Patent Description:
Similar devices are described in documents: <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and "<NPL>.

Systems are currently known which are suitable for transmitting a braking command to a train of vehicles connected to each other in an articulated manner, not rigidly, therefore with the possibility of relative rotations between the vehicles of the train. Pneumatic and/or inertial braking systems in vehicles towing trailers, or combinations of said systems, are in fact known.

They have connections which can be mechanical, pneumatic or similar.

The known art described includes some important drawbacks.

The pneumatic and/or inertial braking systems typical of vehicles pulling trailers, for example, are not suitable for said trains of vehicles rigidly connected to each other and moreover they do not give the possibility of coupling more than one trailer in succession.

In particular, pneumatic systems are very complex and expensive, and are not suitable for coupled vehicles with their own and independent braking system, such as for example two independent vehicles connected to form a modular vehicle system.

In this situation, the technical task underlying the present invention is to devise a modular braking device capable of substantially obviating at least part of the aforementioned drawbacks.

Within the scope of said technical task, it is an important object of the invention to obtain a device of the "plug and play" type which is operative for coupling two vehicles without the need for an operator.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a modular device, present on vehicles capable of being rigidly connected to each other in a modular vehicle system.

Again, an important object of the invention is to provide a completely mechanical device which does not involve delays in the transmission of the braking command between different vehicles.

In addition, an important object of the invention is to provide a highly safe device in the event of breakdowns in the servo-assisted braking systems of vehicles. Finally, an important object of the invention is to provide a device which can connect a plurality of vehicle braking systems to transmit a command.

The technical task and the specified aims are achieved by a modular braking device adapted to be installed on a modular vehicle system as claimed in the annexed claim <NUM>.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are clarified below by the detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
<FIG> shows a schematic illustration of modular braking device installed on two modules of a modular system vehicles.

With reference to the figures, the modular braking device according to the invention is globally indicated with the number <NUM>.

Preferably, the modular braking device <NUM> is adapted to be installed on a modular vehicle system <NUM>.

Said modular vehicle system <NUM> comprising at least two vehicles <NUM>, <NUM>, as shown in the exemplary embodiment of <FIG>.

As will become clear in the following, the device <NUM> is suitable for being installed on a system <NUM> of modular vehicles comprising a plurality of vehicles, being in fact a modular device <NUM> present identical on each vehicle suitable for composing the system <NUM>.

Said vehicles <NUM>, <NUM>, are removably connectable to each other, and when connected they form a rigid train without relative rotations between said vehicles <NUM>, <NUM>. Said vehicles <NUM>, <NUM> therefore form a rigid train without relative rotations in a horizontal plane, in a plane lateral and in a vertical plane. The structural connection between said vehicles <NUM>, <NUM> can be carried out according to any system that allows the formation of a rigid train. The connection to form said rigid train must also be understood as a non-articulated connection between said vehicles <NUM> and <NUM> to form said system <NUM>, as described above.

Preferably, each of said vehicles <NUM>, <NUM> comprises a braking system <NUM> which can be activated by control means <NUM> accessible by a user. They can be manual, assisted, remote or automatic or more. The braking system <NUM> can for example be any braking system of the known art. Preferably the braking system <NUM> is a hydraulic system servo-assisted by a pneumatic vacuum servo.

Said controls <NUM> can consist of a pedal or any other element capable of transmitting a braking command by moving at least part of the components of the controls <NUM>. Said controls <NUM> can be actuated by a physical user or by an automatic system, for example a remote control and/or guidance system. Again, preferably, said controls <NUM> accessible by a user comprise at least the control of the service brake of the vehicles <NUM>, <NUM>.

Preferably, the device <NUM> according to the present invention comprises, on each of said vehicles <NUM>, <NUM>, connection means <NUM> for said commands <NUM> to a transmission bar <NUM> of the braking command. By connection means <NUM> in the present document it is meant a system, preferably mechanical, able to transmit the movement caused by a braking command.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG> said connection means <NUM> comprise mechanical leverages <NUM>.

Preferably, according to the present invention, the transmission bar <NUM> extends for the length of the vehicles <NUM>, <NUM>.

Again, preferably, the bars <NUM> of the vehicles <NUM>, <NUM> are connected when said vehicles <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to form said system <NUM> of modular vehicles. The connection or contact of the bars <NUM> therefore allows the transmission of a braking command from one vehicle <NUM> to the other vehicle <NUM>, or vice versa, by means of its mechanical movement at least in a single direction, or rather by pushing at least in the direction that allows the transmission of a braking command from a leading vehicle to a trailing vehicle or vice versa, since generally each braking system <NUM> of the prior art has a return-to-position system, which returns the system <NUM> to the non-braking position and the bars <NUM> thereto and connected to each other. The rigid assembly formed by the connection of said bars <NUM> allows the actuation of the braking systems <NUM> of each vehicle of the modular vehicle system <NUM>, through the movement of connection means <NUM>, controls <NUM> and finally of the actuator of the braking system <NUM>.

Still, preferably according to the present invention the distal ends of said transmission rods <NUM> are provided with joining means <NUM> comprising magnetic couplings, mechanical, pneumatic and/or electronic acts to bind together the said transmission bars <NUM> and in particular of a braking command. Finally, preferably in an alternative embodiment, or in combination with what has been described, said braking system <NUM>, said connecting means <NUM> and said transmission bar <NUM> of the braking control are servo-assisted systems.

The operation of the device <NUM> previously described in structural terms is as follows.

In its simplest embodiment, shown in <FIG> The service brake pedal <NUM> is connected to a lever <NUM> which pushes in parallel both the cylinder, or any other actuation system, of the braking system <NUM> of the vehicle wherein it is, either, in parallel a bar <NUM> which reaches the rear of the vehicle and up to the front end of the same. From the moment of rigid coupling of another vehicle, the rear part of the bar <NUM> of the leading vehicle comes into contact with the front part of the bar <NUM> of the tailing vehicle, which in turn pushes on the cylinder of the brake system <NUM> of the rear vehicle. In this way a bar <NUM> puts the braking systems <NUM> of all the connected vehicles in series to form the modular system <NUM>. Therefore, if the driver or equivalent remote or driverless driving system in the lead vehicle presses the brake pedal, the brake cylinder of the vehicles connected in the rear are also pressed, in a completely mechanical way.

The device <NUM> according to the invention achieves important advantages.

In fact, advantageously this solution does not need complex connection systems, such as for example inertial or electro-pneumatic systems, between one vehicle and another so that the construction and maintenance cost is much cheaper than existing solutions.

Furthermore, a modular braking device <NUM> fully automatically engages a further modular braking device <NUM> of another vehicle when the vehicles are rigidly coupled, since the bar <NUM> comes into contact with that of the rear vehicle.

In addition, advantageously with respect to the systems of the known art, there are no delays in the transmission of the braking command since the mechanical bar <NUM> is rigid and incompressible, unlike, for example, the braking systems of trailers based on a pneumatic circuit.

A further advantage of the device <NUM> according to the present invention is that, in the event of failure of the servo assistance on one of the connected means, the modular vehicle system <NUM> remains safely braked and with relatively little force applied to the pedal or to the controls <NUM> since the force resulting on bar <NUM> will always be the sum of the contributions of the brake servo-assistance systems of all the connected units. Finally, at a regulatory and certification level, this system is neither configured as a "brake-by-wire" nor as a braking device for trailers, since each vehicle is rigidly coupled and potentially constitutes an independent unit equipped with traction, steering, braking and own energy source. The resulting vehicle, called modular vehicle system <NUM>, is configured as a single, longer vehicle, not as a combination of tractor and trailer. This aspect makes the system eligible under the ECE13 braking system standard, for one vehicle as type M1/N1 and for two or more vehicles as M2/M3/N2.

The invention is susceptible of variants falling within the scope of the inventive concept defined by the claims.

Claim 1:
System of modular vehicles comprising a modular braking device (<NUM>), said system (<NUM>) comprising at least two vehicles (<NUM>,<NUM>) being connectable to and detachable from each other, wherein said vehicles (<NUM>,<NUM>), when connected to form said system (<NUM>), form a rigid train without relative rotations between said vehicles (<NUM>, <NUM>), in which each of said vehicles (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprises at least one braking system (<NUM>) which can be activated by control means (<NUM>) accessible by a user, characterized in that said system comprises, on each of said vehicles (<NUM>,<NUM>), means for connecting said control means (<NUM>) to a transmission bar (<NUM>) for controlling the braking, said transmission bar (<NUM>) extending for the length of each vehicles (<NUM>, <NUM>), and wherein said bars (<NUM>) of the vehicles (<NUM>, <NUM>) are connected when said vehicles (<NUM>,<NUM>) are connected to form said system (<NUM>) of modular vehicles.