Electro-hydraulic braking system
First Claim
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1. A hydraulic brake system for a motor vehicle providing pressurized brake fluid to a wheel brake in response to a demand signal, the brake system comprising:
- a brake pedal configured to be depressed by a muscle force;
a master cylinder in working communication with the wheel brake to control a pressure of the pressurized brake fluid;
a first pressure-amplifying mechanism in working communication with and configured to control the master cylinder in response to a first electrical output signal that is based on the demand signal, the first pressure amplifying mechanism including a vacuum booster having a variable chamber and an electrically controlled valve, the valve being controlled by the first electrical output signal to regulate a fluid connection between the variable chamber and ambient air;
a second pressure-amplifying mechanism in working communication with the wheel brake to control the pressure of the pressurized brake fluid in response to a second electrical output signal;
an electronic control unit in electrical communication with the first and the second pressure-amplifying mechanisms to provide the first electrical output signal to the first pressure-amplifying mechanism and to provide the second electrical output signal to the second pressure-amplifying mechanism; and
a mechanical control unit connected to the brake pedal, the mechanical control unit configured to provide a mechanical signal proportional to the demand signal to the first pressure-amplifying mechanism to control the pressure of the pressurized brake fluid only when at least one of the first and second pressure-amplifying mechanisms fails to increase the pressure of the pressurized brake fluid in correlation with the first electrical output signal, wherein the mechanical control unit mechanically disconnects the brake pedal from the first pressure-amplifying mechanism during normal operating conditions.
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Abstract
A hydraulic brake system for a motor vehicle supplies pressurized brake fluid to a wheel brake in response to a demand signal. The brake system includes a master cylinder in fluid communication with the wheel brake to control the actuation thereof. Furthermore, actuation of the master cylinder is controlled and/or amplified by first and second pressure-amplifying mechanisms, which are electrically controlled by an electrical control unit.
26 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A hydraulic brake system for a motor vehicle providing pressurized brake fluid to a wheel brake in response to a demand signal, the brake system comprising:
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a brake pedal configured to be depressed by a muscle force; a master cylinder in working communication with the wheel brake to control a pressure of the pressurized brake fluid; a first pressure-amplifying mechanism in working communication with and configured to control the master cylinder in response to a first electrical output signal that is based on the demand signal, the first pressure amplifying mechanism including a vacuum booster having a variable chamber and an electrically controlled valve, the valve being controlled by the first electrical output signal to regulate a fluid connection between the variable chamber and ambient air; a second pressure-amplifying mechanism in working communication with the wheel brake to control the pressure of the pressurized brake fluid in response to a second electrical output signal; an electronic control unit in electrical communication with the first and the second pressure-amplifying mechanisms to provide the first electrical output signal to the first pressure-amplifying mechanism and to provide the second electrical output signal to the second pressure-amplifying mechanism; and a mechanical control unit connected to the brake pedal, the mechanical control unit configured to provide a mechanical signal proportional to the demand signal to the first pressure-amplifying mechanism to control the pressure of the pressurized brake fluid only when at least one of the first and second pressure-amplifying mechanisms fails to increase the pressure of the pressurized brake fluid in correlation with the first electrical output signal, wherein the mechanical control unit mechanically disconnects the brake pedal from the first pressure-amplifying mechanism during normal operating conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A hydraulic brake system for a motor vehicle providing pressurized brake fluid to a wheel brake in response to a demand signal, the brake system comprising:
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a brake pedal configured to be depressed by a muscular force to generate the demand signal; a master cylinder in working communication with the wheel brake and configured to control a pressure of the pressurized brake fluid; a vacuum booster in working communication with and configured to control the master cylinder in correlation with a first electrical output signal, the vacuum booster including a variable chamber and an electrically controlled valve, wherein the valve is configured to control a fluid connection between the variable chamber and ambient air based on the first electrical output signal, the vacuum booster being mechanically disconnected from the brake pedal during normal operating conditions; a hydraulic pump in working communication with the wheel brake and configured to urge the pressurized brake fluid towards the wheel brake to control the pressure of the pressurized brake fluid in response to a second output signal; a first pressure sensor fluidly connected to the master cylinder to provide a first input signal corresponding to a first pressure of the pressurized brake fluid exiting the master cylinder; a second pressure sensor fluidly connected to the hydraulic pump to provide a second input signal corresponding to a second pressure of the pressurized brake fluid exiting the hydraulic pump; and a control unit in working communication with the first and second pressure sensors to receive the first and second input signals therefrom, the first and second output signals being based on the demand signal, the first input signal, and the second input signal, wherein the control unit is in working communication with the vacuum booster and the hydraulic pump to provide the first output signal to the vacuum booster and to provide the second output signal to the hydraulic pump. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification