Electric motorized brake-lock system
First Claim
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1. A method of automatically activating vehicle brakes in a vehicle of the type having a primary braking control system including a master cylinder for providing hydraulic pressure to control the vehicle brakes, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) fully pressurizing the vehicle brakes in response to a first predetermined vehicle operating condition, wherein the primary braking control system is removed from control of the vehicle brakes, and wherein the fully pressurizing step includes the steps of;
(i) activating an auxiliary hydraulic fluid pump to provide a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid;
(ii) segregating the master cylinder from the vehicle brakes in response to the pressurized hydraulic fluid, wherein the primary braking control system is not operatively connected to the vehicle brakes;
(iii) applying pressure to the vehicle brakes in response to the pressurized hydraulic fluid; and
(iv) deactivating the auxiliary hydraulic fluid pump when the vehicle brakes are fully pressurized; and
(b) fully de-pressurizing the vehicle brakes in response to a second predetermined vehicle operating condition, the fully de-pressurizing step including the step of returning control of the vehicle brakes to the primary braking control system by activating the auxiliary hydraulic fluid pump in reverse to withdraw hydraulic fluid pressure and operatively reconnect the master cylinder to the vehicle brakes.
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Abstract
An automatic vehicle brake locking system, including an actuator (16) which segregates an auxiliary hydraulic fluid pump (42) from the normally used vehicle master cylinder (2). The actuator (16) is formed as a cylinder including a piston (36) which is biased to permit passage of hydraulic fluid which is pressurized by the vehicle master cylinder (2) through the actuator (16).
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of automatically activating vehicle brakes in a vehicle of the type having a primary braking control system including a master cylinder for providing hydraulic pressure to control the vehicle brakes, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) fully pressurizing the vehicle brakes in response to a first predetermined vehicle operating condition, wherein the primary braking control system is removed from control of the vehicle brakes, and wherein the fully pressurizing step includes the steps of; (i) activating an auxiliary hydraulic fluid pump to provide a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid; (ii) segregating the master cylinder from the vehicle brakes in response to the pressurized hydraulic fluid, wherein the primary braking control system is not operatively connected to the vehicle brakes; (iii) applying pressure to the vehicle brakes in response to the pressurized hydraulic fluid; and (iv) deactivating the auxiliary hydraulic fluid pump when the vehicle brakes are fully pressurized; and (b) fully de-pressurizing the vehicle brakes in response to a second predetermined vehicle operating condition, the fully de-pressurizing step including the step of returning control of the vehicle brakes to the primary braking control system by activating the auxiliary hydraulic fluid pump in reverse to withdraw hydraulic fluid pressure and operatively reconnect the master cylinder to the vehicle brakes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for pressurizing vehicle brakes while segregating a vehicle brake master cylinder from the vehicle brakes in response to pressure applied by an auxiliary automatic braking system hydraulic fluid source, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a cylinder, the cylinder having at least a first and second inlet orifice and at least a first outlet orifice; (b) at least one piston, the piston residing in the cylinder and forming a seal with the cylinder to restrict fluid flow between the piston and cylinder, the seal including a pair of oppositely disposed and spaced apart u-cup seals substantially circumscribing the piston, the u-cup seals restricting fluid flow in opposing directions, the piston being aligned so as to permit opening and closing of the first inlet orifice in response to movement of the piston, and wherein the seal further includes a secondary seal circumscribing the piston and interposed between the u-cup seals;
whereby the secondary seal is configured to maintain a seal between the piston and cylinder in the event of a failure of either u-cup seal; and(c) a first biasing spring, the first biasing spring being arranged about the piston so as to urge the piston to open the first inlet orifice, the application of hydraulic fluid from an auxiliary hydraulic fluid source to a second inlet orifice tending to counteract the effect of the first biasing spring and close the first inlet orifice, wherein the vehicle brake master cylinder is operatively connected to the first inlet orifice such that the master cylinder is operatively disengaged from control of the vehicle brakes when the first inlet orifice is closed by the piston. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. In a closed hydraulic primary vehicle braking control system of the type having a master cylinder for providing hydraulic pressure to control hydraulically actuated brakes on the vehicle, a supplemental vehicle brake locking system comprising:
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(a) a reversible auxiliary hydraulic pump for providing a pressurized auxiliary hydraulic fluid; (b) isolating means, operatively interposed in a hydraulic circuit between the master cylinder and the brakes and operatively configured to receive the pressurized auxiliary hydraulic fluid, for isolating the master cylinder from the brakes when the auxiliary hydraulic fluid exceeds a predetermined pressure; (c) auxiliary pressurizing means, operatively connected to receive the pressurized auxiliary hydraulic fluid, for pressurizing the brakes when the master cylinder is isolated from the brakes; and (d) a controller, operatively connected to the auxiliary hydraulic pump and being selectable to operate in first and second operating configurations responsive to a predetermined vehicle operating condition, wherein when the controller is placed in the first operating configuration, the controller activates the auxiliary hydraulic pump to isolate the master cylinder from the brakes and fully pressurize the brakes, and wherein when the controller is placed in the second operating configuration, the controller activates the auxiliary hydraulic pump in reverse to de-pressurize the brakes and reconnect the master cylinder to the brakes. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification