Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Ernst Severin Baumgartner

John Benjamin Hageman

Bryan Peter Riddiford

Donald E Schenk

Paul Rymoff, Jr

William Charles Kruckemeyer

Harald Klode

Michael Leslie Oliver

Schuyler Scott Shaw

Gary Lee Johnston

Richard James Thomas

Ernest R Siler

John C Layman

Brandon S Vivian

A brake by wire system is integrated with a brake transmission solenoid interlock (BTSI) unit to prevent a vehicle transmission from being shifted out of a park mode into a drive mode until a brake system operational state is determined. The BTSI is activated by a supplemental control unit, which generates a transmission release signal generated by a controller in response to simultaneous presence of a brake intent signal from one or more brake pedal sensors and a determination of an operational state of the brake system. The supplemental control unit includes a switch responsive to the transmission release signal to close the BTSI activating circuit and permit release of the transmission. In a split brake system with two brake controllers, the supplemental control unit may include a switch controlled by a logic (OR, AND) circuit or a pair of switches in an equivalent logical circuit configuration.

Brake by wire system with BTSI based vehicle operation control

An actuator assembly for a vehicle brake system or clutch pack comprises a motor shaft having a first tapered cutout, and a ballscrew shaft having a second tapered cutout. The first and second tapered cutouts being adapted to mate.

Actuator having common bearing

An electrical system architecture for a vehicle brake by wire system provides three electrical power sources: an electric generator, an electric power storage device such as a battery, and a third source which may be either an electric generator or storage device. An electric circuit has a common node and (1) connects the first electric generator to the common node through a first diode, (2) connects the first electric power storage device to the common node through a second diode, (3) connects the electric power source to the common node through one of the first and second diodes, and (4) connects the common node to the electric power inputs of control unit through circuit breaker devices. A sub-circuit within the electric circuit interconnects the first and second diodes, the common node and the first and second circuit breaker devices and isolates them within a zone protected from short circuits to points outside the zone. Voltages across the diodes are checked when the first diode should be reverse biased and again when the second diode should be reverse biased to detect circuit faults such as short or open circuits.

Brake by wire electrical system architecture with multiple power sources and circuit protection

The present invention provides a sensor system for detecting lining wear and fluid level in a dry interface corner actuator for a single wheel brake including a reservoir assembly. The reservoir assembly includes a reservoir for containing fluid for the actuator and a sensor assembly positioned in the reservoir having a single set point to indicate both low reservoir fluid level and a need for brake lining replacement.

Dry interface corner actuator single sensor for lining wear and low reservoir detection

A brake system and method of controlling the system are disclosed. The system provides secondary hydraulic braking in a de-energized mode. The system includes a wheel brake associated with wheels of a vehicle typically at each corner of the vehicle. The wheel brake typically includes a caliper or drum for deceleration of the vehicle. The system includes a master cylinder in fluid communication with the wheel brake. In the de-energized mode, the master cylinder operates the wheel brake. A solenoid isolation valve decouples the master cylinder from the wheel brake when the system is in a normal, i.e., an energized, mode. As such, the master cylinder is isolated from the wheel brake and is prevented from operating the wheel brake. Alternatively, in the de-energized mode, the isolation valve couples the master cylinder with the wheel brake to provide the secondary hydraulic braking. The system includes an actuator assembly for operation of the wheel brake independent of the master cylinder when the system is in the energized operational mode. A second, normally-closed, solenoid valve opens in the energized mode to couple the actuator assembly with the wheel brake. The second solenoid valve closes in the de-energized mode to isolate the actuator assembly from the wheel brake such that the secondary hydraulic braking is provided through the master cylinder.

Brake system and method having secondary hydraulic braking in a de-energized operational mode

A brake apply system includes a pressure charging module having a bore carrying a pumping piston that has a base piston surface and an augmentation piston surface. The pressure charging piston separates the bore into an input chamber adjacent the base piston surface and an output chamber adjacent the augmentation piston surface. A suspension damper is hydraulically connected to the input chamber of the pressure charging module, preferably through a continuously open fluid communication circuit. A wheel brake is hydraulically connected to the accumulator output chamber through a selectively open fluid communication circuit. An accumulator is interconnected in the selectively open fluid communication circuit and maintains a pressure charge that is generated by movement of the pumping piston as effected by operation of the damper and that is delivered to the wheel brake through the selectively open fluid communication circuit Through this mechanism the initial pressurization rate of the brake apply system is increased.

Pressure augmentation for brake apply system

A brake apply system includes a modulator that has a first bore carrying a power driven dual-effect piston. The piston has a base piston surface and an augmentation piston surface. A wheel brake is hydraulically connected to the modulator through an open fluid communication route that is provided between the wheel brake and the base piston surface. A selectively open fluid communication route is provided between the wheel brake and the augmentation piston surface with a check valve mechanism positioned in the selectively open fluid communication route. An augmentation chamber is defined adjacent the augmentation surface of the dual-effect piston. The modulator includes a second bore carrying a valve mechanism that provides an open flow path between the augmentation chamber and a reservoir when pressure at the wheel brake is relatively high and that significantly restricts the flow path when the wheel brake pressure is relatively low. Through this mechanism the augmentation surface is added to the base piston surface for a dual-effect pressure generation area that increases the initial pressurization rate of the brake apply system. Advantageously, the faster the apply rate of the braking system, the greater the augmentation pressure and displacement that is available.

Electro-hydraulic brake apply system displacement augmentation

A braking system including a wheel brake with a dual piston caliper assembly provides a brake by wire add-on system with dual level manual override capabilities. A pressure control block associated with the wheel brake directs fluid pressure generated by the master cylinder to the first and the second pistons of the caliper assembly for operation of the braking system in a manual apply mode. An electro-hydraulic modulator generates operating pressure in the brake by wire mode. The electro-hydraulic modulator communicates with the pressure control block so that fluid pressure generated by the electro-hydraulic modulator is transmitted to a single piston of the caliper assembly and is prevented from being communicated to the first piston of the caliper assembly by a solenoid valve assembly positioned in the pressure control block.

Growing community of inventors

Dayton, OH, United States of America

Ernst Severin Baumgartner