Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Gerard Edward Baker

Jeffrey Dan Rupp

Kip Alan Ewing

Bruce Frederick Pease

A releasable brake pedal system for a vehicle includes a pedal assembly operatively engageable by the driver of the vehicle and a hydraulic actuator assembly for generating pressurized hydraulic fluid for actuating one or more brakes A- D. The pedal system further includes a pressure release valve or &prime; coupled in fluid communication with the pressurized hydraulic fluid. The pressure release valve or &prime; is operative to reduce the amount of pressure applied to the brakes A- D during a detected vehicle deceleration indicative of a collision event. The pressure release valve is responsive to a deceleration sensor according to one embodiment, and valve &prime; employs a deceleration sensitive inertial mass according to another embodiment. Accordingly, the pedal system reduces forces that may otherwise be transferred to the pedal assembly during a collision.

Pressure releasable vehicle pedal assembly

A releasable brake pedal system for a vehicle includes a pedal assembly operatively engageable by the driver of the vehicle and a hydraulic actuator assembly for generating pressurized hydraulic fluid for actuating one or more brakes A- D. The pedal system further includes a pressure release valve or 30&prime; coupled in fluid communication with the pressurized hydraulic fluid. The pressure release valve or &prime; is operative to reduce the amount of pressure applied to the brakes A- D during a detected vehicle deceleration indicative of a collision event. The pressure release valve is responsive to a deceleration sensor according to one embodiment, and valve &prime; employs a deceleration sensitive inertial mass according to another embodiment. Accordingly, the pedal system reduces forces that may otherwise be transferred to the pedal assembly during a collision.

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Essex, United Kingdom

Gerard Edward Baker