Patent ID: 7367633
Filing Date: 2008-05-06
Classification: B60T,F16D

Abstract:
1. A system for braking a truck, the system comprising: a foot brake pedal configured to receive a continuously variable force applied to the foot brake pedal; a transducer operatively coupled to the foot brake pedal and configured to convert the continuously variable force to an electronic signal of a magnitude proportional to the continuously variable force; a brake force apparatus located on an input side of a torque transfer unit and configured to apply brake force to a drive shaft of the truck, the brake force apparatus including a disc brake attached directly to the drive shaft; a control unit configured to control the brake force apparatus to apply continuously variable modulated brake force to the drive shaft of the truck via the disc brake in an amount proportional to the continuously variable force applied to the foot brake pedal; means for transmitting the electronic signal from the transducer to the control unit; and a finger-actuated button accessible to a driver of the truck, the button configured to set a mode of the system to a non-modulated parking brake mode in which the control unit causes the brake force apparatus to apply and maintain a ratcheted force to the drive shaft of the truck, the ratcheted force being maintained at a constant level even if the truck is powered off.