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US 6,802,572 B2Granted
Brake control system
AssigneeN.I.R., Inc.
InventorsIsidore I. Lamke, Robert D. Plummer, Michael E. Dinan, Eugene P. Reinhold
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A brake control system for towed vehicles is disclosed which provides for controlled application of hydraulic brakes in a towed vehicle in response to the application of the brakes of the towing vehicle. The system is designed in two preferred embodiments. The first embodiment is a self-contained design adapted for use with rental trailers, for example, where a plurality of towed vehicles will be associated with a particular trailer. The second embodiment is intended for hard wiring in connection with the towed and towing vehicles. In each case, superior performance is obtained because the system operates the brake system of the towed vehicle in a unique manner.
Claims16
A brake control system for a multiple towing arrangement, comprising:
- a unit installed on a towed vehicle, including a hydrostatic pump, and a drive motor for the pump, the pump being operatively connected to a brake system of the towed vehicle to control operation thereof;
- a control unit operatively connected to at least one parameter of a towing vehicle, said control unit operative to apply power to the motor for said pump;
- and
- a breakaway switch operatively connected between the control unit and the towing vehicle;
- wherein the control unit is comprises a switch capable of a plurality of positions, a first position causing the control unit to enter an “off” mode, a second position causing the control unit to enter a backup mode wherein the brake system of the towed vehicle is applied for as long as a brake pedal of the towing vehicle is depressed, and further positions each associated with a different power setting of towed vehicle brake application and wherein the control unit initiates a timer function to apply the brakes of the towed vehicle for no more than a predetermined amount of time at the selected power level when the towing vehicle braking system is applied regardless of whether the braking system of the towing vehicle continues to be applied after the predetermined period of time and after which time the braking system of the towing vehicle must be released and reapplied in order to reset the timer function and reapply the braking system of the towed vehicle for another length of the predetermined time.
2 more elements
A brake control system comprising:
- a first unit mounted on a vehicle to be towed, the first unit including an electric motor and a pump, a reservoir of hydraulic fluid associated with the pump, and a connection between the pump and a brake system of the towed vehicle;
- a battery for supplying power to the motor;
- a microprocessor electrically connected to the battery and the first unit;
- and
- an interconnection between the microprocessor and a brake system of a towing vehicle to enable the microprocessor to determine when the towing vehicle has brakes applied;
- a switch capable of a plurality of positions, a first position causing the microprocessor to enter an “off” mode, a second position causing the microprocessor to enter a “charging mode” mode wherein the battery is charged, a third position causing the microprocessor to enter a backup mode wherein the brake system of the towed vehicle is applied for as long as a brake pedal of the towing vehicle is depressed, and further positions each associated with a different power setting of towed vehicle brake application and wherein the microprocessor initiates a timer function to apply the brakes of the towed vehicle for no more than a predetermined amount of time at the selected power level when the towing vehicle braking system is applied regardless of whether the braking system of the towing vehicle continues to be applied after the predetermined time period and after which time the braking system of the towing vehicle must be released and reapplied in order to reset the timer function and reapply the braking system of the towed vehicle for another length of the predetermined time.
3 more elements
A brake control system comprising:
- a first unit mounted on a vehicle to be towed, the first unit including an electric motor and a pump, a reservoir of hydraulic fluid associated with the pump, and a connection between the pump and a brake system of the towed vehicle;
- a battery for supplying power to the motor;
- a microprocessor electrically connected to the battery and the first unit;
- an interconnection between the microprocessor and a brake system of a towing vehicle to enable the microprocessor to determine when the towing vehicle has brakes applied;
- and
- a switch capable of a plurality of positions, a first position causing the microprocessor to enter an “off” mode, a second position causing the microprocessor to enter a “charging mode” mode wherein the battery is charged, a third position causing the microprocessor to enter a backup mode wherein the brake system of the towed vehicle is applied for as long as a brake pedal of the towing vehicle is depressed, and further positions each associated with a different power setting of towed vehicle brake application and wherein the microprocessor initiates a timer function to apply the brakes of the towed vehicle for no more than a predetermined amount of time at the selected power level when the towing vehicle braking system is applied regardless of whether the braking system of the towing vehicle continues to be applied after the predetermined time period and after which time the braking system of the towing vehicle must be released and reapplied in order to reset the timer function and reapply the braking system of the towed vehicle for another length of the predetermined time.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.