Abstract: A hydraulic brake system includes a hydraulic accumulator that stores much of the energy generated upon brake pedal depression. The stored energy can be used to maintain the brakes in their fully engaged state and to help return an applied brake pedal to its released position, in which case return fluid flow to the master cylinder is damped to avoid undesirable severe kickback of the brake pedal. A booster is provided to automatically boost the energy storage capacity of the accumulator during normal brake and hold cycles in order to provide sufficient energy accumulation to compensate for relatively severe pressure drops occurring, e.g., during prolonged periods of storage at extremely low temperatures. The booster may comprise an indexing arm that is acted upon by the system's brake pedal to selectively move a variable thickness spacer on the indexing arm into and out of engagement with the accumulator.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake system (50) for a vehicle such as a golf car or the like uses the same brakes (52) and same brake pedal (80) for both service braking and park and hold braking. The brakes (52) are selectively engaged, locked in their engaged position, and released using an integrated control assembly including a brake pedal (80), an accelerator pedal (82), and a brake pedal locking mechanism (84). The brake pedal locking mechanism (84) is configured to automatically latch the brake pedal (80) in a locked position thereof and to automatically unlatch the brake pedal (80) from its locked position upon either subsequent movement of the brake pedal (80) into an overtravel position or subsequent actuation of the accelerator pedal (82). In addition, a hydraulic accumulator (62) stores part of the energy generated upon brake pedal depression and consequent manual actuation of a master cylinder (60) of the system to maintain the brakes (52) in their fully engaged state when the brake pedal (80) is latched.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake system includes a hydraulic accumulator that stores much of the energy generated upon brake pedal depression. The stored energy can be used to maintain the brakes in their fully engaged state and to help return an applied brake pedal to its released position, in which case return fluid flow to the master cylinder is damped to avoid undesirable severe kickback of the brake pedal. A booster is provided to automatically boost the energy storage capacity of the accumulator during normal brake and hold cycles in order to provide sufficient energy accumulation to compensate for relatively severe pressure drops occurring, e.g., during prolonged periods of storage at extremely low temperatures. The booster may comprise an indexing arm that is acted upon by the system's brake pedal to selectively move a variable thickness spacer on the indexing arm into and out of engagement with the accumulator.

Abstract: A brake caliper includes a cast metal housing having a bore extending perpendicularly to a disc located adjacent the housing, at least one piston slidably mounted in the bore, and a brake pad mounted on the piston. A coolant passage, formed through the housing in liquid isolation from the bore, coupled to a source of liquid coolant. The coolant passage is a single-pass passage having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet. The coolant passage is configured to minimize turbulence of coolant flowing therethrough while still promoting effective heat transfer to the flowing coolant from the piston and brake fluid. Preferably, the housing is an aluminum housing formed from a single casting.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake system includes a hydraulic accumulator that stores much of the energy generated upon brake pedal depression. The stored energy can be used to maintain the brakes in their fully engaged state and to help return an applied brake pedal to its released position, in which case return fluid flow to the master cylinder is damped to avoid undesirable severe kickback of the brake pedal. A booster is provided to automatically boost the energy storage capacity of the accumulator during normal brake and hold cycles in order to provide sufficient energy accumulation to compensate for relatively severe pressure drops occurring, e.g., during prolonged periods of storage at extremely low temperatures. The booster may comprise an indexing arm that is acted upon by the system's brake pedal to selectively move a variable thickness spacer on the indexing arm into and out of engagement with the accumulator.

Abstract: A golf car having a hydraulic fluid brake system. The hydraulic fluid brake system is implemented as a disk brake system which is responsive to hydraulic fluid pressure generated from a master cylinder. A brake pedal and associated linkage provides input to a master cylinder to generate a hydraulic fluid pressure to control a brake caliper assembly. The brake pedal has a range of travel, where a first portion of the range defines a service mode of operation and a second portion of the range defines a parking mode of operation. In the parking mode of operation, the brake pedal and linkage engages a detent to maintain application of the brake to provide a parking mode of operation. An accumulator in the brake system provides an input force to maintain hydraulic fluid pressure sufficient to retain a parking mode of operation.