Abstract: At the connection region (connection mechanism of a parking lever and an electric actuator, a first connection pin is fitted in the end of a shaft member, is orthogonal to the shaft member, and is disposed parallel to the support shaft of the parking lever. A second connection pin is fitted in the swinging end of the parking lever and is parallel to the first connection pin. A connection member is rotatable with respect to the end of the shaft member in the circumferential direction of the first connection pin at a first hole where the connection member is fitted on the first connection pin, is rotatable with respect to the parking lever in the circumferential direction of the second connection pin at a second hole where the connection member is fitted on the second connection pin, and connects the two pins.

Abstract: At the connection region (connection mechanism of a parking lever and an electric actuator, a first connection pin is fitted in the end of a shaft member, is orthogonal to the shaft member, and is disposed parallel to the support shaft of the parking lever. A second connection pin is fitted in the swinging end of the parking lever and is parallel to the first connection pin. A connection member is rotatable with respect to the end of the shaft member in the circumferential direction of the first connection pin at a first hole where the connection member is fitted on the first connection pin, is rotatable with respect to the parking lever in the circumferential direction of the second connection pin at a second hole where the connection member is fitted on the second connection pin, and connects the two pins.

Abstract: When an EPB performs a locking operation of operating a parking brake, a pressure-decreasing limit control is performed until a driving shaft contacts a piston. Accordingly, even when the time of decreasing the W/C pressure by a service brake is equal to the time of brining the driving shaft having moved by the motor driving of the EPB into contact with the piston are equal to each other, it is possible to prevent the piston, which has been urged to the driving shaft with the decreasing of the W/C pressure, from colliding with the driving shaft with a great impact, thereby preventing a large load from being applied to the driving shaft.

Abstract: When an EPB performs a locking operation of operating a parking brake, a pressure-decreasing limit control is performed until a driving shaft contacts a piston. Accordingly, even when the time of decreasing the W/C pressure by a service brake is equal to the time of brining the driving shaft having moved by the motor driving of the EPB into contact with the piston are equal to each other, it is possible to prevent the piston, which has been urged to the driving shaft with the decreasing of the W/C pressure, from colliding with the driving shaft with a great impact, thereby preventing a large load from being applied to the driving shaft.

Abstract: In an electric parking brake device, an equalizer is pivotably carried at its center part on a nut which is caused by an electric motor to perform linear reciprocating motion, and parking brakes are operated by respective cables which are connected respectively to the opposite end portions of the equalizer. Stop members are provided for preventing the pivot movement of the equalizer in the state that the equalizer is held returned by the operation of the electric motor to an extreme position on the side of the parking brakes. The stop members may be composed of a first stop member for preventing the equalizer from being pivoted in one direction and a second stop member for preventing the equalizer from being pivoted in the other direction, or may be constituted by a member of one piece structure for preventing the equalizer from being pivoted in both directions.

Abstract: A force sensor includes a shaft to which a magnet is fixed, and a case which can reciprocate with respect to the shaft and to which a Hall IC element is fixed. The Hall IC element outputs an output voltage which changes in accordance with relative displacement between the Hall IC element and the magnet. A main spring is interposed between the shaft and the case and elastically deforms in accordance with force produced between the shaft and the case in the reciprocating direction. A sub spring is provided in order to impart a preload such that when the amount of elastic deformation of the main spring is substantially zero, no axial clearance is formed between a flange portion of the shaft and one end portion of the main spring, and no axial clearance is formed between the case and the other end of the main spring.

Abstract: In an electric parking brake device, an equalizer is pivotably carried at its center part on a nut which is caused by an electric motor to perform linear reciprocating motion, and parking brakes are operated by respective cables which are connected respectively to the opposite end portions of the equalizer. Stop members are provided for preventing the pivot movement of the equalizer in the state that the equalizer is held returned by the operation of the electric motor to an extreme position on the side of the parking brakes. The stop members may be composed of a first stop member for preventing the equalizer from being pivoted in one direction and a second stop member for preventing the equalizer from being pivoted in the other direction, or may be constituted by a member of one piece structure for preventing the equalizer from being pivoted in both directions.

Abstract: When a driver operates an activation switch, an electric parking brake apparatus performs a parking brake activation control in order to operate an electric motor until the tension of a base wire reaches a predetermined target tension to thereby bring parking brakes into an activated state. After that, the apparatus again performs the parking brake activation control when a re-activation time, which is set in accordance with the difference between an estimated temperature of a service brake and an ambient temperature, has elapsed; when the position of a shift lever has been changed; when the height of the vehicle has changed by an amount greater than a predetermined amount; or when the driver releases a brake pedal which has been continuously operated after completion of the parking brake activation control.

Abstract: An electric parking brake control unit of an electric parking brake apparatus has an input section for receiving signals for performing automatic activation and deactivation, but does not have a determination function and a circuit for inputting signals from various sensors, which are necessary to determine whether to start the automatic activation/deactivation control. Therefore, when used in a vehicle which does not require an automatic control function and requires only a manual control function, the electric parking brake control unit can be used solely, with no signal line connected to the input section. When used in a vehicle which requires both the automatic control function and the manual control function, the input section is connected to a second control unit that can output signals for performing automatic activation and deactivation, whereby the electric parking brake control unit operates in cooperation with the second control unit.

Abstract: A force sensor includes a shaft to which a magnet is fixed, and a case which can reciprocate with respect to the shaft and to which a Hall IC element is fixed. The Hall IC element outputs an output voltage which changes in accordance with relative displacement between the Hall IC element and the magnet. A main spring is interposed between the shaft and the case and elastically deforms in accordance with force produced between the shaft and the case in the reciprocating direction. A sub spring is provided in order to impart a preload such that when the amount of elastic deformation of the main spring is substantially zero, no axial clearance is formed between a flange portion of the shaft and one end portion of the main spring, and no axial clearance is formed between the case and the other end of the main spring.

Abstract: A vehicular parking brake apparatus includes right and left-side brakes connected to an electric motor via a cable and an equalizer, so that the operating forces of the brakes become equal. In this case, the operating forces of the right and left brakes are commonly controlled based on one of the wheels that exhibits a greater rate of slip. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a rate of slip of the right and left wheels from becoming excessively great. The electric motor is controlled taking into account a transfer delay of the cable. Therefore, the slip rates of the right and left wheels can be quickly converged to a proper state. Thus, in a case where a parking brake is operated during the running of the vehicle, the operating force of the parking brake is controlled so that the state of slip of the wheels is a proper state.

Abstract: An electrical vehicle parking brake device capable of reducing the size towards a cable shaft and improving the degree of freedom of mounting in a vehicle is provided for the electrical vehicle parking brake device of controlling the braking force to a wheel due to the driving power of a motor which is transmitted by way of a cable at the time of parking the vehicle.

Abstract: When a driver operates an activation switch, an electric parking brake apparatus performs a parking brake activation control in order to operate an electric motor until the tension of a base wire reaches a predetermined target tension to thereby bring parking brakes into an activated state. After that, the apparatus again performs the parking brake activation control when a re-activation time, which is set in accordance with the difference between an estimated temperature of a service brake and an ambient temperature, has elapsed; when the position of a shift lever has been changed; when the height of the vehicle has changed by an amount greater than a predetermined amount; or when the driver releases a brake pedal which has been continuously operated after completion of the parking brake activation control.

Abstract: An electric parking brake control unit of an electric parking brake apparatus has an input section for receiving signals for performing automatic activation and deactivation, but does not have a determination function and a circuit for inputting signals from various sensors, which are necessary to determine whether to start the automatic activation/deactivation control. Therefore, when used in a vehicle which does not require an automatic control function and requires only a manual control function, the electric parking brake control unit can be used solely, with no signal line connected to the input section. When used in a vehicle which requires both the automatic control function and the manual control function, the input section is connected to a second control unit that can output signals for performing automatic activation and deactivation, whereby the electric parking brake control unit operates in cooperation with the second control unit.

Abstract: A motor-driven parking brake apparatus includes an electric motor and a rotation transmission mechanism. The rotation transmission mechanism brings a parking brake into a braking state through rotation in the regular direction effected by means of torque transmitted from the electric motor, and brings the parking brake into a released state through rotation in the reverse direction effected by means of the torque. The rotation transmission mechanism includes a first speed reduction mechanism, a second speed reduction mechanism, and a reverse-input cutoff clutch placed between the first and second speed reduction mechanisms. The reverse-input cutoff clutch allows its reverse-input cutoff function to be activated or deactivated through push-pull operation.

Abstract: An electrical vehicle parking brake device capable of reducing the size towards a cable shaft and improving the degree of freedom of mounting in a vehicle is provided for the electrical vehicle parking brake device of controlling the braking force to a wheel due to the driving power of a motor which is transmitted by way of a cable at the time of parking the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicular parking brake apparatus includes right and left-side brakes connected to an electric motor via a cable and an equalizer, so that the operating forces of the brakes become equal. In this case, the operating forces of the right and left brakes are commonly controlled based on one of the wheels that exhibits a greater rate of slip. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a rate of slip of the right and left wheels from becoming excessively great. The electric motor is controlled taking into account a transfer delay of the cable. Therefore, the slip rates of the right and left wheels can be quickly converged to a proper state. Thus, in a case where a parking brake is operated during the running of the vehicle, the operating force of the parking brake is controlled so that the state of slip of the wheels is a proper state.

Abstract: A vehicle height control system including a shock absorber having an air chamber, an air compressor connected with the shock absorber through an air supply conduit, an air drain conduit connected the air supply conduit, an air drain valve in the air drain conduit and which is opened so as to discharge to the atmosphere, air stored in the air chamber and the air supply conduit, a cut-off valve disposed between the shock absorber and the air compressor in the supply conduit and which is closed so as to store the air in the air chamber, and a controller which controls an operation of the air compressor, the air drain valve and the cut-off valve so as to control the amount of air stored in the air chamber, wherein the air drain valve remains opened for a predetermined time during which operation of the air compressor is started and the cut-off vale is opened after the air compressor is started.

Abstract: A tube connecting unit for connecting a tube to an apparatus, comprising a cylindrical adapter having a pair of slits formed on the periphery, a cylindrical connector inserted in a inner bore of the adapter and having an annular groove formed on the periphery so as to accord to the slits of the adapter, a tube inserted in the inner bore of the connector and having a flange portion for preventing the tube from slipping out of the connection, and a clip-like spring fitted in the slits of the adapter and the annular groove of the connector for preventing the connector from slipping out of the adapter.