ADJUSTABLE LINKAGE FOR TRANSMITTING THE OUTPUT FROM A SENSOR TO A CONTROL VALVE

• US 3,856,363 A
• Filed: 09/24/1973
• Issued: 12/24/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John T. Kasselmann
• Original Assignee: John T. Kasselmann
• Inventors: Kasselmann, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blix, Trygve M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Butler, D. C.
• Application Number:
  US05/400,479
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 303/7,15,22,20 188/3,112,195,177 180/103,104,82R 137/38,46
• US Class Current: 303/7
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1887 especially adapted for tractor-trailer combinations
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/248 Trailer sway, e.g. for preventing jackknifing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0753 Control by change of position or inertia of system

Abstract

In a tow vehicle-trailer braking system, a linkage arrangement for transmitting the output signal from a sensor to a control valve in response to an input force to operate a brake applying servomotor in the trailer. The output signal can be modified by an operator through a hand control to account for changes in weight in the trailer. In addition, when an anti-sway apparatus senses a centrifugal force adverse to the direction of travel, an actuation signal will be developed which will alleviate any harmonic movement in the trailer by momentarily applying the wheel brakes in the trailer.

Claims

1. In a tow vehicle-trailer braking system having a first servomotor for supplying the wheel brakes in the trailer with a braking force in response to an actuation force derived by a sensing means responding to an input force applied to a brake pedal for operating a second servomotor which supplies the wheel brakes in the tow vehicle with a braking force, linkage means for communicating a linear output force from the sensing means to a control valve means wherein an operational signal is generated to develop said actuation force, said linkage means comprising:

a housing for retaining said control valve means and said sensing means in a fixed position;

yoke means attached to the housing;

rod means pivotally connected to said yoke means;

lever means pivotally connected to said rod means for transferring said output force of the sensing means to the control valve; and

adjustable means connected to said rod means for changing the position of the pivotal connection of the lever means with respect to the sensing means and the control valve means to modify the effect of the output force from which said actuation force is developed to provide optimum braking in the trailer, said rod means responding to an operator for supplying a manual input to override the linear output force from the sensing means by pivotally moving said rod means on said yoke means and supplying the control valve means with an independent operational force to operate the control valve means.

2. In the tow vehicle-trailer braking system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing further includes:

locking means for maintaining said rod means in a fixed position to provide a continual actUation signal to the control valve means in response to an operator input.

3. In the tow vehicle-trailer braking system, as recited in claim 2, wherein said yoke means includes:

guide means for maintaining said lever means in axial alignment with the sensing means and the control valve means.

4. In the tow vehicle-trailer braking system, as recited in claim 3, wherein said yoke means further includes:

bracket means secured to said guide means for holding one end of said rod means, said bracket means permitting an operator to rotate the rod means and move the pivotal connection to change the distance between the sensing means and the control valve means.

5. In the tow vehicle-trailer braking system, as recited in claim 4, wherein said yoke means further includes:

plate means for holding the guide means substantially parallel to said rod and lever means, said plate means having an opening in the center thereof; and

fastener means located in said opening and secured to said control valve means for permitting said guide means to rotate when said rod means is placed in the fixed position.

6. In the tow vehicle-trailer braking system, as recited in claim 5, wherein said actuation force is independently derived by an antisway means comprising:

a housing having a chamber therein connected to the atmosphere by a first inlet port and a second inlet port, said first inlet port being located opposite said second inlet port in a plane parallel to the horizontal axis of the trailer, parallel to the wheels of the trailer, and perpendicular to the axial direction of travel of the trailer, first mass means located adjacent said first inlet port, first resilient means connected to said housing for urging said first mass means toward said first inlet port to prevent air at atmospheric pressure from entering said chamber;

second resilient means connected to said housing for urging said second mass toward said second inlet port to prevent air at atmospheric pressure from entering said chamber, said first and second masses responding to centrifugal force in overcoming said first and second resilient means respectively when said trailer follows a sinusoidal path in the direction of travel to allow air at atmospheric pressure to enter said chamber and develop an operational signal from which an operational force is created.