Vehicle brake safety system apparatus and methods
US6450587B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 28, 2000 |
| Grant date | Sep 17, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 28, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16H2059/746
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A safety-enhancing automatic brake control system automatically applies and maintains the brakes in the applied state, when one or more conditions exist at various stations around/in the vehicle or equipment that make vehicle movement dangerous. A preferred controller electrically, electronically, or otherwise connects to various sensors at the vehicle stations, validates the signal(s), and then actuates a mechanism that manages the air, brake fluid, mechanical brake linkage/cable, electric, or other mechanism that applies the brakes. In an air brake system, a solenoid valve blocks and vents the air line to release a piston that normally counteracts a spring mechanism. In a hydraulic brake system, a piston or spring, for example, powers a secondary piston rod and piston in a master cylinder to apply the brakes. In the case of a spring-actuated system, a release unit such as a piston may be used to counteract the spring for releasing the brakes. If the driver does not manually set the parking brake when appropriate, the invented control system automatically sets a brake as soon as a potentially dangerous condition is sensed and validated by the invented controller. The control syste…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.