Method and system for reducing vacuum consumption in a vehicle

• US 9,902,386 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2015
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Cunningham, Ralph Wayne, Pursifull, Ross Dykstra
• Primary Examiner(s): MANLEY, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US14/966,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20160096516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/46 Vacuum systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/565 characterised by being associated with master cylinders, e.g. integrally formed
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/72 in vacuum systems or vacuum booster units
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/02 Arrangements of pumps or compressors, or control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/17 Using electrical or electronic regulation means to control braking detecting or indicating faulty operation B60T8/885
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/32 responsive to a speed condition, e.g. acceleration or deceleration using electrical circuitry or regulation means B60T8/17 ; B60T8/28 takes precedence; electric devices on electrically propelled vehicles indicating the wheel slip B60L3/10; measuring linear or angular speed per se G01P3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems

Abstract

A system and method for conserving vacuum within a vehicle is described. In one example, vacuum is conserved via limiting volume expansion of a brake booster working chamber.

Claims

1. A method for conserving vacuum, comprising:

limiting volume expansion of a brake booster working chamber and brake line pressure via closing a first valve, the first valve located along a brake line between a master cylinder and a wheel brake, in response to a speed of a vehicle while an engine of the vehicle is running; and

while limiting volume expansion of the brake booster working chamber and brake line pressure, adjusting vacuum within the brake booster working chamber by limiting air flow into the brake booster working chamber via a second valve.

2. The method of claim 1, where the speed of the vehicle is less than a threshold speed or zero speed, and where the limiting of volume expansion occurs while the engine of the vehicle is being started via a pushbutton.

3. The method of claim 1, where adjusting vacuum within the brake booster working chamber includes decreasing vacuum.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising not constraining volume expansion of the brake booster working chamber in response to the speed of the vehicle exceeding a threshold speed and closing the first valve in response to vehicle braking force reaching a threshold level.

5. The method of claim 1, where the volume expansion of the brake booster working chamber occurs in response to deflection of a brake booster diaphragm.