Abstract: In an electrically-operated disc brake assembly for a vehicle in which a friction member (10) is applied to a brake disc by a brake-applying means including an electric motor (5) which forms part of the assembly and a linear actuator (15) in the form of a screw device apply an axially directed brake-applying force to the friction member (10) in response to operation of the motor (5), the linear actuator (15) comprises differential screws (16, 19) which translate rotation of the motor (5) into axial movement of the friction member (10) in a brake-applying, direction.

Abstract: A lock for a thrust reverser mechanism having actuator means for operating a thrust reverser mechanism, includes a first lock device connectable, in use, to the actuator means for preventing actuation of the latter. The first lock device is operable hydraulically to unlock the lock so as to free the actuator means for operation. An electro-mechanical second lock device is arranged so as normally to prevent actuation of the first lock device and is operable to permit actuation of the first lock device when required.

Abstract: A vehicle braking system in which a stored volume of working fluid is used by a brake control system to apply the brakes under the control of an electronic control unit. The stored volume is replenished by pumping additional working fluid using a pump driven by an electric motor. The electric motor is periodically energized. An inferred value is established for the accumulator pressure based on an assessment of the motor response during the periods of energization. The electric motor can be arranged to be energized for short periods at predetermined intervals and the motor response during these periods assessed.

Abstract: A brake lining wear monitor is disclosed for a brake assembly having a body and a friction lining having an operative face adapted to be applied to a brake rotor. The monitor includes an actuator which applies the brake lining to the rotor, an adjuster driven by the actuator to maintain the linings in close proximity to the brake motor, and having a wheel, and a wear sensor responsive to actuation movement of the brake which is housed within the body of the brake itself without increasing the overall package size of the brake. The wear sensor is driven from the wheel of the adjuster with an end of the sensor remote from the wheel being formed into a connector to provide a compact and integrated unit which can be removed from the brake for service without dismantling the brake assembly itself.

Abstract: A control strategy for a multiple phase brushless motor (1) is disclosed in which the top (2, 3, 4) and the bottom (5, 6, 7) switching devices in two arms of the motor bridge are driven using complementary pulse width modulated waveforms, so that the top device (2, 3, 4) in one of the arms is in the ON state while the bottom device (5, 6, 7) is in the OFF state and vice versa. In an alternative arrangement, the control strategy described hereinbefore is used at high motor speeds while at low motor speeds a conventional modulation scheme is used in which a top switching device (2, 3, 4) in one arm of the bridge is in the ON state and a bottom device (5, 6, 7) in a different arm of the bridge is pulse width modulated. In another aspect, a method of calculating the position of the motor rotor is disclosed.

Abstract: A valve arrangement, comprising a first and a second fluid connection (16, 20) of respective, predetermined flow cross-sections, at least one valve element (44) which is biased by a first spring arrangement (106) in a first position in which the first and second fluid connection (16, 20) are communicating via a flow path, and a valve actuating means (42) by means of which the valve element (44) can be moved in order to assume a second position in which the first and second fluid connection (20) are closed against each other, is characterized in that the bias of the first spring arrangement (106), the force that can be applied to the valve element (44) by the valve actuating means (42), and the flow cross-sections of the fluid connections (16, 20) are dimensioned in such a manner that with a predetermined fluid pressure at the second fluid connection (20), the valve element (44) opens the second fluid connection (20) to such an extent that a flow path is obtained to the first fluid connection (16).

Abstract: A control strategy for a multiple phase brushless motor (1) is disclosed in which the top (2, 3, 4) and the bottom (5, 6, 7) switching devices in two arms of the motor bridge are driven using complementary pulse width modulated waveforms, so that the top device (2, 3, 4) in one of the arms is in the ON state whilst the bottom device (5, 6, 7) is in the OFF state and vice versa. In an alternative arrangement, the control strategy described hereinbefore is used at high motor speeds whilst at low motor speeds a conventional modulation scheme is used in which a top switching device (2, 3, 4) in one arm of the bridge is in the ON state and a bottom device (5, 6, 7) in a different arm of the bridge is pulse width modulated. In another aspect, a method of calculating the position of the motor rotor is disclosed.

Abstract: In a braking system in which brake application is controlled electronically by the use of electrically controlled actuators (5, 6), a pedal-operated hydrostatic master cylinder (31) is connected to a brake (12) through at least one of the actuators (5). A first normally open valve (7) is provided so that upon failure of the electronic means (15a, 15b, 60), the value opens to permit hydrostatic pressure to apply both the front wheel brakes (1, 2) by putting them in fluidic communication. A second normally-open isolator valve (44) can be provided which is closed during normal brake operation to prevent hydrostatic pressure from being utilised to apply the brake, the valve opening automatically upon failure of the electronic means (15a, 15b, 60).

Abstract: An electrically operated disc brake assembly for vehicles of the kind in which a friction member (9) is adapted to be applied to a rotatable brake disc (2) by a brake applying mechanism which includes an electric motor (3) and a transmission which is adapted to apply an axially directed brake applying force to the friction member (9) in response to operation of the motor (3) so that the transmission acts on the friction member (9) at circumferentially spaced locations. This produces a substantially even loading across the friction member/disc interface, reducing the magnitude of the reaction torque. In one embodiment, the transmission comprises a pair of axially spaced screw devices (4,5) which are rotatable by the motor (3) acting through a common gear train (6), and the motor may further be provided at the center of mass of the brake.

Abstract: A brake booster operated, in particular, by a vacuum has an input member (32), into which an actuating force is introduced, and an output member (42) for emitting an increased force to a downstream subassembly, for example a master cylinder (12). Since each component of the brake booster (10) has a tolerance range, length tolerances necessarily occur along the actuating travel, and these have an undesirable influence on the characteristic of the brake booster and therefore have to be eliminated or at least reduced. In order to avoid a series of sensing disks (36) and distance disks (62) of different thickesses having to be kept ready for length compensation, it is proposed to calibrate the length of the input member (32) and/or of the output member (42) by the compressive forming of the latter to a desired length which is obtained from a comparison between an actual dimension and a desired dimension, and then to install said member in the brake booster (10).

Abstract: In a hydraulic braking system, during normal service braking, the output from a master cylinder (3) is disabled and a brake (12) is applied from a high pressure hydraulic source (24) under the control of electric control means (30) including a solenoid operated actuator (6) responsive to electrical signals from a transducer (2) associated with the pedal (1), and upon failure of the electrical control means a direct flow path is defined between the master cylinder (3) and the brake (12) and through which the brake can be applied from the master cylinder by movement of the pedal in the "push through" mode.

Abstract: An electronic braking system which recognizes differential braking across an axle. A stored adaptive capability is provided whereby a braking controller is able to learn the braking imbalance and correct for this by introducing differential pressure adjustments such as increasing braking at the wheel of the lower brake output and/or reducing braking at the wheel with a higher brake output. The learning process is completed over selected parts of several vehicle stops and is repeated continuously.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronically controllable vehicle braking system for a motor vehicle with a cylinder/piston arrangement providing a brake fluid, which, by actuating a brake pedal, is caused to provide brake fluid acting on the brake of the motor vehicle, with the cylinder/piston arrangement being connectable with a pump arrangement and a pressure accumulator. The pressure accumulator has a housing which comprises a fluid connection for a fluid flowing into and out of the housing as well as a spring arrangement against whose force brake fluid flowing through the fluid connection is acting, with at least one part of the spring arrangement being formed by at least one part of the housing wall.

Abstract: A vehicle hydraulic braking system of the brake-by-wire type is disclosed in which proportional solenoid-operated valves (12, 13) are adapted to control the pressure in wheel brake actuators of the brakes (8, 9) on a single axle of a vehicle, and a balance valve (20) is provided to enable individual hydraulic brake circuits to be hydraulically connected so that the pressure applied to each brake is guaranteed to be substantially the same, a first one (13) of the proportional valves (12, 13) is adapted to be isolated so that the hydraulic circuit is fed by a second, single, proportional valve (12). Applying both brakes under the control of a single proportional valve ensures that any fluid leakages are balanced since substantially equal brake-applying pressures are generated.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electromagnetic valve arrangement, preferably for a pressure medium of a vehicle braking system, comprising an electromagnet arrangement which is coupled with a valve closing means which can be brought into several positions, a housing with a first, a second, a third, and a fourth connection of which, in a first position, the first and the second connection are in flow connection with each other, and the third and the fourth connection are blocked; in a second position, the first, the second, the third, and the fourth connection are blocked; in a third position, the first and the second connection are blocked, and the third and the fourth connection are connected with each other; and in a fourth position, the first and the third connection are connected with each other, and the second and the fourth connection are blocked.

Abstract: A brake booster (10) for a vehicle brake system comprises a housing (12) which is divided, by means of at least one movable wall (14), into a vacuum chamber (18) and a working chamber (16). A control valve arrangement (20), which is associated to the brake booster (10) and which optionally connects the working chamber (16) to atmospheric pressure or to a vacuum, comprises a control valve housing (21) which is connected to the movable wall (14) for joint relative movement with respect to the housing (12). An electromagnetic actuation unit (26) is received in the control valve housing (21), said actuation unit having a solenoid coil (44), a magnet armature (28) operating against the spring bias and which is rigidly coupled to a first valve seat (32) of the control valve arrangement (20), and an armature counter-element (46). For improving the magnetic flux in the electromagnetic actuation unit (26) while simultaneously reducing the number of parts, an insert (92) made of diamagnetic and preferably lightweight.

Abstract: In an electronically controllable braking system for motor vehicles with a brake pressure generator unit which comprises a master cylinder for generating a brake pressure, a brake pedal via which an actuation force can be introduced into the brake pressure generator unit for actuating the brake pressure generator unit, an electronically controllable brake booster, either for amplifying the actuation force introduced via the brake pedal for the actuation of the brake pressure generator unit, or for effecting an actuation of the brake pressure generator unit, as well as sensors which sense the brake pressure generated by the brake pressure generator unit and a parameter for an electronic control unit, which is related to the amplification of the electronically controllable brake pressure booster, there is provided, in order to comply with a very high safety standard at relatively low cost expenditures, that the electronic control unit determines the actuation force which is introduced via the brake pedal from t

Abstract: An electric actuator for use in a vehicle power steering system includes an electric motor (20) and a gearbox (22). The electric motor (20) has a stator (26) and an armature (27) concentric with the stator (26) that is adapted to rotate about a common axis. A single common output shaft (40) extends through the actuator (14) to transmit torque from the motor (20) to a drive portion (70) of the output shaft (40) remote from the gearbox (22), from whence torque is transmitted to the gearbox (22) through a transmission portion (60) of the shaft (40). A clutch (21) may be provided between the motor (20) and the output shaft (40).

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel injector comprises the steps of applying a test waveform to a solenoid coil of the injector to cause a response by an armature assembly and measuring the response of the armature assembly while the test waveform is applied to the solenoid coil. A control waveform for the injector is developed as a function of the variation of the measured response of the armature from a selected operational characteristic. The developed control waveform is thereafter applied to the solenoid coil to cause the armature assembly to approach a nominal position.

Abstract: A fuel injector includes a barrel having an insert recess therein within which an insert is disposed. A facing surface of the insert is located opposite a base surface of the recess and forms a passage interconnecting a high pressure fuel passage and a valve bore. High pressure intersecting bores are thus avoided, leading to a reduction in structural failures.