The Bendix Corporation

Bruce E Latvala

Brian C Deem

Matthew Edward Markert

Marc Alan Karon

Ralph W Rothfusz

A mechanically actuated disc brake includes a wedge actuator which urges an extensible, force transmitting member toward the disc brake rotor in order to effect a brake application. A ratchet mechanism is carried by the extensible member and by a piston slidably mounted within the brake housing. The ratchet mechanism is responsive to movement of the extensible member toward the rotor in access of a predetermined amount in order to effect elongation of the extensible member to limit retraction in the piston, so that retraction of the friction elements is similarly limited. The extensible member also cooperates with a manual adjustment mechanism which may be used to manually adjust the brakes or to 'back-off' the extensible member to permit movement of the friction elements away from the disc in excess of the predetermined amount when the friction elements must be removed when the brake is serviced. The wedge actuating mechanism includes a pair of wedges and a reciprocable push rod which is thrust between the wedges to urge the latter apart when a brake application is effected.

Actuating and adjusting mechanism for disc brakes

An adaptive braking system for a vehicle having fluid pressure actuated brakes. The system includes a wheel speed sensor which generates a speed signal proportional to the rotational velocity of a vehicle wheel, and an incipient skid detecting circuit which is responsive to the speed signal to generate a skid detecting signal when an incipient skidding condition of the vehicle wheel is sensed. A modifying circuit is responsive to the output of the skid detection circuit, and generates a signal relieving the fluid pressure in the vehicle brakes when the skid detection circuit senses an incipient skidding condition. Upon termination of the incipient skidding condition, the modifying circuit causes the brake pressure communicated to the vehicle's brakes to be increased at a rate lesss than the maximum rate at which the braking pressure in the system is capable of increasing, to thereby provide a 'slow build' cycle until another incipient skidding condition is sensed. The output of the modifying circuit is fed to a duty cycle translator which generates a pulsed output signal which is transmitted to a brake pressure modulator which controls fluid communication to the brakes of the vehicle.

Adaptive braking control circuit

An adaptive braking system for a vehicle having fluid-pressure operated brakes which includes a skid detecting circuit and a signal modifying circuit. The signal modifying circuit responds to the output of the skid detecting circuit to drive a duty cycle translator to generate a control signal which controls actuation of a modulating relay valve adapted to control fluid communication to the brake actuators. The duty cycle translator includes a pseudo-pressure-feedback control circuit which generates a signal approximating the response characteristics of the modulating relay valve and the brake actuators. The pseudo-pressure-feedback control enhances response of the system without requiring a pressure transducer to be used in the modulator or brake actuators to sense a feedback pressure.

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Elyria, OH, United States of America

Bruce E Latvala