Alliedsignal Inc.

Robert Boschgmbh

Robert Bosch Technology Corporation

Allied Corporation

Kenneth S Towers

Timothy Jay Albert

Gregory Paul Goodzey

Richard Becker McClain

Michael John Schneider

William C Eddy

Tamas I Pattantyus

Jack R Phipps

Kevin Johnson

Robert M Rivard

John Edmund Mackiewicz

Milan Klimes

Daniel J Patient

Alistair G Taig

Gary L Casey

Douglas R Verner

Rudy V Thomas

Robert K Wilson

William John Penninger

Seong K Rhee

Djamel Charmat

Georg Blosch

Raymond Kosarski, Jr

David F Scherer

Bryan Frances Heinz

Raymon Kosarski, Jr

Richard H Kolm

A system for use in a vehicle with a brake pedal and a brake circuit. The system includes a master cylinder assembly configured to pressurize fluid therein in response to movement of the brake pedal, a sensor assembly configured to generate a pedal position signal indicative of position of the brake pedal, an electronic control unit configured to (i) generate a brake request signal in response to generation of the pedal position signal, and (ii) generate a selector control signal, and a selector valve assembly being moved from a first mode to a second mode in response to generation of the selector control signal, the master cylinder assembly is (i) isolated from fluid communication with the brake circuit when the selector valve assembly is positioned in the first mode, and (ii) in fluid communication with the brake circuit when the selector valve assembly is positioned in the second mode.

Brake system with selector valve for selecting between two modes of operation

A system for use in a vehicle with a brake pedal and a brake circuit which includes a master cylinder assembly, a sensor assembly configured to generate a pedal position signal indicative of position of the brake pedal, an electronic control unit configured to (i) generate a brake request signal in response to generation of the pedal position signal, and (ii) generate a selector control signal, and a selector valve assembly operable in a first mode and a second mode, the selector valve assembly being moved from the first mode to the second mode in response to generation of the selector control signal, the master cylinder assembly is (i) isolated from fluid communication with the brake circuit when the selector valve assembly is positioned in the first mode, and (ii) in fluid communication with the brake circuit when the selector valve assembly is positioned in the second mode.

Vehicular brake system operable in dual modes

An electric brake has a master cylinder () including pistons () for rear and front brake circuits and an electric motor () for actuating the rear brake piston (). A feedback circuit provides a signal indicative of the fluid pressure supplied to the rear brake circuit and is operable in response to driver commanded braking force () to supply fluid pressure to the rear wheel brake circuit. A mechanical coupling () between the second piston and a brake pedal is responsive to driver applied brake pedal force to supply fluid pressure to the front wheel brake circuit. A fluid circuit () utilizes the fluid pressure supplied to the rear wheel brake circuit to augment driver applied brake pedal force thereby supplying power boosted fluid pressure to the front wheel brake circuit.

Electric booster with hydraulic transmission

A hydraulic brake booster ( ) for use in a brake system ( ) having a first housing ( ) with a first bore ( ) separated from a second bore ( ). The first bore ( ) retains a power piston ( ) and the second bore ( ) retains a control valve arrangement ( ). A push rod ( ) of an input arrangement ( ) is connected to the power piston ( ) and linked to the control valve arrangement ( ) by a lever arrangement ( ). A second housing ( ) encloses the control valve arrangement ( ), lever arrangement ( ) and a projection ( ) that extends from the power piston ( ) to define a cavity or relief chamber ( ) having a permanent low pressure. The input arrangement ( ) supplies the control valve arrangement ( ) with an input force in response to a braking force applied to the push rod ( ) to regulate the communication of pressurized supply fluid from the second bore ( ). The hydraulic brake booster is characterized in that the regulated supply fluid acts on the first piston ( ) to develop a corresponding operational fluid pressure which is communicated to a first set of wheel brakes ( ) while the regulated supply fluid is directly communicated to a second set of wheel brakes ( ) to effect a brake application.

Brake booster

A secondary source of braking for large hydraulically braked vehicles utilizing the available power source (,) provided by typically available anti-skid and traction control braking systems. The anti-skid braking system is used to control the secondary braiding function in a manner optimal to the operating condition of the vehicle. Unique distinctive operating modes are used when the vehicle is either moving (,), or stationary (,). The advantages of the stationary mode are fast time response and high output pressure controlled with a minimum of pump operation and fluid movement. The advantages of the dynamic mode are the ability to modulate brake pressure in response to the driver's command.

Integrated anti-skid and hydraulic booster braking control

A control apparatus (,) for a brake system (,) having a housing (,) with a first (,) and second (,) cylindrical members located in first (,) and second (,) bores. The first (,) and second (,) cylindrical members and corresponding first (,) and second (,) valve seat members define first (,) and second (,) chambers within the first (,) and second (,) bores which are connected to a source of pressurized fluid. First valve means (,) are located in the first chamber (,) and second valve means (,) are located in the second chamber (,). A first plunger means (,) in the first bore (,) and a first valve seat member (,) define a first brake chamber (,) which is connected to a first set (,) of wheel brakes and a second plunger means (,) in the second bore (,) and a second valve seat member (,) define a second brake chamber (,) in the second bore (,) which is connected to a second set (,&prime;) of wheel brakes in the vehicle. A first stem (,) of the first plunger means (,) and a second stem (,) of the second plunger means (,) is connected to a balance lever (,) connected to an input rod (,). An input force applied to the input rod (,) simultaneously moves the stems (,) to initially interrupt communication between chambers (,) and a reservoir,. Thereafter, further movement of stems (,) moves balls (,&prime;) away from valve seat members (,) and allows metered pressurized fluid to be communicated to the first (,) and second (,&prime;) set of wheel brakes to effect a primary brake application. In response to dynamic conditions sensed by a cpu (,), solenoid valves (,) are activated to allow pressurized fluid to move the first (,) and second (,) valve seat members into corresponding engagement with first (,) and second (,) plunger means initially interrupt communication between chambers (,) and reservoir (,). Thereafter, further movement of the first (,) and second (,) valve seat members allows metered pressurized fluid to be communicated to the first (,) and second (,&prime;) set of wheel brakes to effect a secondary brake application and attenuate a dynamic condition experienced by the vehicle.

Control apparatus for a brake system

A brake system (10) having a control member (12) through which a remotely located master cylinder (18) is selectively supplied with either a first operational fluid developed by a first pump (14), a second operational fluid developed by a second pump arrangement (500,600) or a third operational fluid from a storage system (302) as a function of a brake force applied to an input push rod (16) and a sensed flow of operational fluid through a shuttle valve (64) to the master cylinder for effecting a desired brake application. A electronic control unit (200) receives an input signal corresponding to the brake force and a sensed flow to activate the second pump arrangement (500,600). Whenever the fluid pressure of the first operational fluid is insufficient, the second pump is activated and the second operational fluid supplants the operation of the master cylinder (18) by the first operational fluid to effect the desired brake application. Whenever both the first fluid pressure in the first operational fluid and the second fluid pressure in the second operational fluid are insufficient, an operator applies additional the input force to the input member (16) and moves an actuation piston (58) past a tilt valve (318) to allow a third fluid pressure in a third fluid retained in the storage system (302) to be communicated to the master cylinder (18) to effect a desired brake application.

Brake system having a plurality of operational sources

A secondary source of braking for large hydraulically braked vehicles utilizing the available power source (38) provided by typically available anti-skid and traction control braking systems. The anti-skid braking system is used to control the secondary braking function in a manner optimal to the operating condition of the vehicle. Unique distinctive operating modes are used when the vehicle is either moving (79, 81, 83), or stationary (57, 59, 73). The advantages of the stationary mode are fast time response and high output pressure controlled with a minimum of pump operation and fluid movement. The advantages of the dynamic mode are the ability to modulate brake pressure in response to the driver's command.

A remotely located brake booster for supplying an input force to a pressurizing device to develop pressurized fluid to effect a brake application. The brake booster responds to an actuation signal in the form of pressurized fluid being communicated from a control apparatus activated by an operator. The brake booster has a housing with a bore and a piston located therein to define an operational chamber. The housing has an inlet port through which pressurized fluid from the control apparatus is receiving by the operational chamber. The piston moves from a rest position to an actuation position in response to pressurized fluid being received in the operational chamber to produce the input force for operating the pressurizing device. The brake booster is characterized by an outlet port located in the housing for connecting the operational chamber with a reservoir to allow pressurized fluid to directly flow from the control apparatus to a reservoir by way of the operational chamber to modify the temperature of fluid therein to maintain the viscosity of the fluid at a level sufficient for the piston to return from an actuation position to the rest position within a desired time period and to remove any contamination, including air, that may be present in the operational chamber.

Remotely located brake booster

A control apparatus for a brake system having a housing with a first bore for retaining a spool valve and a second bore for retaining a selector valve. A cap separates the first bore into a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber has an inlet port connected to a source of fluid under pressure, a gear port for connected the source of fluid under pressure to a hydraulically operated device, a relief port connected to a reservoir and an outlet passage connected to a selector valve which communicates pressurized fluid through an outlet port to a brake booster. The second chamber is connected to the reservoir and the second bore. The a spool valve has a peripheral surface with first and second grooves separated by lands and an internal operational passage connecting the second groove to the outlet passage. A first return spring positions the spool valve in the first bore such that pressurized fluid is communicated to the hydraulically operated device by way of the inlet port, first groove and gear port. An actuating apparatus has an input piston that is located in the second chamber for receiving an input force of an operator, a plunger which extends through the cap to be partly located in the first and second chambers, a second return spring for urging the input piston toward a rest position and an actuation spring for connecting the input piston with the plunger. An input force moves the input piston in the second chamber to communicate an actuation force to the spool valve by way of the actuation spring and plunger to position the spool valve and restrict communication between the first groove and the gear port and divert operational pressurized fluid to the outlet passage to effect a brake application. The movement of the input piston within the second chamber is modified by communication of fluid therefrom to the selector valve to provide a smooth rate of actuation for the spool valve and to provide a back up source of operational pressurized fluid in the absence of the source of pressurized fluid.

Control apparatus for a brake booster

A drum brake for use in a brake system (10) having first (14) and second (16) shoes retained on a backing plate (20). The first brake shoe (14) has a first end (22) connected to an actuator (12) and a second end (26) connected to an anchor arrangement (24) and the second brake shoe (16) has a first end (36) connected to the actuator (12) and a second end (38) connected to the anchor arrangement (24) The actuator (12) responds to an input signal during a brake application by moving the first (14) and second (16) brake shoes into engagement with a drum (18). The anchor arrangement (24) includes a load sensor (64) for measuring a torque generated between the first (14) and second (16) brake shoes and the drum (18). The anchor arrangement (24) has a bracket (44) with a base (46) having first (48) and second (50) side walls which are secured to the backing plate (20). The first side wall (48) has a first central opening (56) therein while the second side wall (50) has a second central opening (58) therein. A core member (64) of the load sensor is retained by the bracket (44) between the first (48) and second (50) side walls is connected to a controller (28). First linkage (66) extends through the first opening (56) for connecting the first brake shoe (14) to the core member (64) while a second linkage (74) extends through the second opening (58) for connecting the second brake shoe (16) to the core member (64). A first linear dimension defined by the core member (64) and first (66) and second (74) linkages is less that a second linear dimension between the first (48) and second (50) side wall such that a gap 'x' is created. The first (14) and second (16) brake shoes on engagement with the drum (18) defining a leading brake shoe and a trailing brake shoe. The leading brake shoe produces a first force which moves the core member (64) within the gap 'x' to bring one of the first (64) and second (74) linkages into engagement with said bracket (44) and thereafter compress the core member (64) and independently modify an output signal generated therein to define an operational torque developed during a brake application.

Anchor arrangement for retaining a sensor in a drum brake

A control apparatus (12) in a brake system (10) has a housing (20) with an inlet port (26), a gear port (32), a relief port (38), and an outlet port (42). A piston (44) located in a first bore (22) has a first peripheral surface (50) with first (52) and second (54) grooves separated by a land (56) and a second bore (60) respectively connected to the first (52) and second (54) grooves by first (62) and second (64) radial passages. A spool (68) which has a peripheral surface (74) with a control groove (76) is connected to a third bore (88) therein by a cross bore or passage (86) and retained in the second bore (60) by a snap ring (96). An input rod (92) which is located in the third bore (88) has a shoulder (94) which engages the spool (68) while an end cap (98) that is connected to the housing (20) retains the piston (44), spool (68) and input rod (92) in the housing (20). Resilient (104,97) respectively, positioning the piston (44) within the first bore (22) and the spool (68) within the second bore (60) to assure that pressurized fluid is always communicated by way of the inlet port (26), first groove (52), first radial passage (62), control groove (76), second radial passage (64) and gear port (32) to operate the hydraulically operated device (28). The input rod (92) responds to an input force by moving the spool (68) in bore 22 to restrict communication between the inlet port (26) and gear port (32) and diverting pressurized fluid to the outlet port (42) and supply the brake booster (18) with pressurized fluid to effect a brake application.

An ultrasonic pump having a first housing connected to a second housing to create a cavity therebetween. The first housing has a central stem that extends into the cavity with a passage for connecting the cavity with an outlet port. The second housing has an inlet port for communicating hydraulic fluid to the cavity. A plurality of piezoelectric disc are located on the stem by a first diaphragm to defined a actuation chamber within the cavity. The first diaphragm engages the first housing and stem to isolate the piezoelectric disc from hydraulic fluid supplied to the cavity and place a predetermined axial force on the piezoelectric disc. A second diaphragm located in the first and second housing has first and second surfaces which are substantially equal distances from the passage and the inlet port. Thereafter, air is bleed from the cavity to assure that only hydraulic fluid is present in the cavity. The piezoelectric disc are connected to a source of electrical energy and in response to an excitation signal develop a fluctuating force. The fluctuating force has an axial component and a radial component and the axial component alone is communicated to the first diaphragm. After the axial component of the fluctuating force overcomes the predetermined axial force, the fluid pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the cavity changes as a function of the axial component force. This change in fluid pressure causes sequential movement of first and second surfaces of the second diaphragm toward the inlet port and passage and as a result hydraulic fluid is transmitted from the cavity through the passage to the outlet port.

Piezoelectric booster pump for a braking system

Improvements in vehicle antilock braking systems of the type having an operator controlled master cylinder (11) and a second source (55, 57) of pressurized hydraulic fluid for selectively supplying rebuild pressure after an antilock event are disclosed. The improved system is selectively operable in one of three braking modes, a normal braking mode (119) where braking force is proportional to an operator brake pedal pressure, an enhanced anti-skid braking mode (69) where braking force may be maintained at a maximum nonskid level, and a conventional anti-skid braking mode (71) where braking force follows a cyclic pattern of fluid pressure bleed and build. The system includes circuitry (17, 19, 35, 37, 93, 95) for determining the speed of each wheel and an arrangement (59) operable independently of any vehicle wheels for determining vehicle deceleration. This comparison normally invokes the enhanced anti-skid braking mode. In the enhanced mode, the system is continually searching for an optimum wheel speed reference (39) by determining (119) on which side of the peak of a mu-slip curve the vehicle is operating, for example, by calculating the sign of the slope of the mu-slip curve at the current vehicle operating point, and then incrementing (88) a prior wheel speed reference by a value (79) which changes the wheel speed reference toward the peak (75) of the mu-slip curve thereby calculating an updated wheel speed reference to control appropriately the braking system. The accuracy of the determined vehicle deceleration, and in particular, of the accelerometer is confirmed by comparison (63) to an expected deceleration based on operator brake pressure, and the conventional anti-skid braking mode is substituted for the enhanced anti-skid braking mode in the event the determined vehicle deceleration is determined to be inaccurate. The enhanced anti-skid mode utilizes a pulse width modulated solenoid actuated two position valve (41, 43) operable in one position to provide a fluid flow path from the braking device, and in the other position to provide a fluid flow path from a second source to the braking device.

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Granger, IN, United States of America

Kenneth S Towers