Abstract: An improved surge braking mechanism for trailer vehicles including a brake shoe carried on a lever plate by an articulated linkage system. The braking mechanism moves the lever plate to bring the brake shoe into braking engagement with a brake drum of the trailer vehicle in response to the forward inertia of the trailer vehicle during braking. When the inertia of the trailer vehicle is either neutral or rearward, the braking mechansim acts to take the brake shoe out of braking engagement with the brake drum. The articulated linkage system limits the movement of the brake shoe away from the brake drum during rearward movement of the trailer vehicle. Upon transitional motion of the brake shoe in response to forward movement of the trailer vehicle, the brake shoe is smoothly returned to its normal position ready for braking of such forward movement. Undesired temporary braking engagement of the brake shoe observed during such transitional movement in known surge braking mechanisms is thereby prevented.

Abstract: A hitch and trailer brake assembly for selectively actuating the brake system of a trailer includes a pair of tubular telescoping members, one of which is fastened to the trailer and the other of which is fastened to the vehicle towing the trailer, a hydraulic cylinder unit that serves as a source of fluid under pressure operable in response to relative movement between the telescoping members to actuate the trailer brakes, and a valve member for maintaining the trailer brakes inoperative until the pressure supplied by the hydraulic unit reaches a predetermined pressure.

Abstract: The hub cap device includes a cylindrical housing mountable on the trailer wheel hub and having a spring loaded piston that is movable between defined inner and outer positions. As the hub is filled with grease under pressure through a grease fitting on the piston, the piston is moved to its outer position wherein excess grease is bled to the atmosphere. A manually actuated control means on the hub cap device is adjustable to provide for the spring load being applied to urge the piston to the inner position therefor, when the trailer is to be used at a launching site, and for the spring load being removed from the piston when the trailer is to be used for road travel.