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US 2023/0415526 A1Published application
Cam-actuated lift assist for tow bar activated brake system
AssigneeFAST Global Solutions, Inc.
InventorsJohn HOEPER, Jesse R. ARMSTRONG, Garret G. HOEPER, Matthew T. MARTIN, Eric M. OLNESS, Taylor S. STULEN
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lift assist system for lifting a tow bar and setting a tow bar-actuated brake system. The lift assist system includes a cam that may proportionally counter the moments imposed on the tow bar for a reduced and more uniform exertion force on the tow bar throughout the rotation of the tow bar. A brake actuation system can help provide retention of the tow bar in the upright configuration, eliminating the need for or providing redundancy to conventional latch and hook mechanisms.
Claims77
A lift assisted tow bar system, comprising:
- a tow bar pivotally coupled to a towed vehicle to define a tow bar rotation axis, said tow bar being articulable about said tow bar rotation axis;
- a cam coupled with one of said tow bar and said towed vehicle, said cam including a cam surface that at least partially surrounds said tow bar rotation axis;
- a cam follower assembly, including a cam follower contacting said cam surface and a biasing element coupled to said cam follower, said biasing element generating a cam force vector that is imposed on said cam surface,
- wherein said cam follower is configured to follow along said cam surface and exert said cam force vector on said cam for generation of a counter-moment that at least partially counters moments encountered about said tow bar rotation axis during operation of said tow bar.
1 more element
A self-securing brake actuation mechanism, comprising:
- a tow bar pivotally coupled to a towed vehicle, said tow bar including a cross member that defines a tow bar rotation axis and is articulable about said tow bar rotation axis;
- a yoke assembly that depends from and is in a fixed relationship with said cross member;
- a contoured link including a first end and a second end, said first end being pivotally coupled to said yoke assembly and defining a yoke pivot axis;
- and
- a brake system coupled to and defining a junction with said second end of said contoured link,
- wherein, in a tow bar up configuration, said yoke pivot axis is located forward of and above said tow bar rotation axis, and said contoured link at least partially surrounds said cross member.
3 more elements
A method for retrofitting a towed vehicle with a lift assist device for a tow bar, comprising:
- providing a retrofit kit including a cam and a cam follower assembly;
- providing installation instructions on a tangible, non-transitory medium, said installation instructions including:
- installing said cam follower assembly on said towed vehicle;
- and
- installing said cam on said towed vehicle.
2 more elements
A lift assisted tow bar system, comprising:
- a tow bar pivotally coupled to towed vehicle to define a tow bar rotation axis, said tow bar being articulable about said tow bar rotation axis;
- a cam coupled to and in a fixed spatial relationship with said tow bar, said cam including a cam surface, said cam surface being oriented for rotation about said tow bar rotation axis;
- a cam follower assembly, including
- a follower arm pivotally rotatable about a follower arm pivot axis, said follower arm including a follower end portion that extends from said pivot axis, and
- a cam follower coupled to said follower end portion of said follower arm and contacting said cam surface;
- and
- a biasing element coupled to said follower arm, said biasing element generating a cam force vector that is imposed on said cam surface,
- wherein said cam follower is configured to follow along said cam surface and exert said cam force vector on said cam that generates a counter-moment that at least partially counters moments encountered about said tow bar rotation axis during operation of the tow bar.
5 more elements
A self-securing brake actuation mechanism, comprising:
- a tow bar pivotally coupled to a towed vehicle, said tow bar including a cross member that defines a tow bar rotation axis and is articulable about said tow bar rotation axis;
- a yoke assembly that depends from and is in a fixed relationship with said cross member;
- a contoured link including a first end and a second end, said first end being pivotally coupled to said yoke assembly and defining a yoke pivot axis;
- and
- a brake system coupled to and defining a junction with said second end of said contoured link,
- wherein, in a tow bar up configuration, said yoke pivot axis is located forward of and above said tow bar rotation axis, and said contoured link at least partially surrounds said cross member.
3 more elements
A lift assisted tow bar system, comprising:
- a tow bar pivotally coupled to towed vehicle to define a tow bar rotation axis, said tow bar being articulable about said tow bar rotation axis;
- a cam coupled to and in a fixed spatial relationship with said tow bar, said cam including a cam surface, said cam surface being oriented for rotation about said tow bar rotation axis;
- a cam follower assembly, including a cam follower contacting said cam surface and a biasing element coupled to said cam follower, said biasing element generating a cam force vector that is imposed on said cam surface,
- wherein said cam follower is configured to follow along said cam surface and exert said cam force vector on said cam for generation of a counter-moment that at least partially counters moments encountered about said tow bar rotation axis during operation of the tow bar.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.