Patent GB-944821-A (GB)
Title: Vehicle brake system
IPC: F16K11/044
Filed: 1961-07-03
Abstract: 944,821. Fluid-pressure brakes. BENDIXWESTINGHOUSE AUTOMOTIVE AIR BRAKE CO. July 3, 1961 [July 14, 1960], No. 23940/61. Heading F2F. In a compressed fluid braking system for a vehicle comprising a fluid-pressure actuator for normally applying a vehicle brake and a spring-operated actuator for applying the brake when the pressure of fluid supplied by a pressure source is insufficient to operate the fluid-pressure actuator, a first valve is operable to supply fluid to the fluid actuator and at the same time to a fluid cylinder for releasing the spring actuator, and a second valve is movable to a position in which it connects the fluid source directly to the fluid cylinder, the second valve being responsive to the pressure of the source whereby it maintains this connection irrespective of the position of the first valve as long as the pressure of the source is above a predetermined value. As shown, in a tractortrailer arrangement, an air compressor 10 charges reservoirs 12, 14 to maintain a normal pressure determined by governor 20 in a supply pipe 26 on the tractor vehicle. The latter is connected via a conventional tractor protection valve 48 to an emergency line 60 leading to a trailer vehicle and is also connected on the tractor vehicle to driver's valve 34 which when operated supplies air via pipes 50, 52 to diaphragm type compressed air actuators 36, 38 which act on brake actuating levers 68, 72 via lost-motion connections 88, 90, respectively. A further pipe 42 supplies air via a double check valve 44 to the tractor protection valve 48 for supplying air to the service line 40 to operate the trailer brakes when the valve 34 is operated. The valve 34 may be by-passed to operate the trailer brakes alone by operating a valve 54 connected with the double check valve 44. Spring actuators 62, 64 are associated with the brake actuating levers 68, 72, each comprising a cylinder 74 containing a piston 76 acted on by a spring 78, the respective pistons being connected by rods 66, 70 and lostmotion connections 80, 82 with the levers 68, 72. Air can be supplied to the cylinders 74 to cause pistons 76 to compress the springs 78 and release the brakes by manually moving a valve 92 from an emergency position to a normal position in which air passes to the cylinders from the pipe 26 via a pipe 96, quickrelease valve 106 and pipes 98, 100. The valve 92, however, is designed such that it will remain in the normal position only when the pressure in pipe 26 is above a predetermined minimum, the spring actuators under this condition being maintained released irrespective of the position of the valve 34. When the pressure in pipe 26 falls below the predetermined minimum the valve 92 shuts off the connection between pipe 26 and pipe 96, and opens a connection between pipe 96 and a pipe 102 leading to the pipe 52 whereby, when valve 34 is not operated the cylinders 74 are exhausted to atmosphere via the valve 34. When this happens the quick release valve 106 immediately opens its exhaust port 108 to atmosphere to hasten exhausting of the cylinders 74 and application of the spring brakes. A valve 112 is disposed in a pipe 110 leading from pipe 96 to the control section of the tractor protection valve 48, so that the trailer brakes can be applied manually or automatically when pipe 96 is exhausted. The valve 92 comprises a plunger 130 having a sleeve 133 formed as a piston which is sealed within a cylinder 128 by an 0-ring 134. A valve member 136 is secured between the sleeve 133 and a shoulder 138 on the plunger and is provided with a resilient covering member comprising valves 144, 148, 152. An O ring 132 seals the upper part of the plunger in a cylinder 126 connected with inlet 120, which is coupled to the pipe 26. Valve chamber 166 is connected with outlet 122, to which pipe 96 is connected, and the cylinder 128 is connected with the exhaust 124 to which pipe 102 is connected. In operation, the valve is initially maintained in the position shown by spring 164, being independent of the pressure in the inlet 120 owing to the area of valve 144 being equal to that of 0-ring 132. When head 162 of plunger 130 is depressed manually valve 144 opens and valves 148, 152 close. Inlet pressure thereupon acts on the larger area of valve 148 to maintain this condition irrespective of the pressure in exhaust 160, since the area of valve 152 and of the O ring 134 are equal. When pressure in the inlet 120 drops below the predetermined value, spring 164 returns the plunger 130 to the position shown, any subsequent depression of the head 162 causing an immediate return of the plunger. A passage 168 leading to atmosphere prevents accumulation of pressure in the space between the valves 148, 152. Specification 944,824 is referred to.