DESC:Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for actuating parking brakes. More particularly, the present invention relates a system for automatically actuating parking brakes of a vehicle when the vehicle is moving in a reverse direction with reverse gears engaged.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Generally, existing vehicles include parking brakes for parking the vehicle or stopping movements of the vehicle. The parking brake includes a ratchet or a locking mechanism for latching movements of wheels of the vehicle, thereby restricting the movement of the vehicle until the parking brakes are manually removed. These ratchets or locking mechanism are operated by mechanically and pneumatically by a pneumatic circuit. Generally, in a heavy vehicle, the pneumatic circuit of a parking brake unit sends pneumatic signals (pressurized air) to a parking brake chamber of the parking brake unit for operating the parking brakes, thereby causing braking of the wheels.

[0003] Many times, a vehicle needs to be moved in a reverse direction for parking or for various purposes. For moving the vehicle in the reverse direction, the vehicle is provided with reverse gears. By using the reverse gears, the vehicle can be moved in the reverse direction. When the vehicle is moving in the reverse direction, it is complicated to observe/detect obstacles (objects) in a reverse travel path of the vehicle. Generally, a driver of the vehicle uses mirrors of the vehicle for finding out obstacles in the reverse path of the vehicle.

[0004] Many times, some obstacles may not be visible to the driver through mirrors. Therefore, the obstacles may cause damages to the vehicle as the vehicle may hit on to the obstacles. Sometimes, the vehicle also causes damages to the obstacles by hitting thereon. Many times, the obstacles can be human beings or animals. When the vehicle hits the obstacles (human beings) during reverse movements, it may cause severe injuries to human beings or animals.

[0005] Further, presently, some existing vehicles are configured with camera units which are arranged at a rear side of the vehicles for enabling a rear view of the vehicle to the driver. By mistake, the driver may miss gauge the size of the obstacle or miss the obstacle, and the vehicle may hit the obstacle during reverse movements. Furthermore, some existing vehicles are equipped with an object detection systems controlled by an electronic controlling unit (ECU). These detection systems detect obstacles on the path of the reverse movement. But these systems are costlier.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for a system for actuating braking of the vehicle during reverse movements which overcome from the above-mentioned problems.

Objects of the Invention

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a system for automatically actuating parking brakes of a vehicle when the vehicle is moving in a reverse direction with reverse gears engaged and lit rear lights.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a system for automatically actuating parking brakes of a vehicle for reducing damages caused to the vehicle or from the vehicle due to obstacles (objects) in a reverse travel path of the vehicle.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for automatically actuating parking brakes of a vehicle, which is simple in construction.

[0010] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system for automatically actuating parking brakes of a vehicle, which is economical in operation.

Summary of the invention

[0011] According to the present invention, there is provided with a system for automatically actuating parking brakes of a vehicle when the vehicle is moving in a reverse direction with reverse gears engaged and lit rear lights. The parking brakes can be mechanical brakes or pneumatic brakes or hydraulic brakes or electric brakes. The system includes at least one object detection unit. The at least one object detection unit is having a sensor arranged on a rear portion of the vehicle for detecting an object in a reverse travel path of the vehicle. The at least one object detection unit is connected with the rear lights of the vehicle.

[0012] Upon lightening the rear lights of the vehicle, the object detection unit is activated. In an embodiment, the object detection unit is a sensory unit having a proximity sensor for detecting the presence of an object in proximity. Further, the object detection unit includes a controller for sending actuation signals for activating the parking brake upon detection of the object. Upon detecting an object on the reverse travel path when the vehicle is moving in the reverse direction, the sensor senses the presence of the object, sends signals to the object detection unit. The object detection unit activates the parking brakes for stopping the vehicle movement in the reverse direction.

[0013] More specifically, upon receiving actuation signals at the parking brake, an operating member of the parking brake impose braking action on the vehicle. The operating member is an operating lever or a mechanical trigger or a solenoid valve or a valve or a plunger or a relay or a switch. Further, the operating member is connected to an indication unit. The indication unit is arranged on a dashboard on the vehicle. Upon the activation of the parking brakes, the indication unit indicates the activation of the parking brakes at the dashboard of the vehicle through a buzzer or an alarm or an indicator light or a vibration or combinations of these.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014] The advantages and features of the present invention will be understood better with reference to the following detailed description of some embodiments of the impact energy absorber and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which;

[0015] Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a system for automatically actuating parking brakes of a vehicle in accordance with the present invention; and

[0016] Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a system for automatically actuating parking brakes of a vehicle having a pneumatic parking brake unit in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0017] An embodiment of this invention, illustrating its features, will now be described in detail. The words "comprising, "having, "containing," and "including," and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open-ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.

[0018] The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “an” and “a” herein may not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

[0019] The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms.

[0020] Referring to figure 1, a block diagram of a system 100 for automatically actuating parking brakes 320 of a vehicle (not shown) in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. Specifically, the system 100 automatically actuates parking brakes 320 when the vehicle is moving in a reverse direction with reverse gears 40 engaged and by lit rear lights 30. The parking brakes 320 can be mechanical brakes or pneumatic brakes or hydraulic brakes or electric brakes or any brakes which are capable of applying parking brakes. Generally, in a medium-scale vehicle, parking brakes 320 are operated by a parking brake lever (not shown). In a heavy vehicle such as trucks, buses and the like parking brakes are operated by a pneumatic parking brake unit 520 (refer figure 2).

[0021] The pneumatic parking brake unit 520 includes a parking brake chamber 300. Further, the parking brake chamber 300 is connected to a pneumatic circuit 200 (refer figure 2). The pneumatic circuit 200 fills and empties the pressurized air in a parking brake chamber 300 of the pneumatic parking brake unit 520. When pressurized air is released from the parking brake chamber 300, a brake ratchet (not shown) or a locking mechanism of the pneumatic parking brake unit 520 apply the parking brake on wheels of the vehicle. Similarly, the parking brake chamber 300 is filled with the pressurized air, the brake ratchet (not shown) or the locking mechanism of the pneumatic parking brake unit 520 releases the parking brakes from the wheels of the vehicle.

[0022] Further, the system 100 includes at least one object detection unit 20. The object detection unit 20 is having a sensor 22 arranged on a rear portion of the vehicle. The sensor 22 is able to detect the presence of any object (obstacle) in a travel path of the vehicle. The object detection unit 20 is connected with the rear lights 30 of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, the sensor 22 is a proximity sensor. In an alternative embodiment, the sensor 22 can be a Hall Effect sensor or an optical sensor or any other sensor capable of detecting an object in a detection range thereof which may be obvious to a person ordinarily skilled in the art.

[0023] In an embodiment, the object detection unit 20 is a sensory unit having the proximity sensor 22 for detecting the presence of an object in proximity. Further, the object detection unit 20 includes a controller 24 for sending actuation signals for activating the parking brake 320 upon detection of the object. The controller 24 is a microcontroller or a microprocessor. Furthermore, upon lightening the rear lights 30 of the vehicle, the object detection unit 20 is activated. The rear lights 30 switches ON when the reverse gears 40 of the vehicle are engaged.

[0024] Upon detecting an object on the reverse travel path when the vehicle is moving in the reverse direction, the sensor 22 sends signals to the object detection unit 20. The obstacle can be a child, an animal, or another vehicle or a person or any precious object. The object detection unit 20 processes these signals. It may be obvious to persons skilled in the art to configure the object detection unit 20 having the controller 24 and related hardware and software for receiving the signals from the sensor 22 and process these signals. Further, the object detection unit 20 activates the parking brakes 320 for stopping the vehicle movement in the reverse direction.

[0025] More specifically, upon receiving actuation signals at the parking brake 320 from the object detection unit 20, an operating member 10 of the parking brake 320 imposes/triggers braking action on the vehicle. The operating member 10 is an operating lever or a mechanical trigger or a solenoid or a valve or a plunger or a relay or a switch. For example, if the parking brakes 320 are operated by pneumatic brake unit 520, then the operating member 10 can be a solenoid valve 12 operating the pneumatic circuit 200 of the parking brake unit 500.

[0026] Upon receiving the actuation signals from the object detection unit 20 (from the controller 24), the solenoid valve 12 is activated to operate the pneumatic circuit 200 of the parking brake unit 520. The pneumatic circuit 200 releases pressurized air from the parking braking chamber 300, thereby actuating the parking brakes 320 for stopping the vehicle. Therefore, the vehicle does not hit the object during the reverse movements if the obstacle comes in the reverse travel path of the vehicle, thereby preventing collision between the vehicles and the obstacles.

[0027] Similarly, the operating member 10 is configured according to a type of the parking brake unit 500. If the parking brake unit 500 is electrically operated, the operating member 10 can be a switch or a relay. If the parking brakes 320 are hydraulic brakes, the operating member 10 can be a valve operating a hydraulic circuit of the hydraulic brakes. If the parking brakes 320 are mechanical brakes, the operating member 10 can be a lever or a mechanical linkage or a trigger or ratchet or such mechanical elements capable of imposing the brake action on the vehicle by the parking brakes 320.

[0028] Further, the operating member 10 is connected to an indication unit 50. The indication unit 50 is arranged on a dashboard on the vehicle. Upon the activation of the parking brakes 320, the indication unit 50 indicates the activation of the parking brakes 320 at the dashboard of the vehicle through a buzzer or an alarm or an indicator light or a vibration or combinations of these.

[0029] For disengaging the parking brakes 320 and moving the vehicle further, the object needs to be moved/removed from the travel path of the vehicle or the vehicle path needs to be changed to avoid the object. The parking brakes 320 needs to be disengaged manually or the reverse gears 40 need to be disengaged for disengaging the parking brakes 320 by sending a deactivation signal to the operating member 10. For example, the pneumatic parking brakes 320 are removed by manually operating the pneumatic parking brake unit 520 by a lever (not shown). Upon moving the lever, the operating member 10 operates the pneumatic circuit 200 of the parking brake 320 for filling the pressurized air in the parking brake chamber 300 for the next operation. Upon the filing of the pressurized air in the parking brake chamber 300, the parking brakes 320 are removed from the wheels of the vehicle, thereby allowing the movements of the vehicle.

[0030] Simultaneously, when the operating member 10 receives the deactivation signal, the operating member 10 sends a deactivation signal to the indication unit 50 for stopping the indication at the dashboard.

[0031] Therefore, the present invention has an advantage of the system 100 for automatically actuating parking brakes 320 of the vehicle when the vehicle is moving in a reverse direction with reverse gears 40 engaged and lit rear lights 30. The system 100 reduces damages caused to the vehicle or from the vehicle due to objects (obstacles) in a reverse travel path of the vehicle. The system 100 is simple in construction. The system 100 is economical in operation.

[0032] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the scope of the claims of the present invention.
,CLAIMS:We Claim:
1. A system 100 for automatically actuating parking brakes 320 of a vehicle when the vehicle is moving in a reverse direction with reverse gears 40 engaged and lit rear lights 30, wherein the system 100 comprising :
at least one object detection unit 20 having a sensor 22 arranged on a rear portion of the vehicle for detecting an object in a reverse travel path of the vehicle;
wherein upon detecting an object on the reverse travel path when the vehicle is moving in the reverse direction, the sensor 22 senses the presence of the object, sends signals to the object detection unit 20 and the object detection unit 20 activates the parking brakes 320 for stopping the vehicle movement in the reverse direction.

2. The system 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one object detection unit 20 is connected with the rear lights 30 of the vehicle, upon lightning the rear lights 30, the object detection unit 20 is activated.

3. The system 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one object detection unit 20 is a sensory unit having a proximity sensor 22 for detecting the presence of an object in proximity and a controller 24 for sending actuation signals for activating the parking brakes 320 upon detection of the object.

4. The system 100 as claimed in claim 1 & 3 wherein upon receiving the actuation signals at the parking brakes 320, an operating member 10 of the parking brakes 320 impose braking action on the vehicle.

5. The system 100 as claimed in claim 4, wherein the operating member 10 is an operating lever or a mechanical trigger or a solenoid valve or a valve or a plunger or a relay or a switch.

6. The system 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parking brakes 320 are mechanical brakes or pneumatic brakes or hydraulic brakes or electric brakes.

7. The system 100 as claimed in claim 4, wherein the operating member 10 is connected to an indication unit 50, the indication unit 50 is arranged on a dashboard on the vehicle, upon the activation of the parking brakes 320, the indication unit 50 indicates the activation of the parking brakes 320 at the dashboard of the vehicle through a buzzer or an alarm or an indication light or a vibration or combinations of these.