Patent ID: 6164734
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: B60L,B60T,Y02T

Abstract:
A hydraulically operated braking system for a motor vehicle, comprising:a brake operating member;at least one wheel brake cylinder each for braking a corresponding one of at least one wheel of the motor vehicle;a hydraulic pressure source for pressurizing a working fluid according to an operation of said brake operating member, so that the pressurized fluid is supplied to said at least one wheel brake cylinder;a pressure control valve device for regulating the pressure of the pressurized fluid to be applied to said at least one wheel brake cylinder, said pressure control valve device having a pressure-increasing state for allowing a flow of the pressurized fluid from said hydraulic pressure source to said at least one wheel brake cylinder, a pressure-holding state for inhibiting flows of the pressurized fluid into and from said at least one wheel brake cylinder, and a pressure-reducing state for allowing a flow of the pressurized fluid from said at least one wheel brake cylinder; anda reservoir for storing the fluid which has been discharged from said at least one wheel brake cylinder through said pressure control valve device during said operation of said brake operating member, said fluid being returned from said reservoir to said hydraulic pressure source after said operation of said brake operating member, said reservoir being arranged in said braking system such that the working fluid is supplied from said hydraulic pressure source into said at least one wheel brake cylinder through said pressure control valve device placed in said pressure-increasing state, without passing through said reservoir, and is discharged from said at least one wheel brake cylinder into said reservoir through said pressure control valve device placed in said pressure-reducing state;said reservoir having a storage capacity which is a maximum amount of the fluid that can be stored therein during said operation of said brake operating member and which is smaller than a maximum total amount of the fluid that can be accommodated in all of said at least one wheel brake cylinder when said at least one wheel brake cylinder is operated from a non-braking state thereof to a braking state.