Towed vehicle emergency brake control system

• US 5,000,519 A
• Filed: 11/24/1989
• Issued: 03/19/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John Moore
• Original Assignee: John Moore
• Inventors: Moore, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Butler, Douglas C.
• Application Number:
  US07/441,013
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 303/7, 303/20, 303/18, 303/13, 303/15, 303/101, 188/3 R, 188/3 H, 188/158, 188/163, 188/164, 188/165, 188/112 R, 188/112 A
• US Class Current: 303/7
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/66 Electrical control in fluid-pressure brake systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/74 with electrical assistance or drive

Abstract

Emergency brake control system for towed vehicles comprising brake regulation device and a plurality of switches whereby a discrete braking force may be selected and applied to the towed vehicle brakes upon actuation by the user of one of the switches and whereby the braking force is maintained without any intervention by the user.

Claims

1. In a wheeled tow vehicle and a wheeled towed vehicle combination, the towed vehicle having adjustable brakes adapted to vary a bracking force applied to the towed vehicle wheels, nd an infinitely adjustable primary brake control system for actuating said brakes, the improvement in which an auxiliary brake control system adapted for actuating said brakes and for disabling said primary brake control system is provided, the auxiliary brake control system comprising brake regulation means adapted to adjust said brakes for delivery for a pre-determined braking force to the towed vehicle wheels and at least two manually operable switch means accessible to any occupants of the tow vehicle for selection of a respective pre-determined braking force, the switch means being operatively connected to said brake regulation means to deliver the selected braking force upon actuation of the associated switch means and maintain said selected braking force without any manual intervention by an occupant of the tow vehicle.

2. In a wheeled tow vehicle and a wheeled towed vehicle combination, the towed vehicle having electrically operable brakes whereof the braking force applied to the towed vehicle wheels is proportional to the electrical current supplied to the brakes and the supply of electrical current to the brakes is controlled by an infinitely adjustable primary brake control system, the improvement in which an auxiliary brake control system adapted for actuation said brakes and for disabling said primary brake control system is provided, the auxiliary brake control system comprising a source of electrical current electrically connected to the towed vehicle brakes by at least two manually operable switch means accessible to any occupants of the tow vehicle for selection of a respective electrical circuit between the switches and the brakes and having a pre-determined electrical resistance, the switch means being adapted to keep the selected electrical circuit closed without any manual intervention by an occupant of the two vehicle.

3. Auxiliary brake control system according to claim 2 including electrical relay means adapted to supply electrical current to the towed vehicle brake lights upon actuation of one of said switch means to close a selected electrical circuit.

4. Auxiliary brake control system according to claim 2 in which the switch means is of the push on, push off type, being adapted to close a respective electrical circuit when pushed on and to open said circuit on the next successive push.

5. Auxiliary brake control system according to claim 2 in which the switches are connected to respective pre-selected locations on a variably tapped resistor connected to the brakes.

6. Auxiliary brake control system according to claim 5 in which the switches are connected to respective electrical relays electrically connected between the switches and the variably tapped resistor.

7. Auxiliary brake control system according to claim 2 in which the switches are connected to respective adjustable potentiometers electrically connected between the switches and a transistor electrically connected to the brakes.

8. Auxiliary brake control system according to claim 2 in which the electrical circuits are independent from a brake light circuit provided on the tow vehicle.