US 2022/0118959 A1Published application

Brake Control Assembly with Manual and Electrical Actuation

AssigneeCaterpillar SARL

InventorsSteven Johnson, Adam Adeeb

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Abstract

A vehicular braking system is controlled by a valve assembly including first and second valve elements movable in first and second valve housings, from a first position to a second position to apply fluid pressure respectively to first and second brake circuits of the vehicle. The first valve element is movable from the first position to the second position by user input via a brake control, e.g. a foot brake pedal, and by an actuator assembly responsive to an electrical control signal from an electronic controller. An abutment surface of the first valve element abuts a corresponding abutment surface of the second valve element to move the second valve element from the first position to the second position as the first valve element moves from the first position to the second position.

Claims9

Dependent claims

An apparatus for controlling a braking system in a vehicle, the braking system including first and second pressurised fluid brake circuits acting respectively on first and second brakes of the vehicle, and a controller for generating an electrical control signal;

the apparatus including:
a valve assembly,
a brake control, and
an actuator assembly;
the valve assembly including:
a first valve element movably received in a first valve housing, the first valve element cooperating with the first valve housing to control a flow of pressurised fluid in the first brake circuit, and
a second valve element movably received in a second valve housing, the second valve element cooperating with the second valve housing to control a flow of pressurised fluid in the second brake circuit;
the brake control being operatively associated with the first and second valve elements and operable by a user to move both of the first and second valve elements, relative to the first and second valve housings,
from a first position in which the first and second valve elements are configured in use to cooperate with the first and second valve housings to relieve fluid pressure to release the first and second brakes,
to a second position in which the first and second valve elements are configured in use to cooperate with the first and second valve housings to apply fluid pressure to apply the first and second brakes;
the actuator assembly being operable by the electrical control signal to move the first valve element from the first position to the second position;
wherein the first valve element includes a first abutment surface, and
the second valve element includes a second abutment surface,
and the first valve element is configured to move the second valve element from the first position to the second position by abutment of the first abutment surface against the second abutment surface as the first valve element moves from the first position to the second position.

11 more elements

A method of controlling a braking system in a vehicle, the braking system including first and second pressurised fluid brake circuits acting respectively on first and second brakes of the vehicle, and a controller for generating an electrical control signal;

the method including:
providing a valve assembly, a brake control, and an actuator assembly;
the valve assembly including:
a first valve element movably received in a first valve housing, the first valve element cooperating with the first valve housing to control a flow of pressurised fluid in the first brake circuit, and
a second valve element movably received in a second valve housing, the second valve element cooperating with the second valve housing to control a flow of pressurised fluid in the second brake circuit;
arranging the brake control in operative association with the first and second valve elements to be operable by a user to move both of the first and second valve elements, relative to the first and second valve housings,
from a first position in which the first and second valve elements are configured in use to cooperate with the first and second valve housings to relieve fluid pressure to release the first and second brakes,
to a second position in which the first and second valve elements are configured in use to cooperate with the first and second valve housings to apply fluid pressure to apply the first and second brakes;
arranging the actuator assembly to be operable by the electrical control signal to move the first valve element from the first position to the second position;
configuring the first valve element to include a first abutment surface, and
configuring the second valve element to include a second abutment surface;
and configuring the first valve element to move the second valve element from the first position to the second position by abutment of the first abutment surface against the second abutment surface as the first valve element moves from the first position to the second position.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/425,166Filed 17 Jan 2020
Priority: GB 1900847,322 Jan 2019
Published: 21 Apr 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

B60T 13/62
Combined or convertible systems: both straight and automatic
B60T 13/686
By electrically-controlled valves: in hydraulic systems or parts thereof
B60T 7/12
Brake-action initiating means: for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger
B60T 7/20
For automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger: specially for trailers, e.g. in case of uncoupling of or…