Patent ID: 7018001
Filing Date: 2006-03-28
Classification: B60T

Abstract:
1. A force generating apparatus for providing a force to a moving element based upon receipt of an electrical force signal, the force generating apparatus comprising: a force applying element defining a hydraulic cylinder and including a force applying piston within the cylinder coupled to the moving element for applying force to the moving element in response to increasing or decreasing fluid pressure within the cylinder; an actuator defining an apply chamber and further including an actuator piston within the apply chamber, the actuator piston being operatively coupled to an actuator piston drive element for selectively increasing and decreasing a fluid pressure in the apply chamber, the apply chamber being fluidically coupled to the cylinder and force applying piston of the force applying element for actuation thereof by selectively increasing and decreasing chamber pressure of the fluid in the apply chamber and communicating the increased or decreased chamber pressure to the cylinder in response to receiving the electrical force signal; and, a controller for determining when the force applying apparatus is in a fast mode release, and modifying the value of the electrical force signal sent to the actuator to limit the rate at which chamber pressure in the apply chamber is reduced during the fast mode release to a predetermined rate low enough to preclude a change in modulus of the fluid during fast mode release.