Golf car having disk brakes and single point latching brake

• US 20040104085A1
• Filed: 09/12/2003
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Textron Innovations Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Textron Innovations Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Lang, Susan R., Buckley, James A., Walterman, Scott A., Criscuolo, James M., Reese, Terry Lou, Lang, Joseph A., Brown, Donald D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,389,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 188/73.31
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/065 employing disc B60T1/062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 11/103 in combination with other control devices conjoint control of brake system and at least another sub-unit B60W10/188
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 11/105 with brake locking after actuation, release of the brake by a different control device, e.g. gear lever
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 11/165 Single master cylinders for pressurised systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 11/18 Connection thereof to initiating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 11/22 characterised by being integral with reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 11/236 Piston sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/588 both fluid and mechanical assistance or drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/16 Locking of brake cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/222 by filling or bleeding of hydraulic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/045 with locking and release means, e.g. providing parking brake application
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2055/002 assembled from a plurality of parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2055/007 Pins holding the braking members
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2055/0091 Plural actuators arranged side by side on the same side of the rotor
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 55/228 with a separate actuating member for each side
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 303/11 Accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20534 Accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20648 Interrelated lever release

Abstract

A golf car having a hydraulic fluid brake system. The hydraulic fluid brake system is implemented as a disk brake system which is responsive to hydraulic fluid pressure generated from a master cylinder. A brake pedal and associated linkage provides input to a master cylinder to generate a hydraulic fluid pressure to control a brake caliper assembly. The brake pedal has a range of travel, where a first portion of the range defines a service mode of operation and a second portion of the range defines a parking mode of operation. In the parking mode of operation, the brake pedal and linkage engages a detent to maintain application of the brake to provide a parking mode of operation. An accumulator in the brake system provides an input force to maintain hydraulic fluid pressure sufficient to retain a parking mode of operation.

Claims

1. A golf car comprising:

a frame supported by a plurality of wheels;

an accelerator pedal;

a hydraulically operated brake system including a brake pedal movable through an operating stroke, said brake system receiving input from said brake pedal and generating an output to control a hydraulically operated braking device; and

a brake pedal locking mechanism operatively cooperating with said brake pedal to provide a locked position beyond an end of said operating stroke, said brake pedal locking mechanism further operable to automatically unlatch said brake pedal from said locked position upon movement of said brake pedal beyond said locked position.

2. The golf car of claim 1, further comprising a kickoff mechanism which couples said accelerator pedal to said brake pedal locking mechanism and which actuates said brake pedal locking mechanism to unlatch said brake pedal from said locked position upon actuation of said accelerator pedal.

3. The golf car of claim 1 wherein said brake system operates in a normal mode by partially depressing said brake pedal and wherein said brake system operates in a parked mode by depressing said brake pedal further, and wherein when said brake system is in the parking mode, said brake system may be released by depressing one of said brake pedal and accelerator pedals.

4. The golf car of claim 1, further comprising an accumulator for storing braking energy when in a parking mode, said accumulator maintaining a predetermined minimum hydraulic pressure throughout said brake system when in parking mode or operation.

5. A golf car comprising:

a frame supported by a plurality of wheels;

an accelerator pedal; and

a brake pedal for a hydraulic brake system, said brake pedal movable through a first range of motion defining an operating mode wherein said hydraulic brake system applies a varying degree of braking power based on the position of said brake pedal in said operating mode, said brake pedal further movable beyond said operating mode to a locked mode wherein said brake pedal is retained in a position whereby said hydraulic brake system applies braking power to at least one of said plurality of wheels sufficient to preclude rotation thereof, said locked mode presenting a single audible indication to an operator upon entry thereof, said brake pedal further operable to withdrawal from said locked position upon one of actuating said brake pedal beyond said locked position and actuating said accelerator pedal.

6. The golf car of claim 5, further including a kickoff mechanism which couples said accelerator pedal to said brake pedal locking mechanism and which actuates said brake pedal locking mechanism to unlatch said brake pedal from said locked position upon actuation of said accelerator pedal.

7. The golf car of claim 5, further comprising an accumulator for storing braking energy when in a parking mode, said accumulator maintaining a predetermined minimum hydraulic pressure throughout said brake system when in parking mode or operation.

8. A brake system for a vehicle comprising:

a brake pedal;

an accelerator pedal;

a hydraulic brake system receiving input from said brake pedal and generating an output to control a hydraulically operated braking device; and

a locking mechanism for providing a locked position for said brake pedal, said locking mechanism providing a single audible indication to an operator that said brake pedal had been depressed sufficiently to be latched in said locked position, said locking mechanism operable to unlatch upon one of advancement of said accelerator pedal or advancement of said brake pedal beyond said locked position.

9. The brake system of claim 8, further comprising a kickoff mechanism which couples said accelerator pedal to said brake pedal locking mechanism and which actuates said brake pedal locking mechanism to unlatch said brake pedal from said locked position upon actuation of said accelerator pedal.

10. The brake system of claim 8 wherein said brake system operates in a normal mode by partially depressing said brake pedal and wherein said brake system operates in a parked mode by depressing said brake pedal further, and wherein when said brake system is in the parking mode, said brake system may be released by depressing one of said brake pedal and accelerator pedals.

11. The brake system of claim 8, further comprising an accumulator for storing braking energy when in a parking mode, said accumulator maintaining a predetermined minimum hydraulic pressure throughout said brake system when in parking mode or operation.