Patent ID: 6478118
Filing Date: 2002-11-12
Classification: B60L,B60T,Y10T

Abstract:
A knob arrangement for operating parking brakes intended for use in vehicles comprising brake units such as drum brakes or disc brakes on two opposing wheels in a pair of wheels, and an electrically powered tightening means for applying and releasing braking force to the brake units, the knob arrangement comprising:a sensing means for sensing the position of a knob associated with a parking brake lever, the sensing means adapted to send control signals to a first electric motor arranged to power the tightening means for generating a braking force corresponding to the sensed position of the knob, the knob being manually adjustable, and, in a fully applied position that corresponds to maximal braking force, being mechanically lockable; a control motor arranged to automatically displace the knob to the fully applied and mechanically locked position dependent upon a second control signal being applied to the motor, and the knob, when in the fully applied and locked position, being releasable therefrom by manual operation.