Brake Device For A Two-Wheeled Motor Vehicle, And Method Of Using Same
First Claim
1. A braking device for a motorcycle having a front wheel and a rear wheel, the braking device comprising:
- a front wheel braking mechanism operatively attached to said front wheel;
a rear wheel braking mechanism operatively attached to said rear wheel;
a vehicle speed sensor;
a fluid pressure sensor operatively associated with the front wheel braking mechanism; and
a controller which is operable to control the rear braking mechanism;
wherein the controller is configured and adapted to coordinate operation of the rear wheel braking mechanism with a front wheel braking operation, and the controller is operable to determine whether rear-wheel load is decreasing during the front wheel braking operation based on;
vehicle speed signals received from the vehicle speed sensor during the front wheel braking operation, and hydraulic pressure signals received from said fluid pressure sensor and corresponding to a hydraulic pressure applied to the front wheel braking mechanism;
and wherein, when a reduction of the rear-wheel load is determined by the controller, the controller is operable to control the rear wheel braking mechanism to suppress the reduction of the rear-wheel load.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a braking device of a motorcycle, in which a rear wheel braking mechanism is operated in conjunction with a front wheel braking operation, accurate determination of a reduction in rear wheel load is provided, and additional reduction of the rear-wheel load is prevented. Determination of a reduction in rear-wheel load is based on vehicle speed in the front wheel braking operation, hydraulic pressure of a brake caliper on the front wheel side, and respective slip ratios of the front and rear wheels. When the rear-wheel load is reducing, hydraulic pressure of a brake caliper on the rear wheel side is controlled so as to keep the slip ratio of the rear wheel at or below a set value. A hydraulic modulator supplies/evacuates the hydraulic pressure to/from the brake caliper on the rear wheel side, and the slip ratio of the rear wheel is controlled by electrically controlling the hydraulic modulator.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A braking device for a motorcycle having a front wheel and a rear wheel, the braking device comprising:
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a front wheel braking mechanism operatively attached to said front wheel;
a rear wheel braking mechanism operatively attached to said rear wheel;
a vehicle speed sensor;
a fluid pressure sensor operatively associated with the front wheel braking mechanism; and
a controller which is operable to control the rear braking mechanism;
wherein the controller is configured and adapted to coordinate operation of the rear wheel braking mechanism with a front wheel braking operation, and the controller is operable to determine whether rear-wheel load is decreasing during the front wheel braking operation based on;
vehicle speed signals received from the vehicle speed sensor during the front wheel braking operation, and hydraulic pressure signals received from said fluid pressure sensor and corresponding to a hydraulic pressure applied to the front wheel braking mechanism;
and wherein, when a reduction of the rear-wheel load is determined by the controller, the controller is operable to control the rear wheel braking mechanism to suppress the reduction of the rear-wheel load. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A braking device for a motorcycle, the braking device comprising:
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a front wheel braking mechanism;
a rear wheel braking mechanism;
a vehicle speed sensor;
a fluid pressure sensor operatively associated with the front wheel braking mechanism;
a controller which is operable to control the rear wheel braking mechanism;
wherein the controller is configured and adapted to coordinate operation of the rear wheel braking mechanism with a front wheel braking operation, and the controller is able to determine whether rear-wheel load is decreasing during a front wheel braking operation based on;
vehicle speed signals received from the vehicle speed sensor during the front wheel braking operation;
hydraulic pressure signals received from said fluid pressure sensor and corresponding to a hydraulic pressure applied to the front wheel braking mechanism; and
respective slip ratios of the front and rear wheels;
and wherein when a reduction of the rear-wheel load is determined, the controller is operable to control hydraulic pressure applied to the rear wheel braking mechanism in a manner so as to keep the slip ratio of the rear wheel at or below a set value. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
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7. A brake system for a two-wheeled motor vehicle having a front wheel and a rear wheel, the brake system configured and adapted to coordinate a braking operation for the front wheel with operation of a wheel braking mechanism for the rear wheel, the brake system comprising:
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a front wheel braking mechanism for the front wheel;
a rear wheel braking mechanism for the rear wheel;
an electrically operated motor for generating hydraulic pressure;
a hydraulic pressure modulator for supplying hydraulic pressure generated by the electrically-operated motor to the wheel braking mechanism for the rear wheel; and
a controller for electrically regulating the supply of hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic pressure modulators to the wheel braking mechanism in response to a braking operation;
wherein when the braking operation for the front wheel actuates the wheel braking mechanism for the rear wheel, the controller determines whether the rear-wheel load is reduced based on a vehicle speed and a hydraulic pressure of front wheel braking mechanism; and
when a reduction of the rear-wheel load is determined, the controller controls the rear wheel braking mechanism to suppress the reduction of the rear-wheel load. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. In a two wheeled motor vehicle having a front wheel and a rear wheel, the improvement comprising a combined brake system which allows coupling of a braking operation of a front wheel with operation of a wheel braking mechanism for the rear wheel, the combined brake system comprising:
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a front wheel braking mechanism for the front wheel, and a rear wheel braking mechanism for the rear wheel;
an electrically-operated actuator for use in generating hydraulic pressure;
a vehicle speed sensor;
a pair of hydraulic pressure modulators, one of said hydraulic pressure modulators corrresponding to and selectively placeable in fluid communication with each of said wheel braking mechanisms for transmitting the hydraulic pressure generated by the electrically-operated actuator to the corresponding wheel braking mechanisms, respectively;
an electronic controller for regulating a supply of the hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic pressure modulators to the corresponding wheel braking mechanisms in response to a braking operation and a riding condition of the vehicle, the controller being operable to determine whether rear-wheel load is reduced during braking, based on;
a vehicle speed during the front wheel braking operation, and a hydraulic pressure applied to the front wheel braking mechanism;
and wherein when a reduction of the rear-wheel load is determined by the controller, the controller is adapted to control the rear wheel braking mechanism to suppress the reduction of the rear-wheel load.
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12. A method of controlling operation of a brake system in a two-wheeled vehicle having a front wheel with a front wheel braking mechanism, a rear wheel with a rear wheel braking mechanism, a fluid pressure sensor operatively associated with the front wheel braking mechanism;
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a controller which is operable to control the rear braking mechanism, said method comprising the steps of;
a) monitoring hydraulic pressure at said front braking mechanism using said fluid pressure sensor;
b) monitoring vehicle speed using a vehicle speed sensor;
coupling a braking operation of said front wheel with coordinated operation of said rear wheel braking mechanism c) generating hydraulic pressure by operating an electrically operated motor;
d) supplying hydraulic pressure generated by the electrically-operated motor to the wheel braking mechanism for the rear wheel, using a hydraulic pressure modulator; and
e) electrically controlling a flow of hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic pressure modulators to the wheel braking mechanism in response to a braking operation, wherein when the braking operation for the front wheel actuates the wheel braking mechanism for the rear wheel, the controller determines if the rear-wheel load is reduced based on a vehicle speed and a hydraulic pressure of front wheel braking mechanism, and, when a reduction of the rear-wheel load is determined, the controller controls the rear wheel braking mechanism to suppress the reduction of the rear-wheel load. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification