Warning indicator for anti-skid braking system

• US 5,225,805 A
• Filed: 11/21/1991
• Issued: 07/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Alliedsignal Inc.
• Inventors: Cage, Jerry L., Olmstead, Brian S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US07/795,551
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 340/453, 340/438, 340/439, 340/507, 303/92, 303/93, 439/34-36, 439/92, 439/101, 188/1-11
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/885 using electrical circuitry

Abstract

An anti-skid control circuit for a wheeled vehicle has a connector (15) for connection to external circuits and a warning circuit contained within the control circuit and connector (15) for enabling a visual indicator (17) upon the occurrence of a loss of power to the anti-skid control circuit, a malfunction of the anti-skid control circuit, or disconnection of the connector (15) from the anti-skid control circuit. The anti-skid braking system warning circuit includes an electrically energizable the visual indicator (17) in the form of a lamp (17), and a first transistor (33) connected in series with a source of electrical energy. A control transistor (35) is conductive to shunt the base-emitter circuit of the first transistor (33) so long as the anti-skid braking system functions properly. When the control transistor (35) becomes nonconductive indicating a lack of the anti-skid function, the base-emitter circuit of the first transistor (33) is forward biased and the lamp (17) energizes. A two-part multiconductor (25, 31) of the connector (15) electrically connects the visual warning indicator (17) and the first transistor (33). The connector (15) includes a circuit for connecting directly the lamp (17) to the source of electrical energy whenever the multiconductors (25, 31) are separated.

Claims

1. An anti-skid control circuit for a wheeled vehicle, comprising an electrically energizable visual warning indicator, first circuit means for normally coupling the electrically energizable visual warning indicator to a source of electrical energy to energize the indicator, second circuit means for disabling the first circuit means only so long as the anti-skid control circuit is operational, the first circuit means comprising a first transistor and the second circuit means comprising a second transistor, the second transistor connected to short circuit a base-emitter circuit of the first transistor in order to shunt control current and prevent conduction by the first transistor so long as the second transistor is conducting, and means responsive to the disconnection of a connector to the anti-skid control circuit for enabling the visual warning indicator, the connector comprising a two-part multiconductor connector electrically connecting the visual warning indicator and first transistor, the connector including at least a part of the responsive means which comprises a connector circuit for connecting directly the visual warning indicator to the source of electrical energy whenever two parts of the two-part multiconductor connector are separated.

2. The control circuit of claim 1, wherein the second circuit means responds to one of a loss of power to the anti-skid control circuit and a malfunction of the anti-skid control circuit in order to allow the first circuit means to enable the warning indicator.

3. The control circuit in accordance with claim 2, wherein the connector circuit comprises an insulative pin disposed between a first conductor and a second resilient conductor, removal of the conductive pin from between the conductors permitting the second resilient conductor to engage the first conductor and effect energization of the warning indicator.