GB1222211A - Apparatus for locking and unlocking a vehicle hand-brake - Google Patents

Abstract

1,222,211. Vehicle controls. S. TAKADA. 13 Feb., 1968 [13 Feb., 1967], No. 6842/67. Heading B7H. [Also in Division F2] In a hand brake arrangement for automobiles (Division F2), an electric motor 10 is provided for moving a brake applying-locking rod 6 to a brake applying position and a releasable locking element, in the form of a pawl 16 engaging with ratchet teeth 15 on the rod 6, is urged by a spring 20 to hold the brake in the applied position, the operation of the electric motor 10, which moves the rod 6 via gearing 9 and a pinion 8, being under the control of a switch 2 connected to the vehicle ignition switch (not shown) such that when the engine is turned off the electric motor 10 is operated to apply the brake. Turning the ignition switch on energizes an electromagnet 17 which releases the pawl 16 out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 15 against the action of the spring 20. By turning the ignition switch off, the contact arm 3<SP>1</SP> of the switch 2 engages contact 4 to drive the electric motor 10 such that the rod 6 is moved to the brake-applied position and held by engagement of the pawl 16 with the ratchet teeth 15 without it being necessary to actuate the hand brake lever in the usual manner. During stopping, or during an ascent while driving, by depressing the clutch pedal, a switch S 1 connected therewith is closed and the electric motor 10 is driven so that the brake is applied. During starting, the brake is gradually released as the clutch is let in and the speed is increased to prevent the automobile from running backwards on a hill. Projecting pieces 11 on the rod 6 are adapted to contact a microswitch S 1 which operates to connect the switch arm 12<SP>1</SP> of the switch S 1 to a contact 13 to stop the motor 10 and illuminate a pilot lamp L. A further microswitch S 5 is closed when the rod 6 is moved against the action of its return spring 5 and holds the pawl 16 out of engagement with the ratchet teeth while the clutch pedal remains depressed. A switch S 2 is adapted to be actuated from the speedometer cable so that when the vehicle speed reaches a predetermined value, the switch S 2 is opened and the small current flowing through the electric motor 10 via a variable resistor R is interrupted. An overriding manual control of the hand brake lever mechanism is achieved by movement of a slider 22 connected for operation by a hand-operated cable 21 such that the nose 25 of the slider 22 will contact a protruding member 24 located on the rod 6. Hand control of the electrical circuit may be achieved by the provision of a push-button switch S 6 to drive the motor 10 and a push-button switch S 4 for control of the electromagnet 17. The ratchet teeth 15 may be adjustable on the rod 6 to compensate for wear or elongation of the brake mechanism. S 7 is a switch which is closed by the foot brake and is connected between the junction point of switches S 2 and S 3 and contact 4 of the switch 2.