reservoir means to said pressure-actuated brakes to apply said brakes; and, emergency control means in fluid communication with the second conduit means and including a manually operable emergency control valve which permits an operator of the vehicle to selectively apply and release the brakes when the emergency reservoir pressure is above a second predetermined pressure which is lower than the first predetermined pressure, and after the emergency reservoir pressure drops below the second predetermined pressure only permitting the operator to apply the brakes.

Claim 5

A fluid-actuated emergency brake control system for selectively applying the pressure actuated brakes of a vehicle when fluid pressure in a primary brake control system drops below a predetermined level comprising: a source of pressure fluid; emergency reservoir means; first conduit means for normally communicating pressure fluid to the emergency reservoir means from the fluid pressure source; first valve means for maintaining a first predetermined pressure in the emergency reservoir means independent of the pressure at the fluid pressure source; inversion valve means having a supply port, a control port, and a delivery port; second conduit means communicating fluid pressure from the emergency reservoir to the supply port of the inversion valve; a manually operable emergency control valve having a supply port, delIvery port, and exhaust port; third conduit means communicating the emergency reservoir with the supply port of the emergency control valve; fourth conduit means communicating the delivery port of the emergency control valve with the control port of the inversion valve; fifth conduit means communicating the delivery port of the inversion valve with the pressure-actuated brakes of the vehicle; said emergency control valve operable to permit an operator of the vehicle to selectively exhaust pressure fluid from the fourth conduit means; said emergency control valve having a normally open condition to transmit emergency reservoir pressure through the fourth conduit to the control port of the inversion valve; the inversion valve having a normal operating condition wherein so long as the pressure in the fourth conduit is above a second predetermined pressure, the delivery port of the inversion valve will not communicate pressure fluid from the emergency reservoir to the brakes; said inversion valve having a second operating condition such that if the pressure in the fourth conduit drops below the second predetermined pressure the delivery port of the inversion valve will supply emergency reservoir pressure to the brakes through the fifth conduit to apply said brakes.

Claim 6

A fluid-actuated emergency brake control system for selectively applying the pressure actuated brakes of a vehicle when fluid pressure in a primary brake control system drops below a predetermined level comprising: a source of pressure fluid; emergency reservoir means; first conduit means for normally communicating pressure fluid to the emergency reservoir means from the fluid pressure source; first valve means for maintaining a first predetermined pressure in the emergency reservoir means independent of the pressure at the fluid pressure source; inversion valve means having a supply port, a control port, and a delivery port; second conduit means communicating fluid pressure from the emergency reservoir to the supply port of the inversion valve; a manually operable emergency control valve having a supply port, delIvery port, and exhaust port; third conduit means communicating the emergency reservoir with the supply port of the emergency control valve; fourth conduit means communicating the delivery port of the emergency control valve with the control port of the inversion valve; fifth conduit means communicating the delivery port of the inversion valve with the pressure-actuated brakes of the vehicle; said emergency control valve operable to permit an operator of the vehicle to selectively exhaust pressure fluid from the fourth conduit means; said emergency control valve having a normally open condition to transmit emergency reservoir pressure through the fourth conduit to the control port of the inversion valve; the inversion valve having a normal operating condition wherein so long as the pressure in the fourth conduit is above a second predetermined pressure, the delivery port of the inversion valve will not communicate pressure fluid from the emergency reservoir to the brakes; said inversion valve having a second operating condition such that if the pressure in the fourth conduit drops below the second predetermined pressure the delivery port of the inversion valve will supply emergency reservoir pressure to the brakes through the fifth conduit to apply said brakes.

Claim 7

An emergency brake control system as set forth in claim 3 wherein indicator means are provided in the cab of the vehicle to alert the operator of the vehicle when the pressure in the primary brake control system has dropped below a predetermined level.

Claim 8

An emergency brake control system as set forth in claim 4 wherein second indicator means are located in the cab of the vehicle to alert the operator when the pressure in the emergency reservoir has dropped below the second predetermined pressure.

Claim 9

An emergency brake control system as et forth in claim 3 wherein indicator means are located in the cab of the vehicle to alert the operator when the pressure in the emergency reservoir has dropped below the second predetermined pressure.