Support structure and method for supporting a hydraulic unit of a brake system on a vehicle body, and hydraulic unit arrangement for a vehicle brake system

Abstract

A support structure for supporting a hydraulic unit of a brake system on a vehicle body is provided. The hydraulic unit has a housing and a motor attached to a lateral side surface of the housing. The hydraulic unit has a predetermined support width and is supported at two or more support positions on a vehicle body by way of resilient members. The support structure comprises a support member for supporting the hydraulic unit in such a manner as to allow a gravitational axis of the hydraulic unit to be disposed within the support width when viewed in a side elevation. A hydraulic unit arrangement and a method for supporting the hydraulic unit are also provided.

1 . A support structure for supporting a hydraulic unit of a brake system on a vehicle body, wherein the hydraulic unit includes first brake pipes fluidly connected to a hydraulic pressure source, second brake pipes fluidly connected to respective wheel cylinders, a housing with lateral side surfaces and a lower side surface that enclose the hydraulic unit, the housing having therewithin a pump fluidly connected with the first and second brake pipes for controlling wheel cylinder pressures, and a motor attached to one of the lateral side surfaces of the housing for driving the pump, the support structure comprising a support member for supporting the hydraulic unit on the vehicle body at two or more of support positions; 
 wherein the supporting member is attached at two of the support positions to one of the lateral side surfaces of the housing by way of resilient members;    wherein the first brake pipes are connected to the housing; and    wherein joining portions between the first brake pipes and said one of the lateral side surface of the housing are disposed nearly between axes that extend through said two of the support positions in parallel with a gravitational axis of the housing unit when observed in an elevation.    
   
   
       2 . A support structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the support member is attached at another of the support positions to the lower side surface of the housing.  
   
   
       3 . A support structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said one of the lateral side surfaces to which the support member is attached at said one of the support positions and said one of the lateral side surfaces to which the motor is attached are the same.  
   
   
       4 . A hydraulic unit arrangement for a vehicle brake system comprising: 
 a hydraulic unit having first brake pipes fluidly connected to a hydraulic pressure source, second brake pipes fluidly connected to respective wheel cylinders, a housing with lateral side surfaces and a lower side surface that enclose the hydraulic unit, the housing having therewithin a pump fluidly connected with the first and second brake pipes for controlling wheel cylinder pressures, and a motor attached to one of the lateral side surfaces of the housing for driving the pump; and 
 a support member for supporting the hydraulic unit on the vehicle body at two or more of support positions;  
 wherein the supporting member is attached at two of the support positions to one of the lateral side surfaces of the housing by way of resilient members;  
 wherein the first brake pipes are connected to the housing; and  
 wherein joining portions between the first brake pipes and said one of the lateral side surface of the housing are disposed nearly between axes that extend through said two of the support positions in parallel with a gravitational axis of the housing unit when observed in an elevation.  
   
   
   
       5 . A hydraulic unit arrangement according to  claim 4 , wherein the support member is attached at another of the support positions to the lower side surface of the housing.  
   
   
       6 . A hydraulic unit arrangement according to  claim 4 , wherein said one of the lateral side surfaces to which the support member is attached at said one of the support positions and said one of the lateral side surfaces to which the motor is attached are the same.