Electronically controllable brake actuating system

Abstract

The present invention discloses an electronically controllable brake actuating system for automotive vehicles, including an unpressurized pressure fluid supply reservoir, a pressure source actuatable by an electronic control unit, the pressure of which can be applied to wheel brakes of the vehicle, further including a device for detecting the driver's wish for deceleration as well as valve assemblies inserted upstream of the wheel brakes and connecting the wheel brakes alternatively to the pressure source or the pressure fluid supply reservoir. In order to increase the operational or functional reliability of a system of this type, the present invention discloses the provision of means for detecting gases or air disposed in the system.

1 - 10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . Electronically controllable brake actuating system for automotive vehicles, comprising: 
 means for measuring fluid pressure exerted by the brake system fluid,    means for measuring volume change of brake system fluid,    means for detecting the presence of gases disposed in the brake system fluid.    
   
   
       12 . Electronically controllable brake actuating system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said detecting means includes a hydraulic arrangement which displaces a defined pressure fluid volume, 
 a pressure sensor arranged for sensing the pressure rise which is caused by the volume displacement by the effect of the pressure fluid volume.    
   
   
       13 . Electronically controllable brake actuating system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the pressure source includes a hydraulic accumulator with a movable media separating element, and wherein the hydraulic arrangement is provided by the accumulator, and, wherein said accumulator further includes a travel sensor device for sensing the travel of the movable media separating element, the output signal of which corresponds to the defined pressure fluid volume.  
   
   
       14 . Electronically controllable brake actuating system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the pressure source is arranged in a reservoir filled with pressure fluid, and in that the accumulator housing has bores which permit the delivery of the pressure fluid into an unpressurized chamber that is defined in the accumulator housing by the movable media separating element.  
   
   
       15 . Electronically controllable brake actuating system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the media separating element separates a chamber filled with pressure fluid and subjected to high hydraulic pressure from a chamber filled with gas, wherein the media separating element is configured as a metal diaphragm, and in that the pressure that prevails in the chamber filled with pressure fluid is significantly higher than the gas pressure.  
   
   
       16 . Electronically controllable brake actuating system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the difference in pressure is caused by the preload of the metal diaphragm.  
   
   
       17 . Electronically controllable brake actuating system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the difference in pressure is caused by the additional force of a spring which acts upon the metal diaphragm.  
   
   
       18 . Electronically controllable brake actuating system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the media separating element separates a chamber filled with pressure fluid and subjected to a high hydraulic pressure from a chamber filled with gas, wherein the media separating element is configured as a double-wall metal diaphragm, and in that a media sensor is fitted in the area between the two walls which responds to pressure fluid and to gas.