# US 2021/0277970 A1 · Failsafe parking brake manual override

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2021/0277970 A1
- Document ID: US20210277970A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/193,055
- Filed: 2021-03-05
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-06
- Assignees: Howe & Howe Inc.
- Applicants: Howe & Howe Inc.
- Inventors: Zachary Edward Sawyer; Forrest Joel Tripp
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210277970A1

## CPC

- B60P 1/02: with parallel up-and-down movement of load supporting or containing element (in combination with tipping B60P1/34; devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes, movable on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/06 {; suspensions with electronic levelling control during loading or unloading B60G17/0157})
- B60T 7/10: Disposition of hand control
- A62C 27/00: Fire-fighting land vehicles
- A62C 31/00: Delivery of fire-extinguishing material (pumps F04; {suction or pressure} hoses, {joints or couplings therefor} F16L)
- A62C 31/005: {using nozzles}
- B25J 5/005: {mounted on endless tracks or belts}
- B25J 11/008: {Manipulators for service tasks}
- B60K 13/02: concerning intake
- B60P 3/00: Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects (ambulances or other vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00; hearses A61G21/00; fire-fighting land vehicles A62C27/00; refuse-collecting vehicles B65F3/00, B65F7/00; snow-removing vehicles E01H; armoured or armed vehicles F41H7/00; self-propelled mine-clearing vehicles F41H11/16)
- B60T 7/12: for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger {(limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00)}
- B62D 21/09: Means for mounting load bearing surfaces
- B62D 55/06: with tracks without ground wheels
- F02M 35/10242: {Devices or means connected to or integrated into air intakes; Air intakes combined with other engine or vehicle parts (filters F02M35/02; silencers F02M35/12 and F02M35/14; air coolers F02B29/04; heaters F02M31/00; air storage tanks F02B21/00; compressors F02B33/00; sensors F02M35/10373)}
- F02M 35/104: Intake manifolds
- F16D 65/28: arranged apart from the brake
- B60P 3/16: for carrying mixed concrete, e.g. having rotatable drums {(concrete-mixing apparatus specially adapted for being mounted on vehicles with provision for mixing during transport B28C5/42)}
- F16D 2121/16: for releasing a normally applied brake
- B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00)
- B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES
- A62C: FIRE-FIGHTING (fire-extinguishing compositions, use of chemical substances in extinguishing fires A62D1/00; spraying, applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces in general B05; alarm arrangements G08B, e.g. fire alarms actuated by smoke or gases G08B17/10)
- B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50})
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
- F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES

## Abstract

An overridable failsafe brake apparatus for a vehicle is provided. The overridable failsafe brake apparatus includes (a) a lever accessible from outside the vehicle, the lever being operable at a first position and a second position; (b) a brake; and (c) a spring having a first end coupled to the lever and a second end coupled to the brake. (d) The lever disposed in the first position is configured to induce tension in the spring that enables the brake to be activated, and the lever disposed in the second position is configured to reduce tension in the spring to disable the brake from being engaged. A method of operating an overridable failsafe brake apparatus for a vehicle and a vehicle including an overridable failsafe brake apparatus are also provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An overridable failsafe brake apparatus for a vehicle, the overridable failsafe brake apparatus comprising:
a lever accessible from outside the vehicle, the lever being operable at a first position and a second position;
a brake; and
a spring having a first end coupled to the lever and a second end coupled to the brake;
wherein the lever disposed in the first position is configured to induce tension in the spring that enables the brake to be activated, and the lever disposed in the second position is configured to reduce tension in the spring to disable the brake from being engaged.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The overridable failsafe brake apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a channel in an external wall of the vehicle, the lever extending through the channel, wherein the lever disposed in the first position rests against the channel at a first stable location of the channel and the lever disposed in the second position rests against the channel at a second stable location of the channel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The overridable failsafe brake apparatus of claim 2 wherein the channel has a J shape, wherein the first stable location is disposed at a first terminus of the J-shaped channel, and the second stable location is disposed at a second terminus of the J-shaped channel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The overridable failsafe brake apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a ball joint mounted at a location fixed to the vehicle, one end of the lever being mounted at the ball joint.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The overridable failsafe brake apparatus of claim 4 wherein the location of the ball joint is located on another wall of the vehicle opposite the external wall of the vehicle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The overridable failsafe brake apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an actuator operable in a powered state and an unpowered state, the actuator having an end coupled to the brake, wherein the actuator disposed in the powered state is configured to induce a force on the brake that disables the brake from being engaged, and the actuator disposed in the unpowered state is configured to not induce the force on the brake, enabling the brake to be activated.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The overridable failsafe brake apparatus of claim 6,
wherein the overridable failsafe brake apparatus further includes a brake shaft;
wherein the tension induced in the spring when the lever is disposed in the first position is configured to apply a first torque in a first direction to the brake shaft; and
wherein the force induced by the actuator when the actuator is disposed in the powered state is configured to apply a second torque in a second direction opposite the first direction to the brake shaft, the second torque exceeding the first torque.

### Claim 8

A method of operating an overridable failsafe brake apparatus for a vehicle, the method comprising:
providing a lever accessible from outside the vehicle, the lever being operable at a first position and a second position; and
providing a spring having a first end coupled to the lever and a second end coupled to a brake;
in response to the lever being moved to the first position, inducing tension in the spring that enables the brake to be activated; and
in response to the lever being moved to the second position, reducing tension in the spring to disable the brake from being engaged.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising providing a channel in an external wall of the vehicle, the lever extending through the channel, wherein the lever disposed in the first position rests against the channel at a first stable location of the channel and the lever disposed in the second position rests against the channel at a second stable location of the channel

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising, in response to an actuator having an end coupled to the brake being powered and applying a force to the brake, disabling the brake from being engaged.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10,
wherein the tension induced in the spring when the lever is disposed in the first position applies a first torque in a first direction to a brake shaft; and
wherein the force induced by the actuator when the actuator is disposed in the powered state applies a second torque in a second direction opposite the first direction to the brake shaft, the second torque exceeding the first torque.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising:
operating the vehicle using a power source at a first time, the actuator being powered by the power source; and
refraining from operating the vehicle at a second time, in response to the power source becoming unavailable, the actuator being unpowered when the power source is unavailable.

### Claim 13

A vehicle comprising:
a body;
a brake;
a lever accessible from outside the vehicle, the lever extending from inside the body to outside the body, the lever being operable at a first position and a second position; and
a spring having a first end coupled to the lever and a second end coupled to the brake;
wherein the lever disposed at the first position is configured to induce tension in the spring that enables the brake to be activated, and wherein the lever disposed at the second position is configured to reduce tension in the spring to disable the brake from being engaged.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The vehicle of claim 13, further comprising a channel in an external wall of the vehicle, the lever extending through the channel, wherein the lever disposed in the first position rests against the channel at a first stable location of the channel and the lever disposed in the second position rests against the channel at a second stable location of the channel.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The vehicle of claim 14 wherein the channel has a J shape, wherein the first stable location is disposed at a first terminus of the J-shaped channel, and the second stable location is disposed at a second terminus of the J-shaped channel.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The vehicle of claim 15, further comprising a ball joint mounted at a location fixed to the vehicle, one end of the lever being mounted at the ball joint.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the location of the ball joint is located on another wall of the vehicle opposite the external wall of the vehicle.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The vehicle of claim 13, further comprising an actuator operable in a powered state and an unpowered state, the actuator having an end coupled to the brake, wherein the actuator disposed in the powered state is configured to induce a force on the brake that disables the brake from being engaged, and the actuator disposed in the unpowered state is configured to not induce the force on the brake, enabling the brake to be activated.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The vehicle of claim 18,
wherein the vehicle further includes a brake shaft;
wherein the tension induced in the spring when the lever is disposed in the first position is configured to apply a first torque in a first direction to the brake shaft; and
wherein the force induced by the actuator when the actuator is disposed in the powered state is configured to apply a second torque in a second direction opposite the first direction to the brake shaft, the second torque exceeding the first torque.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The vehicle of claim 18, further comprising a power source, the power source being configured to:
power operation of the vehicle and
power the actuator while the vehicle remains powered.