Anti-skid brake system

Claim 2

An anti-skid brake system for a vehicle comprising, in combination a brake including a rotating assembly rotating in response to movement of the vehicle and a brake element cooperating with the assembly to selectively decelerate same; a sensing device adjacent said rotating assembly, said sensing device having an output; means on said rotating assembly to intermittently operate said sensing device at a rate proportional to the speed of rotation of the rotating assembly to produce a signal at said output at a frequency proportional to the speed of rotation of the rotating assembly; said sensing device including means responsive only to a speed of rotation of the rotating assembly below a predetermined value; and means to pulse the brake system at a rate proportional to said signal frequency at said output of said sensing device, whereby, the brake system is pulsed at a rate proportional to the speed of rotation of the rotating assembly; said sensing means being ineffective to pulse the brake system when the vehicle is at test and the rotating assembly is stationary.

Claim 3

A system according to claim 1 wherein said rotating assembly includes a brake drum; and said means on said rotating assembly is connected to the brake drum for rotation therewith.

Claim 4

A system according to claim 2 wherein said means on said rotating assembly includes spaced apart portions of a material to which said sensing means is responsive, said spaced apart portions moving with said brake drum along a predetermIned path of travel; and said sensing device is mounted adjacent the path of travel of said spaced apart portion.

Claim 5

A system according to claim 3 wherein said spaced apart portions are portions of magnetic material; and said sensing means includes switch means adjacent the path of travel of said magnetic material portions; one of said switch means and said magnetic material portions including a magnet.

Claim 6

A system according to claim 4 wherein said switch means includes said magnet.

Claim 7

A system according to claim 1 which further includes brake operating means to selectively energize said brake; and means responsive to energization of said brake to operate said means to pulse the brake system only when said brake is energized.

Claim 8

A system according to claim 1 wherein said brake system is of the hydraulic type; and said means to pulse the brake system is a pump element communicating with the system and alternately increasing and decreasing the pressure in said system at said proportional rate.

Claim 9

An anti-skid brake system for a vehicle comprising, in combination a brake including a rotating assembly rotating in response to movement of the vehicle and a brake element cooperating with the assembly to selectively decelerate same; a sensing device adjacent said rotating assembly means on said rotating assembly to intermittently operate said sensing device at a rate proportional to the speed of rotation of the rotating assembly; said sensing device including means responsive only to a speed of rotation below a predetermined value; means to pulse the brake system at a rate proportional to said rate of operation of said sensing device; said rotating assembly being the rotor of a disc type brake; and said means on rotating assembly including cooling fins of said rotor.

Claim 10

An anti-skid brake system for a vehicle comprising, in combination a brake including a rotating assembly rotating in response to movement of the vehicle and a brake element cooperating with the assembly to selectively decelerate same; a sensing device adjacent said rotating assembly means on said rotating assembly to intermittently operate said sensing device at a rate proportional to the speed of rotation of the rotating assembly; said sensing device including means responsive only to a speed of rotation below a predetermined value; means to pulse the brake system at a rate proportional to said rate of operation of said sensing device; said rotating assembly being the rotor of a disc type brake; and said means on rotating assembly including cooling fins of said rotor.

Claim 11

A system according to claim 8, wherein said fins are of magnetic material; and said sensing means includes switch means, and magnet means to operate said switch means in response to travel of a cooling fin adjacent said magnet means.

Claim 12

An anti-skid brake system for a vehicle comprising, in combination a brake assembly comprising a first brake element coupled to a wheel of the vehicle and rotating with the wheel, and a second brake element associated with the first brake element and energizable to brake said first element; a sensing device including a switch; actuating means rotating with said first brake element and intermittently actuating said switch at a frequency proportional to the speed of rotation of said first brake element, said actuating means comprising a plurality of spaced apart portions of magnetic material means mounting said switch adjacent the path of travel of said magnetic material portions; said switch including a magnetic actuator responsive to movement of each of said magnetic material portions adjacent said actuator to actuate said switch only when the velocity of said magnetic material portions is below a predetermined value; means to energize said second brake element; and means to alternately increase and decrease the extent of energization of said second brake element at a frequency proportional to the frequency of actuation of said switch.

Claim 13

An anti-skid brake system for a vehicle comprising, in combination a brake assembly comprising a first brake element coupled to a wheel of the vehicle and rotating with the wheel, and a second brake element associated with the first brake element and energizable to brake said first element; a sensing device including a switch; actuating means rotating with said first brake element and intermittently actuating said switch at a frequency proportional to the speed of rotation of said first brake element, said actuating means comprising a plurality of spaced apart portions of magnetic material means mounting said switch adjacent the path of travel of said magnetic material portions; said switch including a magnetic actuator responsive to movement of each of said magnetic material portions adjacent said actuator to actuate said switch only when the velocity of said magnetic material portions is below a predetermined value; means to energize said second brake element; and means to alternately increase and decrease the extent of energization of said second brake element at a frequency proportional to the frequency of actuation of said switch.

Claim 14

A system according to claim 10 wherein said brake system is a hydraulic brake system including a pump to energize said second brake element by applying pressure on the brake element via a hydraulic line extending between the pump and brake element; and said means to intermittently reduce the extent of energization of said second brake element includes means communicating with said hydraulic line to intermittently reduce the hydraulic pressure in the line.

Claim 15

A system according to claim 11 wherein said means communicating with said hydraulic line includes a second pump having a movable operating member communicating with said hydraUlic line, and motor means to move said operating member in response to actuation of said switch means.

Claim 16

A system according to claim 12 wherein said motor means comprises an armature connected to said operating member, and an electromagnet to move said armature.

Claim 17

A system according to claim 10 wherein said switch means comprises a first switch, and a second switch; and actuating means including a magnet to actuate said switch means sequentially in response to travel of said magnetic material portions adjacent said armature means.