Patent GB-951635-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to trailer vehicle braking
Inventor: MELLING JOHN FRANCIS
IPC: B60T7/20
Filed: 1959-06-11
Abstract: 951,635. Brakes for trailer vehicles. JOHN MELLING Ltd. June 10, 1960 [June 11, 1959 ; Nov. 17, 1959], Nos. 19979/59 and 38881/59. Heading F2E. A trailer vehicle brake control means comprises a high powered spring 16 for control of the brakes, a relatively stationary tow bar component 1 adapted to be secured to a trailer frame part 3, a displaceable tow bar component 4 adapted to be displaced in opposite longitudinal directions for controlling a trailer brake, link means 10, 11 being connected between the two tow bar components to convert the upward and downward displacement of the displaceable tow bar component when coupling to and uncoupling from the towing vehicle into the longitudinal movement for controlling the brake such that the brake may be applied independently of the spring when the tow bar is in its released position. In the embodiment disclosed, Fig. 1 shows a brake control means for a tow bar component of a tractor trailer vehicle combination in its brake " on " position wherein a high powered spring 16 normally holds a rod 15 towards the left-hand side in Fig. 1 so that a lever 18 pivoted at 8a is tilted rearwardly at the top to hold a pair of disc rollers 12, 13 located between the top and bottom walls of a box section 1 of the tow bar connection in a rear position, and further with the links 10 in a rear position such that the displaceable tow bar component 4 is in a downward position. When it is required to couple the trailer to a towing vehicle, the displaceable tow bar component 4 is displaced upwardly to engage its coupling part 5 with a coupling part 22 on the towing vehicle. This upward movement of the displaceable tow bar component is converted by the links 10 into forward longitudinal movement of the displaceable tow bar component 4 as guided by the disc wheels 12, 13 in the box section 1. This causes the lever 18 to swing forwardly at the top and rearwardly at the bottom about its pivot 18a such that the rod 15 is displaced rearwardly by the lever 18 to release the brake against the action of the high powered spring 16. A trip mechanism is incorporated in the brake control means of the tow bar component which is normally set during application and release of the brake under the control of the displaceable tow bar component and remote control means operable from the tractor for tripping the trip mechanism is provided when the brake is released such that when it is desired to release the trip mechanism an electric switch is operated to energize a solenoid 36 so that arm 33 is raised to break a toggle mechanism 31 and permit movement of the lever 29 inwardly at the top and outwardly at the bottom against the action of the spring 37 to release a ball connection (not shown) between arms 18b, 18c of leverl8. A prop is displaceable from an inoperative position to an operative position to prop the displaceable tow bar component in its upward and forward brake release position. In the first Provisional Specifications and the second Provisional Specication alternative embodiments are disclosed wherein a hand lever is provided for moving the control of the brake and a weight acts in conjunction with an eccentric arrangement to provide control of the brake according to forward or reverse motion of the trailer.