Redundant electric trailer brake circuit

• US 6,512,452 B1
• Filed: 05/18/2000
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Astoria Industries Of Iowa, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Astoria Industries Of Iowa, Inc.
• Inventors: Brannan, Jack D., Wolf, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US09/573,934
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 340/431, 340/467, 340/479, 340/669, 340/654, 188/112.R, 188/1.11, 303/24.1, 303/7
• US Class Current: 340/431
• 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

Abstract

A brake circuit that includes parallel electrical paths extending from the brake controller, through connectors, to the trailer brakes. The circuit having a primary circuit path extending from the power supply to a connector, through a diode to the brakes and back to the power supply and a secondary circuit extending from the power supply to a connector, through a diode to the brakes and a back to the power supply, and a pair of indicator lights connected to each circuit path between the connector and diode at one end and the power supply at the other end.

Claims

1. An electrical brake circuit providing parallel circuit paths from a brake controller to brakes comprising:

a power source connected to a primary and a secondary circuit path;

the primary circuit path having a first connector connected to the power source, a first diode connected to the first connector at one end and connected to the brakes at the other end, and the brakes connected to the power supply;

the secondary circuit path having a second connector connected to the power source, a second diode connected to the second connector at one end and the brakes connected to the other end, and the brakes connected to the power supply;

a first indicator light connected to the primary circuit path between the first connector and the first diode at one end and the power supply at the other end; and

a second indicator light connected to the secondary circuit path between the second connector and second diode at one end and the power supply at the other end.

2. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the primary circuit path has a first fuse connected between the power supply and the first connector.

3. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the secondary circuit path has a second fuse connected between the power supply and