Towed vehicle brake actuation system

• US 6,644,761 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2001
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dethmers Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: John Robert Schuck
• Inventors: Schuck, John Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder, Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burch, Melody M.
• Application Number:
  US10/006,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20030075972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 303/3, 303/7, 303/12, 303/15, 303/20, 303/123, 303/124, 303/183, 303/24.1, 188/3.H, 188/3.R, 188/112.A, 188/112.R
• US Class Current: 303/123
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 11/107 overrun brakes with fluid means
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/08 Overrun brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/20 specially for trailers, e.g. in case of uncoupling of or overrunning by trailer inertia-actuated overrun brakes B60T13/08

Abstract

A towed vehicle brake actuation system comprising an adjustable inertia activated switch and a relay in series and a radio transmitter, all in the towing vehicle where an electrical signal must pass through both the switch and the relay before the towed vehicle brake actuation system is actuated. When the switch and a brake light switch in the towing vehicle are both activated, an electric current passes to the radio transmitter which sends a signal to a radio receiver in a towed vehicle which activates a first towed vehicle relay that permits current to pass on to a towed vehicle adjustable inertia activated switch which upon actuation by towed vehicle deceleration permits current to pass through a second towed vehicle relay to a vacuum valve that is a part of the towed vehicle brake actuation system.

Claims

1. A towed vehicle brake actuation system comprising:

a) a towing vehicle adjustable inertia activated switch;

b) a towing vehicle relay in series with the towing vehicle adjustable inertia activated switch; and

c) a radio transmitter in the towing vehicle;

wherein an electrical signal must pass through both the towing vehicle adjustable inertia activated switch and the towing vehicle relay before the towed vehicle brake actuation system is actuated;

wherein said towing vehicle adjustable inertia activated switch is mounted so that an amount of deceleration required to activate said towing vehicle adjustable inertia activated switch can be adjusted by rotating said towing vehicle adjustable inertia activated switch about its mounting;

wherein when said towing vehicle adjustable inertia activated switch is activated, and a brake light switch in the towing vehicle is activated, an electrical current passes through both said towing vehicle adjustable inertia activated switch and the towing vehicle relay to said radio transmitter in said towing vehicle, said radio transmitter then sends a signal to a radio receiver in a towed vehicle which activates a first towed vehicle relay that permits current to pass on to a towed vehicle adjustable inertia activated switch, which, upon actuation by deceleration of the towed vehicle, permits current to pass through a second towed vehicle relay to a vacuum valve, the vacuum valve being a part of said towed vehicle brake actuation system.