GB2327246A

GB2327246A - A brake immobilisation system

Info

Publication number: GB2327246A
Application number: GB9812384A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Leo Monks; Ivor Skidmore; Joseph Walmsley
Original assignee: FORCEFIELD INTERNATIONAL Ltd
Current assignee: FORCEFIELD INTERNATIONAL Ltd
Priority date: 1997-06-13
Filing date: 1998-06-10
Publication date: 1999-01-20
Also published as: GB9812384D0; GB9712231D0

Abstract

A brake immobilisation system 10 comprises a first block 12 with bores 13 through which a brake cable 14 and an immobilisation cable 16 pass freely. The two cables 14 and 16 also pass freely through bores 15 in a second block 18. The immobilisation cable 16 has a crimped end 20 to prevent its passage through the bore 15 in the second block 18. When the brake immobilisation system 10 is in the condition shown, movement of the brake cable 14, which extends to a brake of a caravan, trailer or the like, is permitted in the normal way. If block 18 is moved by cable 16 against bias of spring 24 when the brake is applied via cable 14, sleeve 22 carried by the cable is then held immobile between the first block 12 and the second block 18 so that the brake cannot be disengaged.

Description

BRAKE IMMOBILISATION This invention relates to brake immobilisation, particularly, but not exclusively, to an assembly for immobilising the brake of a caravan or trailer or the like, and also to a method of immobilising a brake cable.

Previous attempts to immobilise the brakes of a caravan or trailer have included key operated cover arrangements for the hand brake lever and arrangements which require strenuous manual operation in close proximity to the arrangement. Key operated systems can be overcome by picking the lock or smashing the cover, with obvious disadvantages. Manually activated arrangements have previously been difficult to operate, resulting in disadvantages, particularly for users with back problems.

According to one aspect of the present invention a brake assembly comprises a brake cable arranged to extend between an actuating device and a brake, the brake cable cooperating with a restriction means and including means for restricting movement of the brake cable relative to the restriction means, immobilisation means being provided and being operable to restrict relative movement of the restriction means.

The brake may be a vehicle brake, preferably a towable vehicle hand brake for a caravan, trailer or the like.

The means for restricting movement of the brake cable relative to the restriction means may be an abutment member of the brake cable. The abutment member may, in use, resist passage of the brake cable through the restriction means. The abutment member may have a greater width than the brake cable.

The restriction means may have an opening, through which the cable may pass. The abutment member may be wider than said opening. The opening may be a bore. The abutment member may be a collar, which may be attached to the brake cable by a swaging operation.

In use, the movement of the brake cable relative to the restriction means may be restricted by abutment of the abutment member with the restriction means.

The immobilisation means may be actuable to restrict movement of the restriction means in a direction of brake release. The immobilisation means may be actuable to move the restriction means from a first position, in which relative movement of the brake cable and the restriction means is permitted and a second position in which relative movement of the brake cable and the restriction means is resisted.

The immobilisation means may comprise an immobilisation cable, which may cooperate with the restriction means. The immobilisation cable may cooperate with the restriction means by means of an enlarged section of the immobilisation cable, which may be a collar, being prevented, in use, from passing through an opening in which the immobilisation cable is received.

The immobilisation means may include a ratchet arrangement, arranged, in use, to restrict movement of the restriction means in the brake release direction.

The ratchet arrangement may be actuable, in use, to effect movement of the restriction means from the first position to the second position. The ratchet arrangement may be of the type typically used as a vehicle hand brake release mechanism.

The immobilisation means may include release means which is actuable, in use, to effect movement of the restriction member from the second position to the first position. The release means may be actuable, in use, when movement of the restriction means is not otherwise restricted.

The release means may be biased, in use, to maintaining the restriction means in the first position.

The release means may comprise a resilient member. The resilient member may be braced, in use, between the restriction means and a bracing member. The resilient member may be a coiled spring, which may surround the immobilisation cable The bracing member may include an opening in which the immobilisation cable may be received. The bracing member may have a further opening in which the brake cable may be received.

The bracing member may provide a bracing surface for a protective sheath for the brake cable and/or the immobilisation cable. Said bracing surface may be provided to permit the actuation of said cable or cables in the manner of a Bowden cable.

The brake assembly may include a protective cover, arranged, in use, to protect the restriction means and the immobilisation means. The protective cover may, in use, have a close fitting abutment with the bracing member.

The protective cover may be secured to the bracing member, for instance by welding.

According to another aspect of the present invention a brake immobilisation system for a brake cable comprises a restriction means arranged to cooperate with the brake cable and includes means for restricting movement of the brake cable relative to the restriction means, immobilisation means being provided and being operable to restrict relative movement of the restriction means.

According to a further aspect of the present invention a method of immobilising a brake cable comprises causing a restriction means to cooperate with the brake cable, the brake cable including means which restricts movement of the brake cable relative to the restriction means, and restricting relative movement of the restriction means with immobilisation means.

The means for restricting movement of the brake cable relative to the restriction means may comprise an abutment, which may abut the restriction member.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention a method of fitting an assembly for immobilising a brake cable comprises associating a restriction means with the brake cable and securing to the brake cable means for restricting movement of the brake cable relative to the restriction means, and fitting immobilisation means, which are operable to restrict relative movement of the restriction means.

All of the above aspects may be combined with any of the features disclosed herein, in any combination.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partial schematic top view of a brake immobilisation system in an inoperative configuration; Figure 2 is a partial schematic top view of the brake immobilisation system in an operative configuration; Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the brake immobilisation system; and Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a protective tube of the brake immobilisation system.

A brake immobilisation system 10 comprises a first block 12 which has two open-ended bores 13. A brake cable 14 and an immobilisation cable 16 pass freely through respective bores 13. The two cables 14 and 16 pass freely through open-ended bores 15 in a second block 18, from which the brake cable 14 extends to a brake of a caravan, trailer or the like. The immobilisation cable 16 has a crimped end 20 to restrict its passage through the bore 15 in the second block 18.

Between the first block 12 and the second block 18 the brake cable 14 carries a sleeve 22 which prevents movement of that section of the cable through the respective bores 13, 15 in the first and second blocks 12 and 18. The sleeve 22 is secured to the brake cable by a swaging operation. The sleeve 22 may be attached to the brake cable 14 securely enough to withstand forces exceeding those produced by a vehicle attempting to tow away a caravan or trailer to which the brake immobilisation system 10 has been fitted.

A compression spring 24 is located on the section of the immobilisation cable 16 which is between the first block 12 and the second block 14. The compression spring 24 acts to urge the first block 12 and the second block 18 apart.

To the right hand side of the first block 12, as seen in figures 1 and 2, the brake cable 14 and the immobilisation cable 16 each have a protective sheath 26.

Each sheath 26 is received in a recess 32 in the right hand side of the first block 12.

The brake cable 14 is arranged to be taken up in the usual way, with a hand brake lever for instance.

The immobilisation cable 16 is taken up in a similar way, for example by activation of an immobilisation lever attached to an eccentric cam. This lever is housed in a key operated locked container (not shown) which may be located in one of a variety of positions on or in the caravan or trailer, for example in a floor safe inside a caravan, over the caravan axle or externally on the chassis of the caravan or trailer. In this way the location of the immobilisation lever is hidden, giving a consequent increase in security. Alternatively, the immobilisation cable could be taken up by a motor, such as an electric motor.

The brake immobilisation system 10 has an inoperative configuration, shown in figure 1, in which the movement of the brake cable 14 is permitted in the normal way, for instance by being taken up by a hand brake lever to apply or release the brake using the hand brake lever. In the inoperative configuration the second block 18 is held away from the first block 12 by means of the compression spring 24 urging the first and second blocks apart to a distance of approximately 20mm. When the brake is applied the sleeve 22 of the brake cable 14 will be pulled to the right (as shown in figures 1 and 2), thus approaching the first block 12.

In order to engage the operative configuration of the brake immobilisation system 10, the brake must first be engaged by taking up the brake cable 14 so that it moves to the right as shown in figures 1 and 2 and the sleeve 22 is received in a recess 34, as shown in figure 2.

Then, the immobilisation cable 16 is taken up, thus pulling the second block 18 towards the first block 12 until the compression spring 24 is compressed.

The sleeve 22, and therefore the brake cable 14, is now held immobile between the first block 12 and the second block 18 with the brake engaged. In order to disengage the brake the sleeve 22 would have to move to the left as viewed in figures 1 and 2, taking the brake cable 14 with it.

As mentioned above the sleeve 22 is attached very firmly to the brake cable 14. Similarly the crimped end 20 of the immobilisation cable 16 can withstand large forces thereon before the crimped end 20 will be stripped from the immobilisation cable 16. The right hand end of the immobilisation cable 16 is also very firmly held in position by the cable take up mechanism (not shown), in a similar manner to tne holding of a typical hand brake cable held by a typical hand brake lever.

The protective sheaths 26 which cover the brake cable 14 and the immobilisation cable 16 comprise a coiled metal housing which comprises alternating strips having triangular and circular cross sections. A braided steel cover is placed over the alternating coiled strips. Thus the protective sheaths 26 provide protection from unauthorised tampering with the brake cable 14 or immobilisation cable 16. Such tampering may involve an attempt to cut one of the cables in order to disable the brake immobilisation system 10 or the brake system.

The first block 12 and the second block 18 both have a circular cross section. The second block 18 is placed in a protective steel tube 28 (see figure 3) which covers the narrow section of the first block 12 up to a shoulder 30 thereof. The second block 18 can move freely inside the tube 25. The tube 28 is then welded in position along the contact between the right hand end of the tube 28 and the shoulder 30 of the first block 12. The tube 28 serves to protect the brake immobilisation system 10 from unauthorised tampering, such as an attempt to sever one or more of the cables 1 and 16. The tube 28 has a narrowed section 36 towards its left hand end to restrict access to the second block 18. The narrowed section 36 also provides an abutment for the left hand end of the tube to be secured to another housing, such as the brake housing.

Each of the cables 14 and 16 may have standard cable length adjusters attached thereto, suitably close to the take up mechanisms, in order to effect adjustment of the cables should this become necessary because of stretching.

The brake immobilisation system disclosed herein may have significant advantages over prior art devices because the system has few moving parts. Consequently the invention provides a simple but extremely effective means for immobilising a brake system of a caravan or trailer or the like. Also, the system disclosed herein can conveniently be retrofitted to an existing braking system.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A brake assembly comprises a brake cable arranged to extend between an actuating device and a brake, the brake cable cooperating with a restriction means and including means for restricting movement of the brake cable relative to the restriction means, immobilisation means being provided and being operable to restrict relative movement of the restriction means.

2. A brake assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the brake is a towable vehicle hand brake for a caravan, trailer, or the like.

3. A brake assembly as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, in which the means for restricting movement of the brake cable relative to the restriction means is an abutment member of the brake cable.

4. A brake assembly as claimed in claim 3, in which the abutment member, in use, resists passage of the brake cable through the restriction means.

5. A brake assembly as claimed in either claim 3 or claim 4, in which the abutment member has a greater width than the brake cable.

6. A brake assembly as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, in which the restriction means has an opening, through which the cable passes.

7. A brake assembly as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, in which, in use, the movement of the brake cable relative to the restriction means is restricted by abutment of the abutment member with the restriction means.

8. A brake assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the immobilisation means is actuable to restrict movement of the restriction means in a direction of brake release.

9. A brake assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the immobilisation means are actuable to move the restriction means from a first position, in which relative movement of the brake cable and the restriction means is permitted and a second position in which relative movement of the brake cable and the restriction means is resisted.

10. A brake assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the immobilisation means comprise an immobilisation cahle, which cooperates with the restriction means.

11. A brake assembly as claimed in claim 10, in which the immobilisation cable cooperates with the restriction means by means of an enlarged section of the immobilisation cable being prevented, in use, from passing through an opening in which the immobilisation cable is received.

12. A brake assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the immobilisation means includes a ratchet arrangement, arranged, in use, to restrict movement of the restriction means in the brake release direction.

13. A brake assembly as claimed in claim 12, in which the ratchet arrangement is actuable, in use, to effect movement of the restriction means from the first position to the second position.

14. A brake assembly as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13, in which the immobilisation means include release means which are actuable, in use, to effect movement of the restriction member from the second position to the first position.

15. A brake assembly as claimed in claim 14, in which the release means are actuable, in use, when movement of the restriction means is not otherwise restricted.

16. A brake assembly as claimed in either claim 14 or claim 15, in which the release means are biased, in use, to maintain the restriction means in the first position.

17. A brake assembly as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16, in which the release means comprise a resilient member, which is brazed in use, between the restriction means and a bracing member.

18. A brake assembly as claimed in claim 17, in which the bracing member provides a bracing surface for a protective sheath for the brake cable and/or the immobilisation cable.

19. A brake assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the brake assembly includes a protective cover, arranged, in use, to protect the restriction means and the immobilisation means.

20. A brake immobilisation system for a brake cable comprises a restriction means arranged to cooperate with the brake cable and includes means for restricting movement of the brake cable relative to the restriction means, immobilisation means being provided and being operable to restrict relative movement of the restriction means.

21. A method of immobilising a brake cable comprises causing a restriction means to cooperate with the brake cable, the brake cable including means which restrict movement of the brake cable relative to the restriction means, and restricting relative movement of the restriction means with immobilisation means.

22. A method of immobilising a brake cable as claimed in claim 21, in which the means for restricting movement of the brake cable relative to the restriction means comprise an abutment, which abuts the restriction member.

23. A method of fitting an assembly for immobilising a brake cable comprises associating a restriction means with the brake cable and securing to the brake cable means for restricting movement of the brake cable relative to the restriction means, and fitting immobilisation means, which are operable to restrict relative movement of the restriction means.

24. A brake assembly substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

25. A method of immobilising a brake cable substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.