Method and apparatus for mounting a system module to a vehicle

• US 9,267,520 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2014
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haldex Brake Corporation
• Original Assignee: Haldex Brake Corporation
• Inventors: Raye, Victor J., Donovan, Jerry J., Greene, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARSH, STEVEN M
• Application Number:
  US14/295,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20140286696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 248/229.1, 248/229.2, 248/229.21, 248/229.11, 248/228.1, 248/228.2, 248/231.31, 248/220.21, 248/220.22, 248/229.14, 248/229.24, 248/228.5, 248/231.61, 403/187, 403/188, 403/384, 403/385, 403/386
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/10 Arrangement of tyre-inflating pumps mounted on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 15/36 Other control devices or valves characterised by definite functions electrically controlled valves in fluid-pressure brake systems B60T15/027, B60T15/028
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/176 Brake regulation specially adapted to prevent excessive wheel slip during vehicle deceleration, e.g. ABS B60T8/1755 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/3685 characterised by the mounting of the modulator unit onto the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 9/08 Braking mechanisms; Locking devices against movement
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 27/065 using screwthread connection of crossbeam to A- pillars B62D25/147; mounting load bearing surfaces B62D21/09; securing mudguards B62D25/163; connections for synthetic parts B62D29/048
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/02 Clamps, i.e. with gripping action effected by positive means other than the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/67 Rigid angle couplings
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/00 Joining sheets or plates , e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them F16B17/00 takes precedence; by sticking together F16B11/00; dowel connections F16B13/00; pins, including deformable elements F16B19/00; covering of walls E04F13/00; fastening signs, plates, panels or boards to a supporting structure, fastening readily-detachable elements, e.g. letters to signs, plates, panels, or boards, G09F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/08 by means of welds or the like welding B23K
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4973 Replacing of defective part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/45 Flexibly connected rigid members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/70 Interfitted members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7062 Clamped members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7075 including discrete retainer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7105 Connected by double clamp
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/75 having a joining piece extending through aligned openings in plural members

Abstract

An apparatus and method for mounting a trailer/dolly air brake system module onto a mounting surface of a trailer/dolly using a mounting element. More particularly, a trailer/dolly air brake system module is mounted to an I-beam or C-channel of the trailer/dolly via welding methods, fasteners, or clamps. This allows the trailer/dolly air brake system module to be easily removable and replaceable, minimizing trailer/dolly down time as well as diagnostic troubleshooting/repair time. More particularly, the system module is for a trailer/dolly air brake system module. The method allows for continued use of a trailer/dolly vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of installing a trailer/dolly air brake system module on a vehicle comprising:

introducing a trailer/dolly air brake system module;

introducing a mounting element, wherein said mounting element attaches said system module to a mounting surface on the vehicle, the mounting surface having two oppositely extending edges, the mounting element including a pair of oppositely disposed clamping members, each of the clamping members including a clamping portion for receiving one of the edges of the mounting surface and a lug portion extending from the clamping portion, each of the lug portions having a groove extending in from a distal edge of the lug portion; and

connecting the mounting element to the mounting surface and the air brake system module to the mounting element such that a portion of the air brake system module extends through the grooves of the lug portions.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

removing said system module by disengaging said system module from said mounting element;

introducing a second system module; and

engaging said second system module with said mounting element, wherein said second system module allows for continued use of said vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said mounting surface is selected from a group consisting of an I-beam or C-channel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said mounting element is selected from a group consisting of a fastening device, clamping device, or a combination of both devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is selected from a group consisting of semi-trailers, dolly, semi-trailer trucks, lorry'"'"'s, side lifters, reefers, vans, flat beds, tanker trailers, dump trailers, road trains, or other commercial and heavy duty vehicles that use a air/hydraulic system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising servicing said system module and inserting said system module into another vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the time to remove and replace said system module with said second system module takes under an hour.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the time to remove and replace said system module with said second system module is under 30 minutes.

9. A method of replacing a system module from a vehicle comprising:

introducing a system module;

introducing a mounting element, wherein the mounting element attaches the system module to a mounting surface on the vehicle, the mounting surface having two oppositely extending edges, the mounting element including a pair of oppositely disposed clamping members, each of the clamping members including a clamping portion for receiving one of the edges of the mounting surface and a lug portion extending from the clamping portion, each of the lug portions having a groove extending in from a distal edge of the lug portion; and

connecting the mounting element to the mounting surface and the air brake system module to the mounting element such that a portion of the air brake system module extends through the grooves of the lug portions;

removing said system module by disengaging said system module from said mounting element,

introducing a second system module, and

engaging said second system module with said mounting element, wherein said second system module allows for continued use of said vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the mounting surface is selected from a group consisting of an I-beam or C-channel.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the mounting element is selected from a group consisting of a fastening device, and/or a clamping device.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the vehicle is selected from a group consisting of semi-trailers, dolly, semi-trailer trucks, lorry'"'"'s, side lifters, reefers, vans, flat beds, tanker trailers, dump trailers, road trains, or other commercial and heavy duty vehicles that use a air/hydraulic system.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising servicing said system module and inserting said system module into another vehicle.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the time to remove and replace said system module with said second system module takes under an hour.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the time to remove and replace said system module with said second system module is under 30 minutes.

16. An assembly to mount a system module to a vehicle having a mounting surface, the assembly comprising:

a system module including a module panel used to support elements of said system module;

a mounting element; and

a mounting surface having two oppositely extending edges, wherein said mounting element attaches said system module to said mounting surface, and wherein said mounting surface is an element of a vehicle;

said mounting element including a pair of oppositely disposed clamping members, each of the clamping members including a clamping portion for receiving one of the edges of said mounting surface and a lug portion extending from the clamping portion, each of the lug portions having a groove extending in from a distal edge of the lug portion, the grooves receiving the module panel therein.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein said mounting element has holes used to support fasteners, such that said module panel can be attached and locked within said mounting element.

18. The assembly of claim 16, wherein said mounting surface is selected from a group consisting of an I-beam or C-channel of a vehicle.

19. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the system module can be detached from the mounting element.

20. The assembly of claim 16, wherein said system module can be repaired without disturbing continued use of said vehicle.

21. The assembly of claim 16, wherein said system module can be replaced by a second system module.

22. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said second system module allows for continued use of said vehicle.

23. The assembly of claim 16, wherein said vehicle is selected from a group consisting of semi-trailers, dolly, semi-trailer trucks, lorry'"'"'s, side lifters, reefers, vans, flat beds, tanker trailers, dump trailers, road trains, or other commercial and heavy duty vehicles that use an air/hydraulic system.

24. The assembly of claim 16, wherein said system module is a trailer/dolly air brake system module.

25. The assembly according to claim 16, wherein the module panel extends through the grooves in a direction perpendicular to the edges of the mounting surface.