US 7,967,393 B2 · Pressure balanced supply valve for vehicle brake system with integrated low pressure accumulator

Abstract

A pressure balanced supply valve for use in a vehicular braking system. A housing defines a first chamber, a second chamber, a first fluid conduit for connection to a master cylinder, a second fluid conduit for connection to a hydraulic pump, and a third fluid conduit connected between the first and second fluid conduits. The second fluid conduit communicates with both the first chamber and the second chamber. A valve seat is defined in the third fluid conduit. A movable valve element is movable to a first position sealing against the valve seat to prevent fluid flow between the first and second conduits through the third conduit, and to a second position permitting fluid flow between the first and second conduit through the third conduit. The movable valve element is exposed to pressures in both the first and second chambers so as to be pressure balanced in operation.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A vehicular brake system for providing at least one of (i) traction control functions and (ii) vehicle stability control functions, the brake system including:

a master cylinder having an output line connected thereto to supply pressurized brake fluid to vehicle brakes,
a pump having a pump inlet, and
a low pressure accumulator (LPA)/supply valve assembly, the LPA/supply valve assembly including an LPA reservoir connected to the pump inlet and configured to allow fluid flow both to and from the LPA reservoir and the pump inlet, the LPA/supply valve assembly defined in part by an LPA piston, a supply valve for controlling fluid flow between the master cylinder output line and the pump inlet, the supply valve coupled to the LPA piston and operable to move to an open position to connect the master cylinder output line to the pump inlet when the volume of the LPA reservoir falls below a predetermined amount, wherein the supply valve includes an axially moveable valve element having one end which functions to open a supply passageway connecting the master cylinder output line to a pump inlet line, and having an opposite end exposed to fluid pressure when the valve is open to thereby at least partially pressure balance the moveable valve element.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pressure balanced supply valve for vehicle brake system with integrated low pressure accumulator

Life of this patent

Pressure balanced supply valve for vehicle brake system with integrated low pressure accumulator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14