Patents Assigned to Lucas Automotive GmbH
  • Patent number: 9260097
    Abstract: A vacuum brake servo includes a force input element, a control valve actuated by the force input element, a vacuum chamber connected to a vacuum source, and an operating chamber which, depending on the actuation of the force input element, can be connected to either the vacuum chamber or the surrounding atmosphere. The control valve has a control piston that can be actuated by the force input element and, together with a valve element, forms a seal seat having a seal seat diameter between the operating chamber and the surrounding atmosphere. In the area close to the seal seat, a guide channel is provided. When the seal seat is opened, air from the surrounding atmosphere flows into the operating chamber. The guide channel extends axially with a constant flow diameter over a predetermined length, wherein the flow diameter is less than or equal to the seal seat diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: José Manuel Calvo Martinez, Jens Sparfeld, Detlev Knigge, Ulrich Zinnkann
  • Patent number: 9234531
    Abstract: A damping element for attenuating hydraulic pressure pulses is integrated into a hydraulic chamber of a motor vehicle hydraulic system. The damping element includes a end cap support body and a membrane that fits over a portion of the support body. The membrane has a first side facing towards a source of hydraulic fluid and a second side facing away from the hydraulic fluid source. At least one space is provided between the second side of the membrane and the end cap support body to allow for deformation of the membrane under hydraulic pressure. The membrane has a collar with a lip seal provided for fitting into place on the wall of the hydraulic chamber. At least one second space for receiving hydraulic fluid is defined between the lip seal and a region of the membrane opposite the lip seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignees: Kelsey-Hayes Company, Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Wald, David Lopez-Larequi, Georg Kedak, Joseph F. Zeoli, Joseph A. Starr, William P. Caldwell, Richard A. Swarich
  • Patent number: 9227611
    Abstract: A hydraulic vehicle braking system comprises a master cylinder having at least one piston displacably accommodated therein, a mechanical actuator that is coupled, or can be coupled, to a brake pedal for actuating the piston, and an electromechanical actuator. The electromechanical actuator is likewise provided for actuating the piston and can be activated, at least for boosting or generating brake force, when the brake pedal is actuated. Furthermore, a valve arrangement is provided, which has a first valve per wheel brake for selectively uncoupling the wheel brake from the master cylinder, and a second valve for selectively reducing the brake pressure at the wheel brake. The valve arrangement can be controlled at least within the framework of an ABS control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Leo Gilles
  • Patent number: 9227609
    Abstract: A hydraulic assembly for a vehicle brake system comprising at least two brake circuits and wheel brakes associated with the brake circuits. The hydraulic assembly comprises a pressure generator for generating a central hydraulic pressure for the brake circuits independently of the driver at least in the case of service braking initiated by the driver. Furthermore, at least one pressure adjusting device is provided for adjusting for each individual brake circuit the central hydraulic pressure that is generated by the pressure generator independently of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Leo Gilles, Boris Koeth
  • Patent number: 9221445
    Abstract: An electronically controllable braking system includes a hydraulic brake-pressure generator which generates the brake pressures for the wheel brakes. In the hydraulic connection to the brake-pressure generator, a valve arrangement has been assigned to each wheel brake in order to adjust the brake pressures demanded for the wheel brakes in the multiplex mode, for the purpose of operating the braking system. A method has the following steps: establishing for which of the wheel brakes the adjusting of the brake pressure demanded for it has priority in a current multiplex cycle; generating the brake pressure demanded for the wheel brake that has been set to priority; opening the valve arrangement that has been assigned to the wheel brake that has been set to priority; and closing the valve arrangements that have been assigned to the wheel brakes that have not been set to priority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Hubert Schmitt
  • Patent number: 9221446
    Abstract: A technique for controlling an electrically actuable parking brake of a motor vehicle in the event of failure of a first signal indicating a speed of the motor vehicle comprises the steps of continuously closing the parking brake as long as a second signal indicating a driver request to close the parking brake is detected, and opening the parking brake, provided that the parking brake is in a partially open state, as long as an absence of the second signal is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Kinder, Andreas Müller
  • Publication number: 20150360670
    Abstract: A coupling arrangement between a fluid reservoir and a main brake cylinder for a motor vehicle brake system includes two coupling arms with one coupling aperture each on one of the fluid reservoir or main brake cylinder. The other of the fluid reservoir or main brake cylinder has a mounting portion with a receiving aperture. The coupling apertures and the receiving aperture are aligned with each other along a common axis and accept a coupling bolt. The coupling bolt is configured with a cylindrical shank portion and at least one radially protruding detent projection. At least one of the coupling arms includes a support portion, which has a support surface that radially supports the cylindrical shank portion. Part of the support portion is configured to be elastically deformable with the detent projection to produce a detent connection. The remaining part of the support portion is configured to be substantially deformation-resistant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Applicant: LUCAS AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Hans Christoph Lange
  • Publication number: 20150353067
    Abstract: The invention relates to a technique for operating an electrohydraulic motor vehicle brake system comprising a master cylinder (or any other cylinder-piston arrangement) that can be supplied with a hydraulic fluid from a reservoir, an electromechanical actuator for actuating a piston accommodated in the master cylinder, a wheel brake that can be coupled to the master cylinder, and a stop valve provided between the master cylinder and the wheel brake. According to an aspect of this technique, the method comprises the steps of: controlling the electromechanical actuator to build up hydraulic pressure on the wheel brake; controlling the stop valve to hold the hydraulic pressure already built up on the wheel brake; controlling the electromechanical actuator to take in hydraulic fluid from the reservoir while monitoring a time response of a pressure drop in the master cylinder associated with the take-in; and interrupting the take-in depending on a result of the monitoring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: LUCAS AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Josef Knechtges
  • Patent number: 9206866
    Abstract: A brake lining arrangement for a disk brake, and a method for producing such a brake lining arrangement, comprises a brake lining carrier and a friction pad mounted thereon, a friction surface of which can be attached to a disk brake for generating a friction effect. In at least one border area, the friction pad is provided with a bevel, which at one bevel edge transitions into the friction surface. In order to simplify production, the bevel edge is configured to extend in a curved line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Martin Giese, Xueming Chen, Sylvester Lindemann
  • Publication number: 20150344014
    Abstract: The invention relates to a technique for operating an electrohydraulic motor vehicle brake system comprising a master cylinder, an electromechanical actuator for generating a hydraulic pressure at a plurality of wheel brakes and a set of electrically actuable valve arrangements. The set of valve arrangements comprises a first valve arrangement between the master cylinder and every wheel brake. The first valve arrangements can be controlled in the multiplex operation to generate, by means of the electromechanical actuator, the respective brake pressure intended for each of the wheel brakes. According to an aspect of this technique, the method comprises the steps of: generating a feedback current during the multiplex operation by operating an electric motor of the electromechanical actuator as a generator and supplying the feedback current to at least one electrical load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Knechtges, Stefan Grieser-Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20150343905
    Abstract: The invention relates to a technique for operating a regenerative electrohydraulic motor vehicle brake system comprising a master cylinder that can be supplied with a hydraulic fluid from a reservoir, an electromechanical actuator for actuating a piston accommodated in the master cylinder and a stop valve provided between the master cylinder and the reservoir. According to an aspect of this technique, the method comprises the step of controlling the electromechanical actuator when the stop valve is closed to generate a hydraulic pressure on a wheel brake that is fluidically connected to the master cylinder. The method further comprises the step of activating a regenerative brake operation and of controlling the stop valve to open, the master cylinder remaining fluidically connected to the wheel brake and the electromechanical actuator being controlled to maintain the hydraulic pressure on the wheel brake at least to some extent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Josef Knechtges
  • Publication number: 20150344012
    Abstract: The invention relates to a technique for boosting the brake force of an electrohydraulic motor vehicle brake system in a mode in which, as a result of a mechanical push-through, an actuating force onto a brake pedal acts upon a master cylinder of the brake system. According to an aspect of this technique, the method comprises the steps of: determining a value of a first variable indicating a current deceleration of the vehicle; determining, based on the first variable, a value of a second variable indicating the actuating force; determining, based on the second variable, a required brake boost; and controlling an electromechanical actuator acting upon the master brake cylinder to obtain the required brake boost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Josef Knechtges
  • Publication number: 20150344013
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrohydraulic motor vehicle brake system. The brake system comprises a master cylinder, an electromechanical actuator for actuating a piston, which is accommodated in the master cylinder, in a brake-by-wire (BBW) mode of the brake system, and a mechanical actuator, which can be actuated by means of a brake pedal, for actuating the piston in a push-through (PT) mode of the brake system. In the BBW mode, a gap having a defined gap length is present in a force transmission path between the brake pedal and the piston for decoupling the brake pedal from the piston. The brake system is configured such that in the BBW mode the gap length is dependent on a pedal travel of the brake pedal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Knechtges, Thomas Wagner
  • Patent number: 9199617
    Abstract: Proposed is a technique for operating a hydraulic motor vehicle brake system in an operating situation which requires the formation of a hydraulic pressure difference at opposite wheel brakes of a vehicle axle. Here, each wheel brake is assigned a first slip regulating valve device for decoupling the respective wheel brake from a hydraulic pressure generator, and a second slip regulating valve device for dissipating hydraulic pressure at the respective wheel brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Josef Knechtges
  • Publication number: 20150336552
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic braking system for a land vehicle, having at least one wheel brake; a master brake cylinder, which is designed to displace hydraulic fluid into the at least one wheel brake upon actuation of the braking system by the driver; a pump, which is designed to displace hydraulic fluid into the at least one wheel brake; a plurality of valve arrangements; a control unit, which is designed to actuate the pump and the plurality of valve arrangements; and a temporary store, which is connected hydraulically to the at least one wheel brake and to an input of the pump. The temporary store comprises a restoring element and is designed to accommodate a hydraulic fluid reserve volume during a rest state of the braking system, and to make the accommodated hydraulic fluid reserve volume available to the pump for displacement into the at least one wheel brake during an actuation state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Marx
  • Publication number: 20150321671
    Abstract: This invention relates to a vehicle speed control system, configured with off-road performance features, that will allow the driver to travel at a set speed in a smooth, controlled manner on various unmaintained surfaces without requiring the driver to press the brake or accelerator pedal. The vehicle speed control system uses a brake controller to control the wheel brakes, and an engine controller to control the engine/drivetrain torque, separate or in combination, to maintain a target speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicants: Kelsey-Hayes Company, Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Sean Simmons, Shawn Hawley, Charels Bartlett, Elmar Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20150314686
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake system for a land vehicle includes a brake pedal; a wheel brake; and a master brake cylinder connected to the brake pedal by a brake booster and a pump. The outlet of the pump is connected to the wheel brake by a supply line and the inlet is connected to the wheel brake by a return line. The pump moves hydraulic fluid to the wheel brake. A temporary store is connected to the inlet of the pump and the wheel brake by the return line. A pressure reduction valve, arranged in the return line of the wheel brake, has a throttling effect in the open state. A control unit compensates for the difference between a total braking torque specified by the brake pedal and a generating braking torque provided by an electric machine by setting the hydraulic braking torque during a regenerative braking process of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Knechtges, Andreas Marx
  • Publication number: 20150314763
    Abstract: A brake system for a land vehicle includes at least one wheel brake; a pump configured to pump hydraulic fluid from the inlet side of the pump to the outlet side of the pump; at least one intermediate store for receiving hydraulic fluid; a hydraulic connection between the intermediate store and the inlet side of the pump; at least one first valve arrangement for blocking a hydraulic connection between the outlet side of the pump and the at least one wheel brake; at least one second valve arrangement for blocking a hydraulic connection between the at least one wheel brake and the inlet side of the pump; and at least one third valve arrangement for blocking a hydraulic connection between the outlet side of the pump and the intermediate store.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: LUCAS AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Andreas Marx
  • Publication number: 20150316081
    Abstract: The invention relates to a master brake cylinder arrangement with actuation detection for a motor vehicle braking system, having at least one piston arrangement with a piston, which is movably guided in a cylinder bore in a cylinder housing, said piston with the cylinder bore defining a pressure chamber which is fluidically coupled to a hydraulic brake circuit. During a forward stroke, the piston can be moved from a start position into a possible actuation piston along a movement axis, which coincides essentially with a longitudinal axis of the cylinder bore, and during a return stroke, said piston is moved from an actuation position into a start position. The piston is associated with a coupling element which is coupled to a position detecting rod for common movement therewith, said position detecting rod being moved essentially parallel to the first cylinder bore, the position of the position detecting rod can be detected by means of a position detecting sensor placed on the cylinder housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Martin Giese, Torsten Petry, David Lopéz Larequi
  • Patent number: 9156459
    Abstract: A vehicle brake system having a hydraulically actuatable disc brake device which has an electromechanical operating device for activating a parking brake function, wherein the vehicle brake system has a hydraulic circuit with a hydraulic pressure source and also has activatable hydraulic functional elements in order to hydraulically actuate the disc brake device in accordance with a service braking action by a driver or an automatic activation, wherein the vehicle brake system also has a control device in order to actuate the electromechanical operating device in accordance with a parking braking action by the driver or an automatic activation of the parking brake function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Knechtges, Michael Schog