VEHICULAR HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM

Abstract

A transportation vehicle with a brake system designed for rapid deceleration of a moving vehicle, which enhances the effectiveness of vehicular braking in emergency situations, and increases the safety of automobile traffic on roads, which results in greater road-traffic safety due to enhanced reliability and higher effectiveness of braking under emergency situations.

A vehicular hydraulic brake system having a master brake cylinder with a hydraulic reservoir supplying a brake fluid, a control foot pedal and a vacuum booster connected to an operating brake cylinder of each wheel. The brake system has emergency braking assemblies mounted before the operating brake cylinders of at least rear wheels. The emergency braking assembly includes an electric mechanism operating in a reciprocating manner and has a rod attached to a piston of a hydraulic cylinder. An inlet hole of the hydraulic cylinder is connected to a pipeline in communication with the master braking cylinder. An outlet hole of the hydraulic cylinder is in communication with the operating brake cylinder. A top portion of the hydraulic cylinder has a compensation port in the close proximity to the electric mechanism, said compensation port being connected to the pipeline in communication with the master braking cylinder. A bottom portion of the hydraulic cylinder of the emergency braking assembly is disposed not lower than a top level of the operating brake cylinder.

Claims

1. A method for emergency wheel braking comprising: activating an emergency wheel braking device by pushing an activation button; upon said activating, moving, by an electrical mechanism at one end of a hydraulic cylinder, a rod and piston connected thereto within said hydraulic cylinder from one end to the other end thereof, whereby a wheel is braked.

2. The method for emergency wheel braking according to claim 1, wherein said step of moving further comprises: wherein said rod is attached at one end to said electrical mechanism and at the other end to said piston, wherein said hydraulic cylinder has a top portion thereof adjacent said electrical mechanism with an inlet hole therethrough, said inlet hole being adjacent said electrical mechanism and being connected to a main pipeline, and wherein said hydraulic cylinder has an outlet hole, said outlet hole being disposed at the other end of said hydraulic cylinder and being in communication with an operating brake cylinder for a wheel, wherein the top portion of said hydraulic cylinder has a compensation port therethrough, said compensation port disposed between the electrical mechanism and the input port, said compensation port in communication with the main pipeline, whereby, when said emergency wheel braking device is activated in an emergency circumstance, said emergency assembly wheel braking device stops said wheel by the electrical mechanism driving the rod outwards along with the piston, said piston closing off said inlet hole from the operating brake cylinder, thereby allowing braking using the remaining brake fluid within the operating brake cylinder.

3. The method for emergency wheel braking according to claim 2, wherein: disposing a bottom portion of a casing of said hydraulic cylinder not lower than an upper level of the operating braking cylinder.

4. The method for emergency wheel braking according to claim 2, further comprising: connecting a pipeline to said compensation port and to a second pipeline connecting to said input port.

5. The method for emergency wheel braking according to claim 2, wherein said wheel comprises at least one rear wheel of a vehicle, and further comprising: mounting said emergency braking assembly before the operating brake cylinders of said at least one rear wheel.

6. The method for emergency wheel braking according to claim 5, wherein said wheel comprises at least one front wheel of a vehicle, and further comprising: mounting said emergency braking assembly before the operating brake cylinders of said at least one front wheel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0025] While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as forming the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying DRAWINGS, where like reference numerals designate like structural and other elements, in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a representative schematic view of various operating principles of the claimed brake system according to a first embodiment configuration;

[0027] FIG. 2 is a representative schematic view of operating principles of the claimed brake system when the emergency braking assembly is in an idle configuration;

[0028] FIG. 3 is a representative schematic view of operating principles of the claimed brake system of an emergency braking assembly under an emergency situation (for example, when there is a failure of a master brake cylinder); and

[0029] FIG. 4 is a representative schematic view of operating principles of the claimed brake system of an emergency braking assembly in operational condition in case of damage of hydraulic drive pipes and a full loss of brake fluid in the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0030] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying DRAWINGS, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. It is, of course, understood that this invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that the disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that other embodiments can be utilized and structural changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0031] With reference to the DRAWINGS, particularly FIG. 1, a vehicular hydraulic brake system is comprised of a master brake cylinder 1 connected to a spring-assisted footbrake pedal 2 through a vacuum booster 3, wherein a hydraulic reservoir 4 supplying the brake fluid is mounted on said master brake cylinder. The master brake cylinder 1 is configured to be in fluid communication via a pipeline 5 with operating brake cylinder 6 of each wheel 7.

[0032] Ahead of said operating brake cylinder 6 of each wheel 7, there is an emergency braking assembly comprising an electrical mechanism 8 designed to operate in a reciprocating manner and a hydraulic cylinder 9. For better effectiveness of braking, said emergency braking assembly can be mounted before said operating brake cylinder 6 of each of the four wheels 7.

[0033] The hydraulic cylinder 9 is in communication with said electric mechanism 8 in a hermetically sealed manner A rod 10 of electrical mechanism 8, shown in FIG. 3, is attached to a piston 11 of hydraulic cylinder 9, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. A top portion of a casing of said hydraulic cylinder 9 has an inlet hole 12 which receives pipeline 5 communicating with master brake cylinder 2, as shown in FIG. 1. The top portion of said casing of the hydraulic cylinder 9 also has a compensation port 13 in communication via an additional pipeline 14 with above-said pipeline 5. The compensation port 13 is made in the casing of the hydraulic cylinder 9 in the close proximity to electrical mechanism 8. An end of hydraulic cylinder 9 has an outlet hole 15 which receives the operating hydraulic cylinder 6 of each rear wheel 7.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, a bottom portion of the casing of hydraulic cylinder 9 of said emergency braking assembly is disposed not lower than an upper level of the aforesaid operating cylinder 6.

[0035] It should be understood that a dashboard of the vehicle has a press button 16 to control the emergency braking assembly, as generally indicated in FIG. 1.

[0036] With reference to FIG. 1, the operating brake cylinder 6 of each wheel 7 comprises pistons 17 mounted and capable of interacting with brake pads 18 coupled with each other by a coupling spring 19. The brake pads 18 so positioned are capable of interacting with a brake drum 20 of each wheel 7.

[0037] Pipelines 5, chambers of master brake cylinder 1, hydraulic cylinder 9 and all operating cylinders 6 contain a brake fluid coming from a hydraulic reservoir 4 to supply the brake fluid.

[0038] A vehicular hydraulic brake system operates in the following manner.

[0039] During braking, when a driver puts a pressure upon a pedal 2 via a master cylinder 1, said brake fluid is displaced to pipelines 5 and an operating cylinder 6 of each wheel 7, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The operating brake cylinder 6 of each rear wheel 7 receives the brake fluid coming through the aforementioned holes 12 and 15 of the hydraulic cylinder 9, as shown, for example, in FIG. 2. Under idle conditions, a piston 11 within hydraulic cylinder 9 is disposed in the close proximity to electric mechanism 8. A chamber of the hydraulic cylinder 9 contains the brake fluid filling a rod end region which flows along the aforesaid additional pipeline 14.

[0040] Being contained within the operating brake cylinder 6 of each wheel, the brake fluid causes the pistons 17 to move and, as a result of such motion, brake pads 18 are forced against the brake drum 20. When a gap between the brake pads 18 and the brake drums 20 disappears, a displacement of brake fluid from the master brake cylinder 1 to the operating brake cylinder 6 becomes impossible. Further increases in pressing force applied to pedal 3 results in greater pressure of the brake fluid in the brake system, activating thereby a simultaneous braking of all wheels 7.

[0041] The greater a force is applied to pedal 3, the more pressure is then produced by the master brake cylinder 1 to act upon the fluid, and this greater force acts through pistons 17 of each operating brake cylinder 6 upon the respective brake pads 18.

[0042] When the pressure upon the pedal 3 is interrupted, all said members return to their original positions, and the compressed coupling springs 19 retract the brake pads 18 from the brake drums 20. The pistons 17 of operating brake cylinders 6 approach each other to displace the brake fluid from each brake cylinder 6 to the master brake cylinder 1.

[0043] In emergency situations, for example, when the main brakes of the vehicle fail as a result of a breakdown of master brake cylinder 1, as shown in FIG. 3, or in the case of brake fluid leakage because of the aforementioned hydraulic brake system becomes unsealed or as a result of a damage to a pipeline 5, as shown in FIG. 4, there is thus no pressure in the brake cylinders 6 and no braking can be done. In this particular case, a driver activates the aforedescribed electric mechanism 8 by pressing a control button 16. A rod 10 of said electric mechanism 8 then sets a piston 11 of a hydraulic cylinder 9 in motion. While, during such motion, said piston 11 of the hydraulic cylinder 9 covers inlet hole 12, the above-said brake fluid (or air) coming from pipeline 5 through the additional pipeline 14 via the compensation port 13 arrives to a rod end of the hydraulic cylinder 9, preventing thereby the vacuum production in a chamber of the hydraulic cylinder 9 between the electric mechanism 8 and piston 11. The brake fluid remaining in hydraulic cylinder 9 comes under the pressure of piston 11 through an outlet hole 15 into the operating brake cylinder 6.

[0044] Being contained within the operating brake cylinder 6 of each wheel 7, the brake fluid causes the pistons 17 to move and, as a result of such motion, the brake pads 18 are forced against the brake drum 20, and emergency braking occurs for this particular reason.

[0045] The suggested vehicular hydraulic brake system set forth herein is useful for mounting on automobiles either equipped with ABS systems or free of such ABS systems. The suggested system is also fully fit to replace electrically-driven stopping (parking) brake or hand brake.

[0046] The suggested vehicular hydraulic brake system is applicable to any vehicles equipped with a hydraulic braking system, no matter which type of brakes (disk or drum type brakes) is available on a vehicle. In addition, the claimed brake system enables the installation of emergency brake assemblies on those vehicles currently in operation, while stationed in auto repair shop, without having to add any modifications to automobile design. The suggested structure of the brake system is capable of decelerating a vehicle in any emergency situation caused by a malfunction of the main brakes, including a loss of brake fluid in hydraulic circuit, and it also enables to avoid emergency situations on roads, thus contributing a lot to road-traffic safety.

[0047] The previous descriptions are of preferred embodiments for implementing the invention, and the scope of the invention should not necessarily be limited by these descriptions. It should be understood that all articles, references and citations recited herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety. The scope of the current invention is defined by the following claims.