LOCKING SYSTEM FOR COMPRESSED-AIR BRAKES IN MOTOR VEHICLES

• US 3,597,016 A
• Filed: 05/15/1969
• Issued: 08/03/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jean Gachot, Perales Fernard
• Original Assignee: Jean Gachot, Perales Fernard
• Inventors: GACHOT JEAN, PERALES FERNARD
• Application Number:
  US04/824,830
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• US Class Current: 303/9
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/36 direct, i.e. brakes applied directly by compressed air
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/403 specially adapted for coupling with dependent systems, e.g. tractor-trailer systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/16 Locking of brake cylinders

Abstract

A locking system for compressed-air brakes of motor vehicles which comprises air-operated locking units for the operating rod of the brake cylinder, characterized in that it comprises two similar circuits for the distribution of air to the locking units and means for delivering air under pressure selectively into either of said two circuits in order to cause respectively the locking or release of the brakes. The two air distribution circuits aforesaid each comprise a bypass for delivering air under pressure into the brake cylinder so that the system is thus permitted in the release position to serve as an emergency brake during normal running of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A locking system for compressed air brakes of road vehicles, comprising locking members for locking the brake-operating rod of a brake cylinder, a locking member actuating piston mounted within a cylinder and defining two chambers therein, two compressed air distribution circuits connected to said chambers respectively, means for delivering compressed air selectively into either of said circuits to cause the locking or release of said brake-operating rod, said locking members comprising frustoconical wedges mounted at the periphery of and disposed about and coaxially to said brake-operating rod and connected to said locking member actuating piston and movable into or out of engagement with a fixed conical mating surface.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said piston is recessed so as to accommodate said frustoconical wedges, said piston and said wedges being coupled for translation motion.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 each of said chambers having a compressed air inlet connected to one of said distribution circuits respectively for controlling the locking or release of said brake-operating rod, the locking control inlet having a time-delay system so arranged as to permit instantaneous air admission and to introduce a time-delay in the air discharge.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the time-delay system comprises a movable shutter actuated by the pressure of the control air and applied in the direction of discharge against a seating which has a rough surface in order to introduce a resistance to the discharge of air.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the movable shutter is so designed as to seal off only to a partial extent the orifice for the admission of control air to the locking members so that the air is admitted without any time-lag.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a one-turn spiral spring mounted in an annular groove formed in said wedges, said spring having overlapping end portions.

7. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal face of each wedge which is applied against the brake-actuating rod is indented so as to ensure better adhesion to said rod in the locking position.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a compressed-air auxiliary reservoir connected to a manual control box for the selective supply of the distribution circuits aforesaid, wherein the control box comprises two similar valves for selectively initiating the locking and release of the brakes, each valve being provided with a gate for the admission of air to one of the distribution circuits, a discharge passageway connected to said circuit and a pusher actuated by an operating lever, said pusher being intended to cause the gate to open in the operating posItion thereof and to open the discharge passageway to the atmosphere in the rest position thereof.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein each valve of the control box comprises a piston disposed between the pusher and the gate in order to actuate said gate, one face of said piston being connected to the pusher by elastic means and additional means being provided to ensure that the other face of said piston is subjected to the pressure developed within the corresponding distribution circuit in order to ensure progressive opening of the air admission gate.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control box comprises an adjustable stop for limiting the travel of the locking control pusher in order to obtain a locking control pressure which is lower than the release control pressure.

11. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control box comprises a warning lamp system and means for actuating said warning system by means of the air pressure which is delivered to the locking units when the operating box is in the locking position.

12. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control box comprises an antitheft device for locking the operating lever in the brake-locking position.