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US 5,915,798 AGranted
Towed vehicle braking system
OwnerBilly C. Fordinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A towing/towed vehicle braking system translates towing vehicle braking fluid pressure into air pressure. An actuator is driven by this air pressure to depress the towed vehicle brake pedal in response to an elevated level of towing vehicle brake fluid pressure. A three-way valve controlled by the brake light wire of the towing vehicle releases the air pressure in the conduit when the towing vehicle brakes are released.
Claims6
A towed vehicle brake actuation system for depressing a brake pedal of a towed vehicle in response to an elevated level of hydraulic brake fluid pressure in a towing vehicle, said system comprising:
- a conduit coupler adapted to couple into a hydraulic brake fluid conduit of said towing vehicle;
- a hydraulic brake fluid responsive actuator operatively connected to said conduit coupler and adapted to move a responsive member in response to a change in said hydraulic brake fluid pressure of said towing vehicle;
- an air regulator having a control member operatively connected to said responsive member, an entrance orifice adapted to receive compressed air, and an exit orifice adapted to expel air having a variable pressure level that is controlled by said control member, said air regulator expelling air having a brake application indicating air pressure level in response to said elevated level of hydraulic brake fluid pressure;
- a compressed air source operatively connected to said entrance orifice;
- an air pressure conduit, operatively connected to said exit orifice;
- and
- an air pressure responsive actuator having a body, an actuator entrance orifice operatively connected to said air pressure conduit to receive said air having said variable pressure level, and a member that is thrust outwardly from said body with a force that is related to said variable pressure level, said member adapted to be operatively connected to said brake pedal of said towed vehicle and adapted to depress said brake pedal of said towed vehicle in response to said brake application indicating air pressure level received at said actuator entrance orifice, said brake application indicating air pressure level being related to said elevated hydraulic brake fluid pressure of said towing vehicle.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.