Brake Apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017190328-A1
Application number	US-201515308620-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 23, 2015
Priority date	May 8, 2014
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a brake apparatus that allows low-cost attachment of a stroke sensor that detects a stroke amount of a brake pedal. The brake apparatus is configured in such a manner that the stroke sensor that detects an amount of an axial stroke of a piston is disposed between one side surface of a master cylinder housing and one side surface of a valve housing, and an output of the stroke sensor is transmitted via a through-hole formed on the valve housing when being transmitted to a control unit attached to an opposite side surface-side of the valve housing.

First claim

1 . A brake apparatus comprising:
a master cylinder housing including a piston configured to carry out an axial stroke in a cylinder formed therein via a rod operable according to an operation performed by a driver on a brake pedal; a valve housing including an oil passage through which brake fluid flows after flowing out from inside the cylinder according to the stroke of the piston, and an electromagnetic valve configured to block and open the oil passage, the master cylinder housing being attached to one side surface-side of the valve housing; a stroke sensor disposed between one side surface of the master cylinder housing and one side surface of the valve housing, and configured to detect an amount of the axial stroke of the piston; a control unit attached to an opposite side surface-side of the valve housing, and configured to drive the electromagnetic valve and receive an output of the stroke sensor; and a through-hole provided on the valve housing and formed to allow a signal line to pass through the through-hole, the signal line being configured to transmit the output of the stroke sensor to the control unit.

2 . The brake apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the signal line is a bus bar.

3 . The brake apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit includes a controller, and a connector configured to electrically connect the controller to an outside.

4 . The brake apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the stroke sensor is a magnetic sensor configured to detect the stroke of the piston based on a magnetic change,
wherein the master cylinder housing is a non-magnetic member, and wherein the stroke sensor is attached to a wall of the master cylinder housing.

5 . The brake apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein a recessed portion is formed on the wall of the master cylinder housing where the stroke sensor is attached, and the stroke sensor is disposed in the recessed portion.

6 . The brake apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the signal line is disposed in the recessed portion of the master cylinder housing.

7 . The brake apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the signal line includes an extension portion extending along the master cylinder housing in the recessed portion, and a connection end configured to transmit a signal to the control unit by being erected from the extension portion in a direction toward the valve housing and being connected to the control unit from an axial direction.

8 . The brake apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the connection end is erected so as to be located at a position corresponding to the through-hole.

9 . The brake apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the stroke sensor is disposed on a brake pedal-side so as to detect a stroke of the rod, and
wherein the signal line is disposed in a direction away from the brake pedal along the cylinder.

10 . The brake apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein a space in the recessed portion is in communication with an outside.

11 . The brake apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a recessed portion is formed on the one side surface of the valve housing, and the stroke sensor is disposed in the recessed portion.

12 . The brake apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a recessed portion is formed on the one side surface of the valve housing or a surface of the master cylinder housing that faces the valve housing, and the stroke sensor is disposed in the recessed portion.

13 . The brake apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein a space in the recessed portion is in communication with an outside.

14 . The brake apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the master cylinder housing includes a connection port liquid-tightly connected to the oil passage for connecting the brake fluid flowing out from inside the cylinder to the oil passage formed in the valve housing, and
wherein the stroke sensor is liquid-tightly configured.

15 . A brake apparatus comprising:
a master cylinder housing including a cylinder portion therein, and including a piston configured to carry out an axial stroke in the cylinder portion via a rod operable according to an operation performed by a driver on a brake pedal; a valve housing including an oil passage through which brake fluid flows after flowing out from inside the cylinder portion according to the stroke of the piston, and an electromagnetic valve configured to block and open the oil passage, the master cylinder housing being attached to one side surface-side of the valve housing; a stroke sensor disposed between the master cylinder housing and one side surface of the valve housing, and configured to detect an amount of the axial stroke of the piston; a control unit attached to an opposite side surface-side of the valve housing, and configured to drive the electromagnetic valve and receive an output of the stroke sensor; and a through-hole provided on the valve housing, the through-hole being formed in such a manner that a connection member for electrically connecting the stroke sensor and the control unit to each other is disposed therein.

16 . The brake apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein a space for disposing the stroke sensor therein is formed between the one side surface of the valve housing and a wall of the master cylinder housing that faces the one side surface of the valve housing.

17 . The brake apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the stroke sensor is attached to the master cylinder housing.

18 . The brake apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the connection member includes therein a bus bar for establishing an electric connection, and a surrounding portion that surrounds the bus bar and is stiffer than the conductive member, and
wherein the connection member includes an extension portion extending along the master cylinder housing forming the space, and a connection end configured to transmit a signal to the control unit by being erected from the extension portion in a direction toward the valve housing and being connected to the control unit from an axial direction.

19 . The brake apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the connection end is erected so as to be located at a position corresponding to the through-hole when the master cylinder housing and the valve housing are attached to each other.

20 . A brake apparatus comprising:
a master cylinder housing including a piston configured to carry out a stroke via a rod axially operable according to an operation performed by a driver on a brake pedal; a stroke sensor attached to the master cylinder housing and configured to detect an amount of the axial stroke of the piston; a valve housing including an oil passage through which brake fluid flows, and an electromagnetic valve configured to block and open the oil passage; and a control unit configured to drive the electromagnetic valve and receive an output of the stroke sensor, wherein the master cylinder housing is attached to one side surface-side of the valve housing, and the control unit is attached to an opposite side surface-side of the valve housing, and
wherein the stroke sensor and the control unit are electrically connected to each other via a bus bar with the valve housing interposed therebetween.

Assignees

• Hitachi Automotive Systems Ltd

Inventors

• Nakazawa Chiharu
• Maruo Ryohei

Classifications

• B60T13/662

  characterised by specified functions of the control system components · CPC title

• B60T11/16

  Master control, e.g. master cylinders (master cylinders associated with vacuum boosters B60T13/565) · CPC title

• B60T13/146

  Part of the system directly actuated by booster pressure · CPC title

• B60T11/22

  characterised by being integral with reservoir · CPC title

• B60T7/042

  by electrical means, e.g. using travel or force sensors · CPC title