Kelsey-Hayes Company

Tedrive Holding Bv

Lucas Industries Public Limited Company

Lucas Industries Limited

Varity Kelsey-Hayes Gmbh

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Salvatore Oliveri

Andrew W Kingston

Robert L Ferger

Thomas Weigert

Thomas Riepold

Blaise J Ganzel

Kurt Mohr

Mark S Luckevich

Gregory P Campau

Herbert L Linkner, Jr

Alan Leslie Harris

Peter Every

Barry John Bridgens

Peter Martin

Thomas Wagner

Michael John Holt

Jens Keller

Leonard Tribe

Boris K&ouml;th

Disclosed is a method for determining the torque introduced into a drive train, the method including the process steps of determining angular signals with the help of two sensors between which a region of the steering train is located which is subjected to a torque evaluating the differences of the angular signals taking into account known torsional rigidity of the steering train.

Method for determining a torque on a steering train

An improved electro-hydraulic brake system having features for improving the pedal feel of the system, while further having design features which contribute to the economy of manufacture of certain components of the system. The system provides for an electrically powered normal source of pressurized hydraulic brake fluid, and a manually powered backup source of pressurized hydraulic brake fluid to the vehicle brakes in the event of failure of the normal source. During normal braking, fluid from the backup source is redirected from the vehicle brakes to a pedal simulator. The pedal simulator preferably includes arrangements of spring loaded pistons, expansion volumes, and damping orifices, together with valves selectively controlling the flow of fluid to and from the pedal simulator which provides for an improved pedal feel during vehicle braking. The brake system of the invention further includes a relatively low cost fluid separator unit which is provided which prevents intermixing of pressurized fluid between the backup source and the normal source. The fluid separator unit acts to permit the normal source to act upon the hydraulic brake fluid of the backup source to operate the vehicle brakes. The fluid separator unit is preferably embodied as a piston having two working faces, each of the same diameter.

Electronic brake management system with manual fail safe

A method for adapting steering characteristics of a motor vehicle with an electric power steering system, including determining of steering angle signals of a steering train utilizing at least one steering angle sensor in the steering train, determining measuring and control quantities of a dynamic drive system, and adapting the steering characteristics based on the steering angle signals and the measuring and control quantities.

Method for adapting steering characteristics of a motor vehicle

The present invention relates to a method for determining a torque on a steering train. The method comprises the method steps: determining angular signals through a position sensor of an electric motor which supports the rotational movement of the steering train, determining of measuring and control variables of a dynamic drive system as well as evaluating the angular signals and the measuring and control variables of the dynamic drive system.

Method for determining a torque on a steering train of a vehicle with dynamic drive system

The invention relates to a steering system of a motor vehicle with a rack, which is connected on the end side with steerable wheels and which pivots said wheels through a lateral movement. The steering system has a position sensor which continuously determines the position of the rack and emits corresponding position signals.

Determination of the absolute position of a steering system through a linear sensor on the rack

A hydraulic control unit for a motor-vehicle braking system includes a pump ( ) delivering hydraulic fluid under pressure, the pump being capable of being controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU) and supplying the hydraulic fluid for at least one braking device ( ) which is coupled to a wheel of the vehicle, and also a first reservoir ( ) for pressureless hydraulic fluid, which is assigned to the pump ( ) on the input side, and a second reservoir ( ) for hydraulic fluid under pressure, which is assigned to the pump ( ) on the output side. In order to design the control unit for good packaging and installation space considerations, the pump ( ), the first reservoir ( ), and the second reservoir ( ) are arranged in a common casing ( ), and integrated as an electrohydraulic modular unit.

Hydraulic control unit for a motor vehicle braking system

The invention relates to an electromechanically actuatable disk brake with a housing, a friction pad against which an electrically actuatable actuator acts, with the actuator comprising an electric motor and a spindle/nut transmission arrangement, characterised in that the electric motor is configured as an internal rotor motor with a stator and a rotor, the rotor of which is coupled non-rotably with the spindle, the spindle is operatively coupled with the nut in order to transform a rotational movement of the spindle into a translatory movement of the nut, the spindle is supported along its longitudinal extent in at least two places so as to be rotatable relative to the housing, and the nut is guided axially slidable relative to the housing.

Electromechanically actuatable disk brake

A pedal simulator utilizing springs to provide a brake pedal with a non-linear, progressively increasing response characteristic for pedal travel versus force exerted on the brake pedal similar to a conventional hydraulic braking system. In a preferred embodiment, the pedal simulator is integrated into the housing of an associated master cylinder. The non-linear, progressively increasing response characteristic is provided in one embodiment by a conical spring having a non-uniform helix angle. In second and third embodiments, the non-linear, progressively increasing response characteristic is provided by a plurality of cylindrical coil springs.

Pedal simulator using spring with non-linear response

An electro-hydraulic braking system for motor vehicles. The system includes a brake pedal and a braking device associated with at least one vehicle wheel which is brought into communication with an electronically controlled valve arrangement in order to apply hydraulic fluid under pressure to the braking device. A fluid pressure accumulator fed by the pump provides a pressurized hydraulic fluid which can be passed to the braking device by way of an electronically controlled valve arrangement in order to apply hydraulic fluid in proportion to the driver braking demand as sensed at the brake pedal in the &ldquo;brake by wire&rdquo; mode. A first device within the system provides a level of fluid pressure supply within the electro-hydraulic system whose highest value is less than that sufficient for the maximum possible braking demand level which may be required. A second device within the system recognizes a braking demand level which exceeds that which can be achieved by the highest value of fluid pressure available by the first device and establishes a higher level of fluid pressure supply within the system for controlling the brakes in accordance with the driver's demanded braking level.

Electro-hydraulic braking systems

An electrically actuated hydraulic power cylinder for use in a vehicle braking system. The power cylinder includes an electric motor, a rotary-to-linear actuator for converting rotary motion of the electric motor to a linear motion, and a hydraulic cylinder. In a preferred embodiment, the rotary-to-linear actuator is a roller screw assembly. The roller screw assembly converts rotational motion generated by the motor into axial movement of a piston which is disposed within the hydraulic cylinder. The movement of the piston pressurizes a volume of fluid. The pressurized fluid flows through an outlet port connected to either a single wheel brake cylinder or a plurality of wheel brake cylinders, thereby actuating the associated wheel cylinder. In a specific embodiment of the invention, the roller screw assembly is incorporated into the internal structure of the motor for compactness and weight reduction. Also, the hydraulic cylinder may be integrated into a wheel brake assembly for compactness and weight reduction.

Electrically actuated hydraulic power cylinder

A pedal simulator for a vehicle braking system. The pedal simulator is coupled to a brake pedal, and includes an electrical actuator operatively coupled to the brake pedal to selectively exert a force on the brake pedal. A position sensor is provided for generating a position signal indicative of the position of the brake pedal. A force sensor is provided for generating a force signal indicative of the force exerted upon the brake pedal by a driver. An electronic control unit is provided which has programmed therein a desired relationship between the position signal and the force signal. The electronic control unit determines an actual relationship between the position signal and the force signal and compares the actual relationship thus determined with the desired relationship. The electronic control unit controls the electrical actuator to selectively exert a force on the brake pedal to conform the actual relationship to the desired relationship.

Programmable electronic pedal simulator

An improved structure for an electrical actuation mechanism adapted for use in a disc brake assembly includes an electrical actuation mechanism adapted to be secured to an inboard leg of the caliper of the disc brake assembly. The electrical actuation mechanism includes a housing, an electrical motor disposed in the housing, and a spindle disposed in the housing and operatively coupled to the motor by a conversion gear assembly which is effective to convert rotary motion generated by the motor into axial movement of the piston. The spindle includes a shaft and a piston which can be coupled to the shaft by a dampening structure. The shaft is operatively connected to the motor for axial motion thereof, and the piston is operatively connected to a friction pad for engaging a rotor attached to a wheel of a vehicle in which the disc brake assembly is installed. The dampening structure can be comprised of elastomeric material or a fluid filled chamber defined between the piston and the shaft. The dampening structure reduces the radial loads acted upon the piston from being transmitted to the shaft. The electrical actuation mechanism may also be equipped with sensors for sensing the axial position of the piston, a clutch, to couple and uncouple the electric motor from the conversion gear assembly, and a mechanism which prevents back drive motion of the electrical motor.

Growing community of inventors

Filsen, Germany

Salvatore Oliveri