Vehicle braking apparatus

• US 6,959,971 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2003
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Tsunehara, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): TORRES WILLIAMS, MELANIE
• Application Number:
  US10/659,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20040090116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 303/3, 303/15, 303/152, 303/16, 303/17, 303/189, 303/20, 303/115.2, 188/106.P
• US Class Current: 303/152
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0076 relating to braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/24 with additional mechanical or electromagnetic braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/10 by utilising wheel movement for accumulating energy, e.g. driving air compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/586 the retarders being of the electric type
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/602 ABS features related thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/603 ASR features related thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/608 Electronic brake distribution (EBV/EBD) features related thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/613 : ESP features related thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/00 : Arrangements for adjusting wheel-braking force to meet varying vehicular or ground-surface conditions, e.g. limiting or varying distribution of braking force by changing number of effective brake cylinders in power brake systems B60T17/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/267 : for hybrid systems with different kind of brakes on different axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 : including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 : including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 : with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 : Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/13 : in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/18 : Braking system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 : Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A vehicle braking apparatus is provided that basically comprises a hydraulic braking apparatus, an electric braking apparatus and a regenerative braking apparatus. The hydraulic braking apparatus is configured and arranged to apply a hydraulic braking force on at least one first wheel subject to a first braking system. The electric braking apparatus is configured and arranged to apply an electric braking force on at least one second wheel subject to a second braking system that is different from the first braking system. The regenerative braking apparatus is configured and arranged to apply a regenerative braking force on one of the first and second wheels subject to a corresponding one of the first and second braking systems. The vehicle braking apparatus enables the battery for an electric braking apparatus to be more compact while also enabling regenerated electric power to be used for braking.

Claims

1. A vehicle braking apparatus comprising:

a hydraulic braking apparatus including a first hydraulic braking device configured and arranged to apply a first hydraulic braking force on at least one first wheel subject to a first braking system;

an electric braking apparatus including a first electric braking device configured and arranged to apply a first electric braking force on at least one second wheel subject to a second braking system that is different from the first braking system;

a regenerative braking apparatus including a first regenerative braking device configured and arranged to apply a first regenerative braking force on one of the first and second wheels subject to a corresponding one of the first and second braking systems; and

a regenerative power supply pathway configured and arranged to directly supply power regenerated by the regenerative braking apparatus to the electric braking apparatus.

2. The vehicle braking apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the first regenerative braking device is configured and arranged to apply the first regenerative braking force on the first wheel subject to the first braking system.

3. The vehicle braking apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein

the regenerative braking apparatus includes a second regenerative braking device that is configured and arranged to apply a second regenerative braking force on the second wheel subject to the second braking system.

4. The vehicle braking apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein

the hydraulic braking apparatus including a first hydraulic braking device configured and arranged to apply a second hydraulic braking force on an additional first wheel subject to the first braking system;

the electric braking apparatus includes a second electric braking device configured and arranged to apply a second electric braking force on an additional second wheel subject to the second braking system; and

the regenerative braking apparatus includes a third regenerative braking device that is configured and arranged to apply a third regenerative braking force on the additional first wheel and a fourth regenerative braking device that is configured and arranged to apply a fourth regenerative braking force on the additional second wheel.

6. The vehicle braking apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the regenerative braking apparatus is operatively coupled to one of the first and second wheels that is disengagably linked to a drive shaft side of an engine.

7. The vehicle braking apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the hydraulic braking apparatus includes a second hydraulic braking device that is configured and arranged to operatively couple an additional first wheel with the first wheels being rear wheels.

8. The vehicle braking apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein

the electric braking apparatus includes a second electric braking device that is configured and arranged to operatively couple an additional second wheel with the second wheels being front wheels.

9. The vehicle braking apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein

the first regenerative braking device is configured and arranged to apply the first regenerative braking force on both of the rear wheels.

10. The vehicle braking apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein

the regenerative braking apparatus includes a second regenerative braking device that is configured and arranged to apply a second regenerative braking force on one of the rear wheels and the first regenerative braking device that is configured and arranged to apply the first regenerative braking force on the other of the rear wheels.

11. The vehicle braking apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the electric braking apparatus including a parking brake device that is configured and arranged to maintain a parking braking force.

12. The vehicle braking apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the regenerative braking apparatus is operatively coupled to one of the first and second wheels that is linked to a non-driving shaft.

13. The vehicle braking apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the hydraulic braking apparatus includes a second hydraulic braking device that is configured and arranged to operatively couple an additional first wheel with the first wheels being front wheels.

14. The vehicle braking apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein

the electric braking apparatus includes a second electric braking device that is configured and arranged to operatively couple an additional second wheel with the second wheels being rear wheels.

15. The vehicle braking apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein

the first regenerative braking device is configured and arranged to apply the first regenerative braking force on both of the rear wheels.

16. The vehicle braking apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein

the regenerative braking apparatus includes a second regenerative braking device that is configured and arranged to apply a second regenerative braking force on one of the rear wheels and the first regenerative braking device that is configured and arranged to apply first regenerative braking force on the other of the rear wheels.

17. The vehicle braking apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein

the regenerative braking apparatus includes a second regenerative braking device that is configured and arranged to apply a second regenerative braking force on both of the front wheels.

18. The vehicle braking apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein

the regenerative braking apparatus includes a third regenerative braking device that is configured and arranged to apply a third regenerative braking force on one of the front wheels and a fourth regenerative braking device that is configured and arranged to apply a fourth regenerative braking force on the other of the front wheels.

19. The vehicle braking apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein

the regenerative braking apparatus includes a second regenerative braking device that is configured and arranged to apply a second regenerative braking force on both of the rear wheels.

5. The vehicle braking apparatus as recited in ciaim 1, wherein

the regenerative braking apparatus includes a second regenerative braking device that is configured and arranged to be independently operable from the first regenerative braking device to provide a second regenerative braking force to one of the first and second wheels subject to one of the first and second braking systems.

20. A vehicle braking apparatus comprising:

hydraulic braking means for applying a hydraulic braking force on at least one first wheel subject to a first braking system;

electric braking means for applying an electric braking force on at least one second wheel subject to a second braking system that is different from the first braking system; and

regenerative braking means for applying a regenerative braking force on one of the first and second wheels subject to one of the first and second braking systems; and

regenerative power supply means for directly supplying power regenerated by the regenerative braking means to the electric braking means via a direct pathway.

21. A method of controlling a braking apparatus comprising:

selectively applying a hydraulic braking force on at least one first wheel subject to a first braking system;

selectively applying an electric braking force on at least one second wheel subject to a second braking system that is different from the first braking system;

selectively applying a regenerative braking force using a regenerative braking apparatus on one of the first and second wheels that is subject to one of the first and second braking systems; and

selectively supplying power regenerated by the regenerative braking apparatus to the electric braking apparatus through a regenerative power supply pathway that is configured and arranged to directly supply the power regenerated by the regenerative braking apparatus to the electric braking apparatus.