Dura Global Technologies, Inc.

Atwood Industries, Inc.

Warner Electric Brake & Clutch Company

Atwood Vacuum Machine Company

David Leonard Swanson

George Patrick Gill

Dale E Lyons

George P Gill

Donald R Davidson

Robert C Walter

A trailer brake system includes a control sensor adapted to provide a signal when the braking system of the tow vehicle is actuated, at least one trailer brake actuated by pressurized brake fluid, a brake fluid reservoir, a brake fluid pump receiving fluid from the brake fluid reservoir, and a first solenoid valve connected to the brake fluid pump and directly connected to the trailer brake. A brake fluid accumulator receives pressurized brake fluid from the brake fluid pump and is connected to the first solenoid valve to quickly provide pressurized brake fluid to the trailer brake to increase the braking force. A second solenoid valve connects the trailer brake and the brake fluid reservoir so that brake fluid can be returned to the reservoir to reduce to reduce the fluid pressure and resulting braking force. A feedback pressure sensor is capable of generating a signal that represents braking force applied to the trailer brake. A controller is in communication with the control sensor, the first solenoid valve, the second solenoid valve, and the feed back sensor and is adapted to selectively open the first valve to increase braking force applied to the trailer brake and to open the second solenoid valve to decrease braking force to the trailer brake. The controller automatically provides a predetermined braking force to the trailer brake by selectively opening and closing the first and second valves as required to maintain the predetermined pressure. When the control sensor indicates the degree to which the braking system of the tow vehicle is actuated, the controller is can automatically provide different braking forces depending on the degree to which the braking system of the tow vehicle is actuated.

Electro-hydraulic brake actuating device for a trailer

A folding ball hitch having a recessed safety chain latching mechanism is of the type normally mounted in the bed of a pickup truck. The ball is foldable from an upright or active position to a down or stowed position in which the ball does not interfere with the usage of the bed when the truck is not towing a trailer. To accommodate the safety chains of a trailer, the present invention provides a sliding rod mounted below the mounting plate of the hitch. Chain link sized slots are formed in the mounting plate. The end links of the safety chains can be inserted into the slots and the rod can be slid from one side to the other to securely lock the chains in respective slots. The rod is biased toward a latching position wherein the rod can be manually translated to open the slot for allowing insertion of a link of the safety chain, following which the rod can be returned to its center position in which the link is secured and any chain forces are transferred by the rod directly to the mounting structure. The safety chain mechanism is completely recessed (except when the bar operator is in the active position) to avoid obstruction of the truck bed.

Folding ball hitch with recessed safety chain attachment

The legs of the landing gear of a semi-trailer may be automatically extended and retracted by a pneumatically operated actuator adapted to be connected to the crankshaft of the landing gear and adapted to rotate the cross-shaft of the landing gear selectively in either direction at a high or low speed. The crankshaft is rotated by gears and ratchets which are driven by pawls adapted to be reciprocated by an air-actuated cylinder and adapted to be alternately positioned in active and inactive positions. The flow of pressurized air to the cylinder is controlled by a cycle valve and an on-off valve, the latter being capable of turning off the actuator automatically when the legs are fully retracted.

Landing gear actuator

The electromagnet of an electrically controlled brake is prevented from rotating on its mounting pin by a bracket which also captivates the magnet against axial removal from the pin while leaving the magnet free to pivot and float axially on the pin. The bracket is made of a strip of resiliently yieldable material and includes a leg paralleling the pin and secured at one end of the magnet. The other end portion of the leg extends through a hole in the brake operating arm and is integral with a tang which engages the arm to captivate the magnet against axial removal from the pin.

Growing community of inventors

Rockford, IL, United States of America

David Leonard Swanson