Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Delco Electronics Corporation

Donald L Parker

Edward H Warwick

Timothy Allen Haerr

Thomas P Mathues

Donald E Schenk

Donald L Heffner

Donald M Flory

David F Reuter

Craig A Osterday

George N Villec

Gary Chris Fulks

Schuyler Scott Shaw

Jerry Lee Newton

Robert J Hammersmith

James W Miller

Scott A Baughman

Thomas B Taylor

Fred W Huntzicker

Alexander Kade

James William Zehnder, Ii

David L Brademeyer

Edward J DeHoff

Ronald Paul

Gordon L Tierney

Robert Lee Phillis

Prakash K Kulkarni

Dale J Kumke

Ralph A Gordon

Vivek Jaikamal

Brad Nicholas Venetos

James F Quinn

Dennis G Merical

David A Homan

Neal B Rosenblum

Jeffrey A Heinrichs

Hubert Hogg

Vivek V Mohile

James William Zehnder Ii

William A Fetty

John Dudley Altevers

John Payson Whaite

Bryan Todd Fulmer

Robert L Gephart

Ralph J Kaup

William H Gillespie, Iii

Patrick Roussel

Annabelle E Leyes

Fred J Horner

A vacuum booster for a vehicle brake system provides a working pressure valve seat on a valve member axially movable with respect to an input member. A rotary electric motor within the booster has an output shaft coupled through rotary to linear motion conversion apparatus to move the valve member with its working pressure valve seat relative to the input member. The combination of elements is designed as a drop-in replacement for a standard air valve member. The motion conversion apparatus provides much greater mechanical force than a linear solenoid; and this allows a more straightforward design of the valve arrangement, particularly the use of a high friction seal such as a simple 'O'-ring in a groove. In further contrast to a linear solenoid, it further provides positive control of the working pressure valve seat position and an extended range of travel with constant force throughout the range. A magnet may be mounted on the nut adjacent a stationary magnetic sensor mounted on a circuit board associated with the motor to provide a signal of the position of the nut for the accurate positioning of the working fluid valve seat. A retaining clip normally used to prevent axial withdrawal of the input member from the power piston may be advantageously used to circumferentially engage an extension of a portion of the input member to prevent its rotation.

Brake booster with alternate activation by rotary electric motor

A power booster is operable at relatively low apply rates and at relatively high apply rates and includes an input assembly that has a movable input rod and a primary reaction piston having a first reaction area. An output support body is responsive to movement of the input rod, with a resilient reaction disc engaging the output support body. A secondary reaction body has a second reaction area and is engageable with the reaction disc and transfers loads between the reaction disc and the input assembly at relatively low apply rates. The amount of the load transferred is a function of both the first reaction area and the second reaction area at the relatively low apply rates resulting in a first reaction ratio. The primary reaction piston is engageable with the reaction disc and transfers loads between the output support body and the input assembly during relatively high apply rates. The amount of the load transferred is solely a function of the first reaction area at the relatively high apply rates resulting in a second reaction ratio that is smaller in magnitude than the first reaction ratio.

Dual reaction ratio power booster

A brake apply system includes a power booster in which, when released and at-rest, a leg of a stop engages a clip and an extension of a valve body engages the clip so that an annular rib of the valve body is axially spaced away from the stop by a distance G. At the same time, a first valve seat is engaged with a first annular valve element closing a pressure supply conduit off from a variable pressure chamber and a second valve seat is spaced away from a second annular valve element by a distance T, opening the variable pressure chamber to an atmospheric pressure chamber. When the power booster is applied, the second valve seat moves the distance T and engages the second annular valve element closing the variable pressure chamber off from the atmospheric pressure chamber and the first valve seat separates from the first annular valve element opening the pressure supply conduit to the variable pressure chamber. The stop moves against the annular rib of the valve body so that when the pushrod is initially released the second annular valve element moves away from the second valve seat a distance equal to G+T. A pressurized air supply communicates with the power booster and includes a compressor and a dryer. When the compressor is turned off a solenoid valve opens and a quantity of dry air contained in a regeneration reservoir passes through the dryer, regenerating the dryer.

Pneumatic assisted brake apply system

A method and device for brake application provides braking pressure augmentation when preferred. A power booster and master cylinder generate a braking pressure in relation to an operator's input on the brake pedal. An optional brake parameter sensor is used to determine when the power booster reaches a run-out condition. At least one control valve and pump are used to apply braking pressure in response to additional increases in brake pedal application by the operator, after the power booster reaches a run-out condition. The pump and control valve are optionally used to generate braking pressure independent of brake pedal inputs.

Method and device for brake application

A vehicle braking system that primarily operates as a pure brake-by-wire system, with optional hydraulic actuation. The system includes a set of four electrically actuated drum brakes. At least two of the wheel brakes include hydraulic actuators that operate to apply the wheel brakes independent of electric control. Each of the wheel brakes is normally operated in response to a control signal generated by the vehicle's brake processor. As such, a primary brake-by-wire system is provided at all four vehicle wheels. The rear brakes are proportioned to the front brakes electrically, according to design criteria.

Vehicle braking system

An integrated master cylinder and vacuum power booster provides a brake apply system wherein the master cylinder and power booster are structurally and functionally combined together to provide a uniquely packaged system. The integral system includes a master cylinder housing having a tubular extension that carries the power booster housing with at least two operating chambers. A power piston is movable by variable pressure levels between the two chambers. The power piston cooperates with a translating element carried within the tubular extension to communicate sliding movement of the power piston to the master cylinder piston.

Integral brake apply system

A brake assembly includes a guide spring for returning a parking brake actuator arm to a release position and which serves to guide an apply cable into engagement with the actuator arm during assembly. The guide spring is inhibited from deflecting during insertion of the cable by a retaining spring that spans across the opposing lower brake shoe ends at the adjuster link and which includes an extending tail positioned adjacent the guide spring.

Brake assembly for blind cable installation

Anti-lock/traction control braking system for a vehicle is provided which in a preferred embodiment includes a master cylinder, a brake, a controller providing a signal when a wheel condition is within preset parameters, an isolating value to separate the brake from the master cylinder means when the braking system goes into an anti-lock braking or traction control mode of operation, an anti-lock braking actuator including a bore fluidly connecting with the brake and having a piston reciprocally mounted within and a first motor responsive to a signal given by the controller for powering the anti-lock braking piston. A traction control actuator is also provided having fluid connections with the master cylinder and the anti-lock braking actuator. The traction control actuator has at least one piston reciprocally mounted within a bore. Upon actuation of the traction control the wheel brake is pressurized by the traction control actuator and thereafter traction control modulation of the wheel brake is accomplished by reciprocal movement of the ABS piston within the ABS actuator.

Electric master cylinder traction control

An ABS system has a plurality of brake channels receiving apply pressure directly from a pump without an accumulator during ABS operation. To assure sufficient pressure for all channels during ABS reapply modes the channels are multiplexed to apply one at a time and keeping on hold other channels scheduled for apply. Several states of brake application are identified and the states are prioritized for each channel so that the multiplexing is ordered according to channel priority.

Multiplexing antilock brake apply channels

A vehicle braking actuated traction control system is provided which includes a bored frame fluidly connected with a master cylinder and a wheel brake. A spring biased plunger with a sealing head slidably mounted within the bore isolates the bore from the master cylinder by axial movement of the plunger in a first direction. A piston operatively associated with the plunger is sealably slidably mounted within the bore for creating a variable control volume in the bore in fluid communication with the wheel brake. The piston is connected with the plunger via a spring which biases the plunger away from the piston. A nut is fixably connected with the piston and a drive screw threadably engaged with the piston is reversibly powered by an electric motor which is responsive to the signals given by a controller which is cognizant of a vehicle wheel condition. Upon the appropriate signal the drive screw will power the piston to a position to cause the plunger to isolate the wheel brake from the master cylinder and thereafter modulate the pressure within the wheel brake as commanded by the controller during a traction control cycle.

Traction control modulator

To provide an ABS/TC integration and method of utilization thereof which is an alternative to those previously provided and to maximize the utilization of the actuator in both the ABS and TC functions the present invention is brought forth. The present invention provides an ABS/TC integration with a common actuator which maximizes the operation of the actuator when in either an ABS or TC braking mode.

Combined traction control and anti-lock braking system

A hydraulic booster for a vehicle brake master cylinder having a power piston with only one large diameter sliding seal which is exposed to a high hydraulic pressure. This provides a brake booster having lower hysteresis.

Hydraulic brake booster

An integrated anti-lock braking (ABS)/traction control (TC) braking system is provided which includes a controller cognizant of a rotational condition of a wheel, a master cylinder, an actuator with a bore, the bore having a first fluid connection with a master cylinder and space therefrom a second fluid connection with a brake, a first normally open solenoid valve for isolating the master cylinder from the wheel brake when the controller places the system in an ABS or TC mode, and a hollow primary piston mounted within the bore along first, second and third spaced sealed peripheries having a first port connecting the interior of the primary piston with its exterior between the first and second sealed peripheries and communicating with the second fluid connection of the bore. The primary piston also has a second port fluidly connecting an end of the primary piston most adjacent to the bore first fluid connection with the interior of the primary piston and the primary piston having a check valve mounted within the second port and the primary piston has a third sealed periphery generally adjacent the bore first fluid connection. A secondary piston is mounted within the primary piston movable in a direction towards the bore first fluid connection to pressurize the brake and movable in an opposite direction to release the pressure within the brake, the secondary piston has an extreme position with respect to the primary piston wherein the secondary piston opens the check valve and further movement of the secondary piston causes the pistons to move in unison pressurizing the wheel brake. A reversible motor connected with a gear train, drive screw and nut moves the secondary piston in response to signal give by the controller.

Integral ABS and traction control having an electric modulator

An anti-lock braking system (ABS) actuator isolation valve and method of utilization thereof is provided to ensure that a braking system master cylinder, which is normally connected with wheel brake cylinder and isolated from the same when the braking system is an ABS mode, is never fluidly exposed with a displacement cylinder, which can alternatively be connected with the wheel brake cylinder when the braking system is in the ABS mode.

Isolation valve

An integrated anti-lock braking system (ABS)/traction control (TC) braking system for a vehicle having a fluid activated brake for a wheel is provided the system in one embodiment includes a system controller for signaling the system to an ABS or TC mode, a master cylinder for delivering pressurized fluid to the wheel brake, an actuator with a longitudinal bore having a first stop. A hollow primary piston is slidably mounted within the longitudinal bore biased towards the first stop. The interior of the primary piston is fluidly connected with its exterior. A secondary piston is slidably mounted within the primary piston and movable in one direction to pressurize the wheel brake and movable in an opposite direction to relieve said wheel brake in response to the controller.

Anti-lock braking/traction control braking system

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Middletown, OH, United States of America

Donald L Parker