vehicle including a brake fluid quality control system

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle (1) comprising a brake fluid circuit (12) made up of several pipes (13) connecting different (2, 3) elements of said circuit (12) by means of couplers. According to the invention, the vehicle comprises at least one infrared fluid detection sensor (100) placed on the brake fluid circuit (12) around a pipe (13), and capable of detecting a change in the transparency of the brake fluid indicating poor quality of said brake fluid, and in that it comprises a computer equipped with software whose input data is a signal representative of the measurement performed by the infrared sensor (100), said computer sending information to an electronic screen of the vehicle concerning the quality of the brake fluid deduced from the measurement of said infrared sensor (100). Figure for the abstract: Figure 7

Description

Description of the invention: vehicle comprising a control system brake fluid quality Technical field The present invention relates to a vehicle comprising a brake fluid quality control system. Generally, a vehicle comprises a brake fluid circuit comprising a brake fluid reservoir having a sealing cap, and fixed to a master cylinder, said circuit connecting several elements together, including: -a braking assistance system such as for example an ABS system (from the German AntiBlockierSystem) and an ESP type system (electronic stability programs). As a reminder, an ABS system prevents the wheels from locking during a braking phase of the vehicle in order to make braking safer and more effective, and the ESP system stabilizes the trajectory of a vehicle during an unusual situation which may for example involve snow and ice, and - braking devices, each of which is associated with a wheel of the vehicle. This brake fluid circuit also includes brake fluid delivery pipes connecting the various elements previously mentioned, by means of couplers. However, it happens that water or air particles enter the brake fluid circuit at the level of these couplers, or via an inlet of the brake fluid reservoir after the cap has been removed to carry out, for example, operations to fill said reservoir. The presence of these water and air particles deteriorates the quality of the brake fluid, and if the presence of these particles is not detected in time, rust particles can form, further damaging the brake fluid circuit. Technological background Patent application CN103332183 describes a brake fluid quality control system comprising a sensor for measuring the quantity of oxygen present in the brake fluid just before starting the vehicle. However, such a system has the disadvantage of not being able to detect the presence of particles other than oxygen in the brake fluid and of not informing the driver of the vehicle in real time of the quality of the brake fluid present in said vehicle. Summary of the invention A vehicle according to the invention comprises means for measuring the quality of the brake fluid which are reliable and efficient, and means for informing the driver in real time of said quality. The subject of the invention is a vehicle comprising a housing containing an anti-lock system for the wheels during a braking phase of the vehicle and a system for stabilizing the trajectory of said vehicle in certain driving situations, braking devices placed at the level of the wheels of said vehicle, and a brake fluid reservoir, said vehicle comprising a circuit of said brake fluid consisting of several pipes connecting said housing, said braking devices and said reservoir by means of different couplers. According to the invention, the vehicle comprises at least one infrared fluid detection sensor placed on the brake fluid circuit, and capable of detecting a change in transparency of the brake fluid caused by the presence of external particles or by aging, said vehicle comprising a computer provided with software whose input data is a signal representative of the measurement carried out by the infrared sensor, said computer sending information to an electronic screen of the vehicle concerning the quality of the brake fluid deduced from the measurement of said infrared sensor. In other words, the control of the quality of the brake fluid in a vehicle according to the invention is carried out by means of at least one infrared fluid detection sensor placed on the circuit of said brake fluid, and capable of measuring the transparency of said liquid through a tube of said circuit.This detection is carried out in real time, at each instant of a rolling phase of the vehicle, and the driver of said vehicle is informed in real time of the quality of the brake fluid. Indeed, air and / or water can inadvertently enter the brake fluid circuit, in particular at the couplers and a cap of the brake fluid reservoir, risking altering the braking capabilities of the vehicle. The presence of water and / or rust particles in the brake fluid can be detected by a fluid detection sensor, because said water and said rust particles will modify the transparency of the brake fluid. The computer can for example be a central computing unit on board the vehicle. Preferably, depending on the quality of the brake fluid detected by the infrared sensor, said computer: . -will activate a specific signal on the electronic display to inform the driver in real time of poor brake fluid quality. This specific signal can, for example, be a visual symbol that will light up or flash. This symbol can, for example, be the acronym "ABS". -will not activate anything on the electronic display until the quality of the brake fluid is deemed satisfactory. The vehicle may include a single infrared fluid detection sensor, or several such sensors. Advantageously, the tubing of the brake fluid circuit is transparent. Advantageously, the electronic display is placed on a dashboard of the vehicle. The electronic display is visible to the driver of the vehicle without that he has to carry out any manipulation. The aging of the brake fluid will cause a change in transparency of the brake fluid over time which will be detectable by the infrared fluid detection sensor. According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the external particles are to be chosen from at least one of the categories consisting of water, air and rust particles. Generally, it is the water and air particles which are likely to accidentally enter the brake fluid circuit, at the couplers and at an inlet of the brake fluid reservoir closed by a cap. The presence of water particles in the brake fluid can then cause the formation of rust particles in said brake fluid. According to a possible characteristic of the invention, said at least one fluid detection sensor comprises two arms between which the change in transparency of the brake fluid is detected, said two arms enclosing a tube of the brake fluid circuit. The infrared fluid detection sensor will detect the presence of air, water or rust particles through a wall delimiting the tube. According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the two arms of the infrared fluid detection sensor are parallel. According to a possible characteristic of the invention, said at least one infrared fluid detection sensor is placed on the housing containing the anti-lock braking system and the trajectory stabilization system so that the two arms of said sensor enclose a brake fluid tube opening into said housing. Since the infrared sensor requires positional stability, it must be fixed to a stationary element of the vehicle through which the brake fluid circuit passes, such as for example the housing, by surrounding a brake fluid tube opening into said housing. According to a possible characteristic of the invention, said at least one infrared fluid detection sensor is placed on the brake fluid reservoir so that the two arms of said sensor enclose a brake fluid tube opening into said brake fluid reservoir. Since the infrared sensor requires positional stability, it must be fixed to a stationary element of the vehicle through which the brake fluid circuit passes, such as for example the brake fluid reservoir by surrounding a brake fluid tube opening into said reservoir. A vehicle according to the invention may comprise an infrared sensor fixed to the housing, and an infrared sensor fixed to the brake fluid reservoir. According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the calculator is a central calculation unit integrated into the vehicle, said at least one infrared fluid detection sensor being electrically connected to said unit, which sends information on the electronic screen only if said sensor highlights poor quality of said brake fluid. According to a possible characteristic of the invention, poor quality of said brake fluid is detected by means of a comparison between the measurement carried out by said at least one infrared fluid detection sensor and a predetermined threshold value. According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the information alerting the driver of poor brake fluid quality is reflected by a specific light signal appearing on the electronic screen. This signal can, for example, be represented by a clearly identified pattern, which can light up or flash if the quality of the brake fluid detected by the infrared sensor is poor. According to a possible feature of the invention, a warning light having the symbol ABS as a motif lights up on the electronic screen or starts to flash. In this way, the driver will instantly become aware that his braking system can quickly become deficient and that urgent action must be taken to remedy this deficiency. Another subject of the invention is a method for controlling the quality of brake fluid in a vehicle according to the invention. The said method comprises the following steps: -a step of fixing an infrared fluid detection sensor placed on the brake fluid circuit on at least one of the two elements to be chosen from the housing comprising an anti-lock system of the wheels during a braking phase of the vehicle and a system for stabilizing the trajectory of said vehicle in certain driving situations, and the brake fluid reservoir, said sensor being placed around a pipe of the brake fluid circuit opening into at least one of said two elements, - a step of electrically connecting said at least one infrared sensor to a central computing unit on board the vehicle, - a step of determining in real time the transparency of the brake fluid by means of said at least one infrared sensor, at each instant of a rolling phase of the vehicle, - a comparison step between the transparency of the brake fluid measured by the infrared sensor and a predetermined threshold value, - a step of displaying a particular symbol on an electronic screen of the vehicle signaling poor quality of the brake fluid if the value of the transparency of the brake fluid measured by the infrared sensor exceeds said predetermined threshold value. Such a process makes it possible to instantly inform the driver of the vehicle that he can quickly find yourself in a dangerous situation if the infrared sensor detects poor brake fluid quality. The term "exceeding" the threshold value means being below or above the threshold value depending on the parameter that the threshold value represents. A vehicle according to the invention has the advantage of being equipped with a system for detecting poor brake fluid quality, which is safe and reliable, and which makes it possible to inform the driver of said vehicle in real time of this poor quality. In this way, the driver becomes aware of the poor quality of the braking system of his vehicle and can then take all necessary measures to prevent an accident from occurring. A vehicle according to the invention also has the advantage of preserving its available volumes, because said detection system involves parts which are compact and limited in number. Brief description of the figures A detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention is given below with reference to the following figures: [Fig.1] [Fig.1] is a perspective and transparent view of a vehicle according to the invention showing the braking system of said vehicle, [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a perspective and transparent view of a wheel of a vehicle according to the invention equipped with its braking device, [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of a housing of a vehicle according to the invention, containing an anti-lock braking system and a system for stabilizing the trajectory of said vehicle, [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of a brake fluid reservoir of a vehicle according to the invention, [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a perspective view of an infrared fluid detection sensor and a tubing of the brake fluid circuit of a vehicle according to the invention, [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of a housing of a vehicle according to the invention, containing an anti-lock braking system and a system for stabilizing the trajectory of said vehicle and on which an infrared fluid detection sensor has been fixed, [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a sectional view of a brake fluid reservoir of a vehicle according to the invention, on which an infrared fluid detection sensor has been fixed, Description of embodiment(s) Referring to [Fig. 1], a braking system of a vehicle 1 according to the invention schematically comprises a housing 2 containing an anti-lock braking system during a braking phase of the vehicle and a system for stabilizing the trajectory of said vehicle in certain driving situations, a brake fluid reservoir 3 fixed to a master cylinder 4 and four braking devices 5, 6, 7, 8 each associated with a wheel 9 of said vehicle. The anti-lock braking system may for example be an ABS type system, preventing the wheels from locking during a braking phase of the vehicle, so that the latter does not slip on the road during said phase. The vehicle trajectory stabilization system 1 may for example be an ESP (Electronic Stability Program) type system, preventing the vehicle from drifting on the road, for example in the presence of black ice, snow or heavy rain. The brake fluid reservoir 3 has a filling tube 10 which is closed by a cap | 1, which must be removed each time said reservoir 3 is filled.Each braking device 5, 6, 7, 8 associated with a wheel 9 comprises a brake disc. The braking system comprises a brake fluid circuit 12 consisting of a multiplicity of pipes 13 in which the brake fluid circulates, said pipes 13 connecting together the housing 2 containing the anti-lock wheel system and the trajectory stabilization system, the brake fluid reservoir 3 and the four braking devices 5, 6, 7, 8. Referring to [Fig.2], a pipe 13 of the brake fluid circuit 12 opens into each braking device 5, 6, 7, 8 associated with a wheel 9, so that pressure of the foot on a brake pedal by the driver will activate said braking device via the brake fluid circulating in said pipe 13. Referring to [Fig. 3], several pipes 13 of the braking circuit 12 open into the housing 2 containing the anti-lock braking system and the trajectory stabilization system, so that the brake fluid circulating in said pipes 13 can activate at least one of the two systems placed in said housing 2. Referring to [Fig.4], several pipes 13 of the braking circuit 12 also open into the brake fluid reservoir 3, so that said reservoir 3 can supply brake fluid to the four braking devices 5, 6, 7, 8 and the housing 2 containing the anti-lock braking system and the trajectory stabilization system. The connection of the various pipes 13 of the brake fluid circuit to the various elements mentioned above, namely the housing 2, the brake fluid reservoir 3 and the braking devices 5, 6, 7, 8, is carried out by means of couplers, ensuring the connection between each of said elements and said pipes 13. With this type of arrangement, there is a significant risk that air and water particles may enter the brake fluid circuit 12 through the couplers. Similarly, such particles may also enter the brake fluid reservoir 3 whenever the cap 11 is removed to fill said reservoir 3. The presence of water particles in the brake fluid circuit 12 will cause rust particles to form. However, the presence of these water, air and rust particles in the brake fluid will deteriorate its quality, with the said fluid then risking no longer being able to perform its original function within the vehicle's braking system. Similarly, regardless of the presence of these harmful particles, the quality of the brake fluid will deteriorate over time through aging, in particular by changing its transparency. Poor brake fluid quality will impair the vehicle's braking system 1, resulting in the risk of accidents that may cause material and personal injury damage. It is therefore essential that the driver be warned in real time, in his vehicle, of poor brake fluid quality. In order to solve this problem, a vehicle 1 according to the invention comprises a system for real-time monitoring of the quality of the brake fluid and for alerting the driver when said quality is not satisfactory. Such a monitoring system comprises at least one infrared fluid detection sensor 100, making it possible to detect a change in the transparency of the brake fluid through a tube 13 of the brake fluid circuit 12. Referring to [Fig.5], the infrared fluid detection sensor 100 comprises a parallelepiped base 101 from which two elongated and parallel arms 102, 103 emerge, each of said two arms 102, 103 also having a parallelepiped shape. The two arms 102, 103 emerge from the same side of the base 101 so that said base 101 and said two arms 102, 103 form a part having a general U shape. A tube 13 of the brake fluid circuit 12 having a certain transparency, is placed between the two arms 102, 103 of the infrared sensor 100 to allow said sensor 100 to measure the quality of the brake fluid present in said tube 13. The sensor 100 is connected to a central computing unit on board the vehicle via an electric wire 104.The information obtained by the infrared sensor 100 on the quality of the brake fluid at each moment of a driving phase of the vehicle is sent to this central computing unit to which an electronic screen visible to the driver of the vehicle is electrically connected. As soon as the central computing unit detects that the quality of the brake fluid is poor, it activates a signal which appears on said electronic screen to warn said driver. The signal which appears on the screen may for example be a light spot which lights up or which starts to flash. It may also be an ABS type logo which lights up or starts to flash. The driver can then quickly take all the necessary measures before the braking system of the vehicle becomes inoperative. The infrared fluid detection sensor 100 must be fixed stably around a tube 13 of the brake fluid circuit. Since the tubes 13 constituting the brake fluid circuit 12 are advantageously flexible, said sensor 100 must be secured to a solid element of the vehicle's braking system. Referring to [Fig. 6], according to a first embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention, the sensor 100 is secured to a wall 105 of the housing 2 containing the anti-lock braking system and the trajectory stabilization system, so that the two arms 102, 103 of said sensor 100 are placed around a pipe 13 of the brake fluid circuit 12 opening into said housing 2. Referring to [Fig.7], according to a second embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention, the sensor 100 is secured to a wall 106 of the brake fluid reservoir 3, so that the two arms 102, 103 of said sensor 100 are placed around a pipe 13 of the brake fluid circuit opening into said reservoir 3. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the vehicle may comprise two infrared fluid detection sensors 100, one being fixed to the housing 2 and the other to the brake fluid reservoir 3. A method for controlling the quality of brake fluid in a vehicle 1 according to the invention comprises the following steps: -a step of fixing an infrared fluid detection sensor 100 placed on the brake fluid circuit 12 on at least one of the two elements to be chosen from the housing 2 comprising an anti-lock braking system 9 during a braking phase of the vehicle and a system for stabilizing the trajectory of said vehicle 1 in certain driving situations, and the brake fluid reservoir 3, said sensor 100 being placed around a tube 13 of the brake fluid circuit 12, - a step of electrically connecting said at least one infrared sensor 100 to a central computing unit on board the vehicle 1, - a step of determining in real time the transparency of the brake fluid by means of said at least one infrared sensor 100, at each instant of a rolling phase of the vehicle 1, - a comparison step between the transparency of the brake fluid measured by the infrared sensor and a predetermined threshold value, - a step of displaying a particular symbol on an electronic screen of the vehicle signaling poor quality of the brake fluid if the value of the transparency of the brake fluid measured by the infrared sensor 100 exceeds said pre-determined threshold value.

Claims

Claims

1. Vehicle (1) comprising a housing (2) containing an an- wheel locking during a vehicle braking phase and a system for stabilizing the trajectory of said vehicle in certain si- rolling movements, braking devices (5, 6, 7, 8) placed at the level of the wheels (9) of said vehicle, and a reservoir (3) of liquid brake, said vehicle comprising a circuit (12) of said brake fluid consisting of several tubes (13) connecting said housing (2), said dis- positive braking systems (5, 6, 7, 8) and said reservoir (3) by means of different couplers, characterized in that it comprises at least one infrared fluid detection sensor (100) placed on the circuit (12) brake fluid, and able to detect a change in transparency of the brake fluid caused by the presence of external particles or by aging, and in that it includes a computer equipped with a software whose input data is a signal representative of the measurement performed by the infrared sensor (100), said calculator sending information on an electronic screen of the vehicle concerning the quality of the brake fluid deduced from the measurement of said sensor to in- infrared (100).

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the particles exteriors are to be chosen from at least one of the categories made up of particles of water, air and rust.

3. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said at least one fluid detection sensor (100) comprises two arms (102, 103) between which the detection of change in transparency of the brake fluid, and in that said two arms (102, 103) enclose a tube (13) of the circuit (12) of the brake fluid.

4. Vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that the two arms (102, 103) of the infrared fluid detection sensor (100) are pa- rally.

5. Vehicle according to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that said at least one fluid detection sensor (100) with in- infrared is placed on the box (2) containing the anti-lock braking system wheels and the trajectory stabilization system so that both arms (102, 103) of said sensor (100) enclose a tube (13) of brake fluid opening into said housing (2).

6. Vehicle according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that said at least one fluid detection sensor (100) to in- infrared is placed on the brake fluid reservoir (3) so that the two arms (102, 103) of said sensor (100) enclose a tube (13) of brake fluid opening into said brake fluid reservoir (3).

7. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in what the calculator is a central computing unit integrated into the vehicle, and in that said at least one fluid detection sensor (100) to in- infrared is electrically connected to said unit, which sends an in- training on the electronic screen only if said sensor (100) puts highlighting poor quality of said brake fluid.

8. Vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that a bad quality of said brake fluid is detected by means of a comparison between the measurement carried out by said at least one sensor (100) of infrared fluid detection and a predetermined threshold value.

9. Vehicle according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the information alerting the driver of poor quality of the brake fluid results in a specific light signal appearing on the electronic screen.

10. Vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that a warning light having for reason the ABS symbol lights up on the electronic screen or starts to flash as soon as poor brake fluid quality is detected by the infrared fluid detection sensor (100).

11. Method for controlling the quality of brake fluid in a vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it includes the following steps: -a step of fixing a fluid detection sensor (100) to in- infrared placed on the circuit (12) of the brake fluid on at least one of the two elements to be chosen from the box (2) comprising a system anti-lock braking system during a vehicle braking phase and a system for stabilizing the trajectory of said vehicle in certain si- rolling movements, and the brake fluid reservoir (3), said sensor (100) being placed around a tube (13) of the liquid circuit of brake opening into at least one of said two elements, -a step of electrically connecting said at least one sensor (100) to in- infrared to a central computing unit on board the vehicle (1), - a step of real-time determination of the transparency of the liquid brake by means of said at least one infrared sensor (100), each moment of a vehicle rolling phase, - a comparison step between the transparency of the brake fluid measured by the infrared sensor (100) and a predetermined threshold value, - a step of displaying a particular symbol on an electronic screen of the vehicle signaling poor quality of the brake fluid if the value of the transparency of the brake fluid measured by the infrared sensor (100) exceeds said predetermined threshold value.