Abstract: A vehicle hydraulic system is disclosed comprising a hydraulic fluid reservoir; a pressure force supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to a discharge header; a fluid conduit between the discharge header and the reservoir; a back pressure valve operative in the fluid conduit to maintain a desired pressure in the discharge header; and a vehicle braking system having a hydraulically operated boost piston assembly for supplementing a force exerted by a vehicle operator to operate brakes of the vehicle braking system. The system further includes a boost pressure control valve responsive to an input from the vehicle operator for selectively directing pressured hydraulic fluid from the discharge header to the boost piston assembly and venting hydraulic fluid from the boost piston assembly to the reservoir.

Abstract: A reservoir including a housing having a chamber formed therein for the storage of hydraulic brake fluid. The chamber is in fluid communication with a master cylinder. The housing has an opening which is in communication with the atmosphere. The housing further including a passageway in communication with the cavity and the opening. A membrane is disposed in the passageway of the housing. The membrane has oleophobic properties such that the membrane permits the passage of air therethrough and substantially prevents the passage of brake fluid therethrough.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake booster defines a pressure chamber (24) and includes a control valve (26). A sleeve (40) on the control valve includes a spacer (58) and the control valve includes an annular member (60). The spacer is engageable with a booster housing (14) to limit movement of the sleeve and the annular member is engageable with an accumulator valve assembly (32) during a failure mode to provide a safety power assist. The spacer is also maintained in spaced relation to the accumulator valve assembly.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake booster includes a housing which defines a pressure chamber and a piston within the housing is movable in response to pressurized fluid within the pressure chamber to effectuate a brake application. The piston encloses a storage chamber and forms a passage communicating the storage chamber with the pressure chamber. A valve member is disposed within the passage to control communication between the storage chamber and the pressure chamber. An operator actuator cooperates with a control valve to communicate pressurized fluid to the pressure chamber and a finger is actuated by the operator actuator to engage the valve member, thereby opening communication between the storage chamber and the pressure chamber. The valve member comprises a unitary assembly having a sleeve sealingly engaging the wall of the piston passage, a seat member biased into engagement with a shoulder defined by a stepped bore on the sleeve, and a stem extending through a bore on the seat member.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake booster includes a housing which substantially defines a pressure chamber and the housing slidably supports a control valve for communicating pressurized fluid to the pressure chamber. A piston is movably disposed within the housing to move in response to pressurized fluid within the pressure chamber and the piston substantially defines a storage chamber located inside the piston. A charging valve communicates pressurized fluid to the storage chamber and a relief valve vents the storage chamber to the pressure chamber when the pressure stored in the storage chamber is above a predetermined value. An input member cooperates with the piston to define an actuating cavity which communicates with the relief valve so that the input member is movable relative to the piston to pressurize the actuating cavity which causes the relief valve to open communication between the storage chamber and the pressure chamber.

Abstract: An accumulator for use in a brake booster having a housing with a piston located in a bore. The piston has a plug attached thereto. The piston moves in response to a predetermined thermal expansion of a fluid in the accumulator. A predetermined movement shears the plug from the piston to prevent damage to the housing by venting the bore to a reservoir.