Patent ID: 9644694
Date: 2017-05-09
CPC Classifications: B60R,B60T,F16D

Claim:
1. A wheel locking or parking brake assembly for a vehicle, comprising: a plate member configured to be affixed to a wheel or an axle of the vehicle, the plate member having a circumferential flange with a peripheral extension or protrusion; an electrically powered pin assembly comprising a weatherproof housing having an electric motor disposed therein, the electric motor configured to operate a rack and pinion assembly, where a rack is configured to be driven by a pinion gear on the electric motor thereby retracting or advancing a locking pin; where the electric motor is affixed to a first portion of the weatherproof housing and the rack is affixed to a second portion of the weatherproof housing such that when the weatherproof housing is opened, the electric motor and the pinion gear are disengaged from the rack thereby comprising a safety override mechanism where the locking pin is configured to be manually retracted or advanced; and where the locking pin is configured to engage the peripheral extension or protrusion; and an electric power supply; where electric current flowing in a first direction causes the locking pin to advance in the path of the extension or protrusion to lock the wheel from rotating, and where current flowing in a second and opposite direction causes the locking pin to retract from the path of the extension or protrusion to allow the wheel to rotate; and where the locking pin remains in either an advanced or retracted position depending on whether the electric power supply is switched off.