Brake control apparatus

• US 3,895,698 A
• Filed: 10/04/1974
• Issued: 07/22/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fontaine Brake Company (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: John G. Fontaine
• Inventors: Fontaine, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blix, Trygve M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Butler, Douglas C.
• Application Number:
  US05/511,998
• Time in Patent Office: 291 Days
• Field of Search: 192/3TR,3T 303/89,2,3,4,18,19,21R,21A 188/265,353,109,152 180/101,82R
• US Class Current: 477/196
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 11/103 in combination with other control devices conjoint control of brake system and at least another sub-unit B60W10/188
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/74 with electrical assistance or drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00

Abstract

Apparatus for controlling hydraulic brakes of a vehicle in which brakes are applied by hydraulic pressure in a conduit responsive to a depression of a brake pedal, the apparatus including an automatic two-way valve in the conduit for closing the conduit automatically to keep hydraulic pressure applied to the brakes after depression of the foot pedal and for opening to release the hydraulic pressure, and a control system for operating the automatic valve. The control system includes a first circuit having a speed responsive device, a second circuit having an accelerator responsive device, and a third circuit having a solenoid valve for operating the automatic two-way valve. When both the first and second circuits are opened by the speed responsive device and the accelerator responsive device, the solenoid valve is energized to close the automatic two-way valve for keeping the hydraulic pressure in the brake conduit applied to the brakes. The automatic two-way valve is preferably vacuum operated. It is bypassed by a check valve which allows increasing hydraulic pressure produced by the brake pedal to bypass the twoway valve so as to apply the brakes with greater force.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling hydraulic brakes of a vehicle in which brakes are applied by hydraulic pressure in a conduit responsive to depression of a brake pedal, said apparatus comprising two-way vacuum operated valve means in said conduit for closing said conduit to keep hydraulic pressure applied to the brakes after depression of said foot pedal and for opening to release the hydraulic pressure, and control means for operating said valve means including a first circuit having speed responsive means therein for breaking said first circuit when the vehicle is stopped, a second circuit having accelerator responsive means therein for breaking said second circuit when an accelerator of the vehicle is released, and a third circuit having solenoid valve means therein controlling a vacuum line for operating said two-way vacuum valve means, with the breaking of both of said first and second circuits causing energization of said solenoid valve means to close said two-way vacuum valve means for keeping the hydraulic pressure in said conduit applied to the brakes.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including check valve means connected around said two-way vacuum valve means for allowing Increasing hydraulic pressure in said conduit to bypass said two-way vacuum valve means to the brakes when said two-way vacuum valve means is closed.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said third circuit includes switch means for making and breaking the same.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said third circuit includes a relay having contacts for making and breaking said third circuit responsive to the action of said speed responsive means and said accelerator responsive means.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said accelerator responsive means includes an accelerator pedal and switch means affixed to said pedal.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which said switch means includes a movable contact element and a bi-metallic arm connected to said movable contact element.

7. Apparatus for controlling hydraulic brakes of a vehicle in which brakes are applied by hydraulic pressure in a conduit responsive to depression of a brake pedal, said apparatus comprising automatic two-way valve means in said conduit for closing said conduit to keep hydraulic pressure applied to the brakes after depression of said foot pedal and for opening to release the hydraulic pressure, check valve means connected between opposite sides of said two way valve means for allowing increasing hydraulic pressure in said conduit to bypass said two-way valve means to the brakes when said two way valve means is closed, and electrical control means for operating said two way valve means including a first circuit having speed responsive means therein for breaking said first circuit when the vehicle is stopped, and a second circuit having accelerator responsive means therein for breaking said second circuit when an accelerator of the vehicle is released, with the breaking of both of said first and second circuits causing said two way valve means to close for keeping the hydraulic pressure in said conduit applied to the brakes, said control means having relay contact means for breaking said first circuit except when said second circuit is completed.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 including a third circuit having solenoid means for operating said two-way valve means.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which said third circuit includes switch means for making and breaking the same.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which said relay has further contact means for making and breaking said third circuit.