1336results about "Application and release valves" patented technology

A method for collision avoidance using automated braking and steering comprising: determining an actual distance to an obstacle in a path of a vehicle; determining a relative velocity between the obstacle and the vehicle; determining a first distance sufficient to avoid collision by braking only; determining a second distance sufficient to avoid collision by combined braking and steering around the obstacle. The method also includes: applying braking if at least one of, the first distance exceeds the actual distance and the first distance is within a selected threshold of the actual distance. If the actual distance exceeds the second distance and a lane change is permitted, steering control to affect a lane change is applied.

A method is provided for controlling the braking of a vehicle that has a first set of friction brakes for applying a first apply brake force to a first set of wheels and a second set of friction brakes for applying a second brake apply force to a second set of wheels. A powertrain assembly is coupled to the second set of wheels. The powertrain assembly includes a regenerative braking unit capable of recapturing kinetic energy from the second set of wheels. The vehicle is braked in a first phase of control using regenerative braking to brake the second set of wheels to achieve up to a first value of braking. The vehicle is braked in a second phase of control using the regenerative braking to maintain braking of the second set of wheels at the first value of braking force while selectively applying the first friction brakes to the first set of wheels up to a second value of braking.

A fluid-pressure brake system for a vehicle having a parking brake function in which, in response to actuation of an electrical parking brake signal transmitter, and without actuation of a brake pedal, at least one wheel brake of the brake system is actuated via an actuator to which the fluid is admitted. A parking brake module is provided in which there is integrated an electronic control unit as well as valve devices that are electrically actuatable by the electronic control unit. The electronic control unit actuates the parking brake function upon receiving from the parking brake signal transmitter an electrical actuating signal demanding actuation of the parking brake function and, as part of the parking brake function, the electronic control unit controls the admission of fluid to the actuator by means of the electrically actuatable valve devices.

The present invention relates to a brake-by-wire actuator for actuating the brake system of a motor vehicle, comprising a simulator which can be acted upon by a brake pedal, with a signal of an actuation sensor being sent to an electronic control unit which controls a pressure source in response to the signal of the actuation sensor, and wherein an output of the pressure source is connected to a distributor device for the brake force and actuates individual wheel brakes of the vehicle, also comprising means for enabling actuation of the brakes by muscular power within a fallback mode. In order to provide an improved fallback mode in a brake-by-wire actuator, according to the invention, a lost travel is provided between a first actuation component such as a brake pedal in particular or a component articulated at the brake pedal and an actuation component that is connected downstream in the flux of force, in particular an input member, in order to uncouple the first actuation component mechanically from the reactions of force of the motor vehicle brake system in the by-wire mode.

A system and method of controlling an automotive vehicle and trailer includes determining the presence of a trailer and applying brake-steer to the vehicle in response to the trailer to reduce the turning radius of the vehicle and the trailer.

The invention relates to a check valve with a tubular valve housing in which a valve ball is received. To make a large flow cross section available and to prevent closure by the valve ball when the check valve is fully open, a perforated disk is press-fitted between longitudinally extending guide ribs of the valve housing and a circumferential wall of the valve housing there is an interstice as an outflow opening, which is not closed even the valve ball contacts the perforated disk. The valve housing is made by stamping, in which the guide ribs and a valve seat are made in one operation and are thereby aligned exactly with one another. In this way, a small radial play of the valve ball can be realized.

A brake system including an electromechanical brake actuator having an actuator ram for exerting a brake force on a brake stack of a wheel to be braked in response to a control signal. In addition, the brake system includes a force sensor for sensing the brake force exerted on the brake stack by the actuator ram and outputting a force feedback signal based thereon; and a position sensor for sensing a position of the actuator ram and outputting a position feedback signal based thereon. Moreover, the brake system includes a controller for providing the control signal to the electromechanical brake actuator based on the force feedback signal and the position feedback signal.

A brake apparatus for a vehicle controls braking force acting on front wheels by hydraulic braking force (front-wheel-side vacuum-booster hydraulic pressure fraction+linear-valve differential pressure fraction), which is frictional braking force, and regenerative braking force, and controls braking force acting on rear wheels by hydraulic braking force (rear-wheel-side vacuum-booster hydraulic pressure fraction) only, to thereby perform regeneration-coordinative brake control. During performance of ABS control, the apparatus sets the limit regenerative braking force to a force under which locking of the front wheels does not occur in a case in which the force acts on the front wheels, which are wheels undergoing regenerative braking, and adjusts the regenerative braking force such that the regenerative braking force does not exceed the limit regenerative braking force.

A hydraulic circuit has a rotary type pump comprising a rotor rotating with a driving shaft and a casing which holds the rotor and the driving shaft. The casing further comprises an inlet port through which fluid is introduced to spaces formed by the rotor, an outlet port through which fluid is discharged from the spaces, and a hydraulic path for leading fluid from clearance around said driving shaft to the outside of the casing. A reservoir is provided to store fluid coming through the hydraulic path. A return conduit is disposed between the reservoir and an upstream side conduit connected to the inlet port in order that fluid stored in the reservoir is returned to the upstream side conduit. In the return conduit, a check valve is disposed to prevent the reverse flow of fluid from the upstream side conduit to the reservoir.

In a motorcycle provided with an antilock brake system, a front fork supporting a front wheel of a motorcycle is supported to be rotatable by a head pipe which is located at the front end portion of a body frame of a motorcycle, a handle-bar is secured to an upper end portion of the head pipe, master cylinders attached to the handle-bar are connected to hydraulic wheel brakes, respectively, via brake pipes. An antilock brake system includes an ABS-unit for antilock control disposed in an intermediate portion of the brake pipes. The ABS-unit is disposed immediately behind the head pipe and between a pair of body frame components disposed on both lateral sides of the motorcycle body and extending, from the head pipe, obliquely downward and backward, while extending outward in directions opposite to each other in the width direction of the motorcycle body.

A micromachined actuator including a body or platform mounted to a suspension system anchored to a substrate. In one embodiment, the suspension system is comprised of a set of one or more spring flexures connecting the actuator body to the substrate with strain relief provided via connecting torsional elements. In another embodiment, the suspension system includes a first set of one or more spring flexures each with one end anchored to a largely rigid intermediate frame and the other end attached to the body. A second set of one or more flexures is attached between the intermediate frame and the substrate. A third actuator embodiment maximizes force electrode area to minimize voltage required for electrostatic actuation. A fourth embodiment provides electrical interconnect to an actuator or an actuator array using polysilicon with silicon nitride isolation. Actuators may be fabricated by combining the key features of all four embodiments or actuators may be fabricated using any combination of two or three of the embodiments.

A wheel braking system comprises a motor driven gear pump, a relief line connecting the pump discharge to the pump intake, a wheel brake unit connected to the pump discharge, and a flow restriction in the relief line. A control unit controls the motor for the pump in response to an output signal of a brake pedal sensor. The brake pedal sensor generates the output signal indicative of the brake pedal stamping force. The control unit determines a desired motor speed for the sensed brake pedal stamping force and operates the motor.

A braking system is disclosed that includes a brake (22), a ram (20) shiftable in a linear direction relative to the brake (22) for actuating the brake (22), and a stop (24) for limiting movement of the ram (20). The system further includes a motor (12) for moving the ram (20) which motor (12) includes a stator and a rotor (13) and a commutation sensor (14) producing an output. A motor controller (28) receives a commutation signal based on the output and controls the motor (12) based on the commutation signal. A processor (31) also uses the commutation signal to generate a position signal indicative of the position of the ram (20) relative to the stop (24). Methods of using this system are also disclosed.

Improved methods and systems for controlling hydraulically or electrically actuated anti-lock brake systems (ABS) on air and land vehicles requiring only measurement of wheel angular speed although brake torque measurements can also be employed if available. A sliding mode observer (SMO) based estimate of net or different wheel torque (road/tire torque minus applied brake torque) derived from the measured wheel speed is compared to a threshold differential wheel torque derived as a function of a “skid signal” also based on wheel speed only to generate a braking control signal. The braking control signal can be employed to rapidly and fully applying and releasing the brakes in a binary on-off manner and, as an additional option, possibly modulating the maximum available brake hydraulic pressure or electrical current when the brakes are in the “on” state in a continuous manner. In the case of the basic on-off component of braking, the brakes are released when the estimate of differential wheel torque is less than the threshold differential wheel torque (i.e. for relatively high values of brake torque), and the brakes are applied fully when the estimate of differential wheel torque is greater than or equal to the threshold differential wheel torque. For aircraft landing gear applications, a fore-aft accelerometer mounted on the landing gear can be used to suppress nonlinear gear displacement oscillations commonly called gear walk in the direction of wheel roll.

When vehicle speed V decreases to or below a preset reference vehicle speed Vref during output of regenerative braking force from a motor in response to the driver's depression of a brake pedal, the vehicle of the invention performs a replacement pre-operation (steps S190 to S220 and S160) and a replacement operation (steps S240 to S280 and S160) and controls the motor and an electronically controlled hydraulic braking system to satisfy a braking force demand BF*. The replacement pre-operation actuates and controls pumps included in a brake actuator of the electronically controlled hydraulic braking system to exert their proper pressurization performance. The replacement operation decreases the regenerative braking force output from the motor and enhances a pressure increase by the pumps to replace the regenerative braking force with a pressure increase-based braking force BFpp.

When an electrical fluid pressure generator fails and a wheel cylinder is operated by brake fluid pressure generated by a master cylinder, if a first fluid pressure system leading to a rear fluid chamber of the electrical fluid pressure generator fails and is opened to the atmosphere, braking is performed by brake fluid pressure of a second fluid pressure system transmitted from the master cylinder through a front fluid chamber of the electrical fluid pressure generator to a wheel cylinder. At this time, a front supply port, which communicates through a front second cup seal facing rearward with the rear fluid chamber opened to the atmosphere due to the failure, does not communicate with the master cylinder but with a reservoir. Therefore, it is possible to prevent leakage of the brake fluid pressure generated by the master cylinder through the front supply port, the front second cup seal and the rear fluid chamber, thereby ensuring braking by the second fluid pressure system leading to the front fluid chamber of the electrical fluid pressure generator.

A brake controller, for controlling the brakes of a towed vehicle, having a control module and a power module is provided. The control module is mounted in the cab of a vehicle used for towing, in such a manner that it can be easily seen and accessed by the driver. The control module is provided with an accelerometer, which can read acceleration forces in at least two axes, and a microprocessor which polls the accelerometer and sends braking information to the power module. The control module is also provided with a gain control, to adjust the amount of brake force information, a manual braking lever and a display panel. The power module, which may be mounted in a convenient location, preferably on the towed vehicle, receives the braking information from the control module and secures power from the towed vehicle to engage its brakes.

An electro-pneumatic brake control device is provided for controlling a parking brake of a vehicle having a service brake and a parking brake, the service brake having a brake pedal and pneumatically actuatable brake cylinders operatively connected to the brake pedal for actuating wheel brakes. At least one brake cylinder is a spring brake cylinder with a spring store part for actuating the parking brake. In the event of a failure of the electrical energy supply, the spring store part of the spring brake cylinder is permanently vented by actuating the brake pedal in order to activate the parking brake.

A braking system for a vehicle, which can prevent an alteration in brake pedal toe force when a brake hydraulic pressure is increased or decreased based on a regenerative braking force obtained by a drive motor in an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle, and a braking method thereof. To prevent an alteration in brake pedal toe force, the vehicle braking system includes a brake reservoir to receive brake oil therein, a normal close type valve to connect the brake reservoir to an inlet of a pump generating a hydraulic pressure in a brake line, a drive motor serving as a generator, the drive motor being adapted to convert a kinetic energy of the vehicle into electric energy to brake the vehicle by regenerative braking, and a control unit to recognize the amount of regenerative braking obtained by the drive motor and the amount of braking desired by a vehicle operator and to control the normal close type valve, so as to compensate for a brake hydraulic pressure corresponding to a difference between the regenerative braking amount and the desired braking amount by use of the brake oil in the reservoir.

A brake system for a vehicle is comprised of a first brake system that mechanically applies a braking force to wheels according to a master cylinder hydraulic pressure outputted from a master cylinder which receives a brake manipulation force of a driver, and a second brake system that apply a braking force to other wheels according to at least a braking state of the first brake system.

A first electronic control unit (10) provided with a printed circuit board (13) and a second electronic control unit (E) having pressure sensors (30) mounted therein can be assembled with each other. Intermediate connectors (40) are mounted in the first electronic control unit (10), and terminal fittings (42) are accommodated therein. Each terminal fitting (42) is provided with a board-side connecting portion (53) to be soldered to the printed circuit board (13) and a resilient contact piece (51) to be resiliently brought into contact with a terminal portion (32) of the pressure sensor (30).

The present invention provides a three-wheel vehicle (10) having an electronic vehicle stability system and a method for stabilizing a three-wheel vehicle. The three-wheel vehicle (10) features a left (22) and right front wheel (24) laterally spaced apart and a single centered rear wheel (18) each having a tire contact patch which together define a triangular pattern of contact tire patches defining left and right rollover axis. The electronic vehicle stability system is adapted to calculate a dynamic status of the vehicle (10) based on inputs received from sensors and to output signals to the braking system to generate a specific moment about one of the left and right rollover axis when the calculated dynamic status of the vehicle exceeds a predetermine threshold indicative of a precursory condition of rollover. The present invention also provides a three-wheel vehicle having a yaw sensor positioned within a radius of 25 cm about the vertical axis (Z) to improve the accuracy of the yaw measurements provided to the electronic vehicle stability system.

The invention relates to an airplane anti-skid brake control system and an airplane anti-skid brake control method. In the airplane anti-skid brake control system, two airplane wheel speed sensors are respectively applied to a left airplane wheel and a right airplane wheel of the airplane and connected with the input end of an electronic anti-skid control box; an electro-hydraulic servo valve is connected with a brake valve, a brake device, the electro-hydraulic servo valve and the electronic anti-skid control box respectively; the input port of the electronic anti-skid control box is connected with the airplane wheel speed sensors; and the output port of the electronic anti-skid control box is connected with the electro-hydraulic servo valve. In the invention, the electronic anti-skid control box judges true and false of the received airplane speed signal by comparing the airplane speed signal to be judged with the speed of the airplane wheels at different time or comparing the speed signals of the two airplane wheels so as to perform anti-skid control according to the speed signals of the airplane wheels which are judged to be true; and the airplane wheel brake pressure is adjusted according to the received instruction through the electro-hydraulic servo valve, so safe and reliable brake of the airplane wheels is realized.

An apparatus for controlling brakes, includes a first brake circuit for supplying brake fluid, pressure-increased by a booster, to a wheel-brake cylinder, a first control valve disposed in the first brake circuit for establishing and blocking fluid communication between a master cylinder and the wheel-brake cylinder, a second brake circuit arranged in parallel with the first brake circuit for supplying brake fluid, pressure-increased by a fluid-pressure source, to the wheel-brake cylinder, and a second control valve disposed in the second brake circuit for establishing and blocking fluid communication between the fluid-pressure source and the wheel-brake cylinder. Also provided is a control unit, which is configured to selectively control the first and second control valves when building-up wheel-cylinder pressure, and further configured to build-up the wheel-cylinder pressure by operating the fluid-pressure source when at least the second control valve is controlled to a valve-open position.

A system configured to estimate a change in temperature of a brake component of a vehicle brake during a braking operation. The system includes a weight estimation module for estimating a weight of a vehicle to which a brake is fitted, a volume estimation module for estimating a volume of a brake component, a temperature model module for calculating a change in temperature during brake application based on a relationship between the weight of the vehicle as estimated by the weight estimation module, the volume of the brake component as estimated by the volume estimation module, the deceleration of the vehicle, and further constants of the vehicle and/or the brake.

A method and system is provided for detecting and performing diagnostics regarding an incipient ground fault that may occur in an electrical propulsion system of a traction vehicle, such as a locomotive, transit vehicle, or off-highway vehicle. The method allows providing a first ground connection for the electrical propulsion system. This first ground connection forms a grounding path generally used by the electrical propulsion system during normal operation. The method further allows providing a second ground connection for the electrical propulsion system. This second ground connection forms a grounding path selectively usable in lieu of the first ground connection. A control strategy is defined for switching between the first ground connection and the second ground connection. A respective leakage current associated with at least one of the first and second ground connections may be monitored. Switching between the first and second ground connections may be controlled based on the monitored leakage current associated with at least one of the first and second ground connections.

The present invention provides a diaphragm member for use in certain valve assemblies. Such diaphragm member comprises a generally circular diaphragm having a first predetermined diameter and having a first surface and a second surface. Such generally circular diaphragm is formed from at least one layer of a preselected elastomeric material. Such generally circular diaphragm includes a nonflexing center portion, a generally annular flexure portion extending around an outer periphery of such nonflexing center portion and a non flexing outer portion extending around an outer periphery of such generally annular flexure portion, such non flexing outer portion is engageable with a body portion of such valve assembly. Such diaphragm member further includes a generally circular insert member, having a second predetermined diameter, disposed within the first surface of such nonflexing center portion of such generally circular diaphragm. Such generally circular insert member has a plurality of apertures formed through such generally circular insert member, such plurality of apertures provide a predetermined open area for receiving a predetermined rubber compound for bonding such generally circular insert member to such nonflexing center portion of such generally circular diaphragm.

A brake control apparatus includes a brake unit. The brake unit includes: a first port set hydraulically connected to a master cylinder via a first fluid line set; a second port set hydraulically connected to a wheel cylinder set via a second fluid line set; a first fluid passage hydraulically connecting the first port set to the second port set; a first switching valve arranged to vary a state of fluid communication through the first fluid passage; a fluid pressure source arranged to produce a fluid pressure supplied to the second port set; a fluid accommodating section adapted to accommodate a variable amount of brake fluid; a branch fluid passage hydraulically connecting the first port set to the fluid accommodating section; and a second switching valve arranged to vary a state of fluid communication through the branch fluid passage.

A parking brake having an actuator, wherein the actuator is driven with a direct current motor which can be operated in two directions and which moves a piston of the actuator and, via a self-locking gear mechanism of the actuator, at least one brake shoe for applying or releasing the parking brake. A control unit for performing open-loop or closed-loop control of the movement of the direct current motor is also provided. During open-loop or closed-loop control of the movement of the direct current motor for applying and/or releasing the parking brake, the control unit takes into account a hydraulic admission pressure which is currently present at the piston if the brake is applied or was present at the piston if the brake has been released when it had previously been applied. A corresponding method for operating such a parking brake is also disclosed.

A vehicle brake system includes first and second central control units communicating with, respectively, first and second control networks, and a plurality of brake units. Each brake unit includes a brake component, a self-enforcing mechanism associated with and acting upon the brake component, and first and second actuation mechanisms acting upon the self enforcing mechanism, in response to, respectively, first and second actuation control signals, to cause actuation of the brake component. Each brake unit also includes first and second local control units in direct communication with, respectively, the first and second central control units via, respectively, the first and second control networks. The first and second local control units are in communication with, respectively, the first and second actuation mechanisms and transmit, respectively, the first and second actuation control signals to, respectively, the first and second actuation mechanisms, under certain circumstances, to cause actuation of the brake component.