Input device of vehicle brake system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9566968-B2
Application number	US-201113885889-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2011
Priority date	Nov 17, 2010
Publication date	Feb 14, 2017
Grant date	Feb 14, 2017

Abstract

An input device of a vehicle brake system which is downsized and has an improved general versatility in comparison with conventional vehicle brake systems is provided. An input device 14 includes: a master cylinder 34 that produces a fluid pressure in accordance with an input of an operation of a brake operating member 12 ; and a stroke simulator 64 which is provided side by side with the master cylinder 34 and which applies in a pseudo manner a force counteracting the operation of the brake operating member 12 to the brake operating member 12 . The master cylinder 34 and the stroke simulator 64 are formed integrally.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An input device of a vehicle brake system, the vehicle brake system comprising: the input device into which an operation of a brake operating member is input; and an electric brake actuator which generates a brake fluid pressure based on at least an electric signal generated in accordance with the operation of the brake operating member, the input device being structured as a separate device from the electric brake actuator and including the brake operating member so as to be operated by an operator, the input device comprising:
a master cylinder that produces a fluid pressure in accordance with the input of the operation of the brake operating member;
a valve unit; and
a stroke simulator that is provided side by side with the master cylinder, is in communication with the master cylinder, and applies in a pseudo manner a force counteracting the operation of the brake operating member to the brake operating member, wherein
the input device is configured to be fixed to a vehicle dashboard,
the master cylinder, the stroke simulator and the valve unit are formed integrally,
the master cylinder, the stroke simulator, and the valve unit are provided side by side in an integral manner in a vehicle width direction, and
the input device further comprises a first connection port that is in communication with the master cylinder via a first fluid pressure passage, a second connection port that is in communication with the master cylinder via a second fluid pressure passage, and a branched fluid pressure passage that is branched from the second fluid pressure passage and is in communication with the stroke simulator,
a first cut-off valve is provided in the first fluid pressure passage,
a second cut-off valve is provided in a portion of the second fluid pressure passage between the second connection port and a location at which the branched fluid pressure passage is branched from the second fluid pressure passage, and
a third cut-off valve is provided in the branched fluid pressure passage.

2. The input device of the vehicle brake system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the input device is in fluid communication with the electric brake actuator via the first fluid passage and the second fluid passage, and
the input device further comprises:
a first pressure sensor provided on the first fluid passage between the master cylinder and the first cut-off valve, and
a second pressure sensor provided on the second fluid passage between the second cut-off valve and the second connection port.

3. The input device of the vehicle brake system according to claim 2 , further comprising an air bleeder for bleeding the air out of at least the master cylinder and the stroke simulator, the input device is configured to be fixed to the vehicle dashboard in an inclined orientation such that the air bleeder is disposed at a higher end of the input unit, and the air bleeder is located at the front of the input device and vents to atmosphere.

4. The input device of the vehicle brake system according to claim 1 , further comprising an air bleeder for bleeding the air out of at least the master cylinder and the stroke simulator, the input device is configured to be fixed to the vehicle dashboard in an inclined orientation such that the air bleeder is disposed at a higher end of the input unit, and the air bleeder is located at the front of the input device and vents to atmosphere.

5. The input device of the vehicle brake system according to claim 1 , further comprising a reservoir tank provided above the master cylinder and the stroke simulator and between the master cylinder and the stroke simulator.

6. The input device of the vehicle brake system according to claim 5 , further comprising an attachment plate that enables attachment of the master cylinder and the stroke simulator to the dashboard of a vehicle,
wherein a length of the attachment plate in the vehicle width direction is longer than a length of the attachment plate in a vehicle vertical direction.

7. The input device of the vehicle brake system according to claim 1 , further comprising an attachment plate that enables attachment of the master cylinder and the stroke simulator to a dashboard of a vehicle,
wherein a length of the attachment plate in the vehicle width direction is longer than a length of the attachment plate in a vehicle vertical direction.

8. The input device of the vehicle brake system according to claim 7 , wherein the attachment plate is provided with a thinned portion.

9. The input device of the vehicle brake system according to claim 1 , wherein the reservoir tank has an external shape elongated in a vehicle back-and-forth direction.

10. An input device of the vehicle brake system, the vehicle brake system comprising: the input device into which an operation of a brake operating member is input; and an electric brake actuator which generates a brake fluid pressure based on at least an electric signal generated in accordance with the operation of the brake operating member, the input device being structured as a separate device from the electric brake actuator and including the brake operating member so as to be operated by an operator, the input device comprising:
a master cylinder that produces a fluid pressure in accordance with the input of the operation of the brake operating member;
a stroke simulator that is provided side by side with the master cylinder, is in communication with the master cylinder, and applies in a pseudo manner a force counteracting the operation of the brake operating member to the brake operating member;
a recess which extends downwardly and is formed into an upper surface of the input device between the master cylinder and the stroke simulator; and
a through-hole for water drainage formed through the recess, wherein
the master cylinder and the stroke simulator are formed integrally, and
the input device further comprises a first connection port that is in communication with the master cylinder via a first fluid pressure passage, a second connection port that is in communication with the master cylinder via a second fluid pressure passage, and a branched fluid pressure passage that is branched from the second fluid pressure passage and is in communication with the stroke simulator,
a first cut-off valve is provided in the first fluid pressure passage,
a second cut-off valve is provided in a portion of the second fluid pressure passage between the second connection port and a location at which the branched fluid pressure passage is branched from the second fluid pressure passage, and
a third cut-off valve is provided in the branched fluid pressure passage.

11. The input device of the vehicle brake system according to claim 10 , wherein a plurality of the through-holes are formed through the recess.

12. An input device of a brake-by-wire vehicle brake system, the vehicle brake system comprising: the input device into which an operation of a brake operating member is input; and an electric brake actuator which generates a brake fluid pressure based on at least an electric signal generated in accordance with the operation of the brake operating member, the input device being structured as a separate device from the electric brake actuator and including the brake operating member so as to be operated by an operator, the input device comprising:
a master cylinder that produces a fluid pressure in accordance with the input of the operation of the brake operating member; and
a stroke simulator that is provided side by side with the master cylinder, is in communication with the master cylinder, and applies in a pseudo manner a force counteracting the operation o

Assignees

• Murayama Kazuaki
• Hatano Kunimichi
• Inoue Arata
• Akutsu Kazuyoshi
• Ohnishi Takaaki
• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Murayama Kazuaki
• Hatano Kunimichi
• Inoue Arata
• Akutsu Kazuyoshi
• Ohnishi Takaaki

Classifications

• B60T8/4081

  Systems with stroke simulating devices for driver input (B60T8/4077 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60T7/042

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

• B60T13/745 Primary

  acting on a hydraulic system, e.g. a master cylinder · CPC title