Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
298 words
A multi-axle wheeled vehicle comprising a respective brake for each axle, a respective speed sensor associated with each axle, a respective brake release means associated with each axle and responsive to the respective speed sensor to release the respective brake on the occurrence of a skid condition at that axle, a respective inhibit means associated with each brake release means and being operable by inhibit operation of that brake release means, a respective fault detection circuit associated with each brake release means and being responsive to a fault condition in that brake release means to operate the respective inhibit means so as to inhibit operation of the associated brake release means, a respective signal repeater circuit associated with each brake release means and having an input and an output, means connecting the inputs and outputs of the signal repeater circuits in series to form a chain so that a signal applied to the input of the first repeater circuit in said chain will normally be propagated along said chain to the output of the last repeater circuit in said chain, each signal repeater circuit being responsive to the respective fault detection circuit so as to interrupt the passage of said signal along said chain upon the occurrence of said fault condition, and a respective shutdown connection means associated with each inhibit means and for optional connection to the input of the respective signal repeater circuit so that, when connected, an interruption in said signal at said input due to a fault upstream thereof along said chain causes said inhibit means to be operated to inhibit operation of the associated brake release means, whereby in the event of said fault condition occurring in one of said brake release means, operation of selected brake release means downstream thereof is inhibited.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
298 words
A multi-axle wheeled vehicle comprising a respective brake for each axle, a respective speed sensor associated with each axle, a respective brake release means associated with each axle and responsive to the respective speed sensor to release the respective brake on the occurrence of a skid condition at that axle, a respective inhibit means associated with each brake release means and being operable by inhibit operation of that brake release means, a respective fault detection circuit associated with each brake release means and being responsive to a fault condition in that brake release means to operate the respective inhibit means so as to inhibit operation of the associated brake release means, a respective signal repeater circuit associated with each brake release means and having an input and an output, means connecting the inputs and outputs of the signal repeater circuits in series to form a chain so that a signal applied to the input of the first repeater circuit in said chain will normally be propagated along said chain to the output of the last repeater circuit in said chain, each signal repeater circuit being responsive to the respective fault detection circuit so as to interrupt the passage of said signal along said chain upon the occurrence of said fault condition, and a respective shutdown connection means associated with each inhibit means and for optional connection to the input of the respective signal repeater circuit so that, when connected, an interruption in said signal at said input due to a fault upstream thereof along said chain causes said inhibit means to be operated to inhibit operation of the associated brake release means, whereby in the event of said fault condition occurring in one of said brake release means, operation of selected brake release means downstream thereof is inhibited.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
A multi-axle wheeled vehicle as claimed in claim 1, including a warning device responsive to the absence of said signal at the output of the last signal repeater circuit in said chain, and a switch arranged to apply to the input of the first signal repeater circuit in said chain on each operation of said vehicle a test pulse in the form of an interruption of said signal in order to check whether said signal is being propagated through said chain to said warning device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A multi-axle wheeled vehicle as claimed in claim 2, including a delay device arranged to provide a delay between operation of said switch and application of said test pulse to the input of the first signal repeater circuit in said chain.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A multi-axle wheeled vehicle as claimed in claim 3, in which said delay device is adapted to provide a delay of about 0.05 seconds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
391 words
A wheeled vehicle having at least four axles and comprising a respective brake for each axle, a respective speed sensor associated with each axle, a respective brake release means associated with each axle and responsive to the respective speed sensor to release the respective brake on the occurrence of a skid condition at that axle, a respective inhibit means associated with each brake release means and being operable to inhibit operation of that brake release means, a respective fault detection circuit associated with each brake release means and being responsive to a fault condition in that brake release means to operate the respective inhibit means so as to inhibit operation of the associated brake release means, a respective signal repeater circuit associated with each brake release means and having an input and an output, first means connecting the inputs and outputs of the signal repeater circuits of at least two of the forward axles of said vehicle in series to form a first chain so that a first signal applied to the input of the first repeater circuit in said first chain will normally be propagated along said first chain to the output of the last repeater circuit in said first chain, second means connecting the inputs and outputs of the signal repeater circuits of at least two of the rearward axles of said vehicle in series to form a second chain so that a signal applied to the input of the first repeater circuit in said second chain will normally be propagated along said second chain to the output of the last repeater circuit in said second chain, each signal repeater circuit being responsive to the respective fault detection circuit so as to interrupt the passage of the respective signal along the respective chain upon the occurrence of said fault condition, and a respective shutdown connection means associated with each inhibit means and for optional connection to the input of the respective signal repeater circuit so that, when connected, a interruption in the respective signal at said input due to a fault upstream thereof along the respective chain causes said inhibit means to be operated to inhibit operation of the associated brake release means, whereby in the event of said fault condition occurring in one of said brake release means, operation of selected brake release means downstream thereof is inhibited.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
391 words
A wheeled vehicle having at least four axles and comprising a respective brake for each axle, a respective speed sensor associated with each axle, a respective brake release means associated with each axle and responsive to the respective speed sensor to release the respective brake on the occurrence of a skid condition at that axle, a respective inhibit means associated with each brake release means and being operable to inhibit operation of that brake release means, a respective fault detection circuit associated with each brake release means and being responsive to a fault condition in that brake release means to operate the respective inhibit means so as to inhibit operation of the associated brake release means, a respective signal repeater circuit associated with each brake release means and having an input and an output, first means connecting the inputs and outputs of the signal repeater circuits of at least two of the forward axles of said vehicle in series to form a first chain so that a first signal applied to the input of the first repeater circuit in said first chain will normally be propagated along said first chain to the output of the last repeater circuit in said first chain, second means connecting the inputs and outputs of the signal repeater circuits of at least two of the rearward axles of said vehicle in series to form a second chain so that a signal applied to the input of the first repeater circuit in said second chain will normally be propagated along said second chain to the output of the last repeater circuit in said second chain, each signal repeater circuit being responsive to the respective fault detection circuit so as to interrupt the passage of the respective signal along the respective chain upon the occurrence of said fault condition, and a respective shutdown connection means associated with each inhibit means and for optional connection to the input of the respective signal repeater circuit so that, when connected, a interruption in the respective signal at said input due to a fault upstream thereof along the respective chain causes said inhibit means to be operated to inhibit operation of the associated brake release means, whereby in the event of said fault condition occurring in one of said brake release means, operation of selected brake release means downstream thereof is inhibited.