IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,717,420
Granted Patent B2
US 10,717,420 · App. 15/917,892 · Granted Jul 21, 2020

Vehicle brake operation

Inventors: Brandon Beauvais (Dearborn, MI); Daniel A. Gabor (Canton, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60T7/045B60T7/12B60T7/18B60T7/22B60T8/17B60T13/166B60T13/662B60T13/686G01S13/00G01S15/00G01S17/00B60T2220/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,717,420
App. No.
15/917,892
Granted
Jul 21, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to actuate a brake valve to drain a brake cylinder and then actuate the brake valve to isolate the brake cylinder and hold a brake pedal in a retracted position.

Claims (25)

1. A system, comprising a computer including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to:

upon receiving input to operate a vehicle in an autonomous mode, actuate a brake valve to drain a brake cylinder attached to a brake pedal; and

then, actuate the brake valve to isolate the brake cylinder from a fluid reservoir and hold the brake pedal in a retracted position.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to actuate the brake valve to drain fluid from the brake cylinder into a fluid chamber.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to, upon receiving user input to the brake pedal, actuate the brake valve to isolate the brake cylinder to hold the brake pedal in the retracted position.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to actuate a fluid pump to draw fluid from the brake cylinder.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the fluid pump includes a piston and a fluid chamber, and the instructions further include instructions to actuate the piston to draw fluid from the brake cylinder into the fluid chamber.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to actuate the piston to drain the fluid chamber into the fluid reservoir.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to actuate a first brake valve to drain the brake cylinder and to actuate a second brake valve to isolate the brake cylinder.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to actuate the brake valve to drain the brake cylinder to move the brake pedal to the retracted position.

9. A method, comprising:

upon receiving input to operate a vehicle in an autonomous mode, actuating a brake valve to drain a brake cylinder attached to a brake pedal; and

then, actuating the brake valve to isolate the brake cylinder from a fluid reservoir and hold the brake pedal in a retracted position.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising actuating a fluid pump to draw fluid from the brake cylinder.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the fluid pump includes a piston and a fluid chamber, and the method further comprises actuating the piston to draw fluid from the brake cylinder into the fluid chamber.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising actuating the piston to drain the fluid chamber into the fluid reservoir.

13. A system, comprising a computer including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to:

actuate a brake valve to drain fluid from a brake cylinder attached to a brake pedal into a fluid chamber; and

then, actuate the brake valve to isolate the brake cylinder from a fluid reservoir and hold the brake pedal in a retracted position.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to actuate a fluid pump to draw fluid from the brake cylinder.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to actuate a fluid pump to draw fluid from the brake cylinder.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the fluid pump includes a piston and a fluid chamber, and the instructions further include instructions to actuate the piston to draw fluid from the brake cylinder into the fluid chamber.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to actuate the piston to drain the fluid chamber into the fluid reservoir.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to actuate a first brake valve to drain the brake cylinder and to actuate a second brake valve to isolate the brake cylinder.

19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to actuate the brake valve to drain the brake cylinder to move the brake pedal to the retracted position.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 12, 2018
From: BEAUVAIS, BRANDON; GABOR, DANIEL A.
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 045171/0449 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190275992A1 · Sep 12, 2019