US3768606A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surge brake with solenoid-actuated master cylinder lock and emergency release
Assignee: Bendix Corp
•
Filing: 1972-06-29
•
Granted: 1973-10-30
•
Expires: 1992-06-29
Abstract
Abstract A surge-type brake actuator is disclosed which includes a pair of relatively movable members which cooperate with one another to apply the brakes of a towed vehicle when the towed vehicle moves relative to the towing vehicle when the brakes of the latter are applied. The actuator includes a preloaded spring which cooperates with one of the members to urge the latter relative to the other member, and a latching mechanism which normally prevents the spring from generating this relative movement. The latching mechanism is controlled by a solenoid actuator which is wired to the towing vehicle''s stop light switch so that the latching mechanism is released whenever the operator of the towing vehicle initiates a brake application. A manual control may also be provided in the operator''s compartment of the towing vehicle so that the solenoid actuator may also be controlled at the discretion of the driver to permit the preloaded spring to apply the towed vehicle''s brakes a very small amount even if the towing vehicle''s brakes are released. The latching mechanism includes structure which is responsive to the force generated due to attempted relative movement between the members to permit application of the towed vehicle''s brakes even when the latching mechanism is engaged when the force generated by attempted relative movement between the vehicles exceeds a predetermined amount.
Inventors
- 👤 W Mizen
- 👤 R Lewis
- 👤 R Hendrickson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:57
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H35/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
In a brake control device for actuating the brakes of a towed vehicle in response to actuation of the brakes of a towing vehicle: brake-applying means responsive to relative movement between said vehicles to apply the brakes of the towed vehicle upon movement of said towed vehicle toward said towing vehicle; and control means normally inhibiting said brake-applying means to prevent actuation of the brakes of the towed vehicle, said control means being releasable upon initiation of a brake application by the operator of the towing vehicle to permit actuation of the brakes of the towed vehicle; said control means including locking means normally preventing actuation of said brake-applying means and an actuator for releasing said locking means; and an energy storage device connected to said brake-applying means for operating the latter upon release of the locking means; said actuator being actuated by initiation of a brake application of the towing vehicle whereby actuation of the brakes of the towing vehicle permits said energy storage device to apply the brakes of the towed vehicle to a first predetermined level even in the absence of relative movement between the towed vehicle and the towing vehicle, and subsequent relative movement between the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle actuates the brakes of the latter by an additional amount.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
In a brake control device for actuating the brakes of a towed vehicle in response to actuation of the brakes of a towing vehicle: brake-applying means responsive to relative movement between said vehicles to apply the brakes of the towed vehicle upon movement of said towed vehicle toward said towing vehicle; and control means normally inhibiting said brake-applying means to prevent actuation of the brakes of the towed vehicle, said control means being releasable upon initiation of a brake application by the operator of the towing vehicle to permit actuation of the brakes of the towed vehicle; said control means including locking means normally preventing actuation of said brake-applying means and an actuator for releasing said locking means; and an energy storage device connected to said brake-applying means for operating the latter upon release of the locking means; said actuator being actuated by initiation of a brake application of the towing vehicle whereby actuation of the brakes of the towing vehicle permits said energy storage device to apply the brakes of the towed vehicle to a first predetermined level even in the absence of relative movement between the towed vehicle and the towing vehicle, and subsequent relative movement between the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle actuates the brakes of the latter by an additional amount.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention of claim 1; and means actuated by the operator of the towing vehicle to operate said actuator whereby the brakes of the towed vehicle may be actuated when the brakes of the towing vehicle are released.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
169 words
In a brake control device for actuating the brakes of a towed vehicle in response to actuation of the brakes of a towing vehicle; brake-applying means responsive to relative movement between said vehicle to apply the brakes of the towed vehicle upon movement of said towed vehiCle toward said towing vehicle; and control means normally inhibiting said brake-applying means to prevent actuation of the brakes of the towed vehicle, said control means being releasable upon initiation of a brake application by the operator of the towing vehicle to permit actuation of the brakes of the towed vehicle; said brake-applying means including a pair of relatively movable members, said members moving relative to one another upon relative movement between the vehicles to apply the brakes of said towed vehicle; said control means including locking means normally preventing relative movement between said members, and actuating means actuatable in response to initiation of a brake application of the towing vehicle to release said locking means to permit relative movement between said members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
169 words
In a brake control device for actuating the brakes of a towed vehicle in response to actuation of the brakes of a towing vehicle; brake-applying means responsive to relative movement between said vehicle to apply the brakes of the towed vehicle upon movement of said towed vehiCle toward said towing vehicle; and control means normally inhibiting said brake-applying means to prevent actuation of the brakes of the towed vehicle, said control means being releasable upon initiation of a brake application by the operator of the towing vehicle to permit actuation of the brakes of the towed vehicle; said brake-applying means including a pair of relatively movable members, said members moving relative to one another upon relative movement between the vehicles to apply the brakes of said towed vehicle; said control means including locking means normally preventing relative movement between said members, and actuating means actuatable in response to initiation of a brake application of the towing vehicle to release said locking means to permit relative movement between said members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 3; one of said relatively movable members including a fluid pressure generating device communicated to the brakes of the towed vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 3; and an energy storage device operably connected to one of said members for applying the brakes of the towed vehicle upon actuation of said actuating means to release said locking means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention of claim 5: said locking means releasing to permit relative movement between said members in the absence of actuation of said actuating means when the force generated by attempted relative movement between said members exceeds a predetermined amount.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
The invention of claim 5: said energy storage means having a preload of predetermined magnitude yieldably urging said members relative to one another, said locking means normally preventing relative movement between said members due to the preload of said energy storage means; and means operable by the operator of the towing vehicle to actuate said actuating means to release said locking means to permit the preload of said energy storage means to actuate the brakes of the towed vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
94 words
The invention of claim 5: said energy storage means having a preload of predetermined magnitude yieldably urging siad members relative to one another, said locking means normally preventing relative movement between said members due to the preload of said energy storage means, whereby the brakes of the towed vehicle are applied by an amount governed by the preload of the energy storage means immediately upon initiation of a brake application of the towing vehicle and before the towing vehicle has decelerated sufficiently to permit the towed vehicle to move relative to the towing vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
117 words
The invention of claim 6: said locking means including a recess carried by one of said members, a force transmitting member disposed in said recess, and structure carried with the other member and movable in response to actuation of said actuating means from a first position in which said structure engages said force transmitting element to thereby lock said one member against movement relative to the other member to a second position disengaged from said force transmitting member to permit relative movement between said members; said force transmitting element being urged out of said recess to permit relative movement between said members when the force generated by attempted relative movement between said members exceeds a predetermined level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The invention of claim 1: said energy storage device being a preloaded spring.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2229499A
Cited
US3570633A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |