GB588446A - Braking system for assisting vehicle steering - Google Patents

Abstract

588,446. Steering motor vehicles. MILSTER, A. N. Nov. 15, 1944, No. 22589. [Class 79 (ii)] A braking system applicable to the two driving wheels of a vehicle to assist steering comprises means for applying the brake on the inside wheel automatically during turning movements, means operated by the gear lever for preventing the steering mechanism from actuating the brakes when certain gears are in engagement, and a manually operable lever for selectively actuating either or both brakes independently of the steering. Fig. 1 shows a tractor comprising a steering wheel 6 connected to the front wheels by arms 8, 10 and rods 7, 9. The arm 8 is interconnected via rod 43 and arm 42 with control valve 15, which controls the fluid from master cylinder 13 actuated by pedal 18, and distributes it to one or the other or both of pipes 16, 17 and hydraulic brakes 11, 12. The control valve, Figs. 2 to 4, comprises an inlet 14 from the master cylinder which leads to a chamber 23 into which the pipes 16, 17 open and terminate in valve elements 30, 31. Either or both of the pipes 16, 17 may be in communication with the source of fluid pressure according to the position of the element 36, which by partial rotation of the shaft 32 by handle 41 can close either valve 30 or 31, whereby one or the other brakes is applied to assist steering. The shaft 32 is also rotated in unison with steering movements by rod 43 and arm 42, the connection between arm 42 and handle 41 being a resilient rubber block 46, so that the handle control may be used to override the automatic control from the steering mechanism if desired. Means are also provided for preventing the automatic control from the steering mechanism from rotating when a high gear ratio is engaged. A pin 51, Fig. 3, is mounted in a screwed plug 49 so that on rotation of the plug the latter rises whereby the pin 51 engages a hole 53 in the hand lever 41 to lock the latter in its central position. The plug 49 carries an arm 50 which bears against the gear lever 21, Figs. 1 and 2, so that on a rearward movement of the gear lever to engage high gear ratios the hand lever 41 is locked. In a modified form, not shown, the resilient rubber connection between the arm 42 and the handle 41 is provided by a pair of springs arranged within the arm 42 and disposed tangentially to the shaft 32.