Attenuator for a vehicle braking system

Abstract

A vehicle braking system includes a slip control system operable in an electronic stability control (ESC) mode to automatically and selectively apply the brakes in an attempt to stabilize the vehicle when an instability condition has been sensed. The slip control system is further operable in an adaptive cruise control (ACC) mode to automatically apply the brakes to slow the vehicle in response to a control signal. The slip control system includes a variable speed motor drive piston pump for supplying pressurized fluid pressure to the brakes through a valve arrangement. In the ESC mode, the pump motor operates in an ESC speed range, and in the ACC mode, the pump motor operates in an ACC speed range lower than the ESC speed range. The slip control system further includes an attenuator connected to a pump outlet for dampening pump output pressure pulses prior to application to the brakes. The attenuator includes an elastomeric member located in an attenuator chamber of a housing. The attenuator chamber defines a shoulder and the elastomeric member includes a flange which rests on the shoulder and locates the elastomeric member in a predetermined axial position within the attenuator chamber. An outside wall of the elastomeric member includes circumferentially extending grooves defining ribs between adjacent grooves.