Hydraulic power brake system incorporating auxiliary means for driving the pump thereof
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In an automobile having a control system of the type including a vacuum actuated brake booster means for augmenting a force applied to a controlled member from a brake pedal, and including an internal combustion engine that is operatively connected to the booster means to supply a vacuum pressure to the latter during engine operation;
- the combination therewith of auxiliary means including an electric motor operatively connected to said booster means for supplyIng a vacuum pressure to the latter during operation of the electric motor, said electric motor being normally deenergized and inoperative, means responsive to a manual force applied to the control element exceeding a predetermined amount for initiating and sustaining energization and operation of said electric motor, whereby the supply of vacuum pressure is sustained upon cessation of engine operation, said engine being of the reciprocating piston type and having an intake manifold, said operative connection of the engine to the booster means comprising a duct connected between the intake manifold and the brake booster means for fluid pressure communication therebetween, said auxiliary means including a vacuum pump operatively connected to the electric motor and having its intake connected to said duct, said duct being provided with a unidirectional valve between its connections to the intake manifold and the vacuum pump for preventing fluid flow in the duct from the intake manifold to the vacuum pump, said means for initiating and sustaining operation of the electric motor comprising an electric relay means that includes a solenoid and first and second normally open electric relay switches that are closed during energization of the solenoid, a source of electrical energy, said electric motor being connected to said source of electrical energy in electrical series with the first electric relay switch, a normally open electric brake pedal switch together with means for closing such electric brake pedal switch in response to a manual force applied to the brake pedal in excess of a predetermined amount, said second electric relay switch and said electric brake pedal switch being in electrical parallel, and said solenoid being connected to said source of electrical energy in electrical series with the electrically paralleled second relay electric switch and the electric brake pedal switch, said automobile being provided with a power steering system of the type that includes a hydraulic pump, unidirection drive means connecting the engine to drive the hydraulic pump, and unidirectional drive means drivingly connecting the electric motor to the hydraulic pump, whereby both the vacuum pump and the hydraulic pump are concurrently driven by the electric motor, and wherein the steering system includes a manually operated steering wheel coupled to a steering shaft, a normally open electric steering switch, means responsive to the application of a manual force upon the steering wheel effective to produce a torque in the steering shaft in excess of a predetermined value for closing said electric steering switch, and said electric steering switch being in electrical parallel with the electric brake pedal switch, whereby said solenoid is energized upon closure of either the electric brake pedal or electric steering switches.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In an automobile having a hydraulically powered steering system and inclusive of an engine driven hydraulic pump, and vacuum boosted brake system controlled respectively by a steering wheel and a brake pedal, the provision of an electric motor connected to drive the hydraulic pump and a vacuum pump for energizing the steering and brake systems, with a unidirectional drive being interposed between the engine and the hydraulic pump. Energization of the electric motor is caused to occur whenever a force is exerted on either the steering wheel or the brake pedal that is substantially in excess of that normally required to effect steering or braking.
21 Citations
2 Claims
-
1. In an automobile having a control system of the type including a vacuum actuated brake booster means for augmenting a force applied to a controlled member from a brake pedal, and including an internal combustion engine that is operatively connected to the booster means to supply a vacuum pressure to the latter during engine operation;
- the combination therewith of auxiliary means including an electric motor operatively connected to said booster means for supplyIng a vacuum pressure to the latter during operation of the electric motor, said electric motor being normally deenergized and inoperative, means responsive to a manual force applied to the control element exceeding a predetermined amount for initiating and sustaining energization and operation of said electric motor, whereby the supply of vacuum pressure is sustained upon cessation of engine operation, said engine being of the reciprocating piston type and having an intake manifold, said operative connection of the engine to the booster means comprising a duct connected between the intake manifold and the brake booster means for fluid pressure communication therebetween, said auxiliary means including a vacuum pump operatively connected to the electric motor and having its intake connected to said duct, said duct being provided with a unidirectional valve between its connections to the intake manifold and the vacuum pump for preventing fluid flow in the duct from the intake manifold to the vacuum pump, said means for initiating and sustaining operation of the electric motor comprising an electric relay means that includes a solenoid and first and second normally open electric relay switches that are closed during energization of the solenoid, a source of electrical energy, said electric motor being connected to said source of electrical energy in electrical series with the first electric relay switch, a normally open electric brake pedal switch together with means for closing such electric brake pedal switch in response to a manual force applied to the brake pedal in excess of a predetermined amount, said second electric relay switch and said electric brake pedal switch being in electrical parallel, and said solenoid being connected to said source of electrical energy in electrical series with the electrically paralleled second relay electric switch and the electric brake pedal switch, said automobile being provided with a power steering system of the type that includes a hydraulic pump, unidirection drive means connecting the engine to drive the hydraulic pump, and unidirectional drive means drivingly connecting the electric motor to the hydraulic pump, whereby both the vacuum pump and the hydraulic pump are concurrently driven by the electric motor, and wherein the steering system includes a manually operated steering wheel coupled to a steering shaft, a normally open electric steering switch, means responsive to the application of a manual force upon the steering wheel effective to produce a torque in the steering shaft in excess of a predetermined value for closing said electric steering switch, and said electric steering switch being in electrical parallel with the electric brake pedal switch, whereby said solenoid is energized upon closure of either the electric brake pedal or electric steering switches.
-
2. In an automobile having a control system of the type including a hydraulic pump and fluid pressure actuated means for augmenting a force applied to a controlled member from a steering wheel, and including an internal combustion engine that is operatively connected to the hydraulic pump by a unidirectional drive means to supply actuating fluid pressure to the fluid pressure actuated means during engine operation;
- the combination therewith of auxiliary means including an electric motor operatively connected to said hydraulic pump by a unidirectional drive means for supplying actuating fluid pressure to the fluid pressure actuated means during operation of the electric motor, said electric motor being normally deenergized and inoperative, and means responsive to a manual force applied to the steering wheel exceeding a predetermined amount for initiating and sustaining energization and operation of said electric motor, whereby the supply of acutating fluid pressure may be sustained upon cessation of engine operation, said means of initiating and sustaining operation of the electric motor comprising an electric relay switch means that includes a solenoid and first and seconD normally open electric relay switches that are closed during energization of the solenoid, a source of electrical energy, said electric motor being connected to said source of electrical energy in electrical series with the first electric relay switch, a normally open electric steering switch together with means for closing such electric steering switch in response to a manual force applied to the steering wheel in excess of a predetermined amount, said second electric relay switch and said electric steering switch being in electrical parallel, said solenoid being connected to said source of electrical energy in electrical series with the electrically paralleled second relay electric switch and the electric steering switch, an electrical indicator lamp connected in electrical parallel with said electric motor, means for interrupting energization of the solenoid through the second electric relay switch, said automobile including a brake system actuated by a vacuum booster means, and a vacuum pump connected to the vacuum booster means, with said electric motor being drivingly connected to the vacuum pump.
Specification
-
- Resources
Litigation Campaign Assessment
Thank you for your request. You will receive a custom alert email when the Litigation Campaign Assessment is available.
×
-
Current AssigneeHarold D. Nunn Jr
-
Original AssigneeHarold D. Nunn Jr
-
InventorsNunn, Harold D. Jr.
-
Primary Examiner(s)Blix, Trygve M.
-
Assistant Examiner(s)Frankfort, Charles E.
-
Application NumberUS05/374,689Time in Patent Office789 DaysField of Search180/79.2,103 60/6,403,405,525 188/16P,356,357US Class Current180/407CPC Class CodesB62D 5/07 Supply of pressurised fluid...
