Brake Hydraulic Unit With Electronic Backup Actuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor-vehicle braking systems with the 'One Box' architecture face challenges in balancing compliance with legislative/approval requirements, installation complexity, and cost reduction due to direct mechanical connections between the brake pedal and auxiliary actuators, necessitating separate production for left-hand and right-hand drive vehicles.

Innovation Solution

An auxiliary electric motor and actuator integrated within the electromechanical hydraulic unit generate hydraulic pressure without a direct mechanical connection to the brake pedal, using an electronic control unit to send activation signals and simulate pedal strokes for actuation, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements while reducing complexity and costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a direct mechanical connection is provided between the brake pedal and the auxiliary actuator to comply with legislative requirements, then regulatory compliance is achieved, but the installation complexity increases and costs rise due to separate production for left-hand and right-hand drive vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveregulatory complianceVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the direct mechanical connection between the brake pedal and auxiliary actuator with an electronic control system. The electronic control unit receives signals from the brake pedal position sensor and activates the auxiliary electric motor accordingly, eliminating the need for mechanical linkages and enabling universal production for both left-hand and right-hand drive vehicles while maintaining regulatory compliance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an electronic control unit as an intermediary between the brake pedal and the auxiliary actuator. This intermediary processes signals from the brake pedal position sensor and controls the auxiliary electric motor, replacing the direct mechanical pathway with an electronic control pathway that adapts to different vehicle configurations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a direct mechanical connection is provided between the brake pedal and the auxiliary actuator, then regulatory compliance is achieved, but production costs increase due to separate production for left-hand and right-hand drive vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveregulatory complianceVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the direct mechanical connection between the brake pedal and auxiliary actuator with an electronic control system. The electronic control unit receives signals from the brake pedal position sensor and activates the auxiliary electric motor accordingly, eliminating the need for mechanical linkages and enabling universal production for both left-hand and right-hand drive vehicles while maintaining regulatory compliance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent designs the auxiliary actuation system with universal applicability to both left-hand and right-hand drive vehicles by using electronic control instead of mechanical linkages. The electronic control unit can adapt to different vehicle configurations through software programming, allowing a single design to serve multiple market requirements and reducing production costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution simplifies installation and reduces costs by eliminating direct mechanical connections, allowing for universal vehicle production and maintaining operational reliability in the event of actuator failures.

Implementation Method 1

an auxiliary electric motor (16) operatively connected to an auxiliary actuator (12), wherein the auxiliary electric motor (16) and the auxiliary actuator (12) are integrated within the casing defining the single electromechanical hydraulic unit (1)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

The pressure is then transferred to the brake devices (brake calipers or drum) by the hydraulic circuit itself

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure transmission: Pascal's Law

Data Source

PatentEP4554827B1A system and method for generating hydraulic pressure to actuate a motor-vehicle braking system
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 STELLANTIS EUROPE SPA
  • EP4554827B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4554827B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4554827B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system for generating hydraulic pressure for actuating brake devices (B) of a motor-vehicle braking system, comprising: - a hydraulic circuit (H) connected to the brake devices (B) of the motor-vehicle, - a fluid reservoir (3) connected to said hydraulic circuit (H), - an actuator assembly (7) comprising an electromechanical actuator (6) which can be operated by an electric motor (4), arranged to direct fluid under pressure towards the brake devices (B), - an electronic control unit (E) configured to control said electric motor (4) to generate actuating hydraulic pressure, - an auxiliary safety system for generating hydraulic pressure in the case of failure of said electric motor (4) and/or said electromechanical actuator (6), - wherein said hydraulic circuit (H), said fluid reservoir (3), said actuator assembly (7), said electronic control unit (E) and said auxiliary safety system are integrated in a single hydraulic and electromechanical unit (1), referred to as "One Box", to generate and modulate the brake hydraulic pressure.