Brake Patents (Class 477/184)
  • Patent number: 10239503
    Abstract: In a method for providing the application force generated by a parking brake, which is at least partially generated by an electromechanical brake device having an electric brake motor, a retensioning process is terminated in the event that (i) the motor current exceeds a limit value or (ii) the rotational speed of the motor drops below a limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Baehrle-Miller, Dieter Blattert, Tobias Putzer
  • Patent number: 9457783
    Abstract: A disk brake is configured as a brake apparatus provided with an electric parking brake function capable of holding braking of a vehicle by driving an electric actuator. A parking brake control apparatus, which controls the electric actuator, actuates the electric actuator so as to release holding of the braking upon determining that the vehicle is in a running state. More specifically, if a speed of the vehicle is maintained at a speed higher than 0 km/h for a predetermined time period, the parking brake control apparatus actuates a rotation/linear motion conversion mechanism by the electric actuator so as to release the holding of the piston of the disk brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kotake, Wataru Yokoyama, Kenichiro Matsubara
  • Patent number: 9248810
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal operated braking system for an automatic transmission vehicle; said braking system including monitoring of angular data and angular rate of change data of an accelerator pedal of said vehicle; said system further including a control module and an actuator acting on the brake pedal of said vehicle; said braking system responsive to said angular data and angular rate of change data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Inventor: Erland George Olofsson
  • Patent number: 9227561
    Abstract: The invention specifies a sensor arrangement for a brake system for braking a wheel in a vehicle, which brake system includes a travel sensor for detecting a position of a brake pedal of the brake system, wherein the travel sensor is provided for detecting operation of the brake pedal based on the position of the brake pedal and for outputting a signal which indicates operation of the brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Christian Burgdorf, Ralf Hartmann, Sören Lehmann, Josko Kurbasa
  • Publication number: 20150021140
    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: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 8918263
    Abstract: A disclosed power machine has a power source with a rotational output that drives a first axle assembly with first and second wheels with one of the first and second wheels being a sensed wheel. Wheel speed and rotational speed sensors monitor the rotation speed of the first sensed wheel and the rotational output, respectively. A controller communicates with the wheel speed sensor, the rotational output speed sensor, and a braking system that is operable to brake the first and second wheels. A controller calculates, as a function of the sensed wheel and rotational output speeds, a traction score indicative of whether one of the first wheel and second wheel is slipping and signals to the braking system to brake the first wheel when the traction score indicates that the first wheel is slipping and brake the second wheel when the traction score indicates that the second wheel is slipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Company
    Inventors: Kevin Joseph Zent, Matthew James Kaldor
  • Patent number: 8663064
    Abstract: A method of operating a drive-train of a motor vehicle which comprises a hybrid drive with a combustion engine and an electric machine, a clutch connected between the combustion engine and the electric machine, a transmission connected between the electric machine and a drive output, and either a primary retarder connected between the electric machine and the transmission or a secondary retarder connected between the transmission and the drive output. In order to warm up hydraulic oil, when the clutch between the combustion engine and the electric machine is disengaged and a transmission gear is engaged, a braking torque is produced by either the primary or secondary retarder, in the drive-train, and the electric machine is operated in a torque-controlled manner such that it delivers a torque equal to the sum of a target torque determined in accordance with the driver's wish and the braking torque produced by either the primary or secondary retarder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Kai Borntrager
  • Publication number: 20140045655
    Abstract: A method and a system for controlling idle stop of a vehicle that can reduce braking noise and prevent startup delay may be included, wherein the method for controlling may include estimating a disk temperature, determining whether the estimated disk temperature may be lower than or equal to a first predetermined temperature, and prohibiting engine stop according to the idle stop when the estimated disk temperature may be higher than the first predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Sang Bum GOH
  • Patent number: 8634939
    Abstract: Methods are provided for controlling a vehicle speed during a downhill travel. Based on the estimated grade of the downhill travel and further based on an input received from the operator, different combinations of an engine braking torque and a regenerative braking torque are used to maintain the vehicle speed during the downhill travel. A battery rate of charging is also adjusted based on the duration or distance of the downhill travel, as indicated by the operator input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Matthew Allen Warner, Mathew Alan Boesch, Fazal Urrahman Syed
  • Publication number: 20130345023
    Abstract: A method for securing a vehicle, whose wheels of one axle are on a dynamometer, against being unintentionally pushed out of the dynamometer during an inspection of the parking brake. In order to avoid endangerment of people who are in the surroundings of the vehicle, it is proposed to ascertain with the aid of a sensor system whether the vehicle is located on a dynamometer and, if this has been determined, to automatically generate a braking torque at a wheel brake of at least one wheel, which is located outside the dynamometer, after a control element of the parking brake has been operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Frank Baehrle-Miller, Dieter Blattert
  • Patent number: 8597160
    Abstract: An engine with a fast vacuum recovery brake booster system is disclosed. In one example, an actuator is adjusted in response to a flow between the brake booster and an engine intake manifold. Operation of the engine and vehicle brakes may be improved especially when the engine is boosted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fazal Urrahman Syed, Mathew Alan Boesch, Venkatapathi Raju Nallapa
  • Patent number: 8579765
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain with engine start-stop characteristics is capable of maintaining a vehicle stationary on a roadway with a gradient when wheel brakes are applied to stop the vehicle as the engine is shut down. Vehicle creep and vehicle launch is achieved as the engine is re-started following detection of a brake release signal based on engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hai Yu, Mathew Boesch, Ryan McGee
  • Patent number: 8556776
    Abstract: In the method for providing assistance to the driver of a motor vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle comprising a semi-automatic or an automatic transmission, it is recognized, during the starting process, whether the holding torque of the vehicle is greater than the engine intake torque in the current gear. In the event that a current torque is greater than the engine intake torque in the current gear or if no gear is engaged or called for, in the first forward gear, emitting a signal which indicates to the driver the need to use the holding brake of the vehicle and/or a transmitting a signal to the brake control system of the vehicle to impose a brake pressure in the service brake and/or in the holding brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Roland Mair
  • Publication number: 20120330522
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for restarting an engine that can be selectively deactivated during idle-stop conditions. In one embodiment, current is directed to a starter motor and an electric brake sequentially by limiting the current supplied to one while current is supplied to the other, an order of delivering the current based on a timing of a restart request relative to an electric brake request, as well as vehicle operating conditions at the time the requests were received. By coordinating the operation of a starter motor with the operation of an electric brake, overloading of the engine system's electrical supply can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alex O'Connor Gibson, Chad Everette Griffin, Felix Nedorezov
  • Patent number: 8323152
    Abstract: A method is provided for automatic shutdown of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, in particular in a vehicle having an automatic transmission, by way of a stop-start unit which automatically shuts down the internal combustion engine when the vehicle is decelerated to a standstill and kept at a standstill by operation of the brake pedal for a predetermined interval of time. Within the predetermined interval of time, the driver is given an opportunity to prevent the automatic shutdown. According to the invention, an automatic shutdown is prevented when the driver of the vehicle depresses the brake pedal fully within the predetermined interval of time and then releases the brake pedal again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Marc Albrecht
  • Patent number: 8315772
    Abstract: A method for shifting the braking assistant function into an activatable state, in which method: after termination of a braking force monitoring function, the braking assistant function is shifted into a non-activatable state or a non-activatable state is maintained; information about the hydraulic pressure at a predefined point in the hydraulic braking circuit is determined; and after at least one predefined condition is met by that information, the braking assistant function is shifted into an activatable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Wagner, Stefan Epple
  • Patent number: 8311712
    Abstract: A method of operating of a drivetrain, having at least a drive motor and an automatic transmission with at least five shift elements, to improve a shift speed such that during a first upshift or a first downshift, at least one required shift element is prepared such that, when a synchronization point is reached, the successive upshift or the successive downshift can be immediately carried out. The method comprises the steps of requiring, at most, two of the at least five shift elements be disengaged and a remainder of the shift elements be disengaged for each gear for transferring one of torque and force; and one of increasing and decreasing a torque of the drive motor, relative to a torque of the drive motor derived from a driver's wish, during one of the first upshift or downshift and the successive upshift or downshift to assist with an overlapped implementation of the successive upshifts or the successive downshifts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Klaus Steinhauser, Christian Popp
  • Publication number: 20120214643
    Abstract: A method and device for actuating a shift element of an automatic transmission having a start-stop function and a pressure medium pump driven by an internal combustion engine. The shifting elements are clutches or brakes that can be actuated by a piston which is actuated for engagement via pressure supplied to a pressure space. The pressure space is depressurized when the engine stops. To enhance start-stop operation, the shifting elements comprise an additional pressure space that acts, in opposition to the pressure space acting in the engaging direction, as a controllable restoring mechanism which can be rendered inactive, if desired. If the engine stops and the automatic start-stop function is activated, the additional pressure spaces, acting in the restoring direction, are depressurized before the pressure drop in the pressure spaces, acting in the engaging direction, of the pistons, but are otherwise permanently pressurized during driving operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Horst Rögner, Josef Haupt
  • Publication number: 20120190500
    Abstract: A vehicle control system for a vehicle includes an engine control device configured to automatically stop an engine of the vehicle during running of the vehicle; and a brake control device configured to execute an assisting control for increasing an output of a brake for restraining rotation of a wheel of the vehicle when a starting condition for starting the assisting control is satisfied, such that an amount of the output increased by execution of the assisting control becomes larger than an amount corresponding to an operational state of a brake operating member of the vehicle. The brake control device includes an automatic-stop assisting control portion configured, during an automatic stop state in which the engine is automatically stopped by the engine control device, to execute the assisting control in a manner different from a manner in which the assisting control is executed during an activation state of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Yamada, Hiroshi Ueno
  • Publication number: 20110300992
    Abstract: A method for operating a brake system for a work machine that includes at least one operating brake acting directly or indirectly on at least one ground engagement element of the work machine and at least one operating brake actuator which is movable between a fully engaged position and a fully released position and an accelerator actuator for activating propulsion of the work machine. In an activated state of the brake system the operating brake actuator is moved automatically to its fully engaged position when the accelerator actuator is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AB
    Inventors: Alfred Richter, Frederic Lastre
  • Publication number: 20110287895
    Abstract: A method for assisting with hill maneuvers for a vehicle, including a propulsion unit connected to the drive wheels by a gearbox and a clutch or torque converter, and an assisted parking brake. In the method a threshold breakaway torque is determined as a function of longitudinal forces between the wheels of the vehicles and the ground. During a degraded operation, when a signal corresponding to a characteristic of the slope is received that cannot be used and/or when a computer does not have available a signal characteristic of an engaged gear ratio, a threshold value for the breakaway torque is determined without taking account of an actual value of the characteristic of the slope and/or of the characteristic of the gear ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: RENAULT S.A.S.
    Inventors: Alessandro Monti, Richard Pothin
  • Patent number: 8060275
    Abstract: An on-board diagnostic system of a vehicle comprises disabling diagnostic operation, such as a misfire monitor, based on road roughness. In one example, the disabling of the diagnostic operation is based on brake actuation and degradation of an anti-lock braking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jahan Asgari, Timothy Feldkamp, Craig Stephens, Moses Fridman, Davor Hrovat, Arthur Varady, Mitch McConnell
  • Patent number: 7983824
    Abstract: A method for operation of a drivetrain including a drive motor and an automatic transmission having at least five shift elements, of which, at least two elements are disengaged in each forward and reverse gear and the other shift elements are engaged. Two successive shifts are accomplished by two overlapped single gear shifts such that: a) during the first shift, a first shift element is engaged or disengaged while a second shift element is disengaged or engaged; b) during the first shift, second and third shift elements are prepared for either engagement or disengagement; and c) during the first and the second shifts at least one fourth shift element is kept engaged or nearly engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Klaus Steinhauser, Christian Popp
  • Patent number: 7976431
    Abstract: A method for shifting an automated transmission situated in a drive train of a motor vehicle between an engine and a drive axle and having at least one multi-speed main transmission and a two-speed range change group rear-mounted thereon. The main transmission has at least one counter shaft with a transmission brake. A clutch engages the prime mover and the main transmission and the range change group is shifted via unsynchronized dog clutches which are combined in pairs in a common shift set and have two shift positions and one neutral position such that, during a range change gear shift both in the main transmission and the range change group a change between two ratio stages occurs. A range change up-shift includes synchronizing the input shaft and the target gear utilizing the transmission brake and passively synchronizing the dog shifted transmission parts by the edge beveling of the concerned dog clutches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Josef Bader, Andreas Graf, Martin Miller, Mario Steinborn, Thomas Hafen
  • Publication number: 20110136625
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain with engine start-stop characteristics is capable of maintaining a vehicle stationary on a roadway with a gradient when wheel brakes are applied to stop the vehicle as the engine is shut down. Vehicle creep and vehicle launch is achieved as the engine is re-started following detection of a brake release signal based on engine speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Hai Yu, Mathew Boesch, Ryan McGee
  • Patent number: 7882920
    Abstract: A braking force application control is performed when a change in a driver's posture takes place while a brake pedal is turned on when a vehicle is stopped. As a consequence, in a case in which the driver's posture changes such as when the driver turns to a rear seat side to get something without intending to release depression of the brake pedal, creep of the vehicle that the driver does not intend to happen can be inhibited. Furthermore, the vehicle stop retention is only performed when a travelling direction is a forward direction or a seatbelt is worn. As a result, performance of the vehicle stop retention can be inhibited when it is considered that the driver intentionally desires to let the vehicle creep.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignees: Advics Co., Ltd., Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chihiro Nitta, Kazuhide Adachi, Hideaki Morita, Manabu Matsuda, Kazushi Konno, Shoko Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20100304930
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises a plurality of wheels is supported by a frame. At least one of the plurality of wheels is operatively connected to an engine for propelling the vehicle. A limited slip differential is supported by the frame. A first half-shaft and a second half-shaft are operatively connected to the limited slip differential. The first half-shaft supports a first wheel of the plurality of wheels. The second half-shaft supports a second wheel of the plurality of wheels. A brake is operatively connected to the limited slip differential. The brake selectively exerts a braking torque on the first and second wheels via at least one portion of the limited slip differential to reduce the speed of the vehicle. A method of operating a vehicle is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventor: Pierre Poulin
  • Patent number: 7684918
    Abstract: The invention relates to a PTO brake control system. There is a need for an improved and safe PTO brake control system. A PTO may be put into a driven and a non-driven condition an is braked by a PTO brake. A PTO brake control system includes a vehicle speed sensor and an ECU for controlling the PTO brake. The ECU deactivates the PTO brake when the vehicle is stationary and the PTO is not driven. This allows the PTO to be manually rotated to facilitate coupling of the PTO to an implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Jochen Busch, Klaus Zahn
  • Publication number: 20090305848
    Abstract: A method and a system for controlling a parking brake of a motor vehicle are described. According to the described method, an ignition signal and an actuation state of the parking brake are detected. An application force of the parking brake is then set to a first value in dependence upon the actuation state of the parking brake if the ignition signal is present. If the parking brake was previously in an applied actuation state, the application force is reduced from a second value to the first value. If the parking brake was previously in a released actuation state, the application force is increased to the first value. The first value is sufficient to hold the motor vehicle in its current position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Straub, Leo Gilles, Ralf Leiter
  • Patent number: 7627413
    Abstract: A device for automatically controlling vehicle speed, including a processor, wherein the processor includes logic to determine a vehicle acceleration rate value, wherein the processor is configured to receive at least a first signal indicative of a first local required speed, a second signal indicative of a second local required speed received after the first signal, a third signal indicative of a value of a current vehicle speed, and information that enables the processor to determine the vehicle acceleration rate value, wherein the processor further includes logic to automatically determine a new set vehicle speed based at least on the first local required speed, the second local required speed, the current vehicle speed, and the determined vehicle acceleration rate value, and automatically initiate output of a signal to a vehicle speed controller to change vehicle speed to the new set vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawazoe, Hiroshi Tsuda
  • Publication number: 20080305932
    Abstract: At vehicle startup and vehicle shutdown, the driver modulates the brake pressure directly by depressing the brake pedal and the driver feels pedal resistance. During normal conditions of vehicle operation after vehicle startup, pressure boosted actuation of the vehicle brakes is provided by the modulation of boosted pressure from an accumulator via a boost valve operable in response to brake pedal depression, while an isolation valve isolates the pedal from direct influence by the brake pressure and the driver feels pedal resistance provided by a pedal simulator. Upon shutdown of boosted actuation, the boost valve reduces the brake pressure gradually over a calibrated period of time until the brake pressure substantially equals the pedal resistance then felt by the driver. Then the isolation valve reestablishes driver's feel of the brake pressure without an abrupt change in pedal resistance upon the reversion from boosted actuation to hydraulic unboosted actuation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy M. Karnjate, William K. Manosh
  • Patent number: 7381147
    Abstract: A method and a device for controlling functions of an occupational vehicle (1) comprising a driving motor (2), a clutch (3), a service brake (13, 14) that acts upon the wheels (11, 12) of the vehicle, a working device (21), and a hydraulic pump (15) which supplies the actuators (32) of the clutch (3), the service brake (13, 14), and the actuators (19, 20) of the working device (21) with pressure, via hydraulic pressure pipes. In order to reduce the fuel consumption, distribute in an optimal and user-relevant manner, the hydraulic pressure generated by the pump (15), and facilitate operation of such a vehicle, the clutch (3) is automatically opened and the service brake (13, 14) is automatically closed when the load acting upon the working device (21) of the vehicle exceeds a preset threshold or is actuated so as to exceed the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Hans Höfler
  • Publication number: 20080026913
    Abstract: A golf car operated by a prime mover under the control of an accelerator control a brake capable of being set in a locked condition for retaining the car from movement. Upon original operation of the prime mover the brake is not released until after a predetermined condition is established to insure against unwanted movement of the car before the prime mover is able to drive the car in the intended direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Takehiro Nakamoto, Taikan Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7166061
    Abstract: According to a control device for a hydraulic winch, a regulator controls a motor capacity of a hydraulic motor having variable capacity functioning as a driving source of the hydraulic winch in response to a load pressure, a negative brake stops and retains the hydraulic motor at an automatic shutoff for prevention of overloading, and a controller sends signals to the regulator via a regulator-controlling valve at the automatic shutoff to set the motor capacity at a large value. Thus, the delay to recover the motor capacity at the time of returning from the automatic shutoff that is activated during winding-up of a load does not occur, and a control response is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Kobelco Cranes Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Shimomura, Masaaki Ehara
  • Patent number: 7074161
    Abstract: In a method and a device for assisting a vehicle to start on a slope, a vehicle brake torque is changed corresponding to an estimated vehicle driving torque in consideration of a downgrade torque. The method is executed with the following steps of determining a vehicle driving torque reference value, comparing the reference value with the estimated vehicle driving torque, and influencing the brake torque in accordance with the comparison result (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Continental Teves, Inc.
    Inventors: Jürgen Diebold, Oliver Huth
  • Patent number: 7014000
    Abstract: A patient support including a propulsion device for moving the patient support. An automatic braking system is provided to selectively brake the patient support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Kummer, Ronald P. Kappeler, Michael M. Frondorf, David P. Lubbers
  • Patent number: 6872165
    Abstract: The invention relates to a parking brake system for transmissions of motor vehicle, especially for an automatic transmission and an automated selector transmission, having one parking brake for blocking or releasing the transmission according to actuation signals of a control device, especially by a pawl engaging and disengaging in a parking brake gear connected with the output of the transmission, an electric operative connection between the control device in the interior of the motor vehicle and the parking brake, a spring accumulator (9) for actuating the parking brake and a pressure-controlled release device of the parking brake. It is proposed to load the release device (10) when releasing the parking brake with a negative pressure independent of the transmission and which is preferably taken from the suction system (15) of the internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle or from a negative pressure brake force booster of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: ZF Freidrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Georg Gierer
  • Patent number: 6824497
    Abstract: The life of a clutch is prolonged via bypassing a clutch of a gearbox and engaging a machine braking system. A change in speed or direction of a gearbox output shaft is accomplished by a management controller sending a signal through a signal transmission system to bypass the clutch and engage the machine braking system. The method includes the steps of generating a signal; processing the signal by the management controller, sending a signal to bypass the clutch; and sending a signal to engage the vehicle braking system to change the speed or direction of rotation of the gearbox. Because changes of speed and/or direction of rotation of the output shaft are assisted by the machine braking system and the clutch is at least partially bypassed, it is ensured that the braking function of the starting clutch is considerably reduced or even eliminated. This leads to a considerable reduction in wear on the clutch, so that its service life can be greatly increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: CLAAS Industrietechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Obermeier-Hartmann, Ulrich Blumenthal
  • Patent number: 6690260
    Abstract: A driver authentication apparatus and method permits a vehicle driver to be identified using a simpler method without using an ID card or the like, and without performing any special operation. The apparatus has a feature amount storing section for storing preset feature data of each registered driver; an operation detecting section for detecting an operation performed by the driver, and outputting data indicating details of the operation; and a feature data managing section for storing the data output from the operation detecting section and generating operation feature data of the driver based on the stored data, and comparing the operation feature data with the preset feature data stored in the feature amount storing section and determining any identity between the compared operation and preset feature data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Ashihara
  • Patent number: 6663536
    Abstract: A control system for variable torque distribution for a four-wheel-drive vehicle with a system for brake control that is possible because of wheel-selective brake intervention wherein a non-variable longitudinal lock with specified torque distribution ratio is provided. If no slip is present, a symmetrical braking intervention is made at the wheels of the axle whose torque transmission percentage will be reduced in comparison to the other axle by changing the torque distribution ratio between the wheels of the rear axle and the wheels of the front axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Kurt Meier
  • Patent number: 6631796
    Abstract: A vehicle parking brake system having an AUTO selector for selectively establishing an automatic mode and a manual mode, parking brake units, and an electronic control unit operable in the automatic mode to automatically activate the parking brake units to apply a parking brake to vehicle rear left and right wheels (RW1, RW2) when the vehicle is in a parked state, and to automatically de-activate the parking brake units to remove the parking brake from the vehicle wheel, and in the manual mode to selectively apply and remove the parking brake to and from the vehicle wheels according to operations of a MANUAL MODE control switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Yanaka, Shoichi Shono, Toshiaki Hamada
  • Publication number: 20020130790
    Abstract: A system for sensing the position of a vehicle foot pedal (1), comprises a non-contact sensor (8) associated with a displaceable element (2, 7) of the pedal (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventor: Martin Paul Sherringham
  • Patent number: 6007454
    Abstract: In an automobile having a pair of front wheels, a pair of rear wheels, a brake system for selectively braking each of the pairs of front and rear wheels, an engine, a transmission system including a speed change gear device for selectively providing a plurality of transmission gear ratios, a center differential device, a front differential device, and a rear differential device, the traction control device detects slipping conditions of each of the pairs of front and rear wheels, and controls the brake system so as to brake at least one of the pairs of front and rear wheels for execution of traction controls according to one of at least two separate traction control programs which are automatically changed over for execution according to selections of the transmission gear ratios of the speed change gear device for a relatively high speed driving or a relatively low speed driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yosuke Takahira, Kazushi Hosomi
  • Patent number: 5916062
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a system for aiding a starting movement of a vehicle. Problems occur particularly when starting on a hill or on a steeply sloping road because it is difficult or impossible for the vehicle operator to simultaneously release the foot brake pedal and operate the accelerator pedal and thus provide an engine torque necessary for the corresponding starting operation. It is an object of the invention to provide a process and a system for aiding a starting movement of a vehicle by means of which the starting movement can be carried out without problems and in an uncomplicated manner and without endangering other traffic participants. In the process and system according to the invention, this is achieved in that the rest position of the vehicle is ensured by means of a braking intervention by way of an external power or secondary brake circuit if the braking force exercised by the vehicle operator is not sufficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Achim Siepker
  • Patent number: 5762582
    Abstract: A drive unit, notably for a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine and a transmission. The drive unit has two hydrodynamic retarders, each featuring a rotor and a stator. A primary retarder precedes the transmission in the power train and a secondary retarder follows the transmission in the power train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Voith Turbo GmbH
    Inventors: Jurgen Friedrich, Hans Gebhardt, Heribert Moller, Klaus Vogelsang