The invention relates to a brake fluid container for a master cylinder in a hydraulic brake system. A safety valve is provided to ensure that the neck of the brake fluid container closes when the brake fluid container is detached from the master cylinder, for example in case of an accident. The safety valve is disposed in a cartridge which can be inserted from outside in a tightly sealing manner into the neck of the container.

The invention relates to a brake fluid container for a master cylinder in a hydraulic brake system. A safety valve is provided to ensure that the neck of the brake fluid container closes when the brake fluid container is detached from the master cylinder, for example in case of an accident. The safety valve is disposed in a cartridge which can be inserted from outside in a tightly sealing manner into the neck of the container.

A vehicle brake system including a hydraulic brake device having two systems and configured to generate a braking force, wherein, in a failure condition of one of the two systems, one of the following two operation modes of the hydraulic brake device is selectively established: (a) a two-wheel mode in which master shut-off valves shut respective master fluid passages and a braking force that depends on a pressure of a working fluid supplied from a master cylinder is generated for each of right and left wheels; and (b) a one-wheel mode in which one of the master shut-off valves corresponding to the other of the two systems shuts off the corresponding master fluid passage and a braking force that depends on the working fluid supplied by a controlled-pressure supply device is generated for only one of the right and left wheels that corresponds to the other of the two systems.

A vehicle brake system including a hydraulic brake device having two systems and configured to generate a braking force, wherein, in a failure condition of one of the two systems, one of the following two operation modes of the hydraulic brake device is selectively established: (a) a two-wheel mode in which master shut-off valves shut respective master fluid passages and a braking force that depends on a pressure of a working fluid supplied from a master cylinder is generated for each of right and left wheels; and (b) a one-wheel mode in which one of the master shut-off valves corresponding to the other of the two systems shuts off the corresponding master fluid passage and a braking force that depends on the working fluid supplied by a controlled-pressure supply device is generated for only one of the right and left wheels that corresponds to the other of the two systems.

Electric parking brake devices are configured such that a parking lever is driven by an electric actuator. The electric actuator is provided with: an electric motor drivable in a forward/reverse direction and operationally controlled by a motor control unit according to rotational loads; a conversion mechanism capable of converting a rotational motion into a linear motion, moving the parking lever from a return position toward an operating position through forward rotation of the electric motor, and moving the parking lever from the operating position toward the return position through the reverse rotation of the electric motor; and a load applying mechanism (a stopper and a disc spring assembly) for applying a predetermined rotational load to the electric motor by driving a constituent member of the conversion mechanism after the parking lever is moved from the operating position to the return position through the reverse rotation of the electric motor.

Electric parking brake devices are configured such that a parking lever is driven by an electric actuator. The electric actuator is provided with: an electric motor drivable in a forward/reverse direction and operationally controlled by a motor control unit according to rotational loads; a conversion mechanism capable of converting a rotational motion into a linear motion, moving the parking lever from a return position toward an operating position through forward rotation of the electric motor, and moving the parking lever from the operating position toward the return position through the reverse rotation of the electric motor; and a load applying mechanism (a stopper and a disc spring assembly) for applying a predetermined rotational load to the electric motor by driving a constituent member of the conversion mechanism after the parking lever is moved from the operating position to the return position through the reverse rotation of the electric motor.

A brake force sensor arrangement for a brake unit includes a brake unit including a brake force application member; and a strain gage positioned on the brake force application member. The strain gage may be configured to measure the stress, strain, or stress and strain of the brake force application member. The stress, strain, or stress and strain of the brake force application member may be proportional to the brake force applied by the brake unit.

A vehicle brake management device is disclosed. The vehicle brake management device of the present invention: detects, in real time, whether the brake performance of a vehicle in motion is abnormal such that a driver or a mechanic can easily check the abnormality, thereby identifying causes thereof according to a brake failure, and can repair or replace abnormal parts; displays an alert when a brake system malfunctions, particularly when in motion, so as to enable the driver to check the malfunction; and prevents starting so as to disable operations when an engine restarts after the operation has finished, thereby remarkably reducing the risk for the occurrence of an accident and increasing vehicle reliability to consumers.

A vehicle brake management device is disclosed. The vehicle brake management device of the present invention: detects, in real time, whether the brake performance of a vehicle in motion is abnormal such that a driver or a mechanic can easily check the abnormality, thereby identifying causes thereof according to a brake failure, and can repair or replace abnormal parts; displays an alert when a brake system malfunctions, particularly when in motion, so as to enable the driver to check the malfunction; and prevents starting so as to disable operations when an engine restarts after the operation has finished, thereby remarkably reducing the risk for the occurrence of an accident and increasing vehicle reliability to consumers.

An emergency controller includes an emergency stop switch to be activated upon detection of an emergency, a control section to be enabled upon activation of the emergency stop switch, and an emergency stop mechanism configured to execute and release braking by a brake mechanism under control of the control section. The control section is configured to perform execution control for causing the emergency stop mechanism to execute braking by the brake mechanism and for stopping operation of the engine upon the condition that the emergency stop switch is activated while the engine is in operation. The control section is configured to perform restoration control for causing the emergency stop mechanism to release the braking by the brake mechanism upon the condition that the emergency stop switch is deactivated and the engine is started.