Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

John Benjamin Hageman

Schuyler Scott Shaw

Donald E Schenk

Bryan Peter Riddiford

Paul Rymoff, Jr

Ernst Severin Baumgartner

Harald Klode

David Bernard Drennen

Gerald C Danielewicz

William Charles Kruckemeyer

Michael Leslie Oliver

Gary Lee Johnston

Denny L Peeples

Richard James Thomas

Michael Demido

Ernest R Siler

John C Layman

Daniel Lee Kottmyer

Thomas D Hewer

Kenneth Richard Hous

Ernest S Baumgartner

A shape memory alloy actuator includes a housing, a plunger, a shaft, a resilient member, and a shape memory alloy component. The plunger is slidably but non-rotatably received in the housing and has a first locking component. The shaft has a second locking component. The resilient member is positioned to slidably urge the plunger into a disengagement position of the first and second locking components allowing rotation of the shaft. The shape memory alloy component is positioned to slidably urge the plunger into an engagement position of the first and second locking components, when the shape memory alloy component is heated, preventing rotation of the shaft. In one application, the first and second locking components are interdigitable vehicle-parking-brake latch teeth.

Shape memory alloy actuator

An actuator for an electro-mechanical-brake motor assembly includes a housing surrounding a rotatable motor shaft presenting a longitudinal axis. A spring is non-rotatably supported on the housing. A latching device is non-rotatably supported by the housing. The latching device has a plurality of teeth. A latch gear is non-rotatably supported on the rotatable motor shaft and circumscribes the longitudinal axis and presents a plurality of axially facing angled teeth presenting a meshing engagement with the teeth of the latching device. The latching device is axially movable relative to the housing in response to magnetic force generated by the electric coil.

Park brake system having a latching device

A parking brake system including at least one braking unit actuated by at least one cable, a cylinder having a piston chamber and a rod chamber, a piston slidably received within the cylinder and having a rod connected thereto, the rod extending through the rod chamber and operably connected to the cable, a pressurized fluid source connected to the piston chamber, and a valve for controlling the flow of the fluid to the piston chamber, wherein the piston and rod move through the cylinder when the fluid pressurizes the piston chamber, thereby actuating the braking unit.

Hydraulically actuated parking brake

A motor assembly, such as an electro-mechanical-brake (EMB) motor assembly includes an electric motor, a latch gear, a solenoid, and a spring. The latch gear is non-rotatably attached to the drive shaft of the motor. The spring is operatively connected to the solenoid and has a spring projection which is longitudinally-deflectable by energizing the solenoid. The gear tooth is shaped to longitudinally retain the spring projection when the latch gear rotates the gear tooth into engagement with the longitudinally-deflected spring projection. In one example, the latch gear is a parking-brake latch gear and the motor assembly provides a parking brake function for an EMB electric motor which also is used for applying and releasing a vehicle's driving brakes.

Motor assembly such as an electro-mechanical-brake motor assembly

The invention provides a brake caliper backdrive apparatus and method of backdriving a brake caliper. The apparatus includes a brake caliper, a motor including a shaft operably attached to the brake caliper and, a biasing member operably attached to the shaft. The biasing member backdrives the motor thereby releasing the brake caliper. The method includes rotating a shaft to clamp the brake caliper, storing energy in a biasing member responsive to the shaft rotation, and reversing the shaft rotation using the stored energy.

Brake caliper backdrive apparatus and method

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

One aspect of the control system provides a hydraulic control system for a transfer case that includes an actuator for generating fluid pressure. The system also includes an isolation valve and a control valve in fluid communication with the actuator. The isolation valve is in a normally closed position and the control valve is in a normally open position. The system further includes a piston for applying fluid pressure to a device of the transfer case. Another aspect provides a method for controlling the hydraulic pressure to a transfer case.

System and method for actuating and controlling a transfer case

A disc brake caliper assembly has a housing with a bore. A piston in the bore is movable between applied, retracted and knock-back positions. The piston is activatable by hydraulic pressure to move from the retracted position to the applied position; and a retracting seal is effective in the absence of the hydraulic pressure to move the piston from the applied position to the retracted position. A linkage adjacent the piston carries a stop; and an actuator is responsive to an end of brake activation signal to cause the linkage to engage the stop with the piston when the piston is retracted from its applied position to its retracted position so as to prevent the piston from moving from the retracted position to the knock-back position. The actuator is preferably a comparatively weak electric motor that stalls as the stop engages the piston; and the stall is sensed to end motor activation. The end of brake activation signal is preferably provided by a brake position or pressure sensor. The apparatus is adaptable to an electronic park brake control.

Zero drag disc brake with anti-knock-back device

An actuator assembly for a vehicle brake system comprises a piston disposed in a bore, a reservoir, and a solenoid. A channel is in fluid communication between the bore and the reservoir, and the solenoid is disposed in the channel. The solenoid is movable between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the solenoid blocks fluid communication between the bore and the reservoir.

Vehicle brake by wire actuator

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 disc brake caliper assembly is provided that includes a housing having a bore. A piston is arranged within the bore and is movable between normal retracted and knock-back positions. A linkage is adjacent to the piston and is movable between first and second positions with a clearance between the piston and the linkage in the first position. The clearance undesirably permits the piston to move to the knock-back position during severe operating conditions. An actuator, which also may be used as part an electric parking brake, moves the linkage from the first position to the second position to eliminate the clearance when the linkage is moved from the first position to the second position where the linkage abuts the piston. The linkage is connected to the caliper housing by a support. The linkage prevents the piston from moving from the normal retracted position to the knock-back position. In operation, the present invention prevents piston knock-back by sending an adjustment signal from a controller to the actuator at a predetermined interval. The signal commands the actuator to move a linkage from the first to the second position where the linkage abuts the piston. In this manner, the linkage prevents the piston from moving from a normal retracted position to a knock-back position.

A disc brake caliper with an integral parking brake includes a caliper housing defining a cavity therein and a piston axially translatable within the cavity and having an internal bearing surface. At least one brake pad is affixed to either the piston or the caliper housing. A parking brake mechanism is mounted within the cavity and is interposed between a portion of the housing and the piston. The parking brake mechanism includes a thrust pin substantially axially aligned with the piston and rotatable within the housing. A first radial clutch is engageable with the thrust pin, and a second axial clutch is operable upon the piston. Rotation of the thrust pin in a first direction causes engagement of the first radial clutch and of the second axial clutch causing axial displacement of the piston. Rotation of the thrust pin in an opposite direction causes disengagement of the first and said second clutches.

Disc brake caliper with integral parking brake

A brake by wire system provides the capability of both travel and force sensors on a brake apply input member such as a brake pedal and also provides redundancy in sensors by providing the signal from a sensor responsive to travel or position of the brake pedal to a first controller and the signal from a sensor responsive to force applied to the brake pedal to a second controller. The first and second controllers are connected by a bi-directional communication link whereby each controller may communicate its received one of the sensor signals to the other controller. In at least one of the controllers, linearized versions of the signals are combined for the generation of first and second brake apply command signals for communication to brake apply units. If either controller does not receive one of the sensor signals from the other, it nevertheless generates its brake apply command signal on the basis of the sensor signal provided directly to it from the sensor. In a preferred embodiment of the system, a controller combines the linearized signals by choosing the largest in magnitude.

Brake by wire system with separate controllers and both position and force input sensors

A braking assembly for providing a braking force to a wheel brake of a vehicle based upon receipt of an electrical brake signal is provided. The brake assembly comprises an actuator including a motor that applies and releases a piston within an actuator body. The actuator is fluidly connected to a wheel brake whereby the wheel brake can be applied and released. A solenoid valve is interposed between the actuator and the wheel brake on a primary fluid path for opening and closing the fluid connection. A step piston is placed within a secondary fluid path between the actuator and the wheel brake and operates to momentarily increase fluid displacement applied to the wheel brake when the solenoid valve closed.

Growing community of inventors

Vandalia, OH, United States of America

John Benjamin Hageman