Lucas Industries Public Limited Company

Lucas Automotive Gmbh

Frank Lubischer

Thomas Wald

Dieter Voges

The invention concerns a process for the operation of a vehicle unit comprising a motor vehicle to which a trailer is coupled, wherein the motor vehicle is equipped with electronic systems for controlling and/or regulating the operating conditions of the vehicle unit. To improve the maneuverability of such a vehicle unit, it is proposed that the operating conditions attained by the vehicle unit and/or desired by the driver are automatically controlled and/or regulated through the cooperation of the electronic braking system (EBS) and/or the electronic engine output control system and/or the electronic drive-train control (ASS) and/or the electronic steering system (ELS).

Maneuverability assist system

The fundamental approach of the present invention is to dispose bushes, in which pistons of a pumping apparatus for a vehicle brake system are movably disposed, in such a movable manner that they themselves may in dependence upon movements of the pistons act as pistons in order to supply brake fluid to the vehicle brake system. In particular, the bushes, whose pistons are pumping brake fluid into an associated brake circuit, do not act as pistons. On the other hand, brake fluid is fed back into a brake circuit by bushes, whose pistons are pumping substantially no brake fluid into the brake circuit but are taking in e.g. brake fluid removed from the vehicle brake system in order subsequently to pump it back into the brake circuit.

Pumping apparatus for a vehicle brake system

A valve arrangement, comprising a first and a second fluid connection (16, 20) of respective, predetermined flow cross-sections, at least one valve element (44) which is biased by a first spring arrangement (106) in a first position in which the first and second fluid connection (16, 20) are communicating via a flow path, and a valve actuating means (42) by means of which the valve element (44) can be moved in order to assume a second position in which the first and second fluid connection (20) are closed against each other, is characterized in that the bias of the first spring arrangement (106), the force that can be applied to the valve element (44) by the valve actuating means (42), and the flow cross-sections of the fluid connections (16, 20) are dimensioned in such a manner that with a predetermined fluid pressure at the second fluid connection (20), the valve element (44) opens the second fluid connection (20) to such an extent that a flow path is obtained to the first fluid connection (16).

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Boppard, Germany

Frank Lubischer