Patents by Inventor Helmut Heibel

Helmut Heibel has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6233932
    Abstract: A fully hydraulic brake power generator/master cylinder unit (10) for a vehicle brake system has a housing (12) with a bore (14) which is formed therein and in which a primary piston (16) is arranged sealingly and displaceably. Located in the bore (14) is a first pressure chamber (22), one boundary wall of which is formed by one end wall (20) of the primary piston (16). In order to actuate the unit (10), there is an input member (60) which is displaced during actuation. A hydraulic booster stage (38), which has a booster chamber (44) with an inlet for hydraulic fluid under pressure, acts on the primary piston (16). In order to improve the simulation of brake pressure feedback via the input member (60), a spring arrangement (70) is provided, with a first spring (72) and a second spring (74) which are connected in series. The spring force of the second spring (74) is detectably greater than the spring force of the first spring (72).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Helmut Heibel, Josef Knechtges
  • Patent number: 6226993
    Abstract: A fully hydraulic brake booster/master cylinder unit (10) for a vehicle brake system has a housing (12) and a bore (14) which is formed therein and in which is arranged sealingly and displaceably a primary piston (16) which is coupled to an input member (40) for transmitting an actuating force to the primary piston (16). Located in the bore (14) are a first pressure chamber (22), one boundary wall of which is formed by one end wall (20) of the primary piston (16), and a first booster chamber (46), one boundary wall of which is formed by the other end wall (50), located opposite the end wall (20), of the primary piston (16). The first booster chamber (46) has an inlet for hydraulic fluid under pressure which is used for boosting the actuating force. In order to bring about additional brake boosting comfortably and as required, there is arranged in the bore (14) a second booster chamber (48), to which hydraulic fluid under pressure can be supplied independently of the first booster chamber (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Helmut Heibel
  • Patent number: 6099087
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Ivan Mortimer, Helmut Heibel
  • Patent number: 5772290
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the brake pressure in a vehicle brake system equipped with an electronically adjustable brake booster (10), comprising an actuator (22) which transmits the actuating movement of the brake pedal to a master brake cylinder and has assigned a path limiting element (80) which limits the axial actuating movement of the actuator (22) in that it is received between abutments (90, 92), the apparatus being characterized in that a switch is actuated by the path limiting element (80) together with one of the abutments (90), said switch supplying a signal to the brake booster when the path limiting element (80) abuts the one abutment (90).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Helmut Heibel, Hans-Werner Renn, Erwin Michels, Jens-Peter Kohrt, Werner Dieringer, Kurt Mohr
  • Patent number: 5769189
    Abstract: In order to improve an electrically actuatable automotive parking brake with mechanical emergency actuation, the brake pads (52, 54) of the parking brake, which may be either a disk brake or a drum brake, can be applied or released via gear arrangement (100) arranged within or at the brake. The gear arrangement (100) has one power input and one power output, with the power input being coupled with the one end of a flexible shaft, the other end of which being arranged remote from the brake can be coupled with a manual crank, in order to be able to actuate the parking brake mechanically in the case of a failure of the electric actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Helmut Heibel, Hermann-Josef Geilen, Werner Dieringer
  • Patent number: 5658055
    Abstract: The vehicle brake system including an electronically controlled brake booster (10), comprising a first actuator (350) which is connected to a second actuator (360) for transmitting to the same an actuating movement (P) of a brake pedal, wherein the second actuator (360) transmits the movement to a master brake cylinder, a signal generator (365) disposed between first and second actuators (350, 360) for generating a signal to be supplied to the controller of the brake booster (10), wherein the signal generator (365) is triggered by a relative movement between the first actuator and the housing of the brake booster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Werner Dieringer, Jens-Peter Kohrt, Kurt Mohr, Helmut Heibel, Erwin Michels, Hans-Werner Renn
  • Patent number: 5590937
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronically controlled vehicle braking system with a brake booster comprising an electromagnetically operable control valve arrangement, an electronic control device supplying the control valve arrangement with control signals for initiating or cancelling an automatic braking sequence, and a load sensor connected with the electronic control device for sensing the pedal actuation force acting upon a brake pedal coupled with the brake booster, characterized in that the electronic control device is adapted to effect a brake pressure relief depending upon a reduction of the pedal actuation force acting on the brake pedal after the initiation of an automatic braking sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Helmut Heibel
  • Patent number: 5479844
    Abstract: Two chambers (12, 14) in a booster casing (10) are separated by a movable wall (16) which is connected to a valve housing (22). The housing contains a movable sealing member (60) with which a first valve seat (24), formed in the valve housing (22), and a second valve seat (32), formed on a movable valve closing member (30), are associated. The valve closing member (30) is guided for axial displacement on a piston (42) and designed as the armature of an electromagnet (40) which is arranged inside the valve housing (22) in such a way that, when energized, it moves the valve closing member (30) away from the sealing member (60) against the resistance of a valve spring (38). The piston (42) is guided for axial displacement in the valve housing (22) and serves to transmit actuating forces from an actuator member (44) to an output member (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Helmut Heibel, Josef Pickenhahn
  • Patent number: 5427442
    Abstract: In a motor vehicle brake system, a force increase gradient (Fv ped) at the brake pedal is determined and, in response thereto, the brake pressure is boosted in a manner which provides for successively associating respective threshold values (Fv max) with respective instantaneous force increase gradients (Fv ped) at the brake pedal during a braking operation. The instantaneous actual value of the force increase gradient (Fv ped) is compared with the respective threshold value (Fv max), and the brake pressure booster is controlled in response to the result of this comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Helmut Heibel
  • Patent number: 5331813
    Abstract: A brake actuator assembly for motor vehicles. A mounting plate (14) formed with a central hole (60) serves for fastening a pneumatic brake pressure booster (22) to the splashboard (10) of a motor vehicle. The brake pressure booster (22) includes a rear housing portion (50) formed with a rearwardly projecting tubular connecting piece (52) which is pushed from the front through the central hole (60) in the mounting plate (14) and through a central recess (70) presented in a stiffening plate (66) which abuts against the mounting plate (60) from the rear. In this manner the brake pressure booster (22) is centered with respect to the mounting plate (14) and the stiffening plate (66). The stiffening plate (66) is formed in one piece with support blocks (68) for a pedal arrangement (20) of the usual kind in motor vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Helmut Heibel, Josef Pickenhahn
  • Patent number: 5178441
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle braking system, comprising a brake pedal (P) to generate brake pressure in an hydraulic fluid, a brake pressure booster (12) operated by differential pressure and adapted to be actuated by a first valve (V.sub.1) which is pressurized mechanically by the brake pedal (P), and a first sensor (S.sub.1) to detect the pressure generated by the brake pedal. A second sensor (S.sub.R, S.sub.L) is provided to detect vehicle deceleration or rotational retardation of braked wheel, and a data processing unit serves to compare the data determined by the sensors (S.sub.1, S.sub.R, S.sub.L) and to generate a control signal in response to the result of the comparison for a second valve (V.sub.2) which is controllable electrically and by which a pressure difference is adjustable in the brake pressure booster (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Helmut Heibel, Josef Pickenhahn
  • Patent number: 5080203
    Abstract: In a spot-type disc brake guides are arranged between each of the arms of a brake support and the sliding caliper to permit displacement of the sliding caliper and the transmission of braking forces to the brake support. The guides each have a guide body comprising a groove extending in the direction of the axis of rotation of the brake disc as well as a projection engaging into said groove. To enable exceptionally high braking forces also to be transmitted by the caliper via the guides to the brake support, the groove and the projection of each guide, which upon braking in the operational direction of rotation of the brake disc is loaded with braking forces, have complementary circularly arcuate profiles in cross-section parallel to the brake disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Helmut Heibel
  • Patent number: 5072996
    Abstract: The assembly includes a master brake cylinder (10) to which at least one brake circuit can be connected, a modulator (12) and a pneumatic braking force booster (14). For modulating the pressure in the brake circuit the modulator (12) is connected to the master brake cylinder (10). The braking force booster (14) comprises a housing (34, 36) having at least one partition (38) movable in piston-like manner. For transmitting reaction forces of the master brake cylinder (10) to a vehicle wall (20) at least one connecting pin (16, 18) extends through the housing (34, 36) of the braking force booster (14). The modulator (12) is likewise mounted with bypassing of the master brake cylinder (10) on at least one connecting pin (16, 18) which extends through the housing (34, 36) of the braking force booster (14). This avoids vibrations generated by the modulator (12) being transmitted directly to the master brake cylinder (10) and possibly damaging the latter in the course of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Helmut Heibel, Leo Gilles
  • Patent number: 5022717
    Abstract: A valve block (10) includes fluid passages (12), valves (14), and connections (30,32,34) for fluid operated devices. Electromagnets (36) are attached to the valve block (10) for actuating the valves (14). A hood (40) covering the electromagnets (36) is placed on the valve block (10). An external plug group (42) is arranged at the hood (40) and comprises plugs (44) which are accessible from outside and serve for connection to sensors and the like. A second plug group (46) including plugs (48) is arranged within the hood (40), the plugs thereof being connected to the plugs (44) of the external plug group (42). A third plug group (50) including plugs (52) is arranged at the valve block (10), the plugs thereof being adapted for connection to the plugs (48) of the second plug group (46) by donning of the hood (40). The electromagnets (36) are connected to the plugs (52) of the third plug group (50) by a conductor arrangement (56). The hood (40) encloses a space (53) in which electronic components are received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Helmut Heibel, Leo Gilles
  • Patent number: 4966530
    Abstract: An hydraulic pump and motor assembly for a vehicle hydraulic system has a housing accommodating the pump and motor, the pump having one or more spring-loaded pistons working in complementary bores to pump hydaulic fluid from a reservoir port to a delivery port, and the pistons being operated from an eccentric on a rotary output shaft of the motor through a cam bearing assembly. The assembly includes a retaining device for the pistons to limit their radially inwards movement, when the motor output shaft is removed, to an amount which is insufficient to break the hydraulic circuit containing the pistons. This enables the motor to be removed, while ensuring that the pistons are retained in their bores so that the hydraulic circuit remains intact. The cam bearing assembly may be mounted on the shaft without being retained on it, with the engagement between the pistons and the cam bearing assembly arranged so that they are all retained in the housing on withdrawal of the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: 501 Lucas Industries Public Ltd. Company
    Inventors: Redmond McCusker, Helmut Heibel, Leo Gilles
  • Patent number: 4852700
    Abstract: On a brake support (12) engaging over a brake disk (10) a piston (34) is supported and on the other side a floating caliper (14) is supported for axial displacement. In both cases slide guides (40) are provided for the supporting and each have a guide body (42) having a groove (46) parallel to the axis (A) of the brake disk (10) and a threaded pin (48) which extends transversely of the axial center plane (B) of the brake and engages into the associated groove (46). The slide guides (40) are surrounded in each case by a resilient sealing sleeve (54) which is protected by a heat shield (66) arranged between it and the brake disk (10). Associated with the threaded pins (48) are anti-rotation locks for securing the pins against turning and which comprise mounting members (56) secured to the brake support (12). The mounting members (56) carry at the same time the heat shields (66).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Helmut Heibel
  • Patent number: 4775033
    Abstract: A floating caliper of a spot-type disc brake supported for displacement with respect to a carrier member which is fixed to a vehicle and includes two brake pads for pressurizing the brake disc from either side. A hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly in the floating caliper directly pressurizes one of the pads and indirectly pressurizes the other pad by way of the floating caliper, with a sliding guide being provided between the carrier member and the floating caliper wherein one of the pads is supported circumferentially exclusively on the floating caliper and the other pad is exclusively supported on the piston of the piston and cylinder assembly, another sliding guide being provided on the carrier member for engagement by the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Helmut Heibel
  • Patent number: 4768631
    Abstract: A drum brake comprises two brake shoes (4,5) which are operable hydraulically and/or mechanically. A first brake shoe (4) is supported trailingly in forward travelling direction and leadingly in backward travelling direction. In the forward travelling direction both brake shoes (4,5) are supported trailingly so as to obtain soft response behavior. And a lever (7) is supported at the second brake shoe (5), having one arm pressurized by the piston (2) of the wheel brake cylinder (1), while the other arm (7b) acts directly or indirectly on the first brake shoe (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Helmut Heibel
  • Patent number: 4732242
    Abstract: A brake carrier (12) straddling the edge of a brake disc (10) guides two brake pads (24,26) disposed at one side each of the brake disc (10). The brake comprises an actuator (22) having an actuating axis (B) defining a radial center plane (C) together with the axis (A) of the brake disc. Two guide bolts (18,20) are arranged at the brake carrier (12) at least approximately parallel to the axis (A) of the brake disc at that side of the center plane (C) which is the trailing side, based on the direction of rotation (D) of the brake disc (10) during forward travelling. A caliper (16) is guided for displacement at the brake carrier (12) by means of the guide bolts (18,20). The actuator (22) acts directly on the one brake pad (24) and by way of the caliper (16) on the other brake pad (26). The brake carrier (12) has guide faces (34,36) for the brake pads (24,26) effective upon braking during forward travelling at the trailing side only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Helmut Heibel
  • Patent number: 4589527
    Abstract: A strut (40), whose effective length depends on the relative positions of two strut portions (42,44) adjustable with respect to each other is connected in parallel with a brake actuating mechanism (18). One strut portion (44) has at least one part adjustable transversely of the longitudinal direction of the strut (40) and upon actuation of the brake tends to increase the length of the strut (40). This strut portion (44) has an operable connection with an intermediate member (24) which is supported on one of two structural members (128, 136) transmitting the actuating force independently of the strut (40) for rotation around the axis (B) of the brake actuating device (18) and is rotatable against the frictional resistance thereof only as long as this does not surpass a given value. In this way, the strut (40) is prevented from unnecessary or over-adjustment upon particularly forceful actuation of the brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1986
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Ulrich W. Danne, Helmut Heibel