Abstract: An object detecting apparatus includes a first transmission and reception unit having a first transmitter and a first receiver, a second transmission and reception unit having a second transmitter and a second receiver, and a failure judging section. The first receiver produces a first output signal corresponding to a transmission wave, which is transmitted directly from the second transmitter to the first receiver. The second receiver produces a second output signal corresponding to a transmission wave, which is transmitted directly from the first transmitter to the second receiver. Using at least one of the first output signal and the second output signal, the failure judging section judges whether a failure of the first transmitter or the second receiver has occurred, or judges whether a failure of the first transmission and reception unit or the second transmission and reception unit has occurred.

Abstract: An object detecting apparatus includes a first transmission and reception unit having a first transmitter and a first receiver, a second transmission and reception unit having a second transmitter and a second receiver, and a failure judging section. The first receiver produces a first output signal corresponding to a transmission wave, which is transmitted directly from the second transmitter to the first receiver. The second receiver produces a second output signal corresponding to a transmission wave, which is transmitted directly from the first transmitter to the second receiver. Using at least one of the first output signal and the second output signal, the failure judging section judges whether a failure of the first transmitter or the second receiver has occurred, or judges whether a failure of the first transmission and reception unit or the second transmission and reception unit has occurred.

Abstract: A vehicular anti-lock control system includes: a ground load calculation section for detecting or estimating a ground load of a wheel; a road surface friction coefficient calculation section for detecting or estimating a road surface friction coefficient; and a reference fluid pressure calculation section for calculating an upper side reference fluid pressure and a lower side reference fluid pressure in anti-lock control based on the ground load and the friction coefficient. The upper and lower side reference fluid pressures are respectively determined to be an upper limit value and a lower limit value of a fluid pressure in anti-lock control. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the amount of change in the fluid pressure during anti-lock control, thus improving the braking effect and the braking feel.

Abstract: There is provided a control unit including a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed, a vehicle stop determination module for determining whether or not a vehicle is stopping based on a detection result of the vehicle sensor and a controller, wherein the controller operates an inclination component of gravity acceleration in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle on a road surface on which the vehicle is running based on an output of the power source detected by a power source output sensor and a brake torque detected by a brake torque sensors when the stop determination unit is determining that the vehicle is in a stopped state and controls either of the output of the power source and the brake force based on the result of the calculation when the vehicle starts.

Abstract: An automatic parking brake system is provided in which a parking piston that enables a parking brake state to be obtained by forward movement in response to a parking control fluid pressure acting on a rear face of the parking piston is slidably fitted into a casing, and a lock mechanism is provided within the casing in back of the parking piston to automatically lock in response to forward movement of the parking piston in order to mechanically lock the parking piston at a forward position and unlock in response to a parking release control fluid pressure acting on the lock mechanism, the parking control fluid pressure and the parking release control fluid pressure being obtained by a fluid pressure control mechanism for controlling a fluid pressure generated by a fluid pressure source. This enables an automatic parking brake state to be obtained by a simple structure without consuming power.

Abstract: A parking brake system is provided in which a parking brake state of a wheel brake is obtained by forward movement of a parking piston slidably fitted into a casing with the rear side of the parking piston facing a parking control fluid pressure chamber, a lock piston forming part of a lock mechanism for mechanically locking the forwardly moved state of the parking piston is slidably fitted into the casing to the rear of the parking piston and urged forwardly by a spring, an opening provide in a portion of the casing that the rear side of the lock piston faces is closed by a detachable lid member, a tool connection part enables a tool inserted through the opening to be detachably connected to the tool connection part. This enables an automatic parking brake state to be obtained by a simple structure without consuming power, and the parking brake state to be released by a manual operation for maintenance or inspection.

Abstract: A brake force detecting device for detecting strain in a caliper bracket. The brake force detecting device includes a sensor plate fixed to the outside surface of a brake load receiving portion of the caliper bracket in the circumferential direction of a brake disc and a strain gauge attached to the sensor plate for detecting strain generated in the sensor plate. The strain gauge is connected to an amplifier.

Abstract: A lock piston operates to automatically lock a parking brake piston which achieves a parking brake applied state in response to hydraulic pressure in a parking brake application control hydraulic chamber and operates to release a locked state in response to hydraulic pressure in a parking brake release control hydraulic chamber, and a manual change-over unit holding the hydraulic pressure in the parking brake release control hydraulic chamber to a hydraulic pressure on a lock release side, is provided among the wheel brake side hydraulic path, the parking brake application control hydraulic chamber and the parking brake release control hydraulic chamber by bypassing a hydraulic pressure control unit which changes over the application or release of hydraulic pressure to the parking brake application control hydraulic chamber and the parking brake release control hydraulic chamber.

Abstract: Normally opened control valves 5A, 5B are configured into short-time rating valves, and normally opened opening/closing valves 4A, 4B, which are electrically controlled to open and close and are configured into long-time rating valves, are connected in series to the normally opened control valves 5A, 5B between a fluid pressure generating unit M and wheel brakes 8A to 8D.

Abstract: A parking brake system is provided in which a parking brake state is obtained by forward movement of a parking piston in response to the action of a parking control fluid pressure, and a forward operating state of the parking piston is mechanically locked by a lock mechanism. Moreover, an input member of a brake mechanism and the parking piston are connected by a coupling linkage. A lock piston of the lock mechanism moves toward one side in the axial direction when the parking piston moves forward, and a locking part provided at one end of the lock piston engages from the rear with a retaining part provided on a middle section of the coupling linkage while straddling the middle section of the coupling. This enables an automatic parking brake state to be obtained by a simple structure without consuming power.

Abstract: A parking brake system is provided in which a parking brake state for a wheel brake (2A) is obtained by forward movement of a parking piston (44) slidably fitted into a casing (23) with the rear side of the parking piston (44) facing a parking control fluid pressure chamber (47), and the forwardly moved state of the parking piston (44) is mechanically locked by spheres (58) pushed up as a result of forward movement of a lock piston (56) of a lock mechanism (31). Moreover, a plurality of guide grooves (126), into which parts of the spheres (58) are rollably fitted, are provided on the inner face of a large diameter hole (38), the inner face of a restricting step (42), and the inner face of a small diameter hole (39), the guide grooves (126) having a concavely curved cross-sectional shape and extending in the axial direction of an insertion shaft (59). This enables an automatic parking brake state to be obtained by a simple structure without consuming power.

Abstract: During normal operation in which a motor cylinder is operative, when a depressing force cut-off valve is closed, a front wheel is braked by operating a first wheel cylinder by brake fluid pressure generated by the motor cylinder. When there is an abnormality in which the motor cylinder breaks down, the front wheel is braked by supplying, via the opened depressing force cut-off valve, brake fluid pressure generated by a master cylinder operated by a driver's braking operation to the first wheel cylinder, and a rear wheel is braked by supplying the brake fluid pressure to a second wheel cylinder. Thus, since both the front and rear wheels are braked by the brake fluid pressure generated by the master cylinder in case of abnormality, a vehicle can be reliably stopped by a sufficient braking force.

Abstract: There is provided a control unit including a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed, a vehicle stop determination module for determining whether or not a vehicle is stopping based on a detection result of the vehicle sensor and a controller, wherein the controller operates an inclination component of gravity acceleration in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle on a road surface on which the vehicle is running based on an output of the power source detected by a power source output sensor and a brake torque detected by a brake torque sensors when the stop determination unit is determining that the vehicle is in a stopped state and controls either of the output of the power source and the brake force based on the result of the calculation when the vehicle starts.

Abstract: A parking brake system having a lock mechanism provided within a casing to the rear of a parking piston that provides a parking brake mode by forward movement of a lock mechanism in response to the action of a parking control fluid pressure. The lock mechanism responds to forward movement of the parking piston to mechanically lock the parking piston at a forward position and unlocking in response to the action of a parking release control fluid pressure. The lock mechanism includes a lock piston that is to the rear of the parking piston having an axis orthogonal to the axis of the parking piston. This enables an automatic parking brake mode to be obtained by a simple structure without consuming power.

Abstract: A damper of variable damping force adapted to be built into a vehicular suspension is disclosed. The damper has frictional force generating means for applying a frictional force to a rod. The frictional force generating means is disposed at one end of a cylinder and positioned externally of the latter.

Abstract: A brake force detecting device having a sensor plate fixed to a knuckle. A straight line connecting the centers of two bolts for fixing a caliper bracket to the knuckle is perpendicular to a straight line connecting the centers of two bolts for fixing the sensor plate to the knuckle as viewed in side elevation. A strain gauge is attached to the sensor plate.

Abstract: A brake force detecting device for detecting strain in a caliper bracket. The brake force detecting device includes a sensor plate fixed to the outside surface of a brake load receiving portion of the caliper bracket in the circumferential direction of a brake disc and a strain gauge attached to the sensor plate for detecting strain generated in the sensor plate. The strain gauge is connected to an amplifier.

Abstract: A parking brake system is provided in which, a lock mechanism (25) is provided within a casing (23) to the rear of a parking piston (24) that can give a parking brake state by forward movement in response to the action of a parking control fluid pressure, the lock mechanism (25) operating in response to forward movement of the parking piston (24) in order to mechanically lock the parking piston (24) at a forward position and unlocking in response to the action of a parking release control fluid pressure. The lock mechanism (25) includes a lock piston (30) that is disposed to the rear of the parking piston (24) while having an axis orthogonal to the axis of the parking piston (24) and that makes a forward urging force act on the parking piston (24) at least when the parking piston (24) moves forward, and opposite end parts of the lock piston (30) are slidably fitted into and supported on the casing (23). This enables an automatic parking brake state to be obtained by a simple structure without consuming power.

Abstract: A parking brake system is provided in which a parking brake state for a wheel brake (2A) is obtained by forward movement of a parking piston (44) slidably fitted into a casing (23) with the rear side of the parking piston (44) facing a parking control fluid pressure chamber (47), and the forwardly moved state of the parking piston (44) is mechanically locked by spheres (58) pushed up as a result of forward movement of a lock piston (56) of a lock mechanism (31). Moreover, a plurality of guide grooves (12)6, into which parts of the spheres (58) are rollably fitted, are provided on the inner face of a large diameter hole (38), the inner face of a restricting step (42), and the inner face of a small diameter hole (39), the guide grooves (12)6 having a concavely curved cross-sectional shape and extending in the axial direction of an insertion shaft (59). This enables an automatic parking brake state to be obtained by a simple structure without consuming power.

Abstract: A parking brake system is provided in which a parking brake state of a wheel brake is obtained by forward movement of a parking piston (44) slidably fitted into a casing (23) with the rear side of the parking piston (44) facing a parking control fluid pressure chamber (47), a lock piston (56) forming part of a lock mechanism (31) for mechanically locking the forwardly moved state of the parking piston (44) is slidably fitted into the casing (23) to the rear of the parking piston (44) and urged forward by a spring, an opening (112) provided in a portion of the casing (23) that the rear side of the lock piston (56) faces is closed by a detachable lid member (113), a tool connection part (115) is provided in a rear portion of the lock piston (56), and the tool connection part (115) enables a tool inserted through the opening (112) to be detachably connected to the tool connection part (115).