Brake control method and brake control apparatus for motorcycle

• US 6,793,295 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2002
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bosch Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Bosch Braking Systems Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Sakamoto, Tadashige
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHWARTZ, CHRISTOPHER P
• Application Number:
  US10/197,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20030015916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 188/344, 188/349, 303/9.61, 303/9.64, 303/9.75
• US Class Current: 303/9.64
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1706 for single-track vehicles, e.g. motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/261 specially adapted for use in motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/3225 Systems specially adapted for single-track vehicles, e.g. motorcycles B60T8/3235 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/345 having more than one brake circuit per wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/4072 Systems in which a driver input signal is used as a control signal for the additional fluid circuit which is normally used for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/4872 pump-back systems

Abstract

In a brake control method for a motorcycle which includes a front master cylinder, front wheel cylinders hydraulically connected to the front master cylinder, a rear master cylinder, a rear wheel cylinder hydraulically connected to the rear master cylinder and a hydraulic pressure pump. When only the front master cylinder is operated, brake pressure fluid is supplied to the front wheel cylinders and the fluid pressure pump is driven to supply discharging pressure fluid to the rear wheel cylinder, and when only the rear master cylinder is operated, brake pressure fluid is supplied only to the rear wheel cylinder.

Claims

1. In a brake control method for a motorcycle which includes a front master cylinder, front wheel cylinder means hydraulically connected to said front master cylinder, a rear master cylinder, a rear wheel cylinder hydraulically connected to said rear master cylinder and a hydraulic pressure pump which sucks the brake fluid from said rear master cylinder and supplies discharging pressure fluid to said rear wheel cylinder, the improvement comprising:

supplying brake pressure fluid only to said front wheel cylinder means from said front master cylinder and thereby driving said hydraulic pressure pump to supply discharging pressure fluid to said rear wheel cylinder when only said front master cylinder is operated, and supplying brake pressure fluid only to said rear wheel cylinder from said rear master cylinder and discharging no brake fluid from said front master cylinder when only said rear master cylinder is operated.

2. A brake control method for a motorcycle according to claim 1, in which brake fluid pressure of at least one of said front wheel cylinder and said rear wheel cylinder is adjusted for anti-skid control with electro-magnetic changeover valve means connected between said front master cylinder and said rear master cylinder, and also connected between said front wheel cylinder and said rear wheel cylinder.

3. A brake control method for a motorcycle according to claim 2, wherein upon activation of said hydraulic pressure pump, the brake fluid pressure of said rear wheel cylinder is adjusted for drive slip control by said electro-magnetic changeover valve means.

4. A brake control method for a motorcycle according to claim 1, in which said hydraulic pressure pump is driven upon detection of the operation of said front master cylinder.

5. In a brake control method for a motorcycle which includes a front master cylinder, one front wheel cylinder hydraulically connected to said front master cylinder, a rear master cylinder, a rear wheel cylinder hydraulically connected to said rear master cylinder, another front wheel cylinder hydraulically connected to said rear master cylinder and a hydraulic pressure pump which is connected for sucking the brake fluid from said rear master cylinder and supplying discharging pressure fluid to said rear wheel cylinder, the improvement comprising:

supplying brake pressure fluid only to said one front wheel cylinder from said front master cylinder and thereby driving said hydraulic pressure pump to supply discharging pressure fluid to said rear wheel cylinder when only said front master cylinder is operated, and supplying break pressure fluid to said rear wheel cylinder and said other front wheel cylinder form said rear master cylinder and discharging no brake fluid from said front master cylinder when only said rear master cylinder is operated.

6. A brake control method for a motorcycle according to claim 5, in which brake fluid pressure of at least one of said front wheel cylinder and said rear wheel cylinder is adjusted for anti-skid control with electro-magnetic changeover valve means arranged between said front master cylinder and said rear master cylinder and also between said front wheel cylinder and said rear wheel cylinder.

7. A brake control method for a motorcycle according to claim 6, in which, with the actuation of said hydraulic pressure pump, the brake fluid pressure of said rear wheel cylinder is adjusted for drive slip control by said electro-magnetic changeover valve means.

8. A brake control method for a motorcycle according to claim 7, in which electric power supply to said electro-magnetic changeover valve means is stopped on the detection of system failure.

9. A brake control method for a motorcycle according to claim 5, in which said brake pressure fluid is supplied through a delay valve to said other front wheel cylinder.

10. A brake control method for a motorcycle according to claim 5, in which said hydraulic pressure pump is driven with detection of the actuation of said front master cylinder.

11. In a brake control apparatus for a motorcycle which includes:

a first electro-magnetic changeover valve apparatus arranged between a front master cylinder, supplying brake fluid only to front wheel cylinder means, and said front wheel cylinder means;

a second electro-magnetic changeover valve apparatus arranged between a rear master cylinder and a rear wheel cylinder;

a hydraulic pressure pump which is connected for sucking the brake fluid from said rear master cylinder and is not connected to suck the brake fluid from said front master cylinder;

a first association electro-magnetic changeover valve arranged between said rear master cylinder and said rear wheel cylinder, said first association electro-magnetic changeover valve having a normally communicating state; and

a second association electro-magnetic changeover valve connected at one side between said rear master cylinder and said first association electro-magnetic changeover valve and connected at another side thereof to an inlet port side of said hydraulic pressure pump, said second association electro-magnetic changeover valve having a normally cutout state whereby when said front master cylinder is operated, said first association electro-magnetic changeover valve and second association electro-magnetic changeover valve are changed over from a communicating state to a cutout state and from a cutout state to a communicating state respectively, and said hydraulic pressure pump is driven to suck the brake fluid from said rear master cylinder through said second association electro-magnetic changeover valve and to supply discharging pressure fluid to said rear wheel cylinder.

12. In a brake control apparatus for a motorcycle which includes:

a first electro-magnetic changeover valve apparatus arranged between a front master cylinder, supplying brake fluid only to a first front wheel cylinder and said first front wheel cylinder;

a second electro-magnetic changeover valve apparatus arranged between a rear master cylinder and a rear wheel cylinder;

a hydraulic pressure pump which is connected to suck the brake fluid from said rear master cylinder and does not suck the brake fluid from said front master cylinder;

a third electro-magnetic changeover valve apparatus arranged between said rear master cylinder and a second front wheel cylinder different from said one front wheel cylinder, said third electro-magnetic changeover valve apparatus normally communicating said second front wheel cylinder with said rear master cylinder;

a first association electro-magnetic changeover valve arranged between said rear master cylinder and said rear wheel cylinder, said first association electro-magnetic changeover valve having a normally communicating state; and

a second association electro-magnetic changeover valve connected at one side between said rear master cylinder and said first association electro-magnetic changeover valve and connected at another side thereof to an inlet port side of said hydraulic pressure pump, said second association electro-magnetic changeover valve having a normally cutout state, whereby when said front master cylinder is operated, said first association electro-magnetic changeover valve and second association electro-magnetic changeover valve are changed over from a communicating state to a cutout state and from a cutout state to a communicating state respectively, and said hydraulic pressure pump is driven to suck the brake fluid from said rear master cylinder through said second association electro-magnetic changeover valve and to supply discharging pressure fluid to said rear wheel cylinder.

13. A brake control apparatus for a motorcycle according to claim 12, in which said third electro-magnetic changeover valve apparatus consists of an inlet valve and an outlet valve, said inlet valve and said outlet valve having a normally communicating state and a cutout state, respectively, and whereby with the energization of solenoid portions thereof, said inlet valve and outlet valve are changed over into a cutout state and a communicating state respectively, and said inlet valve is connected through a delay valve to said second wheel cylinder.

14. A brake control apparatus for a motorcycle according to claim 12, including detection means for detecting the operation of said front master cylinder whereby said hydraulic pressure pump is driven and said first association electro-magnetic changeover valve and said second association electro-magnetic changeover valve are changed over to supply brake fluid to said rear wheel cylinder with the detection of the operation of said front master cylinder.

15. A brake control apparatus for a motorcycle according to claim 12, in which said first electro-magnetic changeover valve apparatus and said second electro-magnetic changeover valve apparatus are arranged whereby brake fluid pressure of at least one of said front wheel cylinder and said rear wheel cylinder is adjusted for anti-skid control.

16. A brake control apparatus for a motorcycle according to claim 12, in which said first, second and third electro-magnetic changeover valve apparatus are arranged whereby brake fluid pressure of at least one of said front wheel cylinders and said rear wheel cylinder is adjusted for anti-skid control.

17. A brake control apparatus for a motorcycle according to claim 12, in which said second electro-magnetic changeover valve apparatus, said first association electro-magnetic changeover valve, and second association electro-magnetic changeover valve are arranged upon activation of said hydraulic pressure pump to adjustably control brake fluid pressure of said rear wheel cylinder for drive slip control.

18. In a brake control apparatus for a motorcycle which includes:

a first electro-magnetic changeover valve apparatus arranged between a front master cylinder, supplying brake fluid only to front wheel cylinder means, and said front wheel cylinder means;

a second electro-magnetic changeover valve apparatus arranged between a rear master cylinder and a rear wheel cylinder;

a hydraulic pressure pump which is connected to suck the brake fluid from said rear master cylinder and does not suck the brake fluid from said front master cylinder;

a third electro-magnetic changeover valve apparatus arranged between said rear master cylinder and said front wheel cylinder means, said third electro-magnetic changeover valve apparatus normally cutting off said front wheel cylinder means from said rear master cylinder;

a first association electro-magnetic changeover valve arranged between said rear master cylinder and said rear wheel cylinder, said first association electro-magnetic changeover valve having a normally communicating state; and

a second association electro-magnetic changeover valve connected at one side between said rear master cylinder and said first association electro-magnetic changeover valve and connected at another side thereof to an inlet port side of said hydraulic pressure pump, said second association electro-magnetic changeover valve having a normally cutout state whereby when said front master cylinder is operated, said first association electro-magnetic changeover valve and said association electro-magnetic changeover valve are changed over from a communicating state to a cutout state and from a cutout state to a communicating state respectively, and said hydraulic pressure pump is driven to suck the brake fluid from said rear master cylinder through said second association electro-magnetic changeover valve and to supply discharging pressure fluid to said rear wheel cylinder.

19. A brake control apparatus for a motorcycle according to claim 18, in which said third electro-magnetic changeover valve apparatus consists of an inlet valve and an outlet valve, said inlet valve and said outlet valve having normally cutoff states respectively whereby with the energization of solenoid portions thereof said inlet valve and outlet valve are changed over to communicating states respectively and said inlet valve is connected through a delay valve to said second wheel cylinder.

20. A brake control apparatus of a motorcycle according to claim 18, in which said third electro-magnetic changeover valve apparatus is arranged whereby it is changed over to communicate said rear master cylinder with one port of said front wheel cylinder means when said rear master cylinder is operated.

21. A brake control apparatus for a motorcycle according to claim 18, including anti-skid control means which anti-skid controls at least one of said front wheel cylinder means and said rear wheel cylinder means with said first, second and third electro-magnetic changeover valve apparatus.

22. A brake control apparatus for a motorcycle according to claim 18, including control means for the drive-slip control of a rear wheel with said second electro-magnetic changeover valve apparatus, said first association electro-magnetic changeover valve and said second association electro-magnetic changeover valve upon drive activation of said hydraulic pressure pump.

23. A brake control apparatus for a motorcycle according to claim 18, including means for electrically distributing braking control forces between said front wheel cylinder means and said rear wheel cylinder means.

24. A brake control apparatus for a motorcycle according to claim 18, arranged whereby power supply to said first, second and third electro-magnetic changeover valve apparatus and to said first association electro-magnetic changeover valve and second association electro-magnetic changeover valve is cut off on occurrence of a fault in the apparatus.

25. A brake control apparatus for a motorcycle according to claim 18, in which a first fluid pressure detector is arranged for detecting fluid pressure of said rear master cylinder, and a second fluid pressure detector is arranged for detecting fluid pressure of said rear wheel cylinder, whereby when said rear master cylinder is voluntarily actuated during a time when brake fluid is being sucked from said rear master cylinder with said hydraulic pressure pump, output of said first fluid pressure detector is compared with output of said second fluid pressure detector, and when the former output becomes equal to the latter output or almost equal to the latter output, the solenoid portions of said first and second association changeover valves are de-energized.