Brake System Fluid Suction Control via Electric Actuator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional brake systems face challenges in raising fluid pressure to high levels without increasing the size of the slave cylinder, which can lead to reduced brake fluid pressure in one system affecting the other, and require complex architectures to manage anti-lock braking controls.
Innovation Solution
A brake system with a slave cylinder driven by an electric actuator, incorporating a cutoff valve, reservoir tank, and control unit that executes fluid suction control to maintain brake fluid pressure through a branch supply line with a check valve, allowing for efficient fluid re-pressurization without enlarging the slave cylinder's axial length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If the stroke amount of the slave cylinder piston is increased to raise fluid pressure to high levels, then the fluid pressure raising performance is improved, but the axial length of the cylinder is expanded which enlarges the size of the slave cylinder
Solution Approach 1:
The slave cylinder piston performs periodic reciprocating movements (forward and backward strokes) to repeatedly draw brake fluid from the reservoir and pressurize it. This periodic action allows the system to achieve high fluid pressure without requiring an excessively long piston stroke, as the fluid is progressively pressurized through repeated cycles of drawing and compressing
Solution Approach 2:
The brake fluid is drawn from the reservoir into the slave cylinder piston chamber in advance before pressurization occurs. This preliminary drawing action ensures that sufficient brake fluid is available in the chamber before the pressurizing stroke begins, enabling efficient pressure buildup without requiring an overly long cylinder stroke
2Length of moving object
If the slave cylinder size is reduced to avoid system enlargement, then the system size is reduced, but the brake fluid supply capacity during anti-lock braking control may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical linkage system with an electric actuator that directly drives the slave cylinder piston. This substitution allows for more precise control of the piston movement, enabling the system to efficiently manage brake fluid supply during anti-lock braking control with a smaller slave cylinder, as the electric actuator can precisely regulate the timing and magnitude of piston strokes to match actual braking demands
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic control unit monitors braking conditions and controls the electric actuator to adjust the slave cylinder piston movement in real-time. This feedback control ensures that the brake fluid supply capacity matches the actual braking demands, allowing a smaller slave cylinder to provide sufficient brake fluid during anti-lock braking control by optimizing its operation based on real-time conditions
3Device complexity
If a single type cylinder is used for the slave cylinder to reduce size, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability decreases as abnormal pressure reduction in one brake system may affect the other
Solution Approach 1:
The brake system is divided into two independent brake systems (first and second brake systems), each with its own cutoff valve (first cutoff valve and second cutoff valve). This segmentation allows the slave cylinder to independently control brake fluid supply to each brake system, ensuring that an abnormal pressure reduction in one system does not affect the other, thereby maintaining reliability while using a single cylinder configuration
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively raises fluid pressure to high levels while maintaining brake fluid supply during anti-lock braking, reducing the risk of slave cylinder enlargement and ensuring consistent brake performance without increasing system size or complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a slave cylinder (20) for generating a fluid pressure by an electric actuator (24) which is driven based on a traveling amount of a brake operator (P)
Implementation Method 2
a cutoff valve (61, 62) which is provided on the fluid line (2a, 2b) and which can cut off the fluid line
Implementation Method 3
a check valve (9d) which is provided on the branch supply line (9c) and which permits only a flow of the brake fluid from the reservoir tank (15) to the slave cylinder (20)
Implementation Method 4
an electric motor (24) as an electric actuator
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention concerns a braking system having a control unit (70) which is able to determine whether or not fluid suction control needs to be executed, and in the event that the control unit (70) determines that fluid suction control needs to be executed, the control unit (70) closes all cutoff valves (61;62) and controls an electric actuator (24) to drive the slave cylinder (20) of the braking system in a depressurizing direction to suck in brake fluid via a supply line (9a) from a reservoir tank (15).