A locking mechanism for a brake cylinder that has a tube surrounding the hollow shaft of the brake cylinder with a first set of teeth formed along an outer surface thereof. A gate having a second set of teeth corresponding to the first set of teeth is moveable in between a first position, wherein the first and second set of teeth are engaged to prevent movement of the brake cylinder piston, and a second position where the first and second set of teeth are disengaged to allow movement of the brake cylinder piston. A spring biases the gate into the locked position and a supplemental piston responsive to a source of brake pipe pressure can move the gate into the unlocked position so that the main piston is free to move.

A parking brake for a body mounted brake cylinder having either a single locking mechanism cooperates with a threaded shaft that is centrally mounted within the brake cylinder or with multiple locking mechanisms that are positioned symmetrically about the centerline of the brake cylinder push rod so that the push or piston rod can still accommodate arcuate motion of the level of the braking system. The locking mechanism may be controlled by a mechanical linkage or through a pneumatic circuit. Activation of the locking mechanisms prevents axial movement of the brake piston. As a result, engagement of the locking mechanism may be used to prevent a release of the brakes after then have been applied to provide an automatic parking brake.

A parking brake for a body mounted brake cylinder having either a single locking mechanism cooperates with a threaded shaft that is centrally mounted within the brake cylinder or with multiple locking mechanisms that are positioned symmetrically about the centerline of the brake cylinder push rod so that the push or piston rod can still accommodate arcuate motion of the level of the braking system. The locking mechanism may be controlled by a mechanical linkage or through a pneumatic circuit. Activation of the locking mechanisms prevents axial movement of the brake piston. As a result, engagement of the locking mechanism may be used to prevent a release of the brakes after then have been applied to provide an automatic parking brake.

A locking mechanism for a brake cylinder that has a tube surrounding the hollow shaft of the brake cylinder with a first set of teeth formed along an outer surface thereof. A gate having a second set of teeth corresponding to the first set of teeth is moveable in between a first position, wherein the first and second set of teeth are engaged to prevent movement of the brake cylinder piston, and a second position where the first and second set of teeth are disengaged to allow movement of the brake cylinder piston. A spring biases the gate into the locked position and a supplemental piston responsive to a source of brake pipe pressure can move the gate into the unlocked position so that the main piston is free to move.

An automatic parking brake for a truck mounted brake cylinder. The automatic parking brake includes rod that is interconnected to a piston of the brake cylinder and can prevent the piston from returning to the brakes releases position. The rod is controlled by locking nut that will rotate if the rod moves axially through the locking nut and a locking sleeve that is moveable between a locked position, where the locking sleeve engages the locking nut and prevents from the nut from rotating, and a released position, where the locking sleeve is disengages from the locking nut and the locking nut is free to rotate. A spring provides a force biasing the locking nut into the locked position, and brake pipe pressure biases the locking sleeve into the released position.

An automatic parking brake for a truck mounted brake cylinder. The automatic parking brake includes rod that is interconnected to a piston of the brake cylinder and can prevent the piston from returning to the brakes releases position. The rod is controlled by locking nut that will rotate if the rod moves axially through the locking nut and a locking sleeve that is moveable between a locked position, where the locking sleeve engages the locking nut and prevents from the nut from rotating, and a released position, where the locking sleeve is disengages from the locking nut and the locking nut is free to rotate. A spring provides a force biasing the locking nut into the locked position, and brake pipe pressure biases the locking sleeve into the released position.

A method for maintaining a brake system in a vehicle with a hydraulic vehicle brake and an electromechanical brake device with an electric brake motor includes preparing the brake system for maintenance operations by actuating the electric brake motor to displace a transmission member into a retracted position that is remote from a brake starting position in which a brake lining is located adjacent to a brake disk of the wheel brake device. The method further includes actuating the electric brake motor to displace the transmission member in the direction of the brake starting position after completion of the maintenance operations.

A method for maintaining a brake system in a vehicle with a hydraulic vehicle brake and an electromechanical brake device with an electric brake motor includes preparing the brake system for maintenance operations by actuating the electric brake motor to displace a transmission member into a retracted position that is remote from a brake starting position in which a brake lining is located adjacent to a brake disk of the wheel brake device. The method further includes actuating the electric brake motor to displace the transmission member in the direction of the brake starting position after completion of the maintenance operations.

A vehicle brake booster system includes a reservoir, a pump, and a brake booster. The brake booster includes an input member adapted to receive a manual braking input force and an output member adapted to apply a braking output force to a master cylinder. A supply line couples the pump to the brake booster, and a return line couples an outlet of the brake booster to the reservoir. A flow of hydraulic fluid pumped to the brake booster provides a boost factor by which the braking output force exceeds the braking input force. The brake booster is hydraulically lockable by a first valve in the supply line and a second valve in the return line such that when the first and second valves are closed, a quantity of hydraulic fluid is trapped within the brake booster to maintain operation of the brake booster without continued operation of the pump.

A vehicle brake booster system includes a reservoir, a pump, and a brake booster. The brake booster includes an input member adapted to receive a manual braking input force and an output member adapted to apply a braking output force to a master cylinder. A supply line couples the pump to the brake booster, and a return line couples an outlet of the brake booster to the reservoir. A flow of hydraulic fluid pumped to the brake booster provides a boost factor by which the braking output force exceeds the braking input force. The brake booster is hydraulically lockable by a first valve in the supply line and a second valve in the return line such that when the first and second valves are closed, a quantity of hydraulic fluid is trapped within the brake booster to maintain operation of the brake booster without continued operation of the pump.