Auxiliary brake system for four-wheel-drive vehicle

• US 5,531,515 A
• Filed: 05/08/1995
• Issued: 07/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vincent Circosta
• Original Assignee: Vincent Circosta
• Inventors: Circosta, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Matthew C.
• Application Number:
  US08/437,470
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 180/244, 303/143, 303/146, 303/149, 303/169, 303/113.1, 303/113.2, 303/DIG. 6
• US Class Current: 303/143
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 11/10 transmitting by fluid means, e.g. hydraulic
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/08 hand actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/00 Arrangements for adjusting wheel-braking force to meet varying vehicular or ground-surface conditions, e.g. limiting or varying distribution of braking force by changing number of effective brake cylinders in power brake systems B60T17/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/3205 acceleration B60T8/34, B60T8/52, B60T8/54, B60T8/56, B60T8/58, B60T8/72, B60T8/86, B60T8/88 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/322 Systems specially adapted for vehicles driven by more than one axle, e.g. Four Wheel-Drive vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/4809 Traction control, stability control, using both the wheel brakes and other automatic braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/08 using brakes or clutches as main steering-effecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 9/00 Steering deflectable wheels not otherwise provided for steering positon indicators B62D15/02

Abstract

An auxiliary brake system for a four-wheel-drive vehicle is disclosed whose main components of the present invention are four solenoid valves. These valves are located under the body of the vehicle, and are affixed in communication with the existing vehicle hydraulic brake system. Electrical wiring unites this system to two corresponding control buttons located within access to the driver. One control button functions to block the pressure for the left side of the vehicle; the other control button functions to block the pressure for the right side of the vehicle. The valves that control the front wheels of the vehicle may be mounted on the master cylinder, while the valves for the rear wheels may be in one body which would replace a `tee` fitting on the rear axle.

Claims

1. An auxiliary brake system for a four-wheel-drive vehicle which operates in conjunction with the vehicle'"'"'s hydraulic brake system, comprising:

an electrically actuated, normally open, spring return solenoid valve in fluid communication with the left front brake line of said vehicle'"'"'s braking system;

an electrically actuated, normally open, spring return solenoid valve in fluid communication with the right front brake line of said vehicle'"'"'s braking system;

an electrically actuated, normally open, spring return solenoid valve in fluid communication with the left rear brake line of said vehicle'"'"'s braking system;

an electrically actuated, normally open, spring return solenoid valve in fluid communication with the right rear brake line of said vehicle'"'"'s braking system; and

engaging means for selectively controlling a plurality of combinations of said solenoids, wherein said engaging means comprises;

a contact closure push-button in electrical communication and control with the electrically actuated, normally open, spring return solenoid in fluid communication with the left front brake line of said vehicle'"'"'s braking system;

a contact closure push-button in electrical communication and control with the electrically actuated, normally open, spring return solenoid valve in fluid communication with the right front brake line of said vehicle'"'"'s braking system;

a contact closure push-button in electrical communication and control with the electrically actuated, normally open, spring return solenoid valve in fluid communication with the left rear brake line of said vehicle'"'"'s braking system; and

a contact closure push-button in electrical communication and control with the electrically actuated, normally open, spring return solenoid valve in fluid communication with the right rear brake line of said vehicle'"'"'s braking system.

2. An auxiliary brake system for a four-wheel-drive vehicle which operates in conjunction with the vehicle'"'"'s hydraulic brake system, comprising:

an electrically actuated, normally open spring return solenoid valve in fluid communication with the left front brake line of said vehicle'"'"'s braking system;

an electrically actuated, normally open, spring return solenoid valve in fluid communication with the right front brake line of said vehicle'"'"'s braking system;

an electrically actuated, normally open, spring return solenoid valve in fluid communication with the left rear brake line of said vehicle'"'"'s braking system;

an electrically actuated, normally open, spring return solenoid valve in fluid communication with the right rear brake line of said vehicle'"'"'s braking system; and

engaging means for selectively controlling a plurality of combinations of said solenoids, wherein said engagement means comprises;

a contact closure push-button in electrical communication and control with both the electrically actuated, normally open, spring return solenoid valve in fluid communication with the left front brake line of said vehicle'"'"'s braking system and the electrically actuated, normally open, spring return solenoid valve in fluid communication with the left rear brake line of said vehicles braking system, such that engagement of said contact closure push-button simultaneously actuates both said solenoid valves; and

a contact closure push-button in electrical communication and control with both the electrically actuated, normally open, spring return solenoid valve in fluid communication with the right front brake line of said vehicle'"'"'s braking system and the electrically actuated, normally open, spring return solenoid valve in fluid communication with the right rear brake line of said vehicle'"'"'s braking system such that engagement of said contact closure push-button simultaneously actuates both said solenoid valves.

3. An auxiliary brake system for a four-wheel-drive vehicle which operates in conjunction with the vehicle'"'"'s hydraulic brake system, comprising;

a hydraulic braking system and individually actuated brakes located on each wheel;

first switching means for controllably simultaneously isolating brake pressure from the braking mechanism at the wheels on the left side of said vehicle;

second switching means for controllably simultaneously isolating brake pressure from the braking mechanism at the wheels on the right side of said vehicle;

first and second actuation means for actuating said first and second switching means, respectively; and

first and second engaging means for selectively controlling a plurality of combinations of said actuation means, wherein said first and second engagement means comprises a plurality of contact closure push buttons located within the driver'"'"'s compartment of said vehicle.

4. An auxiliary brake system for a four-wheel-drive vehicle which operates in conjunction with the vehicle'"'"'s hydraulic brake system, comprising;

plurality of brake pressure switching means for controllably isolating brake pressure from the braking mechanism at a plurality of wheels of a vehicle;

actuation means for actuating said pressure switching means; and

engaging means for selectively controlling a plurality of combinations of said brake pressure switching means by engaging a plurality of said actuation means, wherein said engagement means comprises a plurality of contact closure push buttons located within the driver'"'"'s compartment of said vehicle.