Patent GB-933735-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in speed control apparatus for wheeled vehicles
Inventor: BICK DAVID EWART
IPC: B61K7/00
Filed: 1960-05-01
Abstract: 933,735. Track brakes. DOWTY HYDRAULIC UNITS Ltd. April 19, 1962 [May 1, 1961], No. 15710/61. Addition to 909,181. Class 103 (1). [Also in Group XXX] The track brake of the parent Specification is modified in that it incorporates a flow-sensitive valve arrangement responsive to the rates of flow of the hydraulic fluid during contraction and extension of the piston to modify the operation of a slide valve which has a lostmotion connection with the piston such that it normally connects the cylinder with a low pressure port during contraction and a high pressure port during extension, the arrangement being such that a vehicle travelling below a lower critical speed is accelerated by the normal operation of the slide valve, a vehicle travelling between the lower critical speed and a higher critical speed is not affected, the cylinder being connected to the high pressure port during both contraction and extension of the piston, and a vehicle travelling above the higher critical speed is retarded, the slide valve being then operated to connect the cylinder to the high pressure port during contraction of the piston and to the low pressure port during extension of the piston. As shown, the slide valve is in the form of a sleeve 27 having ports 28 which in an upper position of the valve, abutting a shoulder 22 on the cylinder 10, register with a port 18 connected to a low pressure source, and in a lower position, abutting the cylinder base 25 register with a port 24 connected to a high pressure source. The normal operation of the slide valve, i.e. during engagement of head 16 of the piston 14 with the wheel of a vehicle moving at a speed below the lower critical speed, is by a lost-motion connection with the piston comprising a cylindrical extension 32 of the piston slidable within the sleeve 27 and retained within the sleeve by a ring 33 threaded on its lower end, the lower edge 34 of the piston depressing the sleeve 27 towards the end of its contraction and the ring 33 raising the sleeve towards the end of the extension of the piston. Fluid is forced out of an annular space 37 through ports 52 and a valve plug 41 during initial contraction movement, i.e. until depressed portions 38 of extension 32 connect it directly with the main chamber 29, and is similarly forced into space 37 through the plug 41 during initial extension movement. A pair of clack valves 42, 43 are arranged at opposite ends of the plug 41, valve 42 having valve apertures 45 and a central aperture 44, and valve 43 having valve apertures 46 and a non-return valve 48. The sizes of the apertures is such that clack valve 42 closes during contraction when the vehicle speed is above the lower critical speed, and valve 43 closes during extension when the vehicle speed is above the higher critical speed, so that in each case the flow of liquid through the plug 41 is interrupted causing pressure to build up across the plug which overcomes the frictional resistance of a sealing ring 51 in the slide valve and causes it to move with the piston. Accordingly, when the vehicle speed is between the lower critical speed and the upper critical speed the slide valve is moved to communicate the high pressure port 24 with the chamber 29 during contraction as well as during extension, while a vehicle travelling at a speed above the higher critical speed causes movement of the slide valve to connect high pressure port 24 with chamber 29 during contraction of the piston and further movement of the slide valve to connect low pressure port 18 with chamber 29 during extension of the piston. When a vehicle is moving in the wrong direction, i.e. up the track the vehicle wheel engages a lever 53 before engaging the head 16, causing rotation of a cam 54 to displace the upper end of an operating rod 56 out of a notch 55 in the cam. The lower end of the rod 56 then closes clack valve 42 so that the slide valve is moved to communicate high pressure to the chamber 29, to retard the vehicle irrespective of its speed.