Braking system responsive to abrupt release of accelerator pedal

• US 4,146,108 A
• Filed: 11/17/1977
• Issued: 03/27/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yasuo Sato
• Original Assignee: Yasuo Sato
• Inventors: Sato, Yasuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mar, Michael
• Application Number:
  US05/852,318
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 180/103 R, 180/103 BF, 180/105 R, 180/108, 192/3 TR, 188/163, 303/16
• US Class Current: 180/271
• 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 13/52 indirect, i.e. vacuum booster units
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/18 Safety devices; Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1819 Propulsion control with control means using analogue circuits, relays or mechanical links

Abstract

A braking system for an automobile responsive to the abrupt release of an accelerator pedal. The system includes a solenoid for actuating the braking apparatus, a first switch adapted to be closed in response to a depression of the accelerator pedal, so as to prepare for the energization of the solenoid, and a second switch adapted to be closed in response to an abrupt release of the accelerator pedal to allow the energization of the solenoid to bring the braking apparatus into effect. The first switch is opened when the accelerator pedal has returned to the original position, so as to de-energize the solenoid and suspend the operation of the braking apparatus. The braking apparatus is brought into effect again by a subsequent depression of the brake pedal. The braking system incorporates a brake force doubling mechanism for allowing the functioning of both of the solenoid-actuated operation and human-actuated operation, so arranged as to provide for the functioning of the braking apparatus by the solenoid in response to the driver'"'"'s intent to stop the automibile and, then, the functioning of the braking apparatus in response to the depression of the brake pedal.

Claims

1. A braking system for an automobile braking apparatus having first and second braking force doubling mechanisms including a solenoid coil in series with first and second switch means and an electric power source, said first switch means adapted to be closed by depression of an accelerator pedal and opened when said accelerator pedal has returned to a non-depressed position said second switch means having a detecting switch (164) adapted to be closed in response to an abrupt or quick returning motion of said accelerator pedal of said automobile, wherein said first braking force doubling mechanism comprises:

(a) a body having a large chamber (131) and a small chamber (102) connected to each other;

(b) a power piston (132) movably housed in said large chamber so as to divide the space in said large chamber into a first controlling chamber (133) and a vacuum chamber (134);

(c) a communication port in said vacuum chamber for communication with a vacuum source;

(d) a hydraulic piston (135) operatively coupled to be actuated by said power piston and accommodated by said small chamber, so as to divide the space in said small chamber into a hydraulic controlling chamber and a high pressure chamber (103), said high pressure chamber having a port for communication with said braking apparatus;

(e) a relay valve cylinder connected at one end to the atmosphere and at the other end to said vacuum source, and having a communication port opening in said first controlling chamber (134);

(f) a relay valve piston (130) adapted to be actuated by a brake pedal of said automobile and housed by said relay valve cylinder for selectively bringing said communication port of said relay valve cylinder into communication with the atmosphere side and the vacuum side;

(g) solenoid means for electrically actuating said relay valve piston; and

,

(h) connecting means for connecting said relay valve piston (130) to the core of said solenoid means, said vacuum chamber being in communication with said vacuum source, said high pressure chamber (103) being connected to braking apparatus of said automobile, sand said relay valve piston being connected to said brake pedal to be actuated by the latter.

2. A braking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second switch means are so constructed as not to be closed when said accelerator pedal is returned slowly.

3. A braking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said solenoid means for actuating said relay valve piston has means for restricting the stroke or travel distance, whereby air is gradually introduced into said relay valve cylinder, when said solenoid means are energized, so as to gradually increase the braking force.

4. A braking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a third switch means and warning means are connected in series to said second switch means and said power source which are connected in series, said third switch means being adapted to be opened by a depression of said brake pedal and closed, whereby said warning means are enrgized to inform the following automobile of the braking, during a period until said brake pedal is depressed from an instant of said abrupt returning of said accelerator pedal, by the closure of said second and third switch means.

5. A braking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a fourth switch means is connected in series to said coil of said solenoid, said second switch means and said power source which are connected in series, said fourth switch means being adapted to be opened by a depression of a clutch pedal of said automobile and closed to allow an electric current to pass therethrough by the returning of said clutch pedal.

6. A braking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said high pressure chamber (103) is connected to a second braking apparatus (91) for non-driving wheels, and wherein a second braking system (140) is provided for cooperating with said second braking apparatus, said braking apparatus being adapted to act on all wheels in response to a depression of said brake pedal.

7. A braking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said high pressure chamber (103) is connected to a braking apparatus (92) for non-driving wheels, and said high pressure chamber is further connected to a braking apparatus (93) for driving wheel through a normally closed electromagnet valve (182), said electromagnet valve being adapted to open a fluid passage between said high pressure chamber and said braking apparatus for driving wheels when its solenoid coil is energized, said solenoid coil being connected in series to a brake switch (161) and in parallel with stop lamp.

8. A braking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said high pressure chamber is connected to a braking apparatus (92) for non-driving wheels, and wherein said high pressure chamber is further connected to a braking apparatus (93) for driving wheels through a normally opened electromagnet valve (183), said electromagnet valve being adapted to close a fluid passage between said high pressure chamber and said braking apparatus for said driving wheels when its coil is energized, said coil being connected in parallel with the coil of said solenoid means (150).

9. A braking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said high pressure chamber (103) is connected to a braking apparatus (93) for driving wheels through a normally closed electromagnet valve (185), and to a braking apparatus (92) for non-driving wheels through a normally closed electromagnet valve (186) adapted to normally allow a certain leak therethrough, said electromagnets being adapted to open respective passages when their coils are energized, said coils being connected in series to a brake switch so as to form circuits in parallel with stop lamp.

10. A braking system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said normally closed electromagnet valve (186) is adapted to allow said leak at an adjustable rate and to be fixed to afford an adjusted rate of said leak, so that the non-driving wheels may be braked gently at an adjustable retarding rate when said solenoid means are actuated.

11. A braking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said high pressure chamber (103) is connected to a braking apparatus (93) for driving wheels through a normally opened electromagnet valve (187), and to a braking apparatus (92) for non-driving wheels through another normally opened electromagnet valve (188), said electromagnet valves being connected in parallel with the coil of said solenoid means and adapted to close respective fluid passages when their coils are energized, but said electromagnet valve (188) allowing a slight leak therethrough in the closing state.

12. A braking system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said normally opened electromagnet valve (188) is adapted to close, when its coil is energized, allowing an adjustable rate of said leak, and to be fixed to afford an adjusted rate of leak, so that the non-driving wheels are gently braked at an adjustable retarding rate.

13. A braking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said high pressure chamber (103) is connected to a braking apparatus (94) for left-hand side non-driving wheel, and to a braking apparatus (97) for right-hand side driving wheel through a normally closed first electromagnet valve (182), and, including a third braking force doubling mechanism having a third high pressure chamber (109), a right-hand braking and a a left-hand braking apparatus (95, 96), and a second electromagnetic valve (382), said third high pressure chamber being connected to said braking apparatus (95) for right-hand side non-driving wheel and to said braking apparatus (96) for left-hand side driving wheel through said normally closed second electromagnet valve (382), and a third solenoid means (350) with a coil connected in parallel with the coil of said solenoid means (150), said first and second electromagnet valves (182, 382) being adapted to open respective fluid passages when their coils are energized, a brake switch (161), said coils being connected in series to said brake switch (161) so as to form circuits in parallel with a stop lamp.

14. A braking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said high pressure chamber (103) is connected to a left-side first braking apparatus (94) for left-hand side non-driving wheel, and to a braking apparatus (97) through a normally opened first electromagnet valve (183), that a third braking force doubling mechanism having the same construction and equipped with a third high pressure chamber (109) is provided, said third high pressure chamber being connected to a right-side braking apparatus (95) for right-hand side non-driving wheel and to a left-side second braking apparatus (96) for left-hand side driving wheel through a normally opened electromagnet valve (383), said electromagnet valves (183) and (383) being adapted to close respective passages when their coils are energized, and that the coil of a third solenoid means (350) and the coils of said electromagnet valves (183, 383) ae connected in parallel with the coil of said solenoid means (150).

15. A braking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a third braking force doubling mechanism having the same construction with said first doubling mechanism and equipped with a third high pressure chamber (109), wherein said high pressure chamber (103) is connected to a braking apparatus (97) for right-hand side driving wheel through a normally closed electromagnet valve (182), and to a braking apparatus (94) for left-hand side non-driving wheel through a normally closed electromagnet valve (186), while said third high pressure chamber (109) of said third doubling mechanism is connected to a braking apparatus (96) for left-hand side driving wheel through a normally closed electromagnet valve (382), and to a braking apparatus (95) for right-hand side non-driving wheel through a normally closed electromagnet valve (186a) adapted to normally allow a leak therethrough, the coil of said solenoid means 150 being connected in parallel with a coil of a third solenoid (350), said electromagnet valves (182, 382, 186) and (186a) being adapted to open respective fluid passages when their coils are energized, said coils of said electromagnet valves being connected in series to a brake switch (161), so as to be in parallel with a stop lamp.

16. A braking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a third braking force doubling mechanism having the same construction with said first doubling mechanism and provided with a third high pressure chamber (109), wherein said high pressure chamber (103) is connected to a braking apparatus (97) for right-hand side driving wheel through a normally opened electromagnet valve (183), and to a braking apparatus (94) for left-hand side non-driving wheel through a normally opened electromagnet valve (188), while said third high pressure chamber is connected to a braking apparatus (96) for left-hand side driving wheel through a normally opened electromagnet valve (383), and to a braking apparatus (95) for right-hand side non-driving wheel through a normally opened electromagnet valve (188a), said electromagnet valve (183, 383, 188) and (188a) are adapted to close respective fluid passages when their coils are energized, said electromagnet valves (188, 188a) being adapted to allow leak therethrough in their closing states, said coils of said four electromagnet valves and a coil of a third solenoid means are connected in parallel with the coil of said solenoid means.

17. A braking system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said electromagnet valve (186a) is of the normally closed type designed to normally allow a leak of an adjustable rate, and is constructed to afford an adjusted rate of said leak, so that the non-driving wheels may be gently braked at an adjustable rate when said third solenoid means (350) are actuated.

18. A braking device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said electromagnet valve (188a) is adapted to close its fluid passage allowing a leak therethrough when its coil is energized and is designed and constructed to be fixed to afford an adjusted rate of said leak, so that the non-driving wheels may be gently braked at an adjusted rate.