WO1994003350A1

WO1994003350A1 - Auxiliary brake system for automobile

Info

Publication number: WO1994003350A1
Application number: PCT/KR1993/000012
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joo Hee Lee; Jong Soon Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-08-08
Filing date: 1993-02-17
Publication date: 1994-02-17
Anticipated expiration: 1995-02-08
Also published as: AU3575993A

Abstract

An auxiliary brake system for braking an automobile. A bumper is provided with a switching means having pins and a contact plate spaced from each other, and a float switch. The switching means and the float switch are connected to a motor. Rotating force of the motor is transmitted to a main shaft having first and second worms. The main shaft is crossed with a first shaft at its first worm and a second shaft at its second worm. The first shaft has a worm gear engaging with the first worm and frontward protruded first stop skewers. The second shaft has a worm gear engaging with the second worm and frontward protruded second stop skewers. Also, the brake system has a third lateral shaft. The third shaft has an arm being operated by a side brake handle to turn the third shaft and rearward protruded third stop skewers. Therefore, when the switching means or the float switch is switched on, the first and second stop skewers are turned downward. Also, when a driver pulls the side brake handle, the third stop skewers are turned downward.

Description

AUXILIARY BRAKE SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention is in general related to an improvement of brake system for automobiles and similar vehicles, and more particularly to an auxiliary brake system which is equipped in the automobile in addition to a conventional main brake system and adapted for automatically braking the automobile when this automobile falls over a slope as a result of a traffic accident, such as a collision with obstacle and for manually braking the automobile in rearward running, thereby preventing a fatal traffic accident and reducing damage.

Description of the Prior Art

Conventionally, braking operation of a vehicle in running has been carried out by a main brake system. However, from the viewpoint of the fact that the higher the running speed of automobile is, the longer becomes a sudden stop distance of the automobile according to braking operation of such a main brake system, the conventional main brake system leaves something to be desired in prevention of a fatal traffic accident and reduction of damage.

Otherwise stated, when a running automobile collides with a front another automobile or an obstacle within its stop distance even though it is suddenly braked by means of the main brake system, an impact between the automobile and the obstacle is mainly transmitted to its bumper region.

In this case, when the impact exceeds a buffering limit of the bumper, the impact may exert a bad effect upon an engine part as well as a front part of the automobile. Hence, passengers in the automobile can be fatally injured and also can die when the automobile crashes due to slipping on a slope of mountain.

Therefore, the present applicant have proposed an auxiliary brake system in Korean Patent Application 92-14919 in order to overcome the above problems. However, since the auxiliary brake system described in the application is manually operated, a driver can not operate the auxiliary brake system in the event of a sudden accident.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art and an object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary brake system which can stop its automobile on slope and can prevent the automobile from being overturned by lifting wheels at front and rear positions even when a driver does not tread a brake pedal, and also can stop the automobile in rearward running.

In accordance with the present invention, the object mentioned above can be accomplished by providing an auxiliary brake system for automobile comprising: a first braking assembly for frontward run comprising, a switching means having a plurality of pins fixed to an inner surface of a bumper and a contact plate adapted to come into contact with the pins when the automobile collides with an obstacle and a float switch adapted to be switched on when the automobile is inclined to a predetermined inclination limit, a motor adapted to be operated with response to switching on of the switching means or the float switch, a longitudinal main shaft formed with a first worm and a second worm which is supported at a bottom surface of the automobile and is rotated by operation of the motor, a first lateral shaft rotatably supported at the bottom surface of the automobile which is provided with a first worm gear engaging with the first worm of the main shaft and a plurality of frontward protruded first stop skewers, and a second lateral shaft rotatably supported at the bottom surface of the automobile which is provided with a second worm gear engaging with the second worm of the main shaft and a plurality of frontward protruded second stop skewers, whereby when the switching means or the float switch is switched on, the motor is operated to turn the first and second stop skewers downward; and a second braking assembly for rearward run comprising a third lateral shaft rotatably supported at the bottom surface of the automobile which is provided with an arm being operated by a side brake handle to turn the third lateral shaft and a plurality of rearward protruded third stop skewers, whereby when a driver pulls the side brake handle, the third stop skewers are turned downward.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed specification and drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a bottom view of an automobile in which an auxiliary brake system according to the invention is equipped; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the auxiliary brake system of the invention; and

Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing action of a float switch of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be further described by referring to the accompanying drawings.

Figs. 1 and 2 show an auxiliary brake system according to the present invention. As shown in the drawings, a bumper 1 is provided with a plurality of spaced pins 1a at its inner surface. Also, a contact plate 1b is located at a rear part of the bumper 1 and ordinarily spaced from the pins 1a. The pins 1a and the contact plate 1b are connected to a motor "M" so that the motor "M" is operated when the pins 1a and the contact plate 1b come into contact with each other. The motor "M" has a pulley 21 at its output shaft. A longitudinal main shaft 2 is rotatably supported at a bottom surface of an automobile. The longitudinal main shaft 2 is formed with worms 23a and 24a at its middle position and at its rear end. Also, the main shaft 2 is provided with a second pulley 21a at its front end. The first and second pulleys 21 and 21a are wrapped by a belt 22 so that the main shaft 2 is rotated by an operation of the motor "M".

A first lateral shaft 23 is crossed with the longitudinal main shaft 2 and rotatably supported at its both ends. The first lateral shaft 23 is provided with a worm gear 23b at its middle position and the worm gear 23b is engaged with the worm 23a of the main shaft 2. A plurality of first spaced stop skewers 23c are fixed to the first lateral shaft 23 and frontward protruded.

In addition, a second lateral shaft 24 is crossed with the longitudinal main shaft 2 and rotatably supported at its both ends. The second lateral shaft 24 is provided with a worm gear 24b at its middle position and the worm gear 24b is engaged with the worm 24a of the main shaft 2. A plurality of second spaced stop skewers 24c are fixed to the first lateral shaft 23 and frontward protruded. In the present invention, it is preferable that the second stop skewers 24c are shorter than the first stop skewers 23c. Therefore, as the motor "M" is operated, the rotating force of the motor "M" is transmitted to the first and second stop skewers 23c and 24c through the main shaft 2 and the first and second shaft 23 and 24, respectively so that the first and second stop skewers 23c and 24c are turned downward. On the other hand, in order to stop the automobile in rearward running, a third lateral shaft 25 is rotatably supported at a rear position of the automobile and provided with a plurality of third stop skewers 25c, which are rearward protruded. An arm 25a is fixed to the third shaft 25. A spring is mounted on the end of the arm 25a to bias the arm 25a downward. The arm 25a is connected to a side brake handle 3. Therefore, as the side brake handle 3 is pulled by a driver, the arm 25a is turned upward and thus the third stop skewers 25c are turned downward.

Fig. 3 shows a float switch according to the present invention. The bumper 1 is also provided with a float switch 1c at its side. Accordingly, when the automobile is inclined to a predetermined inclination limit, the float switch 1c is switched on to operate the motor "M".

Operation of the auxiliary brake system according to the present invention will be described hereinafter. During run on a mountain region, an automobile is liable to slip and thus fall over a precipice although the automobile is rapidly braked in case of sudden accident. At this moment, the bumper 1 is crushed by collision with another automobile or an obstacle so that the pins 1a and the contact plate 1b equipped in the bumper 1 are contacted with each other. Therefore, the motor "M" is operated by electric power of a battery.

Upon operating the motor "M", the rotating force of the motor "M" is transmitted to the longitudinal main shaft 2 via the belt 22 wrapped about the first and second pulleys 21 and 21a, thereby causing the main shaft 2 to be rotated. As the main shaft 2 is rotated, the worm gears 23b and 24b, which are engaged with the worm 23a of the first shaft 23 and the worm 24a of the second shaft 24 respectively, are rotated so that the first and second stop skewers 23c and 24c are turned downward.

Thereafter, the points of stop skewers 23c and 24c, which have been turned downward, are stuck in the ground and then further somewhat turned so that the front and rear wheels are raised from the ground. Therefore, even when a driver does not tread a brake pedal , the front and rear wheels are raised and then rotated, thereby allowing the automobile to be stopped.

On the other hand, when a driver pulls a side brake handle 3 if required during rearward run, the arm 25a is turned upward against the spring 25b. The third stop skewers 25c are thus turned downward so that points thereof are stuck in the ground, thereby causing the rear wheels to be raised. As a result of that, the automobile in rearward running can be stopped.

Also, when the automobile slips rearward on a slope during frontward run, the driver can stop the automobile by pulling the side brake handle as described above. Thereafter, the automobile can again run frontward without difficulty because the third stop skewers 25c is protruded rearward. In addition, when the automobile does not collide with an obstacle but slips on a steep slope, the automobile is inclined to an inclination limit so that the float switch 1c is automatically switched on. Therefore, the motor "M" is operated to turn the stop skewers 23c and 24c downward, thereby causing the automobile to be stopped.

As apparent from the above description, the auxiliary brake system for automobile according to the present invention can prevent not only collision on a level ground and a slope in case of a sudden accident but also slipping on a steep slope of a mountain region, thereby preventing a fatal traffic accident and reducing damage..

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art and various apparently different modifications and embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only. It is therefore intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An auxiliary brake system for automobile comprising: a first braking assembly for frontward run comprising, a switching means having a plurality of pins fixed to an inner surface of a bumper and a contact plate adapted to come into contact with the pins when the automobile collides with an obstacle and a float switch adapted to be switched on when the automobile is inclined to a predetermined inclination limit, a motor adapted to be operated with response to switching on of the switching means or the float switch, a longitudinal main shaft formed with a first worm and a second worm which is supported at a bottom surface of the automobile and is rotated by operation of the motor, a first lateral shaft rotatably supported at the bottom surface of the automobile which is provided with a first worm gear engaging with the first worm of the main shaft and a plurality of frontward protruded first stop skewers, and a second lateral shaft rotatably supported at the bottom surface of the automobile which is provided with a second worm gear engaging with the second worm of the main shaft and a plurality of frontward protruded second stop skewers, whereby when the switching means or the float switch is switched on, the motor is operated to turn the first and second stop skewers downward; and a second braking assembly for rearward run comprising, a third lateral shaft rotatably supported at the bottom surface of the automobile which is provided with an arm being operated by a side brake handle to turn the third lateral shaft and a plurality of rearward protruded third stop skewers, whereby when a driver pulls the side brake handle, the third stop skewers is turned downward.