Pump assembly for a vehicle braking system with eccentric drive actuator

Abstract

A hydraulic pump assembly 20 of a vehicle braking system includes at least one pair of hydraulic pumps for pumping brake fluid. Each pump 13 has a pump member 14 . The pump members 14 of a pair of pumps are disposed in opposing, spaced relation along an axis. An eccentric drive actuator 22 is disposed between the pump members 14 of a pair of pumps so as to move the pump members substantially simultaneously along the axis between first and second positions.

1 . A hydraulic pump assembly of a vehicle braking system comprising: 
 at least one pair of hydraulic pumps for pumping brake fluid, each pump having a pump member, the pump members of a pair of pumps being disposed in opposing, spaced relation along an axis, and    an eccentric drive actuator disposed between the pump members of a pair of pumps so as to move the pump members substantially simultaneously along the axis between first and second positions.    
   
   
       2 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the drive actuator has a center that is disposed on the axis, the drive actuator being constructed and arranged to be rotated and having a long side of a certain dimension and a short side of a dimension less than the certain dimension, the long and short sides of the drive actuator being constructed and arranged such rotation of the drive actuator moves the pump members substantially simultaneously between the first and second positions.  
   
   
       3 . The pump assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a shaft, the drive actuator being coupled with the shaft so that rotation of the shaft rotates the drive actuator.  
   
   
       4 . The pump assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the drive actuator and shaft are constructed and arranged as a one-piece member.  
   
   
       5 . The pump assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the drive actuator includes a bore therein, the shaft being received in the bore.  
   
   
       6 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the drive actuator is in direct contact with the pump members.  
   
   
       7 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a bearing device between the drive actuator and each pump member of a pump pair.  
   
   
       8 . A hydraulic pump assembly of a vehicle braking system comprising: 
 at least one pair of hydraulic pumps for pumping brake fluid, each pump having a pump member, the pump members of a pair of pumps being disposed in opposing, spaced relation along an axis, and    means, disposed between the pump members of a pair of pumps, for moving the pump members generally simultaneously along the axis between first and second positions.    
   
   
       9 . The pump assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the means for moving has a center that is disposed on the axis, and is constructed and arranged to be rotated, the means for moving has a long side of a certain dimension and a short side of a dimension less than the certain dimension, the long and short sides of the means for moving being constructed and arranged such rotation of the means for moving moves the pump members substantially simultaneously between the first and second positions.  
   
   
       10 . The pump assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a shaft, the means for moving being a drive actuator coupled with the shaft so that rotation of the shaft rotates the drive actuator.  
   
   
       11 . The pump assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the drive actuator and shaft are constructed and arranged as a one-piece member.  
   
   
       12 . The pump assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the drive actuator includes a bore therein, the shaft being received in the bore.  
   
   
       13 . The pump assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the means for moving is in direct contact with the pump members.  
   
   
       14 . The pump assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a bearing device between the means for moving and each pump member of a pump pair.  
   
   
       15 . A method of actuating pumps of a vehicle braking system, the method includes: 
 providing at least one pair of hydraulic pumps, each pump having a pump member, the pump members of a pair of pumps being disposed in opposing, spaced relation along an axis,    providing an eccentric drive actuator between the pump members of a pair of pumps so as to contact the pump members, and    moving the drive actuator to a first position so move the pump members substantially simultaneously along the axis to a first position to cause the pumps to pump brake fluid.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further including moving the drive actuator to a second position to move the pump members substantially simultaneously to a second position to stop pumping brake fluid.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the drive actuator is moved by a shaft of a motor.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the drive actuator and the shaft are integral.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the drive actuator has a bore and the shaft is fixedly received in the bore.