Patent ID: 7150508
Filing Date: 2006-12-19
Classification: B60T

Abstract:
1. A hydraulic brake module adapted for connection to a brake system for a vehicle having at least four wheels and a hydraulic brake system, each wheel being provided with a respective brake and hydraulic brake actuator, each of the brake actuators being connected to a master cylinder, the master cylinder being actuated by a manually operated brake pedal, at least two of the brake actuators being connected to the master cylinder via a respective one of a first conduit and a second conduit, an ABS unit, including hydraulic components and an electronics module controlling the operation of the hydraulic components of the ABS unit connected to the first conduit and the second conduit being interposed between the at least two brake actuators and the master cylinder to provide at least anti-lock braking functions, which hydraulic brake module adapted for connection to such a brake system comprises: a body formed separately from the ABS unit and the master cylinder of such a brake system; a first circuit of pressurized brake fluid formed in said body, a second circuit of pressurized brake fluid formed in said body, said second circuit having at least one port formed in said body through which said second circuit may be connected with the first conduit of the brake system between the master cylinder and the ABS unit; a third circuit of pressurized brake fluid formed in said body said third circuit having at least one port formed in said body through which said third circuit may be connected with the second conduit of the brake system between the master cylinder and the ABS unit; an electrically operated pump mounted on said body, the pump being plumbed to urge brake fluid through said first circuit; a first fluid separator unit coupled to said first circuit and said second circuit for substantially preventing the intermixing of pressurized brake fluid from said pump in said first circuit with brake fluid in said second circuit, said first fluid separator unit having a moveable pressure boundary which enables, through movement thereof, pressure in said first circuit to be transmitted to said second circuit such that, when said second circuit is connected in communication with the first conduit, and the ABS unit permits, the fluid in said second circuit thus pressurized though the fluid separator unit will actuate the brake actuator connected to the first conduit; a second fluid separator unit coupled to said first circuit and said third circuit for substantially preventing the intermixing of pressurized brake fluid from said pump in said first circuit with brake fluid in said third circuit, said second fluid separator unit having a moveable pressure boundary which enables, through movement thereof, pressure in said first circuit to be transmitted to said third circuit such that, when said third circuit is connected in communication with the second conduit, and the ABS unit permits, the fluid in said third circuit thus pressurized though the fluid separator unit will actuate the brake actuator connected to the second conduit; and a proportional valve mounted on said body for selectively controlling the pressure of the brake fluid of said first circuit acting on said first and said second fluid separator units.