Safety apparatus for service vehicle

Apparatus for operating a service vehicle making frequent starts and stops having a primary engine, an automatic transmission and first and second drive stations, wherein said automatic transmission has a gearshift lever at said first station, and wherein said gearshift lever is maintained in a drive position under such conditions, comprising:

• brake-set means mounted at said second drive station for actuating the brakes of said vehicle;
• safety means mounted at said second drive station in operative connection with said automatic transmission for neutralizing said automatic transmission with said gearshift lever remaining in said drive position;
• said safety means including a flow diverting valve mounted with said automatic transmission, said flow diverting valve being normally in a closed position but being movable to an open position for diverting sufficient fluid from said automatic transmission to neutralize same in response to a fluid signal;
• said safety means further including a fluid signal source connected to said flow diverting valve, said fluid signal source being controlled by an electrical switch, and said electrical switch being actuated by said brake-set means;
• said fluid signal source includes an electrically actuated signal valve connected with a fluid supply, said signal valve being normally closed, but movable to an open position to provide a fluid signal to said flow diverting valve;
• and
• said electrical switch being mounted at said second drive station adjacent to said brake-set means, said switch being electrically connected to said signal valve for providing an electrical signal for opening said signal valve substantially simultaneously with the actuation of said brakes.

Apparatus for operating a service vehicle making frequent starts and stops having a primary engine, an automatic transmission and first and second drive stations, wherein said automatic transmission has a gearshift lever at said first station, and wherein said gearshift lever is maintained in a drive position under such conditions, comprising:

• brake-set means mounted at said second drive station for actuating the brakes of said vehicle;
• safety means mounted at said second drive station in operative connection with said automatic transmission for neutralizing said automatic transmission with said gearshift lever remaining in said drive position;
• said brake-set means including an operator valve mounted at said second station including a handle movable between an initial and a brake-setting position, said operator valve controlling the supply of fluid to said brakes for setting and releasing said brakes;
• and
• said safety means including an electrical control switch mounted adjacent to said handle, said handle actuating said switch in a brake-setting position whereby said control switch is actuated substantially simultaneously with movement of said operator valve handle to a brake-setting position.