Integrated electronic shift and parking brake system, including security interlock, for motor vehicles

• US 6,293,363 B1
• Filed: 06/16/1999
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Bullister, Kevin Michael, Rangaswamy, Priya, Trujillo, Eric Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIVINE, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US09/334,407
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 188/156, 188/158, 188/72.8, 477/9, 477/18, 477/20, 477/23, 477/29, 477/53, 477/70, 116/28.1, 340/457.3, 180/287
• US Class Current: 180/287
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/741 acting on an ultimate actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/08 hand actuated

Abstract

An electric park brake control (32) for a parking brake actuator (28, 30) selectively operates a brake mechanism (24, 26) at at least one wheel to selectively perform a parking brake function. Inputs to the electric park brake control include an input from a shifter (18) for distinguishing PARK position from other positions. The electric park brake control causes the brake mechanism to perform the parking brake function when the input from the shifter to the electric park brake control discloses that the shifter is in PARK position. The electric parking brakes are integrated with the shifter, eliminating a parking pawl from a motor (12) that propels the vehicle. Neither is an operating cable from the shifter to the motor for operating the parking pawl required. The shifter is coupled in exclusively electrical relationship to a traction inverter module (16) for causing the motor to operate in correspondence with the particular position selected by the shifter. A security controller (50) causes the electric park brake control to apply the parking brake when a security violation is detected.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle comprising:

wheels that support the vehicle for rolling motion on an underlying surface;

a powertrain, including a prime mover, that drives driven ones of the wheels;

a shifter that operates to place the powertrain in a selected one of multiple positions including a PARK position;

brake mechanisms at the wheels;

a parking brake actuator that is associated with at least one of the brake mechanisms and that is effective to operate the at least one brake mechanism to perform a parking brake function;

a service brake system that is associated with the brake mechanisms and that is effective to operate the brake mechanisms to perform a service brake function;

an electric park brake control for the parking brake actuator for selectively operating the at least one brake mechanism to selectively perform the parking brake function;

inputs to the electric park brake control including an input from the shifter for distinguishing PARK position from other positions, wherein the electric park brake control causes the brake mechanism at the at least one wheel to perform the parking brake function when the input from the shifter to the electric park brake control discloses that the shifter is in PARK position; and

a security controller for disclosing a violation of security of the vehicle to the electric park brake control, wherein the electric park brake control causes the brake mechanism at the at least one wheel to perform the parking brake function in response to the security controller disclosing a security violation.

2. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 1 in which the prime mover comprises an electric traction motor that drives the driven ones of the wheels through a drivetrain;

an electric motor control for controlling operation of the traction motor; and

inputs to the electric control including an input from the service brake system for distinguishing between performance and non-performance of the service brake function and an input from the shifter for distinguishing positions of the shifter.

3. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 2 in which the at least one brake mechanism for performing a parking brake function also performs a service brake function when the service brake system operates to perform the service brake function.

4. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 3 including a service brake switch that is actuated when the service brake function is performed, and a dynamic stop switch that is independent of the service brake switch for causing the electric park brake control to apply the at least one brake mechanism.

5. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 4 in which the service brake switch provides an input to both the electric park brake control and the motor control.

6. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 1 in which the powertrain comprises an electric motor for the prime mover.