Towed vehicle brake control
OwnerHarry N. Harnessinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
System for selectively applying the brakes of a towed vehicle by controls in the towing vehicle; the system including a portable air compressor and a pneumatic cylinder that can be rapidly installed by attaching to a support structure on the floor of the driver's cockpit in the towed vehicle; the piston of the cylinder being attached to the brake pedal; and a three-way solenoid valve to permit or not to permit the admission of compressed air to the cylinder.
Claims18
A system for actuating brakes of a towed vehicle having a driver's seat and a brake pedal by electric signal from the towing vehicle having an electric battery, which comprises a pneumatic cylinder with a movable piston and a piston rod connected directly to the brake pedal of the towed vehicle and adapted to depress the brake pedal when pneumatic pressure is applied to the piston;
- a portable air compressor removably installable in said towed vehicle and manually connectible via conduits to said cylinder;
- a solenoid valve means adapted to selectively permit the buildup of compressed air from said compressor to said cylinder or to discharge said compressed air to the surrounding atmosphere;
- an adjustable relief valve to automatically relieve the development of higher pressures by said compressor than selected;
- an electric switch means in said towing vehicle to activate said compressor and said solenoid valve means;
- and electric battery means in said towed vehicle to provide power for said compressor and said solenoid valve means.
A remote control system for actuating brakes of a towed vehicle by an electric signal from a towing vehicle, comprising an electric motor driving a compressor, both being selectively installable and removable from said towed vehicle, a cylinder with a movable piston supported by a piston rod adapted to be directly connected to a brake pedal of said towed vehicle and to depress same when pneumatic pressure is applied to said cylinder to move said piston rod and piston, at least one conduit connected between said compressor and said cylinder to supply pneumatic pressure thereto, a solenoid valve means adapted to selectively permit buildup of compressed air from said compressor to said cylinder or to discharge said compressed air to surrounding atmosphere, an adjustable relief valve pneumatically connected between said compressor and said cylinder to automatically relieve development of higher pressures by said compressor than selected, and an electric switch means adapted to be positioned in said towing vehicle to activate said motor and said solenoid valve means by said electric signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.