US 5,342,117 AGranted

Brake pulsing apparatus

OwnerThomas D. Price, James C. Robertsinventors

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Abstract

A brake pulsing apparatus for use in vehicles having vacuum hydraulic, pneumatic or electric brake systems. The brake pulsing apparatus includes a solenoid valve, for vacuum hydraulic and pneumatic brake systems, or a relay, for electric brake systems, mounted in a vacuum, pressurized air or electrical line that transmits a brake signal to a brake assembly of the vehicle when the brake system is engaged, a pendulum and proximity switch that sense deceleration of the vehicle, and a timer relay connected between the proximity switch and the solenoid valve or relay to repetitively close the valve or open contacts of the relay when the brake system is engaged. The pendulum and timer relay are adjustable to adapt the brake pulsing apparatus to the type of vehicle in which the apparatus is used. In vacuum hydraulic or pneumatic systems, the solenoid valve repetitively admits air into the vacuum line or exhausts air from the pressurized air line during vehicle braking and a cup, having an orifice through its closed end, can be mounted in a port of the valve to admit or exhaust air at a controlled rate. A second solenoid valve or relay can be mounted in the brake system of a trailer towed by a tractor and operated by the timer relay to synchronously pulse brakes of the trailer with pulsation of brakes of the tractor.

Claims24

Dependent claims

In a vehicle brake system of the type comprising:

a brake assembly responsive to a fluid pressure brake signal for retarding rotation of wheels of the vehicle;
brake signal source means for providing the brake signal;
a brake signal conduit for providing a signal path along which the brake signal can be transmitted from the brake signal source means to the brake assembly;
and
brake operating means mounted within the brake signal conduit for blocking the brake signal in a non-actuated state of the brake operating means and transmitting the brake signal in an actuated state of the brake operating means, the improvement wherein the brake system further comprises a brake pulsing apparatus operable from a source of electrical power comprising:
brake signal interruption means positioned within said brake signal conduit for interrupting the transmission of the brake signal in response to reception of an electrical interrupt signal;
timer means, connected to the brake signal interruption means and to said source of electrical power, for repetitively providing said electrical interrupt signal to the brake signal interruption means in response to reception of an electrical enable signal by the timer means and electrical power from said source of electrical power;
and
an accelerometer comprising:
a normally closed proximity switch connected to the timer means and connected to said source of electrical power for providing said electrical power enable signal to the timer means in the normally closed condition of the proximity switch;
and
a pendulum, comprising:
a depending member;
and
means for pivotably supporting the depending member above the proximity switch for opening the proximity switch at such times that the depending member is axially aligned with the proximity switch.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.