A diagnostic method to identify a leak in a three-way valve for a vehicle brake system having a remote master cylinder which includes the steps of: (1) providing a pedal simulator having pressure medium; (2) de-energizing a secondary three-way valve; (3) retracting a dual acting plunger to the home position to drop the pressure in the boost circuit to zero while also monitoring the pressure at the output of a fluid separator via a secondary master cylinder pressure sensor; (4) determining a rate of pressure reduction at the output of a fluid separator via a secondary master cylinder pressure sensor; and (5) identifying a leak in at least one of a primary three-way valve and the secondary three way valve if the rate of pressure reduction is equal to or higher than a pre-determined rate.

A one touch type auxiliary brake for driving training is disclosed. The auxiliary brake includes: a stick member having a handle at an end thereof and extendedly provided by a distance from a passenger seat to a brake pedal shaft of a driver's seat; and a bracket member formed in a hollow rectangular frame shape so that the brake pedal shaft is positioned therein, wherein a first plane is fixedly coupled to an opposite end of the stick member, a second plane is provided to be inwardly inclined to allow the brake pedal shaft to be slidable into the rectangular frame when the brake pedal shaft is fastened thereto, and a fourth plane adjacent to an inclined end of the second plane is coupled to an elastic hinge to be rotated outward and returned to its original position when the brake pedal shaft is fastened thereto and unfastened therefrom.

A retrofit pneumatic circuit complements an existing factory braking system to preserve the original function of the driver's foot pedal while also adding the ability for a computer to actuate the brakes separately and independently. In the event where both the primary and secondary drivers are actuating the brakes at any time, the braking force applied is the maximum of the two. In the preferred approach, a shuttle valve is connected between a primary proportional valve and a copy of that proportional valve. Directional control valves are also included to isolate both the input and the output portions of the secondary circuit in order to enforce positive shutdown of computer control. One directional valve blocks a supply pressure to prevent bleeding of the system in any situation where pressure is requested when computer control is supposed to be disabled. A second directional valve vents any built-up pressure to the atmosphere, so that any residual pressure does not actuate the brakes after computer control is disabled.

In a method for controlling a hydraulic braking system, in the event of a failure of a primary brake actuator system, a secondary brake actuator system is activated.

Provided is a brake bleeding device for bleeding air accumulated in brake fluid inside a braking device provided in a vehicle. The brake bleeding device includes: a master cylinder constituting a part of the braking device and provided inside a front-side storage chamber, the master cylinder being configured to generate brake hydraulic pressure in accordance with a stroke of an input piston; a brake pedal unit provided inside the front-side storage chamber and configured to give pressing force in a stroke direction to the input piston when a link mechanism connected to the input piston via a rod is operated; and an operating lever attached to the link mechanism in a state where the link mechanism is operable by the operating lever. The operating lever extends downward to a position where the operating lever is accessible from outside the front-side storage chamber.

An installation structure of a pedal stroke sensor of an integrated dynamic brake (IDB) system is disclosed. The IDB system includes a hydraulic block, a hydraulic pressure generator, and an electronic control unit (ECU). The hydraulic block includes not only a master cylinder connected to a brake pedal but also a plurality of passages and valves needed to adjust a brake hydraulic pressure. The hydraulic pressure generator includes a motor that is connected to the hydraulic block and operates by an output signal of a detection sensor for sensing displacement of the brake pedal, thereby generating brake hydraulic pressure. The ECU controls the motor and the valves based on pressure information and pedal displacement information. The installation structure of the pedal stroke sensor includes a magnet installed in a piston that slidably moves within the master cylinder by interacting with the brake pedal. The detection sensor includes a first sensor and a second sensor that are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in a movement direction of the piston in a manner that the first and second sensors detect a magnetic flux density of the magnet in response to movement of the piston.

A robot has brake and accelerator actuating levers (9, 10) and a rotary actuator (12) between them. A drive ring (16) is fast with an actuator drive member (14) and between them they captivate a journal bearing (17) for the brake actuating lever (9) on which a return spring (19) acts. Advance of the lever is via a cam member (31) adjacent it. Wherever the output drive member (14) from the rotary actuator is turned, the cam member is rotated correspondingly. For brake application, the drive member (14) is driven, clockwise in FIG. 2. For brake release, and accelerator application, the drive member is driven back and the cam member is disengaged from the lever (9) with unidirectional freedom. The drive ring (16) is carried on a central clutch member (35). The central member (35) is journalled in a fixed clutch member (36), which carries a clutch operating winding (38) for clutching together the central member (35) and an accelerator drive member (39) journalled on the central member. A central drive shaft (41) is fast with the accelerator drive member (39) and passes through the length of the rotary actuator. When the winding is energised, rotation of the output drive member (14) is transferred to this central drive shaft (41) for the accelerator actuating lever (10) as well.

A method for characterizing an electromechanical actuator unit for a vehicle brake, the electromechanical actuator unit comprising an electric motor and an actuator coupled to the electric motor. The actuator can be moved over a first area of movement without generation of a brake force and over a second area of movement with modification of a brake force. The method is carried out when the actuator moves within the first area of movement, and comprises the following steps: a) a voltage applied to the electric motor is interrupted, b) at least one parameter is determined while the electric motor runs in the generator mode, and c) at least one value is determined for a motor constant of the electric motor on the basis of the at least one parameter. The invention also relates to a vehicle brake, as well as to a computer program and a control unit for implementing the method.

A brake controller for controlling the brakes of a towed vehicle which is pulled by a towing vehicle comprises a sensor assembly which determines the position of the brake pedal of the towing vehicle, and if necessary, compensates for inertia which can affect the output of some sensors. The output of the sensor assembly is transmitted to a processor, which in turn transmits a signal (the strength of which is a function of the pedal position) to brakes of the towed vehicle to activate the brakes of the towed vehicle.

A remotely extendable motivator apparatus includes a handheld unit operatively coupled to a distal unit. Manual compression of an actuator disposed on the handheld unit effectuates extension of an extendable member forwardly from an anterior member disposed on the distal unit. Distal unit may be positioned in a footwell of an automobile to effectuate depression of a targeted pedal while a user performs observational diagnostics on the automobile without the assistance of another person.