Brake control apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9630677-B2
Application number	US-201213524885-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 15, 2012
Priority date	Jun 15, 2012
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

A hydraulic brake control apparatus for attaching to an open ended handlebar of a vehicle, the handlebar having a longitudinal axis. A brake housing is attachable to the handlebar, the brake housing including a first section residing outside the handlebar and abutting the open end of the handlebar, and a second section sized and shaped to be received inside the handlebar. A master cylinder is disposed within the first section, the master cylinder having a bore with a bore axis that is oriented transverse to said axis of the handlebar and a master cylinder actuator is in operative association with the master cylinder. A micro-adjust mechanism, a macro-adjust mechanism, and a clamp mechanism is also provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A hydraulic brake control apparatus for attaching to an open-ended handlebar of a vehicle, the handlebar having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
a brake housing attachable to the handlebar, the brake housing including a first section residing entirely outside the handlebar and abutting the open end of the handlebar, and a second section sized and shaped to be received inside the handlebar, the second section including a fluid passage and a fluid passage opening configured to receive a hydraulic line inside the handlebar;
a master cylinder disposed within the first section, the master cylinder having a master cylinder chamber with a chamber axis that is oriented transverse to said axis of the handlebar, the master cylinder residing outside the handlebar in fluid communication with the fluid passage opening of the second section sized and shaped to be received inside the handlebar; and
a master cylinder actuator in operative association with the master cylinder, wherein the master cylinder actuator is pivotally attached to the housing and configured to extend over the second section.

2. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said axis of the handlebar intersects the master cylinder.

3. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the master cylinder bore axis is perpendicular to said axis of the handlebar.

4. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the master cylinder is radial to said axis of the handlebar.

5. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 1 , further including one or both of a macro-adjust mechanism and a micro-adjust mechanism.

6. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 5 , wherein one or both of the micro-adjust mechanism and the macro-adjust mechanism is disposed on the housing.

7. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 5 , wherein both the micro-adjust mechanism and the macro-adjust mechanism is disposed on the first section of the housing.

8. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising an adjustment cylinder in communication with the master cylinder and provided with a fluid volume, wherein the one or both of the micro-adjust mechanism and the macro-adjust mechanism is operable to change the fluid volume in the adjustment cylinder.

9. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the master cylinder actuator is pivotally attached to the housing between the master cylinder and the adjustment cylinder.

10. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the master cylinder actuator is pivotally attached to the housing below and radially outboard of the master cylinder when the apparatus is attached to the handlebar.

11. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the master cylinder actuator is pivotally attached to the housing below and radially outboard of the master cylinder when the apparatus is attached to the handlebar.

12. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a clamp mechanism arranged about the second section of the brake housing.

13. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the clamp mechanism expands radially to secure the housing to the handlebar.

14. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the clamp mechanism is symmetrical about the second section of the housing.

15. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the clamp mechanism includes a clamp adjuster that is offset from said axis of the handlebar for operating the clamp mechanism.

16. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the clamp adjuster extends generally parallel to said axis of the handlebar.

17. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second section includes a fluid passage formed therethrough that is in fluid communication with the master cylinder.

18. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the fluid passage extends along said axis of the handlebar.

19. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the fluid passage is coaxial with said axis of the handlebar.

20. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 17 , wherein a clamp mechanism is positioned about the fluid passage.

21. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the master cylinder is disposed entirely within the first section.

22. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is constructed as a closed system.

23. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the master cylinder actuator is a brake lever.

24. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a clamp mechanism arranged about the second section of the brake housing.

25. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the master cylinder chamber is substantially disposed in the first section.

26. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a clamp mechanism arranged symmetrically about the second section of the brake housing to space apart the second section from the handlebar and operating to secure the brake housing to the inside surface of the handlebar by expanding radially.

27. A hydraulic brake control apparatus for controlling the braking of a vehicle, the vehicle having a handlebar with a handlebar axis, comprising:
a brake housing attachable to the handlebar, the brake housing including a first section residing outside the handlebar and abutting an open end of the handlebar and a second section sized and shaped to be received inside the handlebar;
a master cylinder disposed in the brake housing and having a bore axis oriented transverse to said axis of the handlebar;
a master cylinder actuator pivotally attached to the housing and in operative association with the master cylinder;
an adjustment cylinder disposed in the brake housing in communication with the master cylinder, the adjustment cylinder including an adjustment cylinder chamber provided with a volume of fluid; and
one or both of a micro-adjust mechanism and a macro-adjust mechanism operable upon the adjustment cylinder to change the fluid volume of the adjustment cylinder chamber.

28. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the master cylinder is disposed within the first section.

29. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 27 , wherein both the master cylinder and the adjustment cylinder are disposed within the first section.

30. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the master cylinder is disposed entirely within the first section.

31. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 27 , wherein both the master cylinder and the adjustment cylinder are disposed entirely within the first section.

32. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 27 , wherein said axis of the handlebar intersects the master cylinder.

33. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the master cylinder bore axis is perpendicular to said axis of handlebar.

34. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the master cylinder is radial to said axis of the handlebar.

35. The hydraulic brake control apparatus of claim 27 , wherein both

Assignees

• Jordan Brian T
• Vonend Andreas
• Guender Andreas
• Sram Llc

Inventors

• Jordan Brian T
• Vonend Andreas
• Guender Andreas

Classifications

• B62K23/06 Primary

  Levers · CPC title

• B62L3/02 Primary

  for control by a hand lever (hand levers for control of cycles in general B62K23/06) · CPC title

• B62L3/023 Primary

  acting on fluid pressure systems · CPC title