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"What, sir, would you make a ship sail against the wind and currents by lighting a bonfire under her deck? I pray you, excuse me, I have not the time to listen to such nonsense."
Napoleon Bonaparte ; When told of the Robert Fulton steamboat
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7299904 | Brake fluid pressure maintaining apparatus for vehicles A brake fluid pressure maintaining apparatus for a vehicle, having: a master cylinder; a check valve; and, a normally-open-type electromagnetic valve including an electromagnetic coil, a fixed core, and a movable core, and in the brake fluid pressure maintaining sta... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7125085 | Braking force retaining unit A braking force retaining unit has a cut-off valve and a control unit. The cut-off valve retains predetermined brake hydraulic pressure at the wheel cylinders until a predetermined releasing condition is established, even after the depression of a brake pedal is rel... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7100998 | Method and device for controlling wheel brakes of a motor vehicle A method and a device for controlling wheel brakes of a vehicle, in which braking force is maintained and/or built up in at least one operating state at at least one wheel of the vehicle irrespective of the extent of pedal actuation. Such an operating state is prese... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7074161 | Method for assisting a vehicle to start on a slope In a method and a device for assisting a vehicle to start on a slope, a vehicle brake torque is changed corresponding to an estimated vehicle driving torque in consideration of a downgrade torque. The method is executed with the following steps of determining a vehi... | 07/11/2006 |
| 6998727 | Methods of operating a parallel hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a secondary power source The invention is directed toward methods for operating a parallel hybrid vehicle in a manner that responds to the operator's demand for power output, while maximizing engine efficiency and minimizing disruptions in vehicle drivability. According to principles of the... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6920964 | Automated hydraulic brake A brake actuating assembly includes a cam member that has first and second cam surfaces. A first piston in a first hydraulic circuit is selectively enabled to axially translate the cam member from a released position to an actuation position while an actuation pisto... | 07/26/2005 |
| 6659244 | Integrated foot control valve actuator A pneumatic actuator is integrated into a foot control valve. It includes a pneumatically activated piston that applies a force to the foot control valve primary piston which, in turn, applies the vehicle brake system. The piston is configured to allow th... | 12/09/2003 |
| 6634721 | Trailer locking device A locking device for immobilizing trailers to prevent unauthorized movement or theft of the trailer by venting the compressed air that is used to release the brakes. The locking device has a controller unit, a control valve and power source mounted inside... | 10/21/2003 |
| 6609586 | Emergency brake lever An emergency brake lever system for a recreational vehicle with a lever-actuated braking mechanism for precluding movement of the recreational vehicle upon the actuation thereof. Also included is a tether for wearing by a rider of the recreational vehicle... | 08/26/2003 |
| 6478384 | Hydraulic braking system A hydraulic braking system for wheel-borne devices permits brake actuation independent of operator-actuation of a normal brake valve. A braking circuit includes a flow line, a return line, and one or more wheel brakes. An electrically actuated valve syste... | 11/12/2002 |
| 6415897 | Brake fluid pressure retaining unit A brake fluid pressure retaining unit for retaining brake fluid pressure within a wheel cylinder after releasing a brake pedal is disclosed. The brake fluid pressure retaining unit includes a brake fluid pressure reduction speed control device for retaini... | 07/09/2002 |
| 6364436 | Brake control device A brake control device has a master cylinder, wheel cylinder, and a solenoid valve disposed in a conduit between the master cylinder and the wheel cylinder. When a brake pedal happens to be returned at sudden braking, at an idle stop or at vehicle stop on... | 04/02/2002 |
| 6332654 | Grade-holding brake system In most vehicles, it is necessary to manually operate the parking brake whenever the vehicle is stopped. The manual brake operation is fatiguing and liable to make the driver feel that the operation is troublesome. A controller 10 controls a cut-off valve... | 12/25/2001 |
| 6327931 | Control device Apparatus is disclosed for controlling the operational states of a motor vehicle comprising a maneuvering console including a maneuvering lever, a pivot hinge for the maneuvering lever so that the maneuvering lever can be actuated into a number of positio... | 12/11/2001 |
| 6238012 | Direct manipulating direct-graduated release cap for 26-type control valves A direct acting release cap for air brake control valves in trains which will allow for the manipulation of the valve characteristics from a direct brake release to a graduated brake release without removal of the cap from the body of the valve. This is a... | 05/29/2001 |
| 6056373 | System for controlling the braking action in a motor vehicle The invention is based on a system for controlling the braking action in a motor vehicle by means for adjusting the braking action independently of the driver's actuation. Upon recognition of a preselectable operating mode, for which at least the longitud... | 05/02/2000 |
| 6009984 | Method and apparatus for controlling the brake system of a vehicle A hill-holder function is initiated when the brake pedal is actuated while the vehicle is in at least one operating state. The braking force is thus locked into at least one wheel brake independently of the extent to which the pedal is actuated. This brak... | 01/04/2000 |
| 5988333 | Brake fluid blocking vehicle theft prevention system A vehicle anti-theft device that blocks and unblocks the flow of hydraulic fluid between a vehicle's master brake cylinder and wheel brake cylinder. When the invention is in a fluid blocking position, it locks the brakes and prevents movement of the vehic... | 11/23/1999 |
| 5979619 | Method and system for preventing unwanted rolling away of a vehicle A method for preventing unwanted rolling away of a stationary vehicle maintains a brake pressure in wheel brake cylinders. The brake pressure is maintained in dependence on the actuation of the brake pedal, and is maintained only if the current brake pres... | 11/09/1999 |
| 5967628 | Vehicular brake system When a vacuum booster fails, an pressure amplifying mechanism increases a wheel brake pressure. After that, even when it is detected that the vehicle is brought into a stopped state, the state in which an increased brake fluid pressure is applied to wheel... | 10/19/1999 |
| 5747886 | Pneumatic antitheft apparatus with alarm An antitheft device is provided for a vehicle such as a tractor/trailer combination, with an engine operable to develop pneumatic pressure in a reservoir during operation of the engine, and a pneumatic conduit leading from the reservoir to an operational ... | 05/05/1998 |
| 5730507 | Cable extension for brake lock A brake lock system is used in a vehicle having a brake line which feeds brake fluid to at least one brake member. The system comprises a brake line fittable housing having at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet. A flow control which contr... | 03/24/1998 |
| 5722517 | Brake apparatus of a motor vehicle equipped with automatic transmission A brake apparatus of a motor vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission includes a brake circuit for applying a fluid pressure to wheel brakes to allow the wheel brakes to generate braking forces. The hydraulic pressure is generated by fluid pressure... | 03/03/1998 |
| 5688027 | Control valve lock for a vehicle air brake system A control valve lock for a vehicle air brake system is described whereby to secure the parking brakes of the vehicle in an engaged locked position. The lock is securable to the valve actuating rod on the dashboard control valve and is comprised essentiall... | 11/18/1997 |
| 5642788 | Dismount braking device for a snowmobile A dismount brake device (1) is tethered by a cable (4) to a snowmobile rider (3). Pulling on the cable (4) displaces a trigger (17) which frees a piston (34). The piston (34) is biased by a main spring (39) to decrease the volume of a chamber (11) contain... | 07/01/1997 |
| 5641032 | Anti-theft system for a vehicle The present invention provides for an anti-theft system which is located within a fluid line. This anti-theft system will control the directional flow of the hydraulic fluid in the fluid line. The system of the present invention includes a control panel a... | 06/24/1997 |
| 5630487 | Method of installing electric motorized brake-lock system An automatic vehicle brake locking system, including an actuator (16) which segregates an auxiliary hydraulic fluid pump (42) from the normally used vehicle master cylinder (2). The actuator (16) is formed as a cylinder including a piston (36) which is bi... | 05/20/1997 |
| 5595258 | Anti-car jacking system A system for disabling a stolen motor vehicle including a control device and a trigger device. The stolen motor vehicle has a master cylinder housing brake fluid and coupled to brakes by brake lines. The control device controls the flow of brake fluid bet... | 01/21/1997 |
| 5584538 | Brake system with automatic braking mechanism In a brake system with an automatic braking mechanism of the present invention, a master cylinder pressure developed by pedaling a brake pedal 1 is supplied to wheel cylinders through first and second brake paths 6,7, first and second center valves 26', 2... | 12/17/1996 |
| 5570756 | Anti-theft system for immobilizing a vehicle A vehicle security system for immobilizing a vehicle to prevent theft and other unauthorized movement of the vehicle. The system includes a brake blocking valve for selectively preventing fluid communication between the vehicle wheel brake cylinders and t... | 11/05/1996 |
| 5558123 | Electrically controlled pressure-holding valve A pressure-holding valve for a brake system having a body with a blind bore therein. The body has a first passage which connects the blind bore with a variable pressure inlet port and a pressure outlet port. The blind bore is closed by seals carried on a ... | 09/24/1996 |
| 5505528 | Electric motorized brake-lock system An automatic vehicle brake locking system, including an actuator (16) which segregates an auxiliary hydraulic fluid pump (42) from the normally used vehicle master cylinder (2). The actuator (16) is formed as a cylinder including a piston (36) which is bi... | 04/09/1996 |
| 5484044 | Device for the automatic control of vehicular brake systems on hills A device for the automatic control of vehicular brake systems on hills, in order to allow the vehicle to remain stopped on a hill even after the brake pedal of the vehicle has been released. The device automatically releases the brakes when the driving to... | 01/16/1996 |
| 5477939 | Brake-engaging vehicle anti-theft system A vehicle anti-theft system includes components for engaging the brakes of the vehicle through the vehicle's hydraulic brake lines. In its preferred embodiment the system includes an auxiliary vacuum booster, an air plunger and cylinder assembly, a compre... | 12/26/1995 |
| 5431487 | Hydraulic brake lock with electric valve controller An anti-theft device for a motor vehicle equipped with hydraulic brakes. A key switch is electrically connected to the vehicle's battery and to a small motor. When the key switch is turned, power from the battery causes the motor to reciprocate a piston w... | 07/11/1995 |
| 5417143 | Lock-out mechanism for empty/load changeover valve A lock-out assembly having a latching mechanism by which means a plunger may be manually depressed and latched in a lock-out position in which a lock pin is pre-set by engagement with an actuator rod of an empty/load valve or the like, so that in response... | 05/23/1995 |
| 5413197 | Parking brake valve A parking brake valve includes a magnetically attractable sled containing fluid stoppers and fluid passers that moves along a track, a fluid exchange unit, solenoids at either end of the track and a remote actuator. The parking brake valve is added to an ... | 05/09/1995 |
| 5403078 | Hydraulic braking systems for vehicles An hydraulic braking system for a vehicle comprises a pedal-operated combined hydraulic booster and master cylinder assembly (1) for applying a brake (15, 18) on a wheel (16, 19) and having a master cylinder (6) and a servo chamber (7), an auxiliary hydra... | 04/04/1995 |
| 5399002 | Security brake system A security brake system comprising a plurality of braking modules, each module coupled between a brake master cylinder and a set of wheel cylinders of a vehicle, each module further comprising a body having a first, second, third ports, and a plurality of... | 03/21/1995 |
| 5392876 | Anti-theft method and device for automotive vehicles Disclosed is a method and device for preventing theft of an automotive vehicle, in particular, one which engages the brakes to prevent the vehicle from moving. An anti-theft device is coupled to the brake system, and, upon leaving the vehicle, manually ac... | 02/28/1995 |
