An automatic retainer valve includes a body defining a piston passageway and at least one piston positioned within the piston passageway, a brake pipe and reference volume in fluid communication with a first end of the valve, a brake cylinder in fluid communication with a second end of the valve, and an exhaust port defined in the body and positioned between the first and second ends of the valve. Pressurized fluid may be vented from the brake cylinder via the exhaust port upon a brake cylinder pressure exceeding a reference volume pressure. The brake cylinder pressure may push the at least one piston towards the first end of the valve until the brake cylinder pressure equalizes with the reference volume pressure.

Disclosed herein are a safety brake device and method for safety braking using a hydraulic brake system including hydraulic wheel brakes of an autonomous vehicle, the autonomous vehicle further having an electrical power supply and signaling system for enabling an autonomous drive mode. The method comprises pressurizing a pressure storage canister containing brake fluid, monitoring electrical power supplies and signaling of the autonomous vehicle, and releasing brake fluid into the hydraulic brake system of the autonomous vehicle to activate the wheel brakes thereof upon determining loss of at least one of electrical power and signaling of the autonomous vehicle. Disclosed herein is also an autonomous vehicle comprising a safety brake.

Disclosed herein are a safety brake device and method for safety braking using a hydraulic brake system including hydraulic wheel brakes of an autonomous vehicle, the autonomous vehicle further having an electrical power supply and signaling system for enabling an autonomous drive mode. The method comprises pressurizing a pressure storage canister containing brake fluid, monitoring electrical power supplies and signaling of the autonomous vehicle, and releasing brake fluid into the hydraulic brake system of the autonomous vehicle to activate the wheel brakes thereof upon determining loss of at least one of electrical power and signaling of the autonomous vehicle. Disclosed herein is also an autonomous vehicle comprising a safety brake.

An automatic retainer valve includes a body defining a piston passageway and at least one piston positioned within the piston passageway, a brake pipe and reference volume in fluid communication with a first end of the valve, a brake cylinder in fluid communication with a second end of the valve, and an exhaust port defined in the body and positioned between the first and second ends of the valve. Pressurized fluid may be vented from the brake cylinder via the exhaust port upon a brake cylinder pressure exceeding a reference volume pressure. The brake cylinder pressure may push the at least one piston towards the first end of the valve until the brake cylinder pressure equalizes with the reference volume pressure.

In one embodiment of the brake system, the connection of the master cylinder and the slave cylinder to the wheel brakes can be switched by the first switching valve and the second switching valve, and the communication with the slave cylinder can be cut off by the first cutoff valve and the second cutoff valve. This enables the fluid pressures which are applied to the wheel brakes to be put in the various states without having a complex configuration, thereby making it possible to control the fluid pressures with good efficiency in such a way as to match suitably the conditions of the brake system and the conditions of the vehicle.

In one embodiment of the brake system, the connection of the master cylinder and the slave cylinder to the wheel brakes can be switched by the first switching valve and the second switching valve, and the communication with the slave cylinder can be cut off by the first cutoff valve and the second cutoff valve. This enables the fluid pressures which are applied to the wheel brakes to be put in the various states without having a complex configuration, thereby making it possible to control the fluid pressures with good efficiency in such a way as to match suitably the conditions of the brake system and the conditions of the vehicle.

A hydraulic motor has a primary side and a secondary side. A hydraulic pump is to be driven by the engine to supply an operation fluid to the primary side. A bypass circuit is to connect the primary side and the secondary side. An electromagnetic valve is configured to control a flowing amount of the operation fluid in the bypass circuit to control an amount of the operation fluid supplied to the primary side. A filter is disposed in a fluid tube connected to the secondary side. A relief valve is disposed between the hydraulic pump and the primary side. A controller is to control the electromagnetic valve to drive the hydraulic motor in a case where a temperature of the operation fluid is low when the engine is started.

A hydraulic motor has a primary side and a secondary side. A hydraulic pump is to be driven by the engine to supply an operation fluid to the primary side. A bypass circuit is to connect the primary side and the secondary side. An electromagnetic valve is configured to control a flowing amount of the operation fluid in the bypass circuit to control an amount of the operation fluid supplied to the primary side. A filter is disposed in a fluid tube connected to the secondary side. A relief valve is disposed between the hydraulic pump and the primary side. A controller is to control the electromagnetic valve to drive the hydraulic motor in a case where a temperature of the operation fluid is low when the engine is started.

A valve (100) for a pneumatic system (250) of a vehicle (200a), in particular a utility vehicle (200b) includes a shuttle member (130) with a lip seal (132) integral with the shuttle member (130). The valve includes a cylinder (110), a pressure supply port (120) to supply pressurized air (150) to the cylinder (110), and the shuttle member (130) being movably arranged within the cylinder (110). The shuttle member (130) is adapted to be moved by the supply of the pressurized air (150). The shuttle member (130) includes the radial lip seal (132) integral with the shuttle member (130). The lip seal (132) and shuttle member (130) may be part of a one-piece elastic element (131).

A valve (100) for a pneumatic system (250) of a vehicle (200a), in particular a utility vehicle (200b) includes a shuttle member (130) with a lip seal (132) integral with the shuttle member (130). The valve includes a cylinder (110), a pressure supply port (120) to supply pressurized air (150) to the cylinder (110), and the shuttle member (130) being movably arranged within the cylinder (110). The shuttle member (130) is adapted to be moved by the supply of the pressurized air (150). The shuttle member (130) includes the radial lip seal (132) integral with the shuttle member (130). The lip seal (132) and shuttle member (130) may be part of a one-piece elastic element (131).