초록 ▼

The present invention provides a parking brake tensioning apparatus, method, and system. Generally described, the device is for adjusting the tension cable of a parking brake in a vehicle. The device has an inner housing for receiving the handle of the parking brake. Also, the device has a deformabl

The present invention provides a parking brake tensioning apparatus, method, and system. Generally described, the device is for adjusting the tension cable of a parking brake in a vehicle. The device has an inner housing for receiving the handle of the parking brake. Also, the device has a deformable member attached to the housing, and is preloaded with a predetermined load. The device further has a force probe, or rod, having a first end connected to the deformable member and a second end in contact with a component of the vehicle. In addition, the device has a switch for generating a control signal when a predefined force value is applied to the deformable member by adjusting the tension of the tension cable through an adjustment tool. Furthermore, the device has a relay for transmitting the control signal to the adjustment tool once the predefined force value is reached, thus disabling the adjustment tool. Other embodiments are also claimed and described.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of adjusting the tension of a parking brake having a handle and a tension cable, comprising: preloading a force probe with a predetermined load, wherein the predetermined load corresponds to a first position associated with the handle of the parking brake and the force probe comprises a

1. A method of adjusting the tension of a parking brake having a handle and a tension cable, comprising: preloading a force probe with a predetermined load, wherein the predetermined load corresponds to a first position associated with the handle of the parking brake and the force probe comprises a deformable member;inserting the handle of the parking brake into a parking brake fixture attached to the force probe, the parking brake fixture comprising a self-actuating cam to secure the parking brake handle in the parking brake fixture and which engages the bottom of the parking brake handle and exerts an upward force on the parking brake handle to lock the parking brake handle within the parking brake fixture;placing the force probe on a component of a vehicle;adjusting a tension cable attached to the handle to apply a force to deflect the handle to a second position, wherein the second position corresponds to a predefined force value; anddisabling the force applied to the tension cable,wherein adjusting the tension cable comprises using handle efforts to indicate a properly tensioned parking brake system. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing at least one indicator when the parking brake deflects to the second position. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the tension cable with an adjustment tool, wherein the adjustment tool is a handle-based tool. 4. The method of claim 3 wherein, when the tension cable is adjusted, the force probe moves with respect to a housing of the parking brake fixture to trigger a switch that activates a shut-off logic controlling the adjustment tool. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the adjustment tool shut-off logic communicates with the parking brake fixture via a tethered, hardwired connection. 6. The method of claim 3, further comprising sending a relay signal to the adjustment tool to disable the adjustment tool. 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying force to the force probe to contact a switch, whereby the switch initializes a control signal. 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising compressing a deformable member of the force probe to a predefined force value. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the force probe can withstand the effort of the parking brake handle without moving and will deflect only after the predefined force value is exceeded. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein preloading the force probe comprises inserting at least one shim to adjust the predetermined load. 11. A method for adjusting a parking brake system of a vehicle, the parking brake system comprising a parking brake handle and a tension cable and the method comprising: receiving the parking brake handle in an inner housing of a parking brake fixture;biasing a force probe of the parking brake fixture into a first position relative to the inner housing, the force probe comprising a deformable member;tensioning the tension cable with an adjustment tool;moving the force probe from the first position to a second position upon application of a predetermined load on the parking brake fixture when tensioning of the tension cable causes the parking brake handle to apply a load substantially equal to the predetermined load to at least one surface of the inner housing, wherein a load that the parking brake handle applies to the parking brake fixture is converted to a deflection of the force probe, deflection of the force probe indicating a handle effort that is used to determine when the predetermined load has been applied and the force probe moves to the second position;generating a control signal when the force probe moves to the second position; andreceiving the control signal and, in response to the control signal, discontinuing tensioning of the tension cable with the adjustment tool. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the deformable member is a spring deflection mechanism that biases the force probe into the first position. 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising selectively retaining the parking brake handle in the inner housing of the parking brake fixture. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising selectively retaining the parking brake handle in the inner housing with a self-actuating cam that engages the bottom of the parking brake handle and exerts and upward force on the parking brake handle to lock the parking brake handle within the parking brake fixture. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising releasing the parking brake handle with a release lever connected to the self-actuating cam. 16. The method of claim 11, further comprising depressing the parking brake handle with the inner housing and resting the force probe on an automotive component before biasing the force probe into a first position. 17. The method of claim 11 wherein, when the tension cable is tensioned, the force probe moves with respect to a housing of the parking brake fixture to trigger a switch that activates a shut-off logic controlling the adjustment tool. 18. The method of claim 11, wherein the adjustment tool shut-off logic communicates with the parking brake fixture via a tethered, hardwired connection. 19. The method of claim 11, wherein deflection of the force probe to the second position causes the force probe to contact a switch that generates the control signal. 20. The method of claim 11, wherein the parking brake fixture uses handle efforts to indicate a properly tensioned parking brake system.