Abstract: The adaptive braking system (10) default activated proportioning valve (80, 80A, 80B) comprises a proportioning valve that is deactivated during normal and adaptive braking system operation. Should the adaptive braking system (10) experience a failure so that the related wheel or wheels (49, 59) of the vehicle no longer receive an appropriate braking pressure from a pressure producing mechanism (12) of the vehicle, the proportioning valve (80, 80A, 80B) is activated by the electronic control unit (70) of the adaptive braking system (10) so that the braking pressure is proportioned accordingly. The valve contains a fusible link that is disipated to allow the valve to proportion.

Abstract: A master cylinder (12) having a switch (70) which is activated by either a magnet (78) carried by a float (76) in a reservoir (40) or a pin (66) moved by a differential area piston (52). The switch (70) had a first blade (82) connected a source of electrical current (106) through an indicator light (124) and a second blade (88) connected to an electrical ground (114). A reed switch (100) is connected to the first (82) and second (88) blades and responds to the magnet to close an electrical circuit to operate the indicator light (124) if a low fluid level is present in the reservoir (40). A first contact (96) on the first blade (82) is positioned in switch 70 by a non-electrical conductive actuation pin (66) that extends through the housing (22) of the master cylinder (12).

Abstract: A master cylinder having a housing with a first bore therein for retaining a pair of pistons which move in response to an input force and develop fluid pressure to effect a brake application. A second bore in the housing carries a differential area piston connected to the pressure chambers. A reed switch retained in the housing is aligned with a first magnet located on a float in a reservoir and a second magnet is attached to the differential area piston. A ferromagnetic shield located between the reed switch and second magnet has first and second openings located in a plane on either side of the reed switch. Should a failure occur in either pressure chamber, the differential area piston moves to allow magnetic field to pass through the openings in the shield and activate the reed switch to develop a warning signal and inform an operator of a failure mode condition in the master cylinder.

Abstract: The positioning ring (44) for a hydraulically operated warning device (80) may be utilized for any hydraulically movable piston or sleeve (52) which, when properly assembled, causes a warning device (80) to effect an initial mode of response. The positioning ring (44) has a reduced inner diameter portion (41) separated from an enlarged inner diameter portion (43) by way of a radial shoulder (42). The enlarged inner diameter portion (43) abuts a shoulder (17) of a surrounding housing (11) and the radial shoulder (42) abuts a shoulder (59) of the piston or sleeve (52). The housing (11) may contain a warning device (80) which engages the piston or sleeve (52) such that if the piston or sleeve (52) is displaced in an axial direction the warning device (80) is operated.

Abstract: The adaptive braking system (10) default activated proportioning valve (80, 80A, 80B) comprises a proportioning valve that is deactivated during normal and adaptive braking system operation. Should the adaptive braking system (10) experience a failure so that the related wheel or wheels (49, 59) of the vehicle no longer receive an appropriate braking pressure from a pressure producing mechanism (12) of the vehicle, the proportioning valve (80, 80A, 80B) is activated by the electronic control unit (70) of the adaptive braking system (10) so that the braking pressure is proportioned accordingly.

Abstract: The proportioning valve assembly (40, 140) may be screwed into a complementary-shaped opening in a master cylinder (10). The valve assembly (40, 140) includes a differential area piston (50, 150) biased by a spring (70, 170) toward the outlet (21, 121) which communicates with the rear brakes. The master cylinder (10) includes a pair of passageways (16, 18) which communicate primary fluid pressure and secondary fluid pressure directly to the differential area piston (50, 150) of the proportioning valve assembly (40, 140) to displace the piston (50, 150) to a balanced position. If there is a failure of pressure in the primary brake circuit, the proportioning valve assembly (40, 140) actuates the differential area piston (50, 150) to permit fluid flow to bypass the piston (50, 150) and be communicated directly to the rear brakes of the vehicle.

Abstract: A proportioning valve (40) is disposed within a stepped bore (13) of a master cylinder (10). The proportioning valve (40) defines with the stepped bore (13) a primary pressure receiving chamber (26) and a secondary pressure receiving chamber (28). The proportioning valve (40) includes a two-part piston (58) which includes a primary piston part (52) and a secondary piston part (54) coupled together by a lost motion coupling (53, 55). The piston parts (52, 54) are biased apart by a spring (78), and a sleeve (43) is disposed about the two-part piston (50). Seals (46, 47, 69) are disposed about the primary piston part (52), sleeve (43) and secondary piston part (54) to define an intermediate vented chamber (90), wherein a vent (19) communicates with a reservoir.

Abstract: The brake system in-line fast fill valve (10) of the present invention comprises a valve housing (12) which may be threadably inserted within the body of a master cylinder so that an inlet (28) at one end of the fast fill valve (10) communicates with an outlet (39) from a pressure chamber (33) of the master cylinder (30). The valve housing (12) includes a stepped bore (22) having a differential area fast fill piston (40) receiving slidably therein a poppet piston (60). A first seal (50) is disposed about a reduced diameter portion (46) of the fast fill piston (40) and axially opposite a second seal (52) disposed at an enlarged diameter end (48) of the fast fill piston (40).

Abstract: The proportioning valve assembly (40, 140) may be screwed into a complementary-shaped opening in a master cylinder (10). The valve assembly (40, 140) includes a differential area piston (50, 150) biased by a spring (70, 170) toward the outlet (21, 121) which communicates with the rear brakes. The master cylinder (10) includes a pair of passageways (16, 18) which communicate primary fluid pressure and secondary fluid pressure directly to the differential area piston (50, 150) of the proportioning valve assembly (40, 140) to displace the piston (50, 150) to a balanced position. If there is a failure of pressure in the primary brake circuit, the proportioning valve assembly (40, 140) actuates the differential area piston (50, 150) to permit fluid flow to bypass the piston (50, 150) and be communicated directly to the rear brakes of the vehicle.

Abstract: The proportioning valve assembly may be screwed into a complementary-shaped opening in a master cylinder. The valve assembly includes a differential area piston biased by a spring toward the outlet which communicates with the rear brakes. The master cylinder includes a pair of passageways which communicate primary fluid pressure and secondary fluid pressure directly to the differential area piston of the proportioning valve assembly to displace the piston to a balanced position. If there is a failure of pressure in the primary brake circuit, the proportioning valve assembly actuates the differential area piston to permit fluid flow to bypass the piston and be communicated directly to the rear brakes of the vehicle. Upon failure, a differential area sleeve surrounding the piston moves to actuate an electrical failure warning switch.

Abstract: A proportioning valve assembly (10) in a housing (12) is pressure responsive to control the flow of fluid to a wheel brake. A proportioning valve (20) is disposed within a chamber (26) having an inlet (33) and outlet (114), the inlet (33) receiving pressure from a pressure generator such as a master cylinder. A poppet (80) of the proportioning valve (20) is connected by a shaft (90) with a plunger (100) disposed within another chamber (30), the other chamber (30) being isolated from fluid pressure in the chamber (26) housing the proportioning valve. A fluid-containing chamber (13) contains an inertia sensing mass (40) which engages a valve mechanism (34) that controls fluid communication between the fluid-containing chamber (13) and other chamber (30). A friction element (120) of the wheel brake engages a braking torque responsive valve (140) which communicates fluid pressure to a chamber (30a).

Abstract: The invention is a hydraulic failure compensating switch which incorporates a differential pressure valve which responds to a hydraulic failure in one of a pair of vehicle braking circuits and altering the pressure reducing function of the braking system proportioning valve(s) in response thereto to increase braking torque at the vehicle's rear wheels.

Abstract: The master cylinder (10) comprises a housing (12) having a longitudinal bore (14), a housing end (16) enclosed by a bearing member (18) which retains a sleeve member (20) within the bore (14), a reservoir (70) mounted on the housing (12) and a pair of pistons (30, 40) received slidably within the bore (14), one piston (30) extending through an end (24) of the sleeve member (20). The one piston has an end (32) which provides seating for a fast fill valving mechanism (110). The fast fill valving mechanism (110) comprises a piston support guide (120) supporting a fast fill seal (150) and seal retainer (160) between the support guide (120) and the surface (23) of the sleeve member (20). The seal retainer (160) engages one end (142) of a spring (140), the other spring end (143) located at the end (32) of the piston.

Abstract: A hydraulic pump assembly includes a housing having a bore, and a sump piston, a pump piston and an accumulator piston received coaxially within the bore. The pistons respectively define a sump chamber, a pump chamber, and an accumulator chamber within the housing. A motor reciprocates the pump piston to pump fluid fron the sump chamber into the accumulator chamber.

Abstract: A dual proportioning valve assembly (10) for a vehicle braking system comprises a housing (12) having a pair of inlets (29, 30) and outlets (31, 32), a bore (25) within the housing (12) containing a pair of oppositely disposed differential pistons (40, 140) biased apart by a main spring (200). The first and second differential pistons (40, 140) have associated first and second poppet valves (50, 150) which control fluid flow between the respective inlet and outlet. A cage member (60) extends within the first differential piston (40) and is connected with the first poppet valve (50), the cage member (60) extending longitudinally within the bore (25) and having an interior chamber (70) with an inertia-sensing mass (80) therein. The inertia-sensing mass (80) engages a third poppet valve (94) which controls fluid flow between the interior chamber (70) and a variable volume chamber (100) defined by the cage member (60) and a stationary piston ( 160) which engages the cage member (60).

Abstract: A proportioning valve assembly (10, 130) in a housing (12) is pressure responsive to control the flow of fluid to a wheel brake cylinder. The proportioning valve assembly (10, 130) includes a movable retainer (50) coupled with a differential piston (30) for movement therewith, a stationary retainer (70) mounted by the housing (12) and surrounding a second piston (80) having an enlarged diameter portion (88) that defines with an end (11, 16) of the housing (12) a chamber (90). The second piston (80) has a poppet (84) extending into an interior opening (54) of the movable retainer (50), the movable retainer (50) supporting a seal (56) disposed about the extension (82) of the second piston (80). The seal (56) is positioned for closing an opening (73) of the stationary retainer (70) through which the second piston (80) extends.

Abstract: A method of attaching a master cylinder (12) to a shell (78) of a vacuum brake booster (14) through a sleeve connecting member (62). The sleeve connecting member (62) has internal threads (64) and external threads (66). The master cylinder (12) has an insert 30 which is screwed into the internal theads (64) and the shell (78) of the booster (14) screwed onto the external threads (66) until the internal components (52, 54, 98 etc.) of the master cylinder (12) and vacuum brake booster (14) are in proper alignment. Thereafter, the master cylinder (12) and shell (78) are held stationary and the sleeve (62) is screwed into the shell (78) to lock the master cylinder (12) and shell (78) in a fixed relationship.

Abstract: A proportioning valve assembly (10) in a housing (12) is pressure responsive to control the flow of fluid to a wheel brake cylinder. The proportioning valve (20) is connected to a channel (31) opening into a reservoir or fluid-containing chamber (13), a second valve (34) being disposed in the channel (31) and engaging at one end an inertia sensitive ball (40) located on a variable slope surface (17), and engaging a third valve (35) at the other end. The proportioning valve (20) includes a second piston (80) having a reduced diameter end (82) engaging a third piston (105) of enlarged diameter disposed in a portion of the channel (31), the channel (31) communicating by an opening (90) with the fluid-containing chamber (13). During initial brake application by the operator, the third valve (35) remains closed so that the third piston (105) does not move and prevents further movement of the second piston (80), thereby preventing higher braking pressure from being communicated to the wheel brake cylinder.

Abstract: A proportioning valve assembly (10, 210) in a housing (12, 212) is pressure responsive to control the flow of fluid to a wheel brake cylinder. The proportioning valve (20, 220) is connected to a fluid channel (31, 231) opening into a reservoir (13, 213), a second valve (34, 234) being disposed in the channel (31, 231) and being engaged by an inertia sensitive ball (40, 240) located either on a ramp (17) or within a recess (235) of the second valve (234). The ball (40) is responsive to deceleration of the vehicle and moves up the ramp (17), or the ball (240) moves multi-directionally from the recess (235) to be both longitudinal and lateral deceleration responsive. Movement of the ball (40, 240) permits the second valve (34, 234) to close and prevent fluid communication between the fluid reservoir (13, 213) and the proportioning valve (20, 220) in order to vary the outlet pressure of the proportioning valve (20, 220) in response to deceleration or cornering of the vehicle.

Abstract: A brake booster includes a housing with at least three bores to movably carry a pair of pistons and a valve assembly. A diaphragm is exposed to a fluid pressure differential to pull the pair of pistons and the valve assembly to a brake applied position wherein braking fluid pressure is generated in all three bores.