US3840276A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control circuit for automatic brake system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-10-11
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Granted: 1974-10-08
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Expires: 1993-10-11
Abstract
Abstract The invention describes a control circuit for use with an automobile brake system in vehicles having a towed portion and a towing portion. The control circuit includes a control unit responsive to a sensing device which detects displacement of the towed portion to produce a warning signal upon limited displacement and a brake signal upon excessive displacement. The control circuit also includes a control console which can be placed in view of the operator of the vehicle and includes a safety lamp which indicates that the system is on, an off lamp indicating that the system is not deactivated and thereby indicating to the driver that the vehicle is in danger, and a warning lamp responding to the warning signal from the sensing device through the control unit. An on-off switch is located on the control console as well as a braking intensity switch which controls moderate or vigorous braking action on the brakes of the towed vehicle. The control circuit is used to monitor the system as well as to check out faults and problems with the system.
Inventors
- 👤 A Jubenville
- 👤 I Jubenville
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:56
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60T; B60T8/00; B60T8/24; B60T8/248; B60T17/00; B60T17/18; B60T17/22; B60T7/00; B60T7/12; B60T2230/00; B60T2230/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
339 words
A control circuit for an automatic brake system in a vehicle having a towed portion and a towing portion including battery means, first brake means in the towing portion, second brake means in the towed portion and sensing means detecting limited and excessive displacements of the towed portion in a direction transverse to the forward direction of movement, said control circuit comprising: a. first intensity means (32) adapted to be serially interconnected between the first and second brake means for adjusting the response of the brakes; b. a control unit including, normally open first switch means (58 and 59) capable of closing onto first and second contacts and responsive to a detected limited displacement to close onto said first contact (A1 and B1), and responsive to a detected excessive displacement to close onto said second contact (A and B) which is adapted to be connected to the second brake means (15), and c. a control console including: i. second switch means (45) adapted to be coupled to the battery means and capable of closing onto third (46) and fourth (47) contacts; ii. first lamp means (48) interconnected between said third contact (46) and said first intensity means (32); iii. second lamp means (51) interconnected between said fourth contact (47) and said first intensity means (32); and iv. third lamp means (54) interconnected between said first conatact (A1 and B1) and first intensity means (32), said first switch means (58 and 59) being interconnected to said third contact (46), wherein when said second switch means (45) is closed onto said fourth contact (47) said second lamp means (51) is energized from the battery means; when said second switch means (45) is closed onto said third contact (46) said first lamp means (48) is energized from the battery means and said first switch means (58 and 59) can then energized said third lamp means (54) when closed onto said first contact (A1 and B1) and can activate the second brake means (15) when closed onto said second contact (A and B).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
339 words
A control circuit for an automatic brake system in a vehicle having a towed portion and a towing portion including battery means, first brake means in the towing portion, second brake means in the towed portion and sensing means detecting limited and excessive displacements of the towed portion in a direction transverse to the forward direction of movement, said control circuit comprising: a. first intensity means (32) adapted to be serially interconnected between the first and second brake means for adjusting the response of the brakes; b. a control unit including, normally open first switch means (58 and 59) capable of closing onto first and second contacts and responsive to a detected limited displacement to close onto said first contact (A1 and B1), and responsive to a detected excessive displacement to close onto said second contact (A and B) which is adapted to be connected to the second brake means (15), and c. a control console including: i. second switch means (45) adapted to be coupled to the battery means and capable of closing onto third (46) and fourth (47) contacts; ii. first lamp means (48) interconnected between said third contact (46) and said first intensity means (32); iii. second lamp means (51) interconnected between said fourth contact (47) and said first intensity means (32); and iv. third lamp means (54) interconnected between said first conatact (A1 and B1) and first intensity means (32), said first switch means (58 and 59) being interconnected to said third contact (46), wherein when said second switch means (45) is closed onto said fourth contact (47) said second lamp means (51) is energized from the battery means; when said second switch means (45) is closed onto said third contact (46) said first lamp means (48) is energized from the battery means and said first switch means (58 and 59) can then energized said third lamp means (54) when closed onto said first contact (A1 and B1) and can activate the second brake means (15) when closed onto said second contact (A and B).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
A control circuit for automatic brake systems as in claim 1 and further comprising second intensity means (39) and wherein said control console further comprises third switch means (42) in series with said second switch means (45) and capable of closing onto fifth and sixth contacts, said fifth contact (44) adapted to be coupled directly to the battery means, and said sixth contact (41) adapted to be coupled through said second intensity (39) means to the battery means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A control circuit for automatic brake systems as in claim 2 and wherein the vehicle includes an ignition switch, and wherein the coupling from said fifth contact (44) and sixth contact (41) to the battery means is through the accessory switch position of the ignition switch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A control circuit for an automatic brake system as in claim 3 and further comprising fuse means in series between said ignition switch and said fifth and sixth contacts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A control circuit for an automatic brake system as in claim 2 and wherein said first and second intensity means includes an adjustable resistive element (39).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A control circuit for automatic brake systems as in claim 2 and wherein said control console is included within a housing adapted to be located within view of the operator of the vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A control circuit for an automatic brake system as in claim 6 and wherein said control unit is included within the sensing means, and further comprising cable means electrically interconnecting the sensing means with the control console.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A control circuit for an automatic brake system as in claim 1 and wherein the second brake means is controlled by solenoid means which is in series with said first intensity means (32) and has one end thereof connected to the vehicle ground.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A control circuit for an automatic brake system as in claim 8 and wherein said control unit further includes diode means coupled in parallel to said solenoid means between said first contact and said vehicle ground.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A control circuit for an automatic brake system as in claim 1 and further comprising resistor means (53) serially interconnected between said first intensity means (39) and both said second (51) and third lamp means (54).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-07 | 1978-04-08 | 1978-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-07 | 1982-04-08 | 1982-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-07 | 1986-04-08 | 1986-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |