Horizontally Opposed Hydraulic Piston Pumps

Abstract

In one aspect, a brake pump assembly including a plurality of pairs of pumping elements configured in a horizontally opposed arrangement, and a rotatable eccentric assembly located between the pumping elements. The pairs of pumping elements abut the eccentric assembly and are reciprocally driven to provide an output of pressurized fluid. In another aspect, a brake pump assembly including a hydraulic block defining a piston bore, and a pumping element received in that bore. The pumping element includes a polymer piston, and a circumference of the polymer piston defines a high-pressure seal slideably engaging adjacent structure. In another aspect, a hydraulic block coupled to an electronic control unit, the hydraulic block including a plurality of pairs of pumping elements located in a horizontally opposed arrangement, and an embedded pressure sensor, the pressure sensor being adjacent to but vertically separated from the pumping elements.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicular brake system according to aspects of this disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of one aspect of a disclosed pumping element in the form of a straight bore configuration;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of an another aspect of a disclosed pumping element in the form of a stepped-bore configuration;

FIG. 4 is a graph of brake fluid output as a function of instantaneous pump motor shaft angle for a horizontally opposed configuration, showing the output of three assemblies over three differently labeled cycles;

FIG. 5 is a cut-away front perspective view of a horizontally opposed hydraulic block configuration according to aspects of the disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a cut-away front perspective view of a radial-style hydraulic block configuration;

FIG. 7 is a cross-section perspective view of one aspect of a brake pump assembly having the hydraulic block configuration shown in FIG. 5 and including six pumping elements driven by a rotatable eccentric assembly;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view illustrating a press-fit eccentric assembly for the device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of an eccentric needle bearing element shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 8B is a cut-away perspective view of the rotatable eccentric assembly shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 9 is a cross section perspective view of a pumping element having a “half-sleeve” design with a polymer piston body;

FIG. 10 is a cross section perspective view of a pumping element having a sleeveless design with a polymer piston body;

FIG. 11 is cut-away perspective view of an electro-hydraulic control unit or “EHCU” having an embedded wheel pressure sensor;

FIG. 12A is a perspective view of an EHCU having an embedded wheel pressure sensor and sensor signal path, with the electronic control unit portion omitted;

FIG. 12B is a cut-away perspective view of the EHCU of FIG. 12A showing an interface between a hydraulic control unit portion and an electronic control unit portion;

FIG. 13 is a cross section perspective view of an aspect of a brake pump assembly similar to that shown in FIG. 7, but having pumping elements coupled to a rotatable eccentric assembly by an external pump retainer;

FIG. 14 is a cross section perspective view of the pumping element shown in FIG. 9 installed within a hydraulic block, illustrating pressure seals made of a polymeric material in combination with a “half-sleeve” pumping element design; and

FIG. 15 is a cross section perspective view of the pumping element shown in FIG. 10 installed within a hydraulic block, illustrating pressure seals made of a polymeric material in combination with a sleeveless pumping element design.

Claims

1. A brake pump assembly comprising: a plurality of pairs of pumping elements, wherein said pumping elements are configured in a horizontally opposed arrangement; anda rotatable eccentric assembly located between said pumping elements, wherein said pairs of pumping elements abut said rotatable eccentric assembly and are reciprocally driven by said rotatable eccentric assembly to provide an output of pressurized fluid.

2. The brake pump assembly of claim 1, including three pairs of pumping elements configured in a horizontally opposed arrangement, wherein the outputs of one pumping element in each of said pairs are combined to provide a common output of pressurized fluid.

3. The brake pump assembly of claim 3, wherein said rotatable eccentric assembly includes three eccentric elements having an angular spacing of about 120 degrees.

4. The brake pump assembly of claim 2, wherein said pumping elements have a configuration chosen from a group consisting of a stepped bore configuration, a straight bore configuration, and combinations thereof.

5. The brake pump assembly of claim 4, wherein said pumping elements have a half-sleeve design.

6. The brake pump assembly of claim 4, wherein said pumping elements have a sleeveless design.

7. The brake pump assembly of claim 2, wherein said pumping elements are forced to abut said rotatable eccentric assembly by an external pump piston retainer coupled to a distal portion of the pumping element.

8. The brake pump assembly of claim 7, wherein each of said pairs of pumping elements are coupled together by an external pump piston retainer fit around said rotatable eccentric assembly.

9. A brake pump assembly comprising: a hydraulic block defining a piston bore; anda pumping element received in said piston bore, said pumping element including a polymer piston, wherein a circumference of said polymer piston defines a high-pressure seal slideably engaging adjacent structure.

10. The brake pump assembly of claim 9, wherein said pumping element includes a half-sleeve, and wherein said high pressure seal is an interface surface between a proximal portion of said polymer piston and said half-sleeve.

11. The brake pump assembly of claim 9, wherein high-pressure seal is an interface surface between a proximal portion of said polymer piston and said piston bore.

12. The brake pump assembly of claim 9, wherein said polymer piston is formed from a material chosen from the group consisting of polyimide, polyetherimide and polyether ether ketone.

13. The brake pump assembly of claim 12, wherein a distal end of said polymer piston includes a press-on steel wear cap.

14. The brake pump assembly of claim 12, wherein a low pressure seal is mounted around the circumference of a distal portion of said polymer piston.

15. A electro-hydraulic control unit comprising: a hydraulic block coupled to an electronic control unit, said hydraulic block including a plurality of pairs of pumping elements configured in a horizontally opposed arrangement;a pressure sensor embedded in said hydraulic block, said pressure sensor being adjacent to but vertically separated from said pumping elements and providing an externally accessible electrical connection for communication with said electronic control unit.

16. The electro-hydraulic control unit of claim 15, wherein said electrical connection comprises a communication port.

17. The electro-hydraulic control unit of claim 15, wherein said electrical connection comprises a connector for receiving a lead-frame.

18. The electro-hydraulic control unit of claim 17, further comprising a lead-frame for connection to said connector and a connector plug received in said hydraulic block and extending therethrough for connection to said electronic control unit.

19. The electro-hydraulic control unit of claim 18, wherein said hydraulic block includes a longitudinal cavity for receiving a rotatable eccentric assembly between said pairs of pumping elements, and said received connector plug extends parallel to and is vertically separated from said longitudinal cavity.