GB458474A - Improvements in means for indicating the brake efficiency of motor vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

458,474. Accelerometers; indicating- apparatus. SMALL & PARKES, Ltd., and KAY, H., Harpurhey, Manchester. June 20, 1935, Nos. 17663 and 31369. [Classes 106 (iii) and 106 (iv)] A brake-efficiency indicator for motor vehicles comprises a weighted or out of balance wheel or annulus A soldered at b to a two armed sector shaped member B fixed to a spindle a pivotally mounted in side plates C fixed to a casing D and having secured to it a pinion a<1> gearing with teeth e<1> on the lower surface of a slot e in a pendulum arm E pivoted at e<2> approximately vertically above the spindle a. The pendulum arm E may be weighted and in its position of rest is inclined at about 17‹ to the vertical. The rim of the wheel A is smooth or knurled or roughened by a sand blast and is marked with a numbered and /or coloured brake efficiency scale a2 read against an index d<2> adjacent a slot d<1> in the casing D. The wheel A is retained in its maximum position of angular movement by a V-shaped friction surface f of rubber, rubber impregnated fabric, cork, or asbestos fabric and carried by a block F fixed to a spindle f having secured to it a counterweight in the form of a short handle G. The handle G can be moved to a position where it is retained by a spring clip H and where the friction surface f is out of contact with the wheel A but where a rubber friction pad f<9> contacts therewith to hold it in the zero position. The casing D is provided with a lateral extension d for fixing it the fixed sleeve surrounding the steering column or the dashboard.