Braking device for vehicles

• US 20030090150A1
• Filed: 11/06/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Woo, Min Su
• Application Number:
  US10/289,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20030090150A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 303/191
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/746 and mechanical transmission of the braking action
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/024 Collision mitigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/045 with locking and release means, e.g. providing parking brake application
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a braking device for vehicles capable of preventing any further accidents subsequent to an initial vehicle collision by automatically operating a parking brake upon the collision. The braking device of the present invention comprises a collision sensing means for sensing a vehicle collision and outputting a signal corresponding thereto, and an emergency braking means for causing a parking brake to perform a braking operation in response to the signal from the collision sensing means.

Claims

1. A braking device for vehicles, comprising:

a collision sensing means for sensing a vehicle collision and outputting a signal corresponding thereto; and

an emergency braking means for causing a parking brake to perform a braking operation in response to the signal from the collision sensing means.

2. The braking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the collision sensing means comprises:

a center G sensor unit for sensing impact acceleration;

a front G sensor unit for sensing deceleration generated upon a low-speed collision;

a safing sensor unit for outputting an impact response signal only when a vehicle is decelerated due to a forward vehicle collision; and

a control unit for outputting a control signal in response to input signals from the center G sensor unit, the front G sensor unit and the safing sensor unit.

3. The braking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the emergency braking means further comprises:

a gas generator unit for generating high pressure gas in response to the signal from the collision sensing means; and

a spindle for winding a parking cable fastened to a parking brake pedal, said spindle being actuated by high pressure gas generated from the gas generator unit.

4. The braking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the emergency braking means comprises:

a driving unit which is operated in response to the output signal from the collision sensing means;

a ratchet unit adapted to be connected to a braking cable cooperating with a parking brake, said ratchet being driven by the driving unit; and

a locking unit intermittently controlling rotational operation of the ratchet unit.

5. A vehicle braking device, comprising:

an accelerometer to generate a signal representative of a sudden change in acceleration of a vehicle; and

an actuating unit configured to be operatively connected to a brake cable, said actuating unit communicating with the accelerometer to tension the brake cable in response to said signal.

6. The vehicle braking device of claim 5, further comprising plural accelerometers communicating with a control unit, wherein the control unit interprets said signals and outputs an actuating signal to the actuating unit.

7. The vehicle braking device of claim 5, wherein said actuating unit comprises:

a gas generator actuated in response to said signal;

l and

a spindle mechanism driven by gas generated by the gas generator, said spindle being configured and dimensioned to wind the brake cable thereon.

8. The vehicle braking device of claim 7, wherein said gas generator comprises a powder ignition device.

9. The vehicle braking device of claim 5, wherein said actuating unit comprises:

a motor actuated in response to said signal;

a rotating arm driven by said motor, said arm being configured and dimensioned for securing the braking cable to an end thereof.

10. The vehicle braking device of claim 9, further comprising a ratchet mechanism cooperating with said rotating arm to secure said arm in a cable tensioned position.

11. The vehicle braking device of claim 9, wherein said rotating arm is mounted on a shaft driven by a gear meshed with a gear mounted on the motor.