Fluid brake system for a motorcycle

• US 4,626,038 A
• Filed: 02/23/1983
• Issued: 12/02/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hayashi, Tsutomu, Inoue, Hidehiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Stoner, Jr., Bruce H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin
• Application Number:
  US06/468,962
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 188/349, 303/6 R, 303/6 C, 303/95, 303/92, 303/100, 303/91, 303/101, 303/113, 303/22 R, 137/530, 137/505.18, 137/505.41
• US Class Current: 303/9.64
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/265 for hydraulic brake systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/3225 Systems specially adapted for single-track vehicles, e.g. motorcycles B60T8/3235 takes precedence

Abstract

A braking system for a motorcycle employing a multipiston fluid cylinder arranged in series to provide stepped braking from a single input to both the front and rear wheels. Additionally, a proportional pressure reduction valve operates to reduce the proportional braking pressure to the rear wheel of the motorcycle above a threshold or break point pressure level. An anti-locking system is employed with the front braking system. This anti-locking mechanism includes a warning buzzer and light simultaneously activated and deactivated with the anti-locking mechanism. A control mechanism including a control rod having stepped surfaces is employed to increase the threshold pressure of the proportional pressure reduction valve. The control mechanism disables the warning buzzer and the anti-locking mechanism and generates a continuous warning light signal.

Claims

1. A fluid brake system for a motorcycle having front and rear brakes, a brake actuating mechanism constructed and arranged to simultaneously actuate both front and rear brakes and an anti-locking mechanism for the front brake, the improvement comprising a proportional pressure reduction valve between the brake actuating mechanism and the rear brake, said valve having selectable first and second threshold set pressures and a means for selecting said first and second threshold set pressures and for disabling said anti-locking mechanism when said second threshold set pressure is selected.

11. The hydraulic brake system defined in claim 1 wherein said brake actuating mechanism includes means to operate in series the rear brake and the front brake, said means to select the amount of pressure reduction includes means to cooperate with said means to operate in series the rear brake and the front brake without pressure reduction.

2. A fluid brake system for a motorcycle having front and rear brakes, a brake actuating mechanism constructed and arranged to simultaneously accuate both front and rear brakes and an anti-locking mechanism for the front brake, the improvement comprising a proportional pressure reduction valve between the brake actuating mechanism and the rear brake, said valve having selectable first and second threshold set pressures and a means for selecting said first and second threshold set pressures and for disabling said anti-locking mechanism when said second threshold set pressure is selected, said valve including a spring biasing said valve to the open position, said means including a control member and a movable spring holder, said control member having two positions in said valve and supporting said spring holder at each of said two positions.

3. The fluid brake system of claim 2 wherein said valve includes a valve body, a valve seat, and a plunger positioned in said valve body to operatively close against said seat, said spring biasing said plunger away from said seat.

4. A fluid brake system for a motorcycle having front and rear brakes, a brake actuating mechanism constructed and arranged to simultaneously actuate both front and rear brakes and an anti-locking mechanism for the front brake, the improvement comprising a proportional pressure reduction valve between the brake actuating mechanism and the rear brake, said valve having selectable first and second threshold set pressures and a means for selecting said first and second threshold set presures and for disabling said anti-locking mechanism when said second threshold set pressure is selected, said valve including a spring biasing said valve to the open position, said means including a control member and a movable spring holder, said control member having two positions in said valve supporting said spring holder.

5. The fluid brake system of claim 4 wherein said valve includes a valve body, valve seat, and a plunger positioned in said valve body to operatively close against said seat, said spring biasing said plunger away from said seat.

6. A fluid brake system for a motorcycle having front and rear brakes, a brake actuating mechanism constructed and arranged to simultaneously actuate both front and rear brakes and an anti-locking mechanism for the front brake, the improvement comprising a proportional pressure reduction valve between the brake actuating mechanism and the rear brake, said valve having selectable first and second threshold set pressures and a means for selecting said first and second threshold set pressures, said valve including a spring biasing said valve to the open position, said means including a control member and a movable spring holder, said control member having two positions in said valve and supporting said spring holder at each of said two positions, said valve including a valve body, a valve seat, and a plunger positioned in said valve body to operatively close against said seat, said spring biasing said plunger away from said seat, and said control member including a control rod having stepped surfaces selectively engaging said spring holder, said stepped surfaces being progressively nearer said plunger to increase compression in said spring.

7. A fluid brake system for a motorcycle having front and rear brakes, a brake actuating mechanism constructed and arranged to simultaneously actuate both front and rear brakes and an anti-locking mechanism for the front brake, the improvement comprising a proportional pressure reduction valve between the brake actuating mechanism and the rear brake, said valve having selectable first and second threshold set pressures and a means for selecting said first and second threshold set pressures and for disabling said anti-locking mechanism when said second threshold set pressure is selected, said valve including a spring biasing said valve to the open position, said means including a control member and a movable spring holder, said control member having two positions in said valve supporting said spring holder, and said valve including a valve body, a valve seat, and a plunger positioned in said valve body to operatively close against said seat, said spring biasing said plunger away from said seat and, said control member including a control rod having stepped surfaces selectively engaging said spring holder, said stepped surfaces beng progressively nearer said plunger to increase compression in said spring.

8. A fluid brake system for a motorcycle having front and rear brakes, a brake actuating mechanism constructed and arranged to simultaneously actuate both front and rear brakes and an anti-locking mechanism for the front brake, the improvement comprising a proportional pressure reduction valve between the brake actuating mechanism and the rear brake, said valve having selectable first and second threshold set pressures and a means for selecting said first and second threshold set pressures and for disabling said anti-locking mechanism when said second threshold set pressure is selected, said valve including a spring biasing said valve to the open position, said means including a control member and a movable spring holder, said control member having two positions in said valve supporting said spring holder and a warning light activated by said anti-locking mechanism, said means further including a switch to turn on said warning light independently of said anti-locking mechanism.

9. A hydraulic brake system for a motorcycle including a master hydraulic cylinder for operating a front and a rear brake comprising a pressure reduction means positioned between the master cylinder and the rear brake and control means operating said pressure reduction means to select the amount of pressure reduction to the rear brake from at least two predetermined pressures, and a brake anti-locking means to automatically reduce the hydraulic pressure to a front wheel brake, wherein said means to select the amount of pressure reduction includes means to disable said brake anti-locking means at least at one predetermined pressure.

10. The hydraulic brake system defined in claim 9 wherein said hydraulic master cylinder includes dual cylinder cavities having a first master cylinder cavity connected to the front brake and a second master cylinder cavity connected to the rear brake, said master cylinder including means to first cause hydraulic pressure to operate said rear brake from said master hydraulic cylinder, said means to select the amount of pressure reduction includes means to first operate said rear brake without pressure reduction.