Emergency brake system for wheeled vehicles

摘要

An emergency braking system for wheeled vehicles including a deformable brake wedge (19) for each tire (17) on one of the vehicle's axles. The brake wedges (19) are constructed and arranged to transfer substantially all braking forces to the vehicle through the vehicle's tires (17) during emergency braking. The system also includes releasable elements (35, 36) for allowing the braking wedges (19) to move between inoperative and operative positions and an electrically-controlled element (113) for retaining the brake wedges (19) in those positions. While the brake wedges move from the inoperative position to the operative position, a control system (100) temporarily applies the vehicle brakes (123) associated with the tires (17) that engage the brake wedges (19) during emergency braking.