Braking apparatus for a two-axle vehicle

• US 5,251,968 A
• Filed: 03/19/1991
• Issued: 10/12/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Rath, Heinrich-Bernhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberleitner, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Poon, Peter M.
• Application Number:
  US07/671,755
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 303/113 AP, 303/100, 303/9.62, 303/9.71, 303/9.73, 303/104, 303/9, 303/2, 303/3, 303/9.61, 303/113.5, 303/97, 188/140 A, 188/349
• US Class Current: 303/9.62
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/741 acting on an ultimate actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/12 Pre-actuation of braking systems without significant braking effect; Optimizing brake performance by reduction of play between brake pads and brake disc
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/124 Rain brake support [RBS]; Cleaning or drying brake discs, e.g. removing water or dirt
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/107 with electrical power assistance
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/268 using the valves of an ABS, ASR or ESP system
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/3275 Systems with a braking assistant function, i.e. automatic full braking initiation in dependence of brake pedal velocity
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/345 having more than one brake circuit per wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/58 responsive to speed and another condition or to plural speed conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2125/582 Flexible element, e.g. spring, other than the main force generating element
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2125/60 Cables or chains, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 188/01 Panic braking

Abstract

In a brake apparatus for a two-axle vehicle to obtain uniform wear of the brake linings a conventional ABS control device is so configured that on braking a braking pressure is supplied to the brakes of the rear wheels which is greater than a braking pressure supplied to the brakes of the front wheels for as long as the rotational deceleration of the rear wheels remains below a predetermined value.

Claims

1. In brake apparatus for a vehicle having front and rear wheels, rotational speed sensors at least at the rear wheels, circuit means for evaluating the rotational speeds and determining the rotational deceleration of said rear wheels, and means responsive to the determined deceleration of said rear wheels for controlling the braking forces at said front and rear wheels, the invention wherein said means for controlling said braking forces is responsive to deceleration of said rear wheels below a predetermined value to generate a braking force on the rear wheels which is greater than that on the front wheels so long as said deceleration remains below said predetermined value, said controlling means being responsive to deceleration of said rear wheels in excess of said predetermined value to cancel said greater braking force on said rear wheels and subject both the front and rear vehicle wheels to optimum braking force.

2. In the brake apparatus of claim 1 including means for detecting transverse acceleration of the vehicle and wherein said brake controlling means is responsive to said transverse acceleration detecting means to supply greater braking force to said rear wheels than to said front wheels as long as said vehicle undergoes no transverse acceleration.

3. Brake apparatus according to claim 2 wherein when the vehicle undergoes a transverse acceleration said brake controlling means supplies braking force to both the front and rear wheels.

4. Brake apparatus according to claim 2 including means for measuring velocity of the vehicle, wherein said brake controlling means is responsive to said velocity measuring means to supply braking force to said rear wheels which is greater than the force supplied to the brakes of the front wheels only if the velocity of the vehicle is lower than a predetermined value.

5. In the brake apparatus of claim 2 including steering means for a vehicle, and means for detecting the steering angle of said steering means, wherein said brake controlling means is responsive to said steering angle detecting means to supply greater braking force to said rear wheels than to said front wheels only so long as the steering angle does not exceed a predetermined value.

6. Brake apparatus according to claim 2 including means for measuring gradient with which braking pressure rises on commencement of braking, wherein said brake controlling means is responsive to said gradient measuring means to supply a greater braking force to said rear wheels than to said front wheels so long as the measured gradient is less than a predetermined value.

7. In the brake apparatus of claim 2 wherein said vehicle has at least a rear axle and means for measuring load on said rear axle, wherein said brake controlling means is responsive to said load measuring means to supply a greater braking force to said rear wheels than to said front wheels only if the measured rear axle load exceeds a predetermined value.

8. Brake apparatus for an at least two-axle vehicle having speed sensors at least at the rear wheels of the vehicle and a circuit for evaluating rotational speeds and for determining rotational deceleration of the wheels, the vehicle having front and rear wheel brakes and having a hydraulic control circuit for controlling said brakes of the front and rear wheels and also having an auxiliary brake acting on the rear wheels, means for controlling said auxiliary brake independently of the hydraulic control circuit, and means responsive to actuation of the hydraulic control circuit for automatically actuating said auxiliary brake for as long as the rotational deceleration of the rear wheel remains below a predetermined value.

9. Brake apparatus according to claim 8, including manual means for actuating said auxiliary brake independently of actuation of the hydraulic control circuit.

10. Brake apparatus according to claim 8 including a servo motor operatively connected to said auxiliary brake for mechanically actuating the same.

11. Brake apparatus according to claim 10 including a manually operable electrical switching contact for controlling said servo motor.

12. Brake apparatus according to claim 8 including a brake pedal, means for measuring an actuating force exerted on said brake pedal, and means for actuating said auxiliary brake when the measured actuating force applied to said brake pedal is below a predetermined value.

13. Brake apparatus for an at least two-axle vehicle having front and rear wheel brakes rotational speed-sensors at least at the rear wheels of the vehicle and a circuit for evaluating the rotational speeds and for determining the rotational deceleration of the wheels, a hydraulic circuit for controlling said front and rear wheel brakes, and an auxiliary brake at said rear wheels which is likewise actuable by said hydraulic control circuit for as long as the rotational deceleration of said rear wheels remains below a predetermined value.

14. Brake apparatus according to claim 13 including a disc brake comprising a disc and caliper at each of the rear wheels, said auxiliary brake including a second caliper operable upon a disc at each of said rear wheels.