VEHICLE BRAKING APPARATUS

Abstract: A vehicle braking apparatus (10) having a service braking section (12) and a wheel lock control (ABS) section (14). Under certain conditions the wheel lock control section may not be able to generate sufficient pressure to operate the vehicle wheel brakes (30) when the master cylinder (20) output pressure has been isolated from the wheel brake. When such conditions occur, the displacement piston (106) of the ABS section moves to open a check valve (122) which connects master cylinder output pressure to the vehicle wheel brake even though the ABS section has isolated it from the wheel brake. The opening of the check valve effectively returns the vehicle braking apparatus to service braking until the vehicle operator releases the vehicle braking apparatus.

Description: The invention relates to a vehicle braking apparatus having a hydraulic pressure actuated wheel lock control system and more particularly to one having an isolation valve which normally isolates the master cylinder of the vehicle braking apparatus from the wheel brake during wheel lock control or anti-skid brake system (ABS) operation under certain operational conditions. An example of a known arrangement is disclosed in DE-A-2425326, in accordance with the preamble of Claim 1. This prior art arrangement can lead to undesirable actuation of the isolation valve assembly due to the presence of air in the brake fluid. A vehicle braking apparatus in accordance with the present invention is characterised over the above mentioned prior art by the features specified in the characterising portion of Claim 1. When ABS operation is normally begun, the isolation valve shifts and blocks off the master cylinder passageway in the isolation valve assembly. If a premature check-off occurs wherein the isolation valve piston is exposed to a small amount of air trapped in the hydraulic apparatus, and a rapid brake apply occurs, the isolation valve may shift and close off the master cylinder passageway prematurely. This will then limit the maximum amount of braking pressure available to the wheel brake. By arranging the vehicle braking apparatus so that the master cylinder brake actuating fluid may bypass the isolation valve under such circumstances, the master cylinder brake actuating fluid may be redirected directly to the wheel brake, and normal braking is immediately resumed. This arrangement also assists in a fast response pressure recovery when the ABS section is in operation with the vehicle on a low coefficient surface, and the vehicle rolls onto a high coefficient surface. Under this circumstance, the master cylinder output pressure again immediately bypasses the isolation valve and is directed to the wheel brake for immediate pressure recovery at the wheel brake. The present invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a vehicle braking apparatus in accordance with the present invention including a wheel lock control or ABS section as well as a service braking section, with only one of the wheel brakes being illustrated; and Figure 2 is a cross-section view of the portion of the ABS section of Figure 1 illustrating the isolation valve assembly and the displacement cylinder assembly in detail. The vehicle braking apparatus 10 of Figure 1 is schematically illustrated as including a service braking section 12 and a wheel lock control or ABS section 14. Portions of the vehicle braking apparatus 10 are parts of both sections 12 and 14 where those sections overlap in function. Service braking section 12 includes a pump 16 which provides brake fluid under pressure to a booster 18. In turn, the booster 18 actuates a master cylinder 20 when the service brake section 12 is operated by the vehicle operator. The master cylinder brake actuating fluid pressure is then transmitted to port 22 of an isolation valve assembly 24. Isolation valve assembly 24 is primarily a part of the ABS section 14, but has certain ports and passages which are also connected as a part of the service braking section 12. In particular, the isolation valve assembly port 26 is connected to conduit 28, which in turn is connected to a wheel brake 30. It is to be understood that in some vehicle braking apparatus 10, there may be more than one wheel brake connected with conduit 28. Likewise, separate isolation valve assemblies 24 and displacement cylinder assemblies 32 may be provided for individual wheel brakes, or only some of the individual wheel brakes, of a vehicle. The ABS section 14 of vehicle braking apparatus 10 includes the isolation valve assembly 24 and the displacement cylinder assembly 32. As shown in Figure 2, these two assemblies may be in a common housing 34. The isolation valve assembly 24 has a bore 36 which as illustrated in Figure 2 is a stepped bore. In the schematic illustration of Figure 1, bore 36 is divided into various passages and chambers as will be further described. An (isolation valve piston and stem) element 38 is reciprocably received in bore 36. Element 38 has a piston end 40 provided with a seal 42, the piston end being received in one end of bore 36 which is enlarged and divided into chambers 44 and 46 by the piston end 40. A spring 48 in chamber 46 urges piston end 40, and therefore element 38, downwardly as seen in Figure 1, tending to increase the volume of chamber 46 and decrease the volume of chamber 44. Chamber 44 is connected by port 50 to passage 52, which receives boost actuating pressure from the booster 18. Another passage 54 is connected with passage 52 and a solenoid valve assembly 56 which also forms a part of the ABS section 14. Chamber 46 is connected by port 58 to passage 60. Element 38 includes a stem 62 which extends from piston end 40 through a reduced diameter portion of bore 36 into a third chamber 64, then through a valve seat 66 into a fourth chamber 68 which is the isolation valve chamber. Stem 62 is sealed relative to the wall of bore 36 by a seal 70. The stem 62 has a further reduced diameter end 72 which is the portion of the stem extending through third chamber 64 and valve seat 66 into fourth chamber 68. The reduced diameter end 72 of the stem is sufficiently small relative to the portion of bore 36 through which it extends to permit flow thereabout. Beyond fourth chamber 68, bore 36 is again reduced to provide a valve seat 74 at the other end thereof from valve seat 66. A passage 76 extending from valve seat 74 to port 22 is also formed by a part of bore 36. A ball check valve 78 is contained in fourth chamber 68 and is continually urged toward valve seat 66 by a valve spring 80. The ball check valve 78 is also engaged by the end of the reduced diameter end 72 so that upward movement of the stem 62 as shown in Figure 1 can move the ball check valve against the force of valve spring 80 seating the ball check valve on valve seat 74 and closing off the fluid communication between passage 76 and fourth chamber 68. When the element 38 is in the downward position, ball check valve 78 is in valve seating engagement with valve seat 66 so as to close off fluid communication between fourth chamber 68 and third chamber 64. Ports 82 and 84 respectively connect passages 86 and 88 with third chamber 64. Port 90 connects fourth chamber 68 with passage 92, and isolation valve assembly port 26 connects fourth chamber 68 with conduit 28. Ports 94 and 96 respectively connect passages 98 and 100 with the passage 76. Check valve 102 is positioned so that passage 86 is connected with the check valve inlet and passage 92 is connected with the check valve outlet. Check valve 104 is positioned so that passage 92 is connected with the check valve inlet and passage 98 is connected with the check valve outlet. The check valves 102 and 104, schematically illustrated in Figure 1, are provided as V-block seal type check valves in the construction shown in Figure 2. The displacement cylinder assembly 32 has a displacement piston 106 reciprocably received in a cylinder defined by cylinder wall 108 in housing 34. Displacement piston 106 divides that cylinder into a chamber 110 on one side of the displacement piston and a chamber 112 on the other side of the displacement piston. The displacement piston 106 has a suitable seal 114 which prevents fluid communication between chambers 110 and 112 through any clearance between the outer surface of displacement piston 106 and cylinder wall 108. A piston spring 116 is positioned in chamber 110 so as to continually urge displacement piston 106 in a direction tending to increase the volume of chamber 110 and decrease the volume of chamber 112. An opening 118 from chamber 112 provides fluid communication to a valve chamber 120 in which is mounted a ball check valve 122. This ball check valve 122 is the master cylinder bypass valve to which the invention herein disclosed and claimed is particularly directed. Valve chamber 120 is connected with passage 100 by port 124, which opens into valve chamber 120. Opening 118 opens into valve chamber 120 through valve seat 128. Valve spring 130 continually urges ball check valve 122 toward valve seat 128. Displacement piston 106 is provided with an extension 132 which extends through opening 118 into engagement with ball check valve 122. Extension 132 is sufficiently smaller in diameter than opening 118 to permit fluid flow through the opening between chambers 112 and 120 when the ball check valve 122 is spaced from valve seat 128 as shown in Figure 1. When displacement piston 106 is positioned sufficiently downwardly as viewed in Figure 1, valve spring 130 holds the ball check valve 122 against valve seat 128, preventing fluid communication between valve chamber 120 and chamber 112. Passage 88 is connected by port 134 to the chamber 112. Passage 60 is connected by port 136 to passage 138, which is schematically illustrated in Figure 1 as being connected through a restrictive orifice 140 to the chamber 110. Passage 138 is also connected to the solenoid valve assembly 56, as will be further described. The solenoid valve assembly 56 is schematically illustrated in Figure 1 and preferably uses the solenoid valve arrangement disclosed and claimed in our application no. 88311316.9 (0323037) which claims the priority of US Patent application Serial No. 138,179 entitled "Solenoid Valve Assembly". As schematically illustrated, the solenoid valve assembly 56 includes an apply orifice 142 which is in fluid communication with passage 54 and defines a valve seat 144 for check valve 146. Passage 54 is also in communication with the normal (release flow) restriction orifice 148 which is formed to define a valve seat 150 for check valve 152. Apply and restriction orifices 142 and 148 open into chamber 154, which is in fluid communication with passage 138. The solenoid valve assembly 56 also includes another chamber 156 containing a valve 158 for a release orifice 160. Valve 158 is urged by valve spring 162 to the normally closed position wherein release orifice 160 is closed. As more particularly shown in the above noted application, two solenoids are provided to separately control the movements and positions of valve 158 and check valve control 164. When the solenoids (not shown) of solenoid valve assembly 56 are selectively energized, check valve control 164, positioned for movement in chamber 154 to hold check valve 146 closed or permit it to open, and valve 158 are moved leftwardly as seen in Figure 1. The solenoid which particularly moves check valve control 164 will urge it leftwardly as schematically shown in Figure 1 for the release and hold positions. Otherwise the check valve control 164 is positioned rightwardly to the apply position. In this position the check valves 146 and 152 may be moved toward or away from their seats in response to pressures on opposite sides thereof. Valve 158 is normally closed, when its solenoid is energized it is opened to release pressure in chambers 154, 110 and 46. Release orifice 160 is connected by passage 168 to a fluid reservoir 170. This fluid reservoir 170 contains the fluid for the braking system and is the reservoir for the booster 18 and the master cylinder 20 as well as pump 16. It is noted that pump supply conduit 172 is schematically illustrated as conducting fluid from fluid reservoir 170 to the inlet of pump 16 when that pump is operated. The solenoid valve assembly 56 fits within a solenoid valve recess 174 of housing 34 as shown in Figure 2. The solenoid valve assembly 56 is not otherwise illustrated in Figure 2. The comparable elements in Figure 2 to those described and schematically illustrated in Figure 1 have been assigned the same reference characters. The details of the construction in Figure 2 are somewhat different since they are designed to permit assembly and disassembly and are in the nature of engineering drawing details. Therefore, for example, the isolation valve assembly 24 is provided with housing sections 176, 178 and 180 which are coaxially assembled within a stepped bore 190. Stepped bore 190 and bore 36 of Figure 2 are equivalent to bore 36 of Figure 1. A plug 182 provides for the closure of one end of bore 36 through which the various elements of the isolation valve assembly 24 are assembled and disassembled. Similarly, the displacement cylinder assembly 32 has a valve housing section 184 positioned in the outer end of the cylinder containing displacement piston 106. The outer portion of that cylinder is somewhat larger than the portion defined by cylinder wall 108 and cooperates with displacement piston 106 as above described. This slightly larger diameter section includes means for threading the valve housing section 184 into the housing 34 in which the cylinder is formed. A threaded plug 186 is threaded into an opening in the valve housing section 184 to permit installation and removal of the ball check valve 122 and the valve spring 130. Threaded plug 186 also provides a seat for one end of that valve spring 130 and defines a part of the valve chamber 120. Suitable seals are provided between the housing 34 and each of the plugs 182 and 186, and valve housing section 184. Because the port 58 is cross-drilled through bore 36, a plug 188 closes the the outer end of the passage so formed. Also, the restricted orifice 140 is located in another part of the vehicle braking apparatus 10, being positioned in the portion of the circuit wherein it controls fluid flow from chamber 112 during the bypass release action of the vehicle braking apparatus 10 rather than controlling the supply of fluid pressure into chamber 110. It is therefore illustrated as being located immediately adjacent port 82 to control flow therethrough. During normal service braking operation, the vehicle operator operates the booster 18 and master cylinder 20 to pressurize brake fluid for brake actuation. This brake actuating pressure fluid is transmitted to port 22. The (isolation valve) piston end 40 is positioned downwardly as viewed in Figure 1 so that the ball check valve 78 is seated on its valve seat 66. Therefore, brake actuating pressure passes through passage 76, fourth chamber 68, out isolation valve assembly port 26 and through conduit 28 to the wheel brake 30. When the master cylinder 20 is released to release the brakes, fluid from the wheel brake flows in the opposite direction. In this condition the displacement cylinder assembly 32 is also positioned downwardly as the actuating brake fluid acts on the displacement piston 106, closing the ball check valve 122 against its valve seat 128. Since piston spring 116 is a light spring, only a relatively small amount of brake actuating pressure is required for this to occur. In some apparatus the booster actuating pressure may be directly conducted to some wheel brakes so that they are actuated by booster pressure rather than master cylinder output pressure. In other apparatus, all of the wheel brakes may be service brake actuated by master cylinder output pressures. In normal wheel lock control action, the service brakes have been applied and a condition has occurred which requires the service brake actuating pressure to be limited, reduced or released, under control of the logic system of the particular ABS system being used. When the wheel brake actuating pressure is to be held at a certain value even though the master cylinder output pressure may be increasing to a greater value, the solenoid valve assembly 56 has the solenoid actuated which will move the check valve control 164 leftwardly, closing check valve 146 against its valve seat 144. This cuts off the boost pressure received from booster 18, that pressure normally passing through passage 52 to passage 54 and through apply orifice 142 to chamber 154 and passage 138 and thence through port 136, passage 60 and port 58 to chamber 46. Therefore boost pressure is not exerted in both chambers 44 and 46 as is the case in normal service braking. The increase in boost pressure in chamber 44 moves the (isolation valve piston and stem) element 38 upwardly as seen in Figure 1, lifting ball check valve 78 from its valve seat 66 and engaging it with its valve seat 74. This therefore isolates master cylinder actuating pressure as contained in passage 76 from isolation valve assembly port 26 and conduit 28, and therefore from wheel brake 30, and holds the pressure in the wheel brake at the pressure existing at the time ball check valve 78 engages its valve seat 74. If the ABS system must reduce the pressure in the wheel brake 30, the solenoid controlling the valve 158 is then energized, moving that valve leftwardly as seen in Figure 1 and opening release orifice 160. Therefore the fluid pressure in chamber 154 is open to fluid reservoir 170 through chamber 156 and release orifice 160. Therefore chamber 46 of the isolation valve assembly 24 is also connected with the fluid reservoir 170 and chamber 110 for the displacement cylinder assembly 32 is likewise connected to fluid reservoir 170. The wheel brake actuating pressure being held, being imposed in chamber 112 through passage 88 and its ports 84 and 134, therefore moves the displacement piston 106 downwardly against its piston spring 116, increasing the volume in chamber 112 and therefore decreasing the wheel brake actuating pressure to wheel brake 30. Restricted orifice 140 provides an appropriate restriction to this action so that the action is not at a faster rate than that desired. If the ABS system then holds the wheel brake actuating pressure at a lower pressure it does so by deenergizing the solenoid for valve 158, letting valve spring 162 return it to the position wherein release orifice 160 is closed. Thus the wheel brake actuating pressure is held at some lower pressure determined by the logic of the ABS system. If the wheel brake actuating pressure is to be reapplied to a higher pressure level, the check valve control 164 is deenergized and the boost pressure acting through passages 52, 54 and apply orifice 142 immediately open check valve 146 and boost pressure is again supplied to the chamber 110 and the chamber 46. With the wheel brake actuating pressure being on the opposite side of the displacement piston 106 from the boost pressure, the boost piston normally does not move up to the position where ball check valve 122 is removed from its valve seat 128. Under some circumstances, if for example the vehicle braking apparatus 10 has been inadequately bled of air, the isolation valve may be quickly moved to the ABS position, cutting off master cylinder pressure to the wheel brake 30. However, there will be insufficient brake fluid pressure capable of being generated in the chamber 112 because air in that portion of the vehicle braking apparatus 10 toward the wheel brake 30 will merely be compressed rather than acting through the relatively incompressible brake fluid. When this occurs, the displacement piston 106 moves upwardly to the position shown in Figure 1, opening ball check valve 122 and therefore providing a direct connection of the master cylinder 20 to the wheel brake 30 even though the ball check valve 78 remains seated on its upper valve seat 74. This connection is then through passage 100, valve chamber 120, chamber 112, passage 88, third chamber 64, fourth chamber 68 and conduit 28. Therefore, even though at this time the ABS system is being positioned to control wheel brake actuating pressure, it cannot do so because of the unbled air in that portion of the vehicle braking apparatus 10, and insufficient brake pressure may be generated for vehicle control purposes while the vehicle braking apparatus 10 remains in this condition. It is therefore better under these circumstances to actuate the wheel brake 30 by service brake actuating pressure, bypassing the ABS section 14 in this manner. When the ABS section 14 deenergizes the solenoids of the solenoid valve assembly 56, the vehicle braking apparatus 10 will return to the service brake operating condition as earlier described. While not shown, the ABS section 14 will develop signals indicating that the vehicle braking apparatus 10 is not operating properly and the operator of the vehicle will therefore be informed that the vehicle braking apparatus 10 should be checked. Any time a vehicle braking apparatus 10 is being checked, one of the conditions normally considered is to be sure that the air is bled from the service braking section 12. Once this is done, the condition which will cause the vehicle braking apparatus 10 to check-off as above described will no longer exist and the vehicle braking apparatus 10 will again operate properly and there will be no need to open the ball check valve 122 during such operation. It is to be noted that this arrangement returns the vehicle braking apparatus 10 to service braking operation and in no way adversely modifies the service braking operation. The vehicle braking apparatus 10 will therefore be operated in exactly the same manner that it would have operated if it had no ABS or wheel lock control system installed thereon. Reference is drawn to our patent application no. 88311552.9 (0323054) filed the same day as the present application.

Claims: 1. A vehicle braking apparatus (10) comprising a service braking section (12); a wheel lock control section (14); a wheel brake (30) operable in a service braking mode by brake actuating pressure from a master cylinder (20) and operable in a wheel lock control mode by a controlled pressure so as to prevent excessive wheel slip and wheel lock; an isolation valve assembly (24) actuatable to isolate the wheel brake (30) from the master cylinder (20) when the vehicle braking apparatus (10) is operating in the wheel lock control mode; a passage (100) bypassing the isolation valve assembly (24) for connecting the brake actuating pressure from the master cylinder (20) to the wheel brake (30), the passage (100) having a normally closed check valve (122) therein normally preventing said connection; and check valve opening means (132) for opening the check valve; characterised by sensing means (106) sensing undesired actuation of the isolation valve assembly (24) due to the presence of air trapped in a portion of the wheel lock control section (14); and in that the check valve opening means (132) is responsive to the sensing means (106) to open the check valve (122) when undesired actuation of the isolation valve assembly is sensed. 2. A vehicle braking apparatus (10) as claimed in Claim 1 in which the master cylinder (20) is selectively actuatable by a booster (18) to generate service braking actuating pressure, wherein a displacement cylinder-assembly (32) receives a controlled variable wheel lock control pressure when the wheel lock control section (14) is actuated and has a displacement piston (106) therein movable in response to the controlled pressure and generating a wheel brake actuating, hold and release pressure delivered to the wheel brake (30) through the isolation valve assembly (24) when the isolation valve assembly is actuated, the displacement piston (106) defining the sensing means; and wherein the check valve opening means (132) is responsive to movement of the displacement piston (106) to a position beyond that normally generating a maximum wheel brake actuating pressure and thus indicative of undesired actuation caused by air in the displacement cylinder assembly (32), the check valve opening means (132) opening the check valve (122) in response to the movement of the displacement piston (106) to said position. 3. A vehicle braking apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the isolation valve assembly (24) has a first position for normal service braking in which the master cylinder pressure output is connected therethrough to the wheel brake (30) for wheel brake operation, and a second position for wheel brake control operation in which the wheel brake (30) is isolated against receiving pressure

Inventors: PARKER, DONALD L., REUTER, DAVID F., ROUSSEL, PATRICK
Applicants: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B60T8
IPC codes: B60T8