US3761138A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Captive air brake system for motor vehicles
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-04-19
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Granted: 1973-09-25
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Expires: 1991-04-19
Abstract
Abstract A brake system in which a brake-applying mechanism can be caused to apply vehicle brakes by means of captive air of a predetermined degree of pressure while the vehicle is in motion or has its motor running, and which can have its brakes applied by air at a reduced pressure while the vehicle is stationary or is parked. A metering valve is employed in the system to control the opposing force to captive air and placed in the general area where the master cylinder is located, the valve being provided with a foot pedal. The invention further contemplates the employment of a seat switch that is operable to cause brake application when the driver of the vehicle moves from his seat.
Inventors
- 👤 J Fontaine
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:44
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60T; B60T7/00; B60T7/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A brake mechanism comprising, brake-application mechanism, means for applying captive air under pressure to such mechanism to cause the application of the brakes on a vehicle, counter air pressure means for applying said counter air of greater force than the captive air on said brake-application mechanism to thereby prevent the captive air from applying the brakes, means for reducing the pressure of the captive air while the motor of the vehicle is not in operation to thereby enable the brakes to be applied at a reduced air pressure of the captive air while the vehicle is stationary, a container, the captive air being maintained in said container, the container having a diaphragm dividing it into two chambers, one of the chambers containing the captive air and the other chamber intermittently receiving the high pressure air, electrically controlled valve means for causing the captive air to exert its full force against the diaphragm, electrically controlled means for controlling the flow of tHe higher pressure air against the diaphragm, and the means for reducing the pressure of the captive air being a regulator valve located within the chamber in which the captive air is contained.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
A brake mechanism comprising, brake-application mechanism, means for applying captive air under pressure to such mechanism to cause the application of the brakes on a vehicle, counter air pressure means for applying said counter air of greater force than the captive air on said brake-application mechanism to thereby prevent the captive air from applying the brakes, means for reducing the pressure of the captive air while the motor of the vehicle is not in operation to thereby enable the brakes to be applied at a reduced air pressure of the captive air while the vehicle is stationary, a container, the captive air being maintained in said container, the container having a diaphragm dividing it into two chambers, one of the chambers containing the captive air and the other chamber intermittently receiving the high pressure air, electrically controlled valve means for causing the captive air to exert its full force against the diaphragm, electrically controlled means for controlling the flow of tHe higher pressure air against the diaphragm, and the means for reducing the pressure of the captive air being a regulator valve located within the chamber in which the captive air is contained.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
114 words
A brake system for motor vehicles comprising, brake-applying mechanism, means for applying captive air under pressure to such mechanism to enable the application of the brakes to be secured when the vehicle is in motion, electrically controlled means for causing the captive air to exert its full force on the brake-applying mechanism for causing brake-application, electrically controlled means for controlling the flow of a higher pressure air to reduce the pressure of the captive air and to secure a condition to enable the brakes to be applied during parking, and while the captive air is at such reduced pressure, the means for reducing the pressure of the captive air being an air regulating device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
114 words
A brake system for motor vehicles comprising, brake-applying mechanism, means for applying captive air under pressure to such mechanism to enable the application of the brakes to be secured when the vehicle is in motion, electrically controlled means for causing the captive air to exert its full force on the brake-applying mechanism for causing brake-application, electrically controlled means for controlling the flow of a higher pressure air to reduce the pressure of the captive air and to secure a condition to enable the brakes to be applied during parking, and while the captive air is at such reduced pressure, the means for reducing the pressure of the captive air being an air regulating device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A brake mechanism according to claim 1, including an electrical circuit for controlling the captive air and the high pressure air, the circuit including a seat switch effective to cause the exhaust of the high pressure air from its chamber when the seat of said switch is unoccupied.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
146 words
A brake mechanism comprising, a container divided by a partition and a diaphragm into two chambers, the first of said chambers containing captive air under pressure and which urges its force against the diaphragm to flex the same, brake-application means controlled by the diaphragm and caused to apply the brakes of a vehicle when the diaphragm is flexed in one direction, the second chamber intermittently receiving high pressure air at selected intervals to exert a counter force against the diaphragm and prevent its movement toward brake-application, an electrical circuit including means for controlling the flow of the captive air to the diaphragm, a regulator valve for controlling the pressure of the captive air to the diaphragm when the electrical circuit is open-circuited, electrically controlled means for controlling the flow of the high pressure air into the second chamber, and switch means included in the electrical circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
146 words
A brake mechanism comprising, a container divided by a partition and a diaphragm into two chambers, the first of said chambers containing captive air under pressure and which urges its force against the diaphragm to flex the same, brake-application means controlled by the diaphragm and caused to apply the brakes of a vehicle when the diaphragm is flexed in one direction, the second chamber intermittently receiving high pressure air at selected intervals to exert a counter force against the diaphragm and prevent its movement toward brake-application, an electrical circuit including means for controlling the flow of the captive air to the diaphragm, a regulator valve for controlling the pressure of the captive air to the diaphragm when the electrical circuit is open-circuited, electrically controlled means for controlling the flow of the high pressure air into the second chamber, and switch means included in the electrical circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A brake mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the switch means includes an ignition switch and a seat switch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-24 | 1977-03-26 | 1977-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-24 | 1981-03-26 | 1981-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-24 | 1985-03-26 | 1985-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |