Anti-skid system and method

Claim 2

An anti-skid system for use in connection with wheeled vehicles provided with a pressurized fluid braking system and at least one axle for each pair of wheels, the axle being contained within an axle housing, said system comprising axle torque sensing means positionally mounted exteriorly of the braking system and in operative communication with an axle on the vehicle for sensing sudden changes in the torque of the axle, control means mounted on the vehicle exteriorly of said braking system and in operative communication with said axle torque sensing means, and said control means being in operative communication with the pressurized fluid braking system of the vehicle, whereby a sudden change in the axle torque manifesting an impending wheel lock-up will be sensed by said axle torque sensing means and this information then communicated to said control means, which in turn operates to relieve fluid pressure from the braking system of the particular wheel wherein such impending wheel lock-up is occurring thereby relieving the brake pressure and permitting the wheel to rotate more freely avoiding wheel lock-up and resulting vehicle skid.

Claim 3

The anti-skid system as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein the vehicle is provided with a separate axle torque sensing means and control means for each wheel of the vehicle.

Claim 4

The anti-skid system as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein said axle torque sensing means includes a first end mounted on the axle housing of an associated axle and a second end mounted on the body of the vehicle.

Claim 5

The anti-skid system as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein said axle torque sensing means comprises a torque rod including a housing forming a chamber, a piston disposed for sliding movement within said housing, said piston head to provide a fluid path through said piston head, fluid completely filling said housing so as to exert fluid pressure under conditions of stress, and fluid pressure sensing means disposed in said housing and positioned internally of said piston head and in fluid pressure communication with said fluid in said housing and with said control means, whereby sudden changes in the torque of the axle causes movement of said piston within said housing resulting in a pressure exerted upon the fluid within the housing, which pressure is in turn sensed by said fluid pressure sensing means and communicated to said control means which in turn regulates the fluid pressure in the braking system by relieving such pressure to release the brakes and permit relatively free rotation of the wheels.

Claim 6

The anti-skid system as set forth in claim 4 above, wherein said fluid pressure sensing means comprises a tubular chamber having a flexible end wall and a port disposed in the top wall, a fluid line interconnecting said port with said control means, and fluid under pressure contained within said tubular chamber and fluid line, whereby pressure exerted against the end wall of said tubular chamber causes a concomitant pressure upon the fluid within said chamber and said fluid line and causes said control means to operate in response to said fluid pressure to relieve the brake pressure and permit free rotation of the vehicle wheels.

Claim 7

An anti-skid system for use in connection with wheeled vehicles provided with a pressurized fluid braking system of the type including a fluid supply reservoir and a service brake chamber which actuates the brake applying mechanism by means of fluid under pressure and at least one axle for each pair of wheels the axle being contained within the axle housing, the system comprising a torque rod having one end thereof mounted on the axle housing of an axle of said vehicle and exteriorly of the braking system so as to be sensitive to sudden changes in the torque of said axle, control means mounted exteriorly of said braking system and in operative communication with said torque rod and in operative communication with the service brake chamber of the brake actuating mechanism, said control means being actuated by movement of said torque rod under conditions of sudden reduction of axle torque, whereby movement of said torque rod in response to a sudden reduction of the torque in the axle of the vehicle will activate said control means thereby to establish fluid communication between the service brake chamber of the brake actuating mechanism and said control means thereby to withdraw fluid pressure from the service brake chamber causing the brake mechanism to relieve the brake pressure and permit the wheel to rotate more freely.

Claim 8

An anti-skid system for use in connection with wheeled vehicles provided with a pressurized fluid braking system of the type including a fluid supply reservoir and a service brake chamber which actuates the brake applying mechanism by means of fluid under pressure and at least one axle for each pair of wheels the axle being contained within the axle housing, the system comprising a torque rod having one end thereof mounted on the axle housing of an axle of said vehicle and exteriorly of the braking system so as to be sensitive to sudden changes in the torque of said axle, control means mounted exteriorly of said braking system and in operative communication with said torque rod and in operative communication with the service brake chamber of the brake actuating mechanism, said control means being actuated by movement of said torque rod under conditions of sudden reduction of axle torque, whereby movement of said torque rod in response to a sudden reduction of the torque in the axle of the vehicle will activate said control means thereby to establish fluid communication between the service brake chamber of the brake actuating mechanism and said control means thereby to withdraw fluid pressure from the service brake chamber causing the brake mechanism to relieve the brake pressure and permit the wheel to rotate more freely.

Claim 9

The anti-skid system as set forth in claim 6 above, wherein said torque rod includes a cylindrical housing, said housing having a mounting eye at its rear end for mounting on the vehicle body and an apertured closing at its forward end, a piston movably disposed within said housing, said piston having a piston head adjacent its rear end in fluid sealing contact with the interior walls of said housing and an arm extending through the aperture in the forward end of said housing for mounting on the axle housing, said piston head including an orifice extending therethrough to establish fluid communication across said piston head, fluid completely filling said housing, and fluid pressure sensing means in fluid communication with the fluid within the housing and with said control means, whereby sudden changes in the torque of the associated axle will cause movement of said piston within said housing exerting a pressure against said fluid within said housing which is sensed by said fluid pressure sensing means and in turn communicated to said control means thereby to activate said control means and relieve the brake pressure to permit the associated wheel to rotate more freely.

Claim 10

The anti-skid system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said torque rod includes a pair of springs for spring-biasing said piston head of said piston within said housing.

Claim 11

The anti-skid system as set forth in claim 6 above, wherein said control means comprises a housing forming a main chamber, said main chamber including a fluid exit passageway, a flexible diaphragm extending across said main chamber and forming a lower valve chamber, a fluid inlet port and fluid outlet port in fluid communication with said lower valve chamber, a valve member biasingly interposed between said fluid inlet and outlet ports in dynamic relationship, said diaphragm including a valve seat mounted thereon and biasingly positioned for seating engagement against said valve member for opening and closing a fluid path between said main chamber and said lower valve chamber, counter-biasing means disposed in said main chamber in fluid communication with said torque rod and positioned to operatively seat and unseat said valve seat, whereby sudden changes in the axle torque of the vehicle are communicated to said counter-biasing means thereby to unseat said valve seat from said valve member and provide a fluid path from said fluid outlet port to said fluid exit passageway.

Claim 12

The anti-skid system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said counter-biasing means comprises a flexible bellows member.

Claim 13

The anti-skid system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said fluid inlet port is in fluid communication with fluid supply reservoir on the vehicle and said fluid outlet port is in fluid communication with the service brake chamber of the brake actuating mechanism.

Claim 14

An anti-skid system for use in connection with wheeled vehicles provided with a pressurized fluid braking system of the type including a fluid supply reservoir and a service brake chamber which actuates the brake applying mechanism by means of fluid under pressure and at least one axle for each pair of wheels, the axle being contained within, or affixed to the end of an axle housing, the system comprising a torque rod including a housing forming chamber, a piston disposed for sliding movement within said housing, said piston provided with a piston head in fluid sealing contact with the interior walls of said housing, an orifice transversing said piston head to provide a fluid path through said piston head, fluid completely filling said housing so as to exert fluid pressure under conditions of stress, and fluid pressure sensing means in fluid pressure communication with said fluid in said housing, control means comprising a housing forming a main chamber, said main chamber including a fluid exit passageway, a flexible diaphragm extending across said main chamber and forming a lower valve chamber, a fluid inlet port and fluid outlet port in fluid communication with said lower valve chamber, a valve member biasingly interposed between said fluid inlet and fluid outlet ports in dynamic relationship, said diaphragm including a valve seat mounted thereon and biasingly positioned for seating engagement against said valve member for opening and closing a fluid path between said main chamber and said lower valve chamber, counter-biasing means disposed in said main chamber in fluid communication with said fluid pressure sensing means in said torque rod and positioned to operably seat and unseat said valve seat, whereby sudden changes in the torque of the associated axle causes movement of said piston within said housing of said torque rod resulting in a pressure being exerted upon the fluid witHin the housing, which pressure is in turn sensed by said fluid pressure sensing means and communicated to said counter-biasing means of said control means thereby to unseat said valve seat from said valve member and provide a fluid path from said fluid outlet port to said fluid exit passageway so that fluid from said fluid outlet port may flow through the fluid path from the lower valve chamber to said main chamber and out of said fluid exit passageway resulting in a release of brake pressure and thereby permitting the associated wheel to rotate more freely.

Claim 15

An anti-skid system for use in connection with wheeled vehicles provided with a pressurized fluid braking system of the type including a fluid supply reservoir and a service brake chamber which actuates the brake applying mechanism by means of fluid under pressure and at least one axle for each pair of wheels, the axle being contained within, or affixed to the end of an axle housing, the system comprising a torque rod including a housing forming chamber, a piston disposed for sliding movement within said housing, said piston provided with a piston head in fluid sealing contact with the interior walls of said housing, an orifice transversing said piston head to provide a fluid path through said piston head, fluid completely filling said housing so as to exert fluid pressure under conditions of stress, and fluid pressure sensing means in fluid pressure communication with said fluid in said housing, control means comprising a housing forming a main chamber, said main chamber including a fluid exit passageway, a flexible diaphragm extending across said main chamber and forming a lower valve chamber, a fluid inlet port and fluid outlet port in fluid communication with said lower valve chamber, a valve member biasingly interposed between said fluid inlet and fluid outlet ports in dynamic relationship, said diaphragm including a valve seat mounted thereon and biasingly positioned for seating engagement against said valve member for opening and closing a fluid path between said main chamber and said lower valve chamber, counter-biasing means disposed in said main chamber in fluid communication with said fluid pressure sensing means in said torque rod and positioned to operably seat and unseat said valve seat, whereby sudden changes in the torque of the associated axle causes movement of said piston within said housing of said torque rod resulting in a pressure being exerted upon the fluid witHin the housing, which pressure is in turn sensed by said fluid pressure sensing means and communicated to said counter-biasing means of said control means thereby to unseat said valve seat from said valve member and provide a fluid path from said fluid outlet port to said fluid exit passageway so that fluid from said fluid outlet port may flow through the fluid path from the lower valve chamber to said main chamber and out of said fluid exit passageway resulting in a release of brake pressure and thereby permitting the associated wheel to rotate more freely.

Claim 16

A torque rod for use in connection with an anti-skid system provided for wheeled vehicles having a pressurized fluid braking system and at least one axle for each pair of wheels, the axle being contained within an axle housing, said torque rod comprising a housing forming a chamber, a piston disposed for sliding movement within said housing, said piston provided with a piston head in fluid sealing contact with the interior walls of said housing, an orifice transversing said piston head to provide a fluid path through said piston head, fluid completely filling said housing so as to exert fluid pressure under conditions of stress, and fluid pressure sensing means positioned interiorly of said piston head and in fluid pressure communication with said fluid in said housing and ultimately with the braking system of the vehicle, whereby sudden changes in the torque of the axle will cause movement of said piston within said housing and thereby exert a pressure on said fluid within said housing, which fluid pressure is sensed by said fluid pressure sensing means and ultimately transmitted to said braking system of the vehicle thereby to reduce the brake presure of the brake actuating mechanism and permit the associated wheel to rotate more freely.

Claim 17

A torque rod for use in connection with an anti-skid system provided for wheeled vehicles having a pressurized fluid braking system and at least one axle for each pair of wheels, the axle being contained within an axle housing, said torque rod comprising a housing forming a chamber, a piston disposed for sliding movement within said housing, said piston provided with a piston head in fluid sealing contact with the interior walls of said housing, an orifice transversing said piston head to provide a fluid path through said piston head, fluid completely filling said housing so as to exert fluid pressure under conditions of stress, and fluid pressure sensing means positioned interiorly of said piston head and in fluid pressure communication with said fluid in said housing and ultimately with the braking system of the vehicle, whereby sudden changes in the torque of the axle will cause movement of said piston within said housing and thereby exert a pressure on said fluid within said housing, which fluid pressure is sensed by said fluid pressure sensing means and ultimately transmitted to said braking system of the vehicle thereby to reduce the brake presure of the brake actuating mechanism and permit the associated wheel to rotate more freely.

Claim 18

The torque rod assembly as set forth in claim 13 above, wherein said torque rod includes a pair of springs for spring biasing said piston head of said piston within said housing.

Claim 19

The torque rod assembly as set forth in claim 13 above, wherein the rear end of said torque rod is mounted on the axle housing of an associated axle of the vehicle, and the forward end of said torque rod is mounted on the body of the vehicle whereby movement of the axle as measured against the vehicle body is sensed by said torque rod for ultimately controlling the brake pressure existing in the brake actuating mechanism of the associated wheel thereby to control and prevent wheel lock-up and resulting skid situations.

Claim 20

The torque rod assembly as set forth in claim 13 above, wherein said fluid pressure sensing means comprises a tubular chamber having a flexible end wall and a port disposed in the top wall, a fluid line interconnecting said port with the braking control system of the vehicle, and fluid under pressure contained within said tubular chamber and said fluid line, whereby pressure exerted against said end wall of said tubular chamber causes a concomitant pressure upon the fluid within said tubular chamber and said fluid line and causes fluid pressure to be exerted in said fluid line and against the braking control system thereby to ultimately relieve the fluid brake pressure in the associated vehicle wheel and permit free rotation of the vehicle wheel.