A method for determining a start time for a recharging procedure for a plunger device of an electronically slip-controllable power brake system, and an electronically slip-controllable power brake system having a plunger device. Plunger devices have a plunger cylinder, a plunger piston, and a plunger working space and are operable by a drive motor. A recharging procedure of the plunger device is required from time to time. The start time for a recharging procedure of the plunger device is ascertained as a function of characteristic values that describe the driving state of a vehicle equipped with the power brake system, and/or the operating state of the plunger device when an actual position of the plunger piston lies within a specifiable working range of the plunger device.

A method for operating a regenerative braking system of a vehicle by activating at least one motor employable in generator mode taking into consideration a first information with regard to a requested setpoint total braking torque and a second information with regard to an available generator braking torque which is maximally executable by the at least one motor employable in generator mode, if the setpoint total braking torque exceeds a threshold value and/or a piece of warning information regarding a transition to a backup level that is potentially imminent or has occurred of the regenerative braking system, even if the setpoint total braking torque is less than or equal to the maximally executable available generator braking torque, sufficient brake fluid is transferred via at least one hydraulic actuator to a wheel brake cylinder of the regenerative braking system that an air gap of the particular wheel brake cylinder is closed.

Am electric braking system is disclosed. The electric braking system comprising: a cylinder unit having a first piston connected to a brake pedal, a cylinder chamber with the volume varying by displacement of the first piston, and a pressing chamber with the volume varying by a pressing member, and sending an intention of braking to an electronic control unit; a reservoir storing a working fluid, a pressure applier having a second piston operating by receiving power and a pump chamber with the volume varying by displacement of the second piston, and hydraulically coupled to wheel brakes, a reservoir line connecting the cylinder chamber and the reservoir and having a reservoir valve; and a pump reservoir line connecting the pump chamber and the reservoir and having a dump valve.

A method of controlling the fluid pressure at wheel brakes of a brake system, the method comprising: (a) providing a brake system capable of delivering fluid pressure to the wheel brakes during an autonomous braking event, and wherein the brake system includes a brake pedal and sensor for sensing a driver's braking intent when applying force to the brake pedal; (b) controlling the fluid pressure at the wheel brakes at a predetermined pressure during an autonomous braking event, wherein the sensor detects no depression of the brake pedal; (c) cancelling the autonomous braking event when the sensor detects depression of the brake pedal; and (d) subsequently to step (c), the brake system enters into a handoff procedure to maintain the predetermined pressure at the wheel brakes after the sensor senses the brake pedal being depressed when a requested pressure by the driver is less than the predetermined pressure.

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for engaging the brake pedal of a vehicle using only the weight of the device, allowing a single person to check for proper functioning of the vehicle's brake lights without having to further attach the device to a seat or steering wheel of the vehicle, and methods of using the same. The device may include an elongated arm or lever, an attachment member at one end of the arm for engaging it with the brake pedal, and a weighted member at the opposite end of the arm for providing downward force against the brake pedal. The attachment member may comprise a bracket with one or more widths, allowing the device to securely engage with brake pedals of varying sizes and thicknesses, such that the same bracket may be used to engage a relatively small and thin brake pedal of a car, or a larger, thicker brake pedal of a commercial vehicle such as a bus or a semi-truck.

Systems and methods for providing vehicle condition indicators are provided. The method for controlling the vehicle includes receiving sensor information from a plurality of sensors associated with the vehicle. The sensor information includes throttle values and lateral acceleration values. The method also includes analyzing the throttle values for a plurality of points in time to determine whether to activate an aggressive throttle flag. The method further includes analyzing the lateral acceleration values for the plurality of points in time to determine whether to activate an aggressive lateral acceleration flag. In addition, the method includes activating a fluid consumption detection enable flag when the aggressive throttle flag and the aggressive lateral acceleration flag are both active.

A method for operating a vehicle brake system including a brake booster and an electronic traction control device, which is used as a fallback level in a malfunction of the brake booster. The position of an accelerator pedal is ascertained when a malfunction of the brake booster is detected, and under the precondition that the accelerator pedal is released, a predefined initial pressure is built up in a pressure chamber of a master brake cylinder of the vehicle brake system with the aid of the traction control device so that a deceleration of the vehicle is induced. A control unit which is designed to carry out the method, and a vehicle having a vehicle brake system and a control unit, are also described.

A device operatively couples a tractor ABS controller with TABS controllers in units towed by the tractor. A PLC interface circuit of the device communicates messages received from a PLC network of the towed units to a CAN network of the tractor via a CAN interface circuit. The device may also rebroadcast messages received from the PLC network back onto the PLC network, and may also wirelessly broadcast messages received from the PLC network back onto a wireless network. The device receives messages from the towed units at a message rate, determines a quantity of towed units from the message rate, and communicates the determined quantity of towed units on the CAN network of the tractor. The device receives messages indicating towed unit identification (ID) information, determines a quantity of towed units from the towed unit ID information, and communicates the determined quantity of towed units on the CAN network.

A pedal-travel simulator of a hydraulic power vehicle brake system is connected to a brake-fluid reservoir by way of a groove between two piston seals of a power brake-pressure generator. Any air bubbles in the brake fluid get out of the pedal-travel simulator into the brake-fluid reservoir, and the piston seals are lubricated with the brake fluid.

A brake system with a wheel brake has a fluid reservoir and a valve assembly in fluid communication with the reservoir via a first conduit. The valve assembly is in fluid communication with the wheel brake via a second conduit. The valve assembly includes a bypass valve which only permits fluid flow from the first conduit to the second conduit when the fluid pressure within the first conduit is above a predetermined pressure level above atmospheric pressure. The valve assembly further includes a check valve in a parallel path arrangement relative to the bypass valve such that the check valve permits fluid flow from the second conduit to the first conduit, and prevents fluid flow from the first conduit to the second conduit. The brake system further includes a first source of pressurized fluid providing fluid pressure for actuating the wheel brake, wherein the first source of pressurized fluid is selectively in fluid communication with the second conduit.