Including A Stroke Sensor Patents (Class 303/113.4)
  • Patent number: 9545904
    Abstract: The braking control device for a vehicle is adapted to be used for a vehicle brake device and it is an object of the present invention to prevent an operator of the vehicle from feeling of any an unpleasant feeling by reducing an ineffective operating amount by which no braking force increases in response to the increase of the brake operating amount. The braking control device includes a controlling portion for changing a servo performance to an ineffective operating amount reducing servo performance which is closer to the increase ratio of the hydraulic pressure braking force relative to the increase of the brake operating amount after the input piston has been in contact with the output piston when the brake operating amount reaches to the servo performance change operating amount which is smaller than the assisting limit operating amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshio Masuda, Hiroaki Niino
  • Patent number: 9533665
    Abstract: A master cylinder includes pressurizing chambers and atmospheric pressure chambers which are in communication with a reservoir provided upstream. The pressurizing chambers of the master cylinder are connected to a brake fluid pressure control valve device through master pressure pipes provided with master cut valves. The atmospheric pressure chambers of the master cylinder bypass the master cut valves and are connected to the brake fluid pressure control valve device through bypass pipes provided with check valves. A pump constituting a brake fluid pressurizing section of the brake hydraulic control valve device suctions the brake fluid from the reservoir preferentially through the bypass pipes provided with the check valves and pressurizes the brake fluid to supply a brake fluid pressure to brake fluid pressure adjust sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazunori Nimura, Hiroshi Nakaoka
  • Patent number: 9499151
    Abstract: Provided is a brake system for a vehicle including an input side hydraulic system, an output side hydraulic system, a first and a second shutoff valves to shut off flowing of the brake fluid between the input side hydraulic system and the output side hydraulic system when closed, a first and a second out-valves through which the brake fluid flows into a reservoir unit when opened, and a control unit to control a motor cylinder device of the output side hydraulic system to generate the brake fluid pressure according to the operational amount of a brake pedal. The control unit opens one or both of the first and the second shutoff valves and the first and the second out-valves when output characteristic of the brake fluid pressure generated by the motor cylinder device shifts from basic characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Shimada, Soichiro Ueura
  • Patent number: 9499147
    Abstract: The vehicle brake system includes a cylinder, an output piston disposed in the cylinder, an input piston disposed in the cylinder but separating from the output piston and defining a separation chamber therebetween, a brake pedal connected to the input piston, a reaction force generating device for generating an elastic reaction force, a separation lock valve for controlling the communication between the separation chamber and the reaction force generating device, a fade state judging portion to judge whether the friction brake device is in a fade state or not and a friction braking force control portion for changing the mode to the fade state when the fade state judging portion judged that the friction brake device is in the fade state, wherein a desired friction braking force can be assured even under the brake fade state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke Yamasoe, Hiroaki Niino, Yoshio Masuda, Takashi Kurokawa, Kiyoyuki Uchida, Masaaki Komazawa, Akira Sakai, Yasuji Mizutani, Yusuke Kamiya
  • Patent number: 9415758
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for providing haptic information to the driver of a motor vehicle, equipped with a brake-by-wire brake system, about the operating state of the brake system, in which method the brake pedal characteristic is generated by a pedal travel simulator, in the form of a functional relationship between the brake pedal opposing force and the brake pedal travel, and is modified as a function of an operating state. In order to provide the driver with the haptic information channel via which electronically controlled information can be communicated to the driver during braking, without the impression of a defect arising, the invention proposes that a basic brake pedal characteristic is generated by a passive simulator spring which assigns pedal travel, on which pedal return travel transporting the haptic information is superimposed, to a given pedal force in an unchanging, constant relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Stefan Drumm, Steffen Linkenbach, Marco Besier, Jürgen Böhm, Georg Roll
  • Patent number: 9403518
    Abstract: A brake system for a vehicle includes: a main brake cylinder with a floating piston able to be shifted at least partially into the main brake cylinder, and a brake medium storage device into which a specified storage volume of a brake medium is able to be transferred without counterpressure, the brake medium storage device being hydraulically connected via an electrically controllable first valve to the main brake cylinder in such a way that, in response to a shifting of the floating piston partially into the main brake cylinder by a shift travel that is below a shift travel limit corresponding to the storage volume, a brake medium volume less than the specified storage volume is transferred without counterpressure from the main brake cylinder into the brake medium storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Strengert, Michael Kunz
  • Patent number: 9399452
    Abstract: A method and system is provided for controlling an electrohydraulic braking system for a motor vehicle having an antilock braking control function and an electrically controllable pressure generating device having a cylinder-piston arrangement having a hydraulic pressure chamber and a piston displaceable by an electromechanical actuator so that a predetermined pressure can be set in the chamber, and having a number of hydraulically wheel brakes connected to the hydraulic pressure chamber by an electrically actuatable inlet valve and to a pressure medium reservoir via an electrically actuatable outlet valve. The cylinder-piston arrangement is actuated in case of antilock controlling at all wheel brakes for setting an individual wheel target pressure at each wheel brake, such that the pressure in the hydraulic pressure chamber is set to the greatest wheel target pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Georg Roll, Jurgen Bohm, Jens Jager
  • Patent number: 9393937
    Abstract: A method for operating a braking system of a vehicle, particularly of a motor vehicle, is described in which an automatic braking process is triggered by the exceeding of a specifiable threshold value by a rate of change conditioned upon the operation of a brake pedal. It is provided, in this context, that the threshold value is specified/varied by the driver in an initialization operation of the braking system. Also described is a related braking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Epple
  • Patent number: 9376097
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to prevent abnormal noise from being generated when the pressure of brake fluid supplied to a brake caliper is reduced. A vehicle brake device includes first and second hydraulic brakes generating a hydraulic brake force and a regenerative brake generating a regenerative brake force and divides a braking force into the hydraulic brake force and the regenerative brake force. The vehicle brake device includes a regulating valve that is provided between the first and second hydraulic brakes and continuously regulates the flow rate of brake fluid flowing to the second hydraulic brake from the first hydraulic brake, and a pressure reducing valve that reduces the pressure of the brake fluid supplied to the second hydraulic brake. An opening of the regulating valve is continuously increased and the pressure reducing valve is opened, when the hydraulic brake force of the first hydraulic brake is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: Motomu Hakiai, Yoshiyasu Takasaki
  • Patent number: 9321436
    Abstract: A “brake-by wire” brake system for motor vehicles, with a brake master cylinder which can be actuated by a brake pedal and has a housing and a piston, which is arranged displaceably in the housing and, together with the housing, delimits a pressure space. The piston of the brake master cylinder is designed as a stepped piston with at least two hydraulic active surfaces A1, A2 of differing size, wherein a first, small active surface A1 is assigned to the pressure space, and a second, large active surface A2 is assigned to a filling space, and, after a closing travel has been overcome, the second, large hydraulic active surface A2 is effective and the active surface A2, A1 are switched over in dependence on a hydraulic pressure in the pressure space and on the pedal force, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventor: Lothar Schiel
  • Patent number: 9296368
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for determining an effective brake pedal position for a vehicle. A determination is made as to whether automatic braking is occurring for a vehicle. If the automatic braking is occurring, a measure of braking is determined for the vehicle. The effective pedal position of the brake pedal is determined to be a position of the brake pedal that would be expected to be required to attain the measure of braking if automatic braking were not occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Patrick J. O'Leary, Bret J. Keller, Barbara A. Shuler, Eric E. Krueger
  • Patent number: 9260091
    Abstract: A system and method for conserving vacuum within a vehicle is described. In one example, vacuum is conserved via limiting volume expansion of a brake booster working chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 9254827
    Abstract: The invention describes a method for operating a controllable electromechanical brake booster and the corresponding brake booster which, via a coupling element between the brake booster and pedal rod, is capable of applying a force in opposition to the pedal activation force of a driver, and can therefore be operated as a pedal simulator. For this purpose, a pedal opposing force can be set by a characteristic curve as a function of a pedal position which is predefined by the driver, and can give the driver a pedal sensation even if there is no reaction of, for example, a conventional brake system. In a further operating mode, the brake booster can be operated in its original form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Weiberle, Timo Jahnz
  • Patent number: 9227609
    Abstract: A hydraulic assembly for a vehicle brake system comprising at least two brake circuits and wheel brakes associated with the brake circuits. The hydraulic assembly comprises a pressure generator for generating a central hydraulic pressure for the brake circuits independently of the driver at least in the case of service braking initiated by the driver. Furthermore, at least one pressure adjusting device is provided for adjusting for each individual brake circuit the central hydraulic pressure that is generated by the pressure generator independently of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Leo Gilles, Boris Koeth
  • Patent number: 9205819
    Abstract: An electronic control device for a pressure controller, by way of which solenoid valves for pressure control are actuated with current via an actuating electronic system, and having a pump assembly is actuated as a function of a pressure request, which generates a volumetric flow with a periodically fluctuating amplitude. The wheel brake circuit isolating valve, during an active pressure build-up, discharging part of the delivery volume into a reservoir volume, at least in the case of a control operation which performs an intervention for driving stability which is not critical to safety, if the pressure which is built up by the assembly is higher than the pressure which is to be set, the electric coil current for the actuation of the isolating valve is modulated and the periodic actuation being interrupted at least when the control device has to carry out an intervention for driving stability which is critical to safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Robert Schmidt, Joachim Bohn, Michael Hitzel
  • Patent number: 9145121
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a brake system for motor vehicles. The system can be actuated both by a vehicle driver and independently of the vehicle driver in what is known as a brake-by-wire mode. The hydraulic actuation device can be actuated by means of a brake pedal and has a main brake cylinder to which wheel brakes are connected, at least two brake circuits, a simulation device, which comprises at least one elastic element and gives the vehicle driver a comfortable pedal feeling, an electrically controllable pressure-providing device, which is formed by a cylinder/piston assembly, the piston of which can be actuated by an electromagnetic actuator, wherein the first measurement variable (PDBE) characterizing a position of the piston is detected. The detected measurement value of the first and second measurement variable (SDBE, PDBE) are compared to a predetermined characteristic map of the first and second measurement variables in order to monitor a functional status of the brake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Johann Jungbecker, Steffen Linkenbach, Stefan A. Drumm, Marco Besier, Josko Kurbasa, Jochen Führer
  • Patent number: 9114785
    Abstract: Braking system with master cylinder (100), decoupled from the brake pedal and hydraulic brake booster (200), comprising a boost chamber (206) in which the rear of the piston (110) of the master cylinder (100) is inserted, supplied in a controlled manner by a high-pressure unit (300), supplying brake fluid under high pressure on command to the boost chamber in order to act on the piston (110) of the master cylinder (100), and an actuator chamber (209) receiving an actuator piston (220) connected to the control rod (230) of the brake pedal. A controlled hydraulic link (320, 321) connects the boost chamber (206) and the actuator chamber (209) and a further controlled hydraulic link (310, 311) connects the actuator chamber (209) to the chamber of a brake simulator (270).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Komi Sokou, Roman Winkler, Bastien Cagnac, Chris Anderson, Raynald Sprocq
  • Patent number: 9114797
    Abstract: An engine control apparatus includes a first operation member and a second operation member for braking a front wheel and a rear wheel of a saddle-type vehicle, and an engine controller that automatically stops and restarts an engine mounted in the saddle-type vehicle in response to the operational state of the first operation member and the second operation member. When a prescribed amount of time has passed while the first operation member and the second operation member are both in an operated state, the engine controller automatically stops the engine; when the first operation member and the second operation member are both released, the engine controller restarts the engine; and when either one of the first operation member and the second operation member is operated after the engine has automatically been stopped, the engine controller allows the engine to continue in the automatically stopped state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshifumi Osawa, Yusuke Takaishi, Koji Inose, Naoki Ikeda, Junichi Sakamoto, Junya Niwa
  • Patent number: 9085288
    Abstract: A method of operating a brake assistance system in a vehicle is disclosed. The method includes determining a braking operation as an emergency braking situation, which in turn includes sensing a braking pressure applied to a brake pedal, determining a braking pressure gradient of the braking pressure, and evaluating at least one factor of the driving situation, checking whether that factor indicates an emergency braking situation. If that factor indicates an emergency braking situation, adjustments to a braking pressure threshold value and a braking pressure gradient threshold value are carried out, reducing those threshold values by a predetermined amount. Thereafter, if both the braking pressure and the braking pressure gradient exceed the adjusted braking pressure threshold value and the adjusted braking pressure gradient threshold value, respectively, the braking operation is identified to be an emergency braking situation, accompanying activation of an emergency braking cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Svensson
  • Patent number: 9073528
    Abstract: Disclosed is brake system technology such as a modulator block and an electronic control brake system for vehicles having the same which suppresses residual frictional force generated due to contact between pads and a disc by moving a part of fluid at the wheel brake side to a residual frictional force control unit so as to retract pads from the disc, so that the hydraulic volume is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: I Jin Yang, Hee Jun Kim
  • Patent number: 9039102
    Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein may be useful emergency braking systems for use in, for example, an aircraft. A system is disclosed that allows emergency braking without the need for a manually operated emergency brake. For example, a system is provided comprising a potentiometer in mechanical communication with a brake pedal, a first electronic switch in electrical communication with the potentiometer, a second electronic switch indicating a displacement of the brake pedal, wherein a brake control valve opens in response to the first electronic switch, and wherein a shutoff valve opens in response to the second electronic switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric D. Cahill, Paul R. Burte
  • Patent number: 9022486
    Abstract: In a vehicle brake device, when a brake pedal is depressed normally, high regeneration efficiency and high fuel efficiency can be achieved by positively utilizing the regenerative braking force, and early applying of basic hydraulic braking force can be achieved when the brake pedal is suddenly depressed. The vehicle brake device includes an operation force transmitting mechanism on a connecting member between the brake pedal and the master cylinder piston and having first and second rods and a spring member biasing the first and second rods in a direction separating both rods from each other. The operation force transmitting mechanism includes an inner space between both rods and a communication passage allowing communication of the inner space with the exterior. The communication passage restricts the outflow of fluid in the inner space upon an emergency brake pedal depression and allows the outflow thereof upon non-emergency brake pedal depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuya Maki
  • Patent number: 9016805
    Abstract: A vehicle brake system includes a brake pedal unit (BPU) coupled to a vehicle brake pedal and including an input piston connected to operate a pedal simulator during a normal braking mode, and coupled to actuate a pair of output pistons during a manual push through mode. The output pistons are operable to generate brake actuating pressure at first and second outputs of the BPU. A hydraulic pressure source for supplying fluid at a controlled boost pressure is included. The system further includes a hydraulic control unit (HCU) adapted to be hydraulically connected to the BPU and the hydraulic pressure source, the HCU including a slip control valve arrangement, and a switching base brake valve arrangement for switching the brake system between the normal braking mode wherein boost pressure from the pressure source is supplied to first and second vehicle brakes, and the manual push through mode wherein brake actuating pressure from the BPU is supplied to the first and second vehicle brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventor: Blaise J. Ganzel
  • Patent number: 9004615
    Abstract: A method for operating a hydraulic brake system of a motor vehicle, comprising a pressure generating device used to build up additional brake pressure in a master brake cylinder or in addition to a master brake cylinder and in opposition to further pedal actuation wherein the additional pressure is a function of the pedal actuation travel distance. A method that reduces the limitations of a braking system's physical parameters on the build-up of additional braking pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Svensson, Ian Moore, Rudolf Daniels
  • Publication number: 20150091371
    Abstract: A stroke simulator and a bush for a stroke simulator are configured so that a bush provided to a stroke simulator can be attached without direction management. The stroke simulator generates brake reaction force by a simulator piston that is displaced within a cylinder by hydraulic pressure generated according to the operation of a brake pedal by a driver. A cylindrical rubber bush is elastically deformed in an axial direction by pressure from the simulator piston to generate brake reaction force, the bush characterized in that a first end section on the simulator piston side and a second end section facing the first end section contain the same number, at least two, of concave sections which are concaved in the axial direction, and the concave section formed in the first end section and the concave section formed in the second end section are formed in different positions in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicants: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., NISSIN KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobutake Hyodo, Kazuaki Murayama, Motoyasu Nakamura, Shunsuke Aoki
  • Patent number: 8991939
    Abstract: A brake control system has a manual fluid pressure source and a power fluid pressure source. A fluid pressure actuator forms an X-pipe having a first channel and a second channel. The power fluid pressure source supplies the operating fluid to each wheel by using the first channel and the second channel. A channel system including the first channel and a channel system including the second channel can be isolated from each other by an isolation valve. The fluid pressure actuator includes a regulation unit configured to regulate a state of supplying the operating fluid such that a difference between a state occurring when the operating fluid is supplied to one of the first channel and the second channel after passing through the isolation valve, and a state occurring when the operating fluid is supplied to the other channel without passing through the isolation valve, is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Nakamura, Akira Sakai
  • Patent number: 8985714
    Abstract: Disclosed is a brake actuating unit for actuating a motor vehicle brake system of the ‘brake-by-wire’ type. The system includes a brake booster which is operable in response to the driver's wish both by a brake pedal and by an electronic control unit. A device is provided to decouple a force-transmitting connection between the brake pedal and the brake booster in the ‘brake-by-wire’ operating mode. A master brake cylinder connected downstream of the brake booster, a device to detect a deceleration request of the driver, and a pedal travel simulator which interacts with the brake pedal and due to which a resetting force acting on the brake pedal can be simulated in the ‘brake-by-wire’ operating mode independently of an actuation of the brake booster, and which can be enabled in the ‘brake-by-wire’ operating mode when the force-transmitting connection between the brake pedal and the brake booster is decoupled and can be disabled outside the ‘brake-by-wire’ operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Holger von Hayn, Jürgen Schonlau, Manfred Rüffer, Wolfgang Ritter, Holger Kranlich, Jose Gonzalez, Thomas Sellinger, Milan Klimes, Torsten Queiβer, Michael Haber
  • Patent number: 8974010
    Abstract: The electric brake system for vehicles includes a pressure supplier connected to a reservoir through a hydraulic passage to receive the oil, the pressure supplier outputting a brake will of a driver as an electric signal through the pedal displacement sensor, when the driver pushes the brake pedal, to operate a motor and convert a rotational force of the motor into linear motion, a hydraulic control unit including a first circuit including at least one first vehicle wheel and a second circuit including at least one second vehicle wheel to receive a hydraulic pressure with a force generated by the pressure supplier and thereby perform braking, a blocking valve to control the hydraulic pressure from the master cylinder to a wheel cylinder disposed in each vehicle wheel, a simulation device connected to the master cylinder, to provide a reaction force response to the pedal effort of the brake pedal, and an electronic control unit to control the motor and the valves, based on pressure information and pedal displa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: I Jin Yang
  • Patent number: 8936322
    Abstract: A system for use in a vehicle with a brake pedal and a brake circuit. The system includes a master cylinder assembly configured to pressurize fluid therein in response to movement of the brake pedal, a sensor assembly configured to generate a pedal position signal indicative of position of the brake pedal, an electronic control unit configured to (i) generate a brake request signal in response to generation of the pedal position signal, and (ii) generate a selector control signal, and a selector valve assembly being moved from a first mode to a second mode in response to generation of the selector control signal, the master cylinder assembly is (i) isolated from fluid communication with the brake circuit when the selector valve assembly is positioned in the first mode, and (ii) in fluid communication with the brake circuit when the selector valve assembly is positioned in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Milan Klimes, Timothy J. Albert, Gregory P. Goodzey, Kevin Johnson, Kenneth S. Towers
  • Patent number: 8899696
    Abstract: A controllable brake booster and a method and a device for controlling the brake booster are disclosed. The pedal force that a driver must apply in order to convey an input element of the brake booster into an actuating position or to retain the element in an actuating position is adjusted by operating the brake booster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Weiberle, Timo Jahnz, Jochen Mayer, Jens Kolarsky
  • Patent number: 8864244
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic brake system comprising a master brake cylinder the at least one working chamber of which is connected to the wheel brakes of the vehicle via at least one hydraulic line, the brake piston of at least one wheel brake being adjustable by a negative pressure in the hydraulic lines to produce a brake clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Ipgate AG
    Inventors: Heinz Leiber, Valentin Unterfrauner
  • Patent number: 8851579
    Abstract: In a BBW type vehicle brake device, first and second fluid paths that are connected to each other are both connected to a slave cylinder with a simple structure that is equipped with a single fluid pressure chamber, thereby enabling wheel cylinders having two lines to be operated and eliminating the need for a complicated tandem type slave cylinder. When the slave cylinder becomes inoperable due to malfunction of the power supply, by opening first and second master cut valves and closing the communication control valve, braking is carried out by means of brake fluid pressure generated by a master cylinder. In this process, since the interconnection between the first and second fluid paths is blocked by closing the communication control valve, even if the wheel cylinder of one of the brake lines suffers from a liquid leakage malfunction, the other remained brake line is enabled to ensure a braking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Ohkubo, Takashi Nishioka, Arata Inoue, Kunimichi Hatano
  • Patent number: 8827378
    Abstract: Brake apparatus (10; 110; 140) includes a transmission unit (75) for operatively connecting a brake pedal (12) to a master cylinder (17), and the transmission unit is capable of varying a ratio between an output amount of a push rod (86) connected to a master cylinder (17) and a movement amount of the brake pedal (12). Further, the transmission unit (75) is constructed such that, in a latter-half operation amount region (E2; E6; E9) of the brake pedal, the ratio of the operation amount of the brake pedal to the movement amount of the push rod is controlled, via the transmission unit, to increase in response to increase of the operation amount of the brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoya Toyohira, Arata Inoue, Kazuyoshi Akutsu, Kunimichi Hatano
  • Patent number: 8827377
    Abstract: In a BBW type brake device, if a slave cylinder becomes inoperable, when a master cylinder is operated for the first time, a master cut valve is opened to charge brake fluid into a reservoir of a hydraulic modulator, and since the brake fluid charged into the reservoir is increased in pressure by driving a hydraulic pump when the master cut valve is closed, wheel cylinders are operated. Since the amount of brake fluid on the downstream side relative to the master cut valve is increased by charging the reservoir with brake fluid, it is possible to increase the pressure of the brake fluid of the reservoir by driving the hydraulic pump and generate brake fluid pressure by a hydraulic modulator that is higher than the brake fluid pressure generated by the master cylinder, thereby generating sufficient braking force without increasing the depressing force applied to a brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nishioka, Naoto Ohkubo, Kunimichi Hatano
  • Patent number: 8783791
    Abstract: A foot valve that can be activated either by the driver or an electronic control unit, wherein the foot valve can be the central driving device for automated braking applications such as Hill Start Aid and Work Brake Systems. Pneumatic pressure delivered by an electronically controlled proportional modulator to the foot valve activates either primary and/or secondary portions of the brake valve. The driver can mechanically override the electronic intervention when he presses on the brake pedal. For applications such as ESC and ATC, driver demand can be sensed by sensors in the foot valve and transmitted to the braking system electronic controller on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Eberling, Mark A. Bennett
  • Patent number: 8777331
    Abstract: A brake booster for use in a hydraulic braking system having a brake pedal, a master cylinder, and a hydraulic control unit includes a housing, a screw drive arrangement positioned at least partially in the housing, a motor coupled to the housing for actuating the screw drive arrangement, and a piston assembly positioned in the housing. The piston assembly and the housing together at least partially define a first fluid chamber having an opening for providing fluid communication with the master cylinder, and a second fluid chamber having an opening for providing fluid communication with the hydraulic control unit. The screw drive arrangement is movable relative to a piston of the piston assembly between an engaged position, in which the first fluid chamber is isolated from the second fluid chamber, and a disengaged position in which the first fluid chamber is not isolated from the second fluid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Toshiaki Fukushima
  • Patent number: 8777334
    Abstract: In a control apparatus for a vehicle, a brake control unit includes: a master cylinder state variable detecting section configured to detect a master cylinder state variable related to a state of a master cylinder; a first regenerative braking force calculating section configured to calculate a first regenerative braking force when the master cylinder state variable detected by the master cylinder state variable detecting section is smaller than a predetermined state variable; a second regenerative braking force calculating section configured to calculate a second regenerative braking force when the master cylinder state variable detected by the master cylinder state variable detecting section is equal to or larger than a predetermined state variable; and a braking control section configured to calculate the liquid pressure braking force on a basis of at least one of the calculated first and second regenerative braking forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yusuke Fujii
  • Patent number: 8768595
    Abstract: A vehicle braking force control device which, at a normal time, performs antilock brake control when the slip ratio of a wheel has become equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. The control device acquires from the engine control unit an accelerator pedal position signal corresponding to an accelerator pedal position, a clutch connection signal corresponding to a state of connection of a clutch, and a power transmission signal corresponding to a state of power transmission of a transmission. When engine braking is large on the basis of the accelerator pedal position signal, the clutch connection signal, and the power transmission signal, the vehicle braking force control device changes the predetermined threshold value to an offset threshold value that makes it harder to perform the antilock brake control than at the normal time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Ogawa, Kazuhiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 8757734
    Abstract: A pedal simulator includes a cylinder mechanism for absorbing a fluid pressure generated in a pressurization chamber of a master cylinder by operating a brake pedal. The cylinder mechanism includes a housing, a piston slidably held in the housing and defining a fluid chamber for introducing a working fluid thereinto, and a plurality of spring members for urging the piston toward the fluid chamber. The housing includes an open end on an opposite side of the housing from the piston, and a lid member which covers the open end. The lid member is composed of a member separate and distinct from the housing. The lid member is provided with a damper made of a rubber member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoya Toyohira, William Allan Johnstone
  • Patent number: 8733848
    Abstract: A vehicular braking apparatus including a shut-off valve for shutting off, as needed, a flow of oil from a wheel cylinder to a master cylinder; a pressure increase-decrease control valve increasing and decreasing a pressure in the wheel cylinder; a reservoir receiving and storing in a reservoir chamber the oil from the wheel cylinder when the pressure increase-decrease control valve is in a pressure decrease position; a pump sucking in and pressuring the oil from the reservoir chamber and supplying the oil to the wheel cylinder via the pressure increase-decrease control valve when the pressure increase-decrease control valve is in a pressure increase position; and a communication control valve controlling communication between the master cylinder and the reservoir chamber. The communication control valve is a normally-closed valve and is opened by a suction pressure of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isono, Yasuji Mizutani
  • Patent number: 8733512
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electric disc brake capable of reducing noise and vibration while expanding the life span of the product. The electric disc brake includes a caliper housing to press friction pads provided at both sides of a disc against the disc, a cylinder installed in the caliper housing, a piston moving back and forth in the cylinder to press the friction pads, a driving device generating driving force with respect to the piston, and a volume compensation part communicated with the cylinder to compensate for an increment of a volume of the cylinder according to movement of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Jin Seok Kim
  • Patent number: 8727455
    Abstract: A brake control apparatus for a vehicle having a regenerative braking system, has first to fourth brake circuits, a pump, a gate-out valve, an inflow valve, an outflow valve, a reservoir, a fluid suction cylinder, a branch oil passage, a switch valve, a regulation valve, and a hydraulic pressure control unit. The hydraulic pressure control unit controls a brake fluid pressure by operating the gate-out valve, the inflow valve, the outflow valve, the switch valve and the pump in accordance with a regenerative operation state of the regenerative braking system. Also the hydraulic pressure control unit stores the brake fluid flowing out from a master cylinder in the fluid suction cylinder by operating the pump when the regenerative braking system works, and supplies the brake fluid stored in the fluid suction cylinder to a wheel cylinder when a regenerative braking amount of the regenerative braking system lowers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Motohiro Higuma, Kotaro Koyama
  • Patent number: 8708430
    Abstract: A pneumatic vehicle brake system includes first and second groups of wheel brakes belonging, respectively, to first and second brake circuits having first and second compressed air storage tanks for providing first and second stored pressures. At least one first circuit brake cylinder is a combined spring-store/diaphragm cylinder with a spring store part for providing a parking brake and a diaphragm part for providing a service brake. If the first circuit fails, the spring store part is deaerated to engage the parking brake. A pressure sensor for measuring the first stored pressure is connected to a control unit that controls a modulator for aerating and deaerating the spring store part. The control unit generates a signal for an electrically actuatable modulator solenoid valve if the value measured by the sensor falls below a minimum value, such that the spring store part can be aerated and deaerated via the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Bensch, Jörg Helmer, Bernd-Joachim Kiel, Hartmut Rosendahl
  • Patent number: 8706376
    Abstract: To provide an ABS control system and software with an automatic parameter calibration function. An ABS control system according to the present invention includes an electronic control unit (ECU), a wheel speed sensor, and a brake pressure sensor. The wheel speed sensor and the brake pressure sensor measure wheel speed and brake pressure during ABS braking, and the ABS control system automatically calibrates an internal parameter used in ABS control in response to the wheel speed and brake pressure measurement results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: Shunsaku Ono, Shuichi Miyagawa
  • Patent number: 8672419
    Abstract: A brake system including: (i) hydraulic brakes provided for respective wheels of a vehicle, and configured to be activated by hydraulic pressures of respective brake cylinders so as to restrain rotations of the respective wheels; (ii) a power hydraulic pressure source including a drive source that is activatable by supply of electric energy, and configured to generate hydraulic pressure by activation of the drive source; and (iii) a common passage to which the power hydraulic pressure source and the brake cylinders of the hydraulic brakes are connected. The brake cylinders include a first brake cylinder connected to the common passage via a first individual passage that is provided with a normally-close electromagnetic valve as a first individual control valve. The brake cylinders include a second brake cylinder connected to the common passage via a second individual passage that is provided with a normally-open electromagnetic valve as a second individual control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Miyazaki, Takayuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8634985
    Abstract: A method of detecting an in-range failure of a brake pedal position sensor includes calculating the difference between a minimum position and a maximum position of the brake pedal position sensor. The calculated difference is weighted to define a fast test weighted input value and/or a full test weighted input value. A cumulative test result value is incremented by the fast test weighted input value and/or the full test weighted input value. The cumulative test result value is filtered to define a moving average of the cumulative test result value after each incremented occurrence. The moving average of the cumulative test result value is tracked to determine if the brake pedal position sensor is functioning properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Andrew M. Zettel, John F. Van Gilder, Ammar A Atmeh, Stanley D Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8622179
    Abstract: A parking brake control device performs a releasing control with good precision by more precisely maintaining clearance between a friction-applying member and a friction-applied member. During a releasing control, a timing at which a braking force generated by an electric parking brake 2 drops to zero is detected based on a change in a motor current, and a second releasing operation time is set according to the magnitude of the motor current at the time the braking force drops to zero. This makes it possible for the second releasing operation time to be set in accordance with fluctuations in a motor load due to temperature changes or the like. Therefore, a clearance between a brake pad and a brake disc can be kept constant according to the motor load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Watanabe, Tetsuaki Tsuzuki, Kazuma Kondo, Kentaro Yuasa
  • Patent number: 8544965
    Abstract: Provided is a brake system capable of preventing fuel efficiency of a vehicle from being lowered. After a brake pedal is released, a pump is driven under a state in which opening/closure of valves included in an ABS/VDC actuator are regulated so that pressure-reduction control for returning a brake fluid in wheel cylinders to a master cylinder is performed. Therefore, the brake fluid remaining in the wheel cylinders is returned to the master cylinder via the pump to increase a hydraulic pressure of the master cylinder. As a result, return characteristics of an electric actuation unit are improved. Therefore, for example, even if viscosity of grease applied onto a rotary-to-linear motion converting mechanism is increased at a low temperature or the like, pistons of the master cylinder can be appropriately returned to initial positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaru Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8540324
    Abstract: The invention relates to a brake system which comprises an actuating device (26), especially a brake pedal (30), and a control/regulation device (22). Said control/regulation device (22) controls at least one electromotive drive device (7a, 7b, 8) in response to the movement and/or position of the actuating device (26). The drive device adjusts a piston (1, 1a, 1b) of a piston/cylinder system via a non-hydraulic transmission device, thereby adjusting a pressure in the working compartment (4?, 4?a, 4b?) of the cylinder. Said working compartment is connected to a wheel brake (15, 17) via a pressure conduit (13, 13a). A valve (14, 14a, 15, 15a, 14?, 14a?) is interposed between the brake cylinder of the wheel brake and the working compartment of the piston/cylinder system. The control/regulation device opens the valve for pressure suppression or pressure build-up in the brake cylinder and closes it in order to maintain the pressure in the brake cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: IPGate AG
    Inventors: Heinz Leiber, Thomas Leiber
  • Patent number: RE44677
    Abstract: An improved electro-hydraulic brake system having features for improving the pedal feel of the system, while further having design features which contribute to the economy of manufacture of certain components of the system. The system provides for an electrically powered normal source of pressurized hydraulic brake fluid, and a manually powered backup source of pressurized hydraulic brake fluid to the vehicle brakes in the event of failure of the normal source. During normal braking, fluid from the backup source is redirected from the vehicle brakes to a pedal simulator. The pedal simulator preferably includes arrangements of spring loaded pistons, expansion volumes, and damping orifices, together with valves selectively controlling the flow of fluid to and from the pedal simulator which provides for an improved pedal feel during vehicle braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventors: Gregory P. Campau, Andrew W. Kingston, Robert L. Ferger, Thomas Weigert, Salvatore Oliveri, Blaise J. Ganzel, Mark S. Luckevich