Abstract: A method and system is provided for determining faults in a vehicle brake system. An electronic processor obtains a brake pedal signal from a brake pedal that indicates a driver intent to brake and obtains a vehicle braking response condition signal from a brake system feedback sensor. The electronic processor determines a fault state when (1) the brake pedal signal is indicative of no brake pedal movement and the vehicle braking response signal is indicative of a vehicle braking response occurring, or when (2) the brake pedal signal is indicative of brake pedal movement and the vehicle braking response condition signal is indicative of no occurrence of a vehicle braking response. The electronic processor controls an output of an audio or visual indication of a fault state and/or controls braking operation of the vehicle in response to the fault state.

Abstract: A vehicle pedal emulator assembly comprising a housing and a sleeve both defining an interior cavity. The sleeve is adapted for sliding movement in the interior cavity of the housing. Respective first, second, third, and fourth springs located in opposed ends of the interior cavity of the housing are compressible in parallel in response to the sliding movement of the sleeve in the interior cavity of the housing. The first and second springs surround the shaft and extend between one end of the housing and one end of the shaft. The third and fourth springs extend between one end of the sleeve and the other end of the sleeve. The combination of an inductive sensor and a Hall Effect sensor are adapted for measurement of the position of the sleeve relative to the housing.

Abstract: An axial brushless DC motor comprising a stator, a rotor including a magnet, a sleeve bushing extending through the stator and including a pair of opposed distal collars, a motor shaft extends through the sleeve bushing, and a pair of opposed bearings are seated in the respective pair of collars and mount the shaft and a rotor for rotation relative to the sleeve bushing and the stator. The bearings are adapted for thrust, radial support/self-alignment, and angular adjustment of the motor shaft. In one embodiment, a stator overmold member includes a central tube that defines the sleeve bushing and includes a stator shorting ring. In one embodiment, a metal pole piece is seated in a cup-shaped magnet with a rim and the magnetic flux travels through the rim of the magnet and through a magnetic flux sensor.

Abstract: A rotary actuator includes a connector housing with a hollow tube, a separate motor housing clipped to one side of the connector housing, and a separate gear and sensor housing clipped to an opposed side of the connector housing. At least a first gear and a first gear carrier are located within the interior of the hollow tube. A motor shaft extends from the motor through the connector housing into the tube and into engagement with the first gear. A sensor is seated on an exterior surface of the hollow tube and a magnet is housed in the interior of the first gear carrier. The sensor is adapted to change changes in the magnetic field generated by the magnet in response to movement of the magnet.

Abstract: An axial brushless DC motor comprising a stator, a rotor including a magnet, a sleeve bushing extending through the stator and including a pair of opposed distal collars, a motor shaft extends through the sleeve bushing, and a pair of opposed bearings are seated in the respective pair of collars and mount the shaft and a rotor for rotation relative to the sleeve bushing and the stator. The bearings are adapted for thrust, radial support/self-alignment, and angular adjustment of the motor shaft. In one embodiment, a stator overmold member includes a central tube that defines the sleeve bushing and includes a stator shorting ring. In one embodiment, a metal pole piece is seated in a cup-shaped magnet with a rim and the magnetic flux travels through the rim of the magnet and through a magnetic flux sensor.

Abstract: An axial brushless DC motor comprising a stator, a rotor including a magnet, a sleeve bushing extending through the stator and including a pair of opposed distal collars, a motor shaft extends through the sleeve bushing, and a pair of opposed bearings are seated in the respective pair of collars and mount the shaft and a rotor for rotation relative to the sleeve bushing and the stator. The bearings are adapted for thrust, radial support/self-alignment, and angular adjustment of the motor shaft. In one embodiment, a stator overmold member includes a central tube that defines the sleeve bushing and includes a stator shorting ring. In one embodiment, a metal pole piece is seated in a cup-shaped magnet with a rim and the magnetic flux travels through the rim of the magnet and through a magnetic flux sensor.

Abstract: A rotary actuator includes a connector housing with a hollow tube, a separate motor housing clipped to one side of the connector housing, and a separate gear and sensor housing clipped to an opposed side of the connector housing. At least a first gear and a first gear carrier are located within the interior of the hollow tube. A motor shaft extends from the motor through the connector housing into the tube and into engagement with the first gear. A sensor is seated on an exterior surface of the hollow tube and a magnet is housed in the interior of the first gear carrier. The sensor is adapted to change changes in the magnetic field generated by the magnet in response to movement of the magnet.

Abstract: An axial brushless DC motor comprising a stator, a rotor including a magnet, a sleeve bushing extending through the stator and including a pair of opposed distal collars, a motor shaft extends through the sleeve bushing, and a pair of opposed bearings are seated in the respective pair of collars and mount the shaft and a rotor for rotation relative to the sleeve bushing and the stator. The bearings are adapted for thrust, radial support/self-alignment, and angular adjustment of the motor shaft. In one embodiment, a stator overmold member includes a central tube that defines the sleeve bushing and includes a stator shorting ring, in one embodiment, a metal pole piece is seated in a cup-shaped magnet with a rim and the magnetic flux travels through the rim of the magnet and through a magnetic flux sensor.

Abstract: A brake actuator includes a carrier (10) having a centerline (11), a periphery and a radial slot (16) in the periphery, and an EMA (20), including an electric motor (30) having a longitudinal centerline (31) and a ram (34) having a longitudinal centerline (35) operatively connected to the electric motor (30), where the electric motor (30) is designed to move the ram (34) in the direction of the ram longitudinal centerline (35), the EMA (20) being mounted on the carrier (10) in the slot (16) with the ram longitudinal centerline radially (35) inward of the periphery and the motor longitudinal centerline (31) radially outward of the periphery. Also the EMA (20) used in the brake actuator.

Abstract: A method of controlling a braking force applied to at least one wheel supporting a tire that includes steps of issuing a braking command (100), commanding an amount of tire stretch based on the braking command (102), estimating an amount of tire stretch for the tire based at least in part on wheel speed (104), and controlling the braking force applied to the wheel so that the estimated amount of tire stretch approaches the commanded amount of tire stretch (106). Also, a system (10) for controlling braking based on a determination of tire stretch that includes a tire stretch command generator (12) generating a tire stretch command based on a braking command, a reference velocity estimator (46) producing a first signal indicative of a velocity, a tire stretch estimator (30) producing a second signal indicative of an amount of tire stretch, and a brake force command generator (18) generating a brake force command based on the braking command, the first signal and the second signal.

Abstract: An electromagnetic braking system includes a brake stack (20), a ram (18) shiftable in a first linear direction toward and against the brake stack (20) and in a second linear direction opposite the first linear direction, a motor (12) having an output shaft (14) mechanically connected to the ram (18) and rotatable in a first rotation direction for moving the ram (18) in the first linear direction and in a second rotation direction for moving the ram (18) in the second linear direction, at least one friction member (32, 34, 41, 43, 52) having a friction surface (33, 35, 43, 55) mounted adjacent to the motor output shaft (14), and an friction surface (33, 35, 43, 55) for moving the friction surface (33, 35, 43, 55) of the at least one friction member (32, 34, 41, 43, 52) against the motor output shaft (14) in a non-locking manner and holding the friction member (32, 34, 41, 43, 52) against the motor output shaft (14) with a predetermined force to perform a park brake function, wherein the predetermined force is

Abstract: A braking system includes a brake control system (BCS) (26) having a first output (30) and a second output (32), a first controller (34) having a brake command input (38) connected to the BCS first output (30), a direct enable input (36), an indirect enable input (44), a driver output (40) and an indirect enable output (42), a second controller (50) having a brake command input (54) connected to the BCS second output (32), a direct enable input (52), an indirect enable input (60), a driver output (56) and an indirect enable output (58).

Abstract: An in-vehicle lift mechanism has a heavy duty drive assembly suitable for lifting heavy loads, such as all terrain vehicles, motorcycles and other motorized equipment and vehicles. The lift mechanism has four corner posts that are fixed to the vehicle and guide a support platform. The drive assembly includes a motor that drives a screw to engage a nut secured to a movable pulley carriage. As the screw turns, the pulley carriage translates relative the platform to either let out or take up cabling allowing the platform to be raised or lowered. The mechanism uses multiple cables, the ends of which are secured in fixed positions, one end being fixed relative to the platform and one fixed relative to the vehicle. A plurality of stationary position pulleys route the cables between the platform and the posts.

Abstract: A method of controlling a braking force applied to at least one wheel supporting a tire that includes steps of issuing a braking command (100), commanding an amount of tire stretch based on the braking command (102), estimating an amount of tire stretch for the tire based at least in part on wheel speed (104), and controlling the braking force applied to the wheel so that the estimated amount of tire stretch approaches the commanded amount of tire stretch (106). Also, a system (10) for controlling braking based on a determination of tire stretch that includes a tire stretch command generator (12) generating a tire stretch command based on a braking command, a reference velocity estimator (46) producing a first signal indicative of a velocity, a tire stretch estimator (30) producing a second signal indicative of an amount of tire stretch, and a brake force command generator (18) generating a brake force command based on the braking command, the first signal and the second signal.

Abstract: An electromagnetic braking system includes a brake stack (20), a ram (18) shiftable in a first linear direction toward and against the brake stack (20) and in a second linear direction opposite the first linear direction, a motor (12) having an output shaft (14) mechanically connected to the ram (18) and rotatable in a first rotation direction for moving the ram (18) in the first linear direction and in a second rotation direction for moving the ram (18) in the second linear direction, at least one friction member (32, 34, 41, 43, 52) having a friction surface (33, 35, 43, 55) mounted adjacent to the motor output shaft (14), and an friction surface (33, 35, 43, 55) for moving the friction surface (33, 35, 43, 55) of the at least one friction member (32, 34, 41, 43, 52) against the motor output shaft (14) in a non-locking manner and holding the friction member (32, 34, 41, 43, 52) against the motor output shaft (14) with a predetermined force to perform a park brake function, wherein the predetermined force is

Abstract: A braking system includes a brake control system (BCS) (26) having a first output (30) and a second output (32), a first controller (34) having a brake command input (38) connected to the BCS first output (30), a direct enable input (36), an indirect enable input (44), a driver output (40) and an indirect enable output (42), a second controller (50) having a brake command input (54) connected to the BCS second output (32), a direct enable input (52), an indirect enable input (60), a driver output (56) and an indirect enable output (58).

Abstract: A brake actuator includes a carrier (10) having a centerline (11), a periphery and a radial slot (16) in the periphery, and an EMA (20), including an electric motor (30) having a longitudinal centerline (31) and a ram (34) having a longitudinal centerline (35) operatively connected to the electric motor (30), where the electric motor (30) is designed to move the ram (34) in the direction of the ram longitudinal centerline (35), the EMA (20) being mounted on the carrier (10) in the slot (16) with the ram longitudinal centerline radially (35) inward of the periphery and the motor longitudinal centerline (31) radially outward of the periphery. Also the EMA (20) used in the brake actuator.

Abstract: A brake control system for an EMA-controlled brake (60) is disclosed that includes a brake controller (66, 68), at least one serial bus (70, 72, 74, 76) running from the brake controller (66, 68), at least one EMA (32A, 32B, 32C, 32D, 32E) for actuating a brake (60), and at least one EMAC (EMAC1) having a serial bus interface (69) connected to the at least one serial bus (70, 72, 74, 76) and operatively connected to the at least one EMA (EMAC1). A method of controlling an EMA-controlled brake (60) is also disclosed.

Abstract: Enhanced directional stability in an aircraft anti-skid braking system is achieved by using one common deceleration command (16) which is a selected one of left and right brake pedal deceleration commands (19, 119). The individual brake pedal deceleration commands (19, 119) are used to modify (34, 134) the common or selected deceleration command (16) and provide respective side wheel velocity commands to retain a differential braking capability (36, 136), and thereby avoid the potential for instability inherent when utilizing individual deceleration commands for the left and right wheel brakes of an aircraft.

Abstract: A brake and anti-skid control utilizing optical input sensors for determining wheel speed or position and suitable for aircraft use is disclosed. A valve control has a continuous source of pressurized hydraulic fluid, a hydraulically actuated wheel rotation brake device which responds to applied hydraulic pressure to apply a braking force to the wheel to arrest wheel rotation, a low pressure hydraulic fluid return, and a flow control servo valve interconnecting the source, the return, and the braking device for directing fluid from the source to the braking device when in a first state and for directing fluid from the braking device to the return when in a second state. Applied hydraulic pressure is monitored and if that monitored pressure exceeds a command pressure, further fluid from the braking device is diverted to the return.