Brake Apparatus Fluid Level Switching Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional brake apparatuses fail to accurately detect hydraulic fluid leaks, leading to unstable brake performance.
Innovation Solution
A brake apparatus that switches between master cylinder and hydraulic source control based on the detected fluid level in a reservoir tank, using a fluid level sensor to determine when to switch between pressing force brake control and boosting control to maintain stable brake performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydraulic fluid leak detection is performed using detected value of hydraulic pressure in flow passage, then leak detection function is provided, but detection accuracy is insufficient leading to unstable brake performance
Solution Approach 1:
A fluid level sensor is introduced as an intermediary detection device in the reservoir tank to detect hydraulic fluid leaks. The sensor directly measures fluid level changes in the reservoir, providing more accurate leak detection compared to indirect pressure sensing in flow passages. This intermediary measurement point enables precise leak detection while maintaining stable brake performance.
2Reliability
If brake control switches between master cylinder and hydraulic source based on fluid level, then stable brake performance is acquired, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brake control system dynamically switches between master cylinder control and hydraulic source control based on real-time fluid level detection. The control mode is not fixed but adapts to the current fluid level state, enabling stable brake performance while managing system complexity through conditional dynamic switching rather than permanent complex architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide a brake apparatus capable of acquiring a stable brake performance. A brake apparatus includes a master cylinder configured to be activated according to a brake operation performed by a driver, a reservoir tank divided into at least a first chamber connected to a wheel cylinder via the master cylinder and a second chamber connected to a hydraulic source configured to increase a pressure of brake fluid and transmit the brake fluid to the wheel cylinder, a brake control unit configured to perform brake control of transmitting the brake fluid to the wheel cylinder, and a fluid level detection unit configured to detect a fluid level of the brake fluid in the reservoir tank. The brake control unit is provided so as to be able to perform first brake control of transmitting the brake fluid from the first chamber to the wheel cylinder with use of the master cylinder, thereby increasing a pressure in this wheel cylinder, and second brake control of transmitting the brake fluid in the second chamber to the wheel cylinder with use of the hydraulic source, thereby increasing a pressure in this wheel cylinder. The brake control unit switches brake control between the first brake control and the second brake control according to the fluid level detected by the fluid level detection unit.