BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be understood best by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art single axle brake line installation;
FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art brake tandem axle line installation;
FIG. 3A illustrates a prior art brake line and a brake assembly;
FIG. 3B illustrates a prior art brake line connected to a brake assembly;
FIG. 4 illustrates a two brake lines, a custom three-way coupling and a brake assembly;
FIG. 5 illustrates a single axle brake line installation using a custom three-way coupling;
FIG. 6 illustrates a tandem axle brake line installation using custom three-way couplings;
FIG. 7A illustrates an embodiment of a custom three-way coupling;
FIG. 7B illustrates a banjo style custom three-way coupling; and
FIG. 8 illustrates a custom three-way coupling integrated with a brake assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The installation of hydraulic brake lines on trailers can be simplified by using a custom three-way hydraulic brake fluid coupling 420 on brake assembly 400 as shown in FIG. 4. Three-way coupling 420 is adapted to fit in the tight space surrounding hydraulic brake fluid port 430 designed to accept a single brake line fitting. Three-way coupling 420 has first fitting 422, second fitting 424 and third fitting 426. In a preferred embodiment, first fitting 422 is a male swivel inverted flare fitting, second fitting 424 is a female inverted flare fitting, and third fitting 426 is a female inverted flare fitting. First fitting 422 connects three-way coupling 420 to hydraulic brake fluid port 430 on brake assembly 400. Fitting 462 on flexible tubing 460 connects to second fitting 424 on three-way coupling 420. Fitting 472 on flexible tubing 470 connects to third fitting 426 on three-way coupling 420. By using three-way coupling 420 on a hydraulic braking system, the brake assemblies can be connected in series using flexible hose rather than using T-couplings and hard tubing to connect brake assemblies in parallel.
The installation of hydraulic brake lines on single axle trailer 500 using custom three-way couplings is shown in FIG. 5. First fitting 570 connects first flexible hose 550 to actuator 510. Second fitting 571 connects first flexible hose 550 connects to first three-way coupling 520. Third fitting 591 connects first three-way coupling 520 to first brake assembly 561. Fourth fitting 572 connects second flexible hose 556 connects to custom three-way coupling 520. Fifth fitting 573 connects flexible hose 556 to second three-way coupling 522. Sixth fitting 592 connects second three-way coupling 522 to second brake assembly 562. Seventh fitting 574 is capped off. Hydraulic brake line installation for single axle trailer 500 requires seven fittings and two flexible hose sections, and two custom three-way coupling, totaling ten component parts. The brake line installation using custom three-way coupling 520 is much simpler than the prior art brake line installation shown in FIG. 1 using nineteen component parts. Alternatively, second flexible hose 556 can connect directly to second brake assembly 562, alleviating the need for second three-way coupling 522.
The installation of hydraulic brake lines on tandem axle trailer 600 using custom three-way couplings is shown in FIG. 6. First fitting 670 connects first flexible hose 650 connects to actuator 610. Second fitting 671 connects first flexible hose 650 to first custom three-way coupling 620. Third fitting 691 connects first custom three-way coupling 620 to first brake assembly 661. Fourth fitting 672 connects first custom three-way coupling 620 to second flexible hose 652. Fifth fitting 673 connects second flexible hose 652 to second custom three-way coupling 622. Sixth fitting 692 connects second custom three-way coupling 622 to second brake assembly 662. Seventh fitting 674 connects second custom three-way coupling 622 to third flexible hose 654. Eighth fitting 675 connects third flexible hose section to third custom three-way coupling 624. Ninth fitting 693 connects third custom three-way coupling 624 to third brake assembly 663. Tenth fitting 676 connects third custom three-way coupling 624 to fourth flexible hose 656. Eleventh fitting 694 connects fourth flexible hose 656 to fourth custom three-way coupling 626. Twelfth fitting 694 connects fourth custom three-way coupling 624 to fourth brake assembly 664. Thirteenth fitting 678 is capped off. Hydraulic brake line installation for single axle trailer 600 requires thirteen fittings, four flexible hose sections, and four custom three-way couplings, totaling nineteen component parts. The brake line installation in FIG. 6 using custom three-way couplings is much simpler than the prior art brake line installation shown in FIG. 2 using thirty-six component parts. The reduction in parts is attributed to the use of the custom three-way coupling at the brake assemblies and the use of only flexible hose for all brake lines. Alternatively, fourth flexible hose 656 can connect directly to fourth brake assembly 664, alleviating the need for fourth three-way coupling 624.
A preferred embodiment of three-way coupling 700 is shown in FIG. 7A. Housing 710 has a generally hexagonal profile, adapted to fit the space surrounding a hydraulic fluid port on a brake assembly. First fitting 722 is adapted to connect housing 710 to a hydraulic fluid port. In this embodiment, fitting 722 is a male swivel inverted flare fitting, but other fittings are known in the art. Second fitting 724 is adapted to connect the housing to a first flexible hose brake line. Second fitting 724 is shown as a female inverted flare fitting, but other fittings are known in the art. Third fitting 726 is adapted to connect the housing to a first flexible hose brake line. Third fitting 726 is shown as a female inverted flare fitting, but other fittings are known in the art. Additionally, housing 710 is not limited to a hexagonal profile with threaded compression fittings extending out along the same horizontal plane. Different fitting types and housing shapes may be used depending on the configuration of the brake assembly. Further, the second fitting and the third fitting can extend at any angle from each other that fits the configuration of the brake assembly. For example, some brake assemblies use a “banjo” hose mounting as shown in FIG. 7B. For banjo hose mounting 701, first fitting 732 is a bolt that attaches housing 711 directly to the hydraulic fluid port on a brake assembly, permitting the passage of the hydraulic fluid between housing 711 and the brake assembly. Second fitting 724 and third fitting 726 each extend at a 90 degree angle from first fitting 732. In banjo hose mounting 701, second fitting 724 and third fitting 726 can extend at any angle from each other that fits the configuration of the brake assembly, such as 60 degrees or 180 degrees.
An additional embodiment of a custom three-way coupling is integrated directly with a brake assembly as shown in FIG. 8. Brake assembly 800 has two hydraulic fluid ports. First hydraulic fluid port 824 is the functional equivalent of the second fitting of the custom three-way coupling, and second hydraulic fluid port 826 is the functional equivalent of the third fitting of the custom three-way coupling. I this additional embodiment, the first fitting and housing are unnecessary. The second hydraulic fluid port can be added next to an existing hydraulic fluid port on the brake assembly, or the brake assembly can be manufactured with two hydraulic fluid ports.
A preferred form of the invention has been shown in the drawings and described above, but variations in the preferred form will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The preceding description is for illustration purposes only, and the invention should not be construed as limited to the specific form shown and described. The scope of the invention should be limited only by the language of the following claims.
Patent Application
20080093182
