EP1530531A1

EP1530531A1 - Method for bleeding and refilling an electrohydraulic brake system

Info

Publication number: EP1530531A1
Application number: EP03787766A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Martin Baechle; Michael Hitzel; Axel Wagner
Original assignee: Continental Teves AG and Co OHG
Current assignee: Continental Teves AG and Co OHG
Priority date: 2002-08-14
Filing date: 2003-08-12
Publication date: 2005-05-18
Also published as: JP2005535518A; US20060192426A1; WO2004016487A1

Abstract

The invention is based on the problem in that, particularly in electrohydraulic brake systems, areas exist inside the line systems that are not reached during a conventional bleeding. This occurs, in particular, when the suction line is detached from the system pump during repair work carried out on the system. For this reason, the invention provides a pump-driven bleeding during which, among other things, pressure medium is, when outlet valves (9) are open, returned by the pump to the reservoir (4) from the pressure medium storage tank via the outlet valves (9). The pump (5) or the outlet valves can be controlled in a clocked manner in order to produce pressure pulsations that effect a removal of clinging air bubbles.

Description

Process for bleeding and refilling an electro-hydraulic brake system

The invention relates to a method for bleeding and refilling an electrohydraulic brake system, consisting of a pedal-operated master brake cylinder and a brake circuit regulated by the master cylinder pressure with a pump, the suction side of which is connected to a pressure medium reservoir via a suction line, and a high-pressure accumulator, and inlet and outlet valves for the wheel brakes connected to the brake circuit, where an inlet valve controls the connection of the associated wheel brake to the high-pressure accumulator and an outlet valve controls the connection of the associated wheel brake to the pressure medium reservoir via an unpressurized return line, and the master brake cylinder is connected to the brake circuit via a separating valve downstream of the inlet valves.

In such a hydraulic brake system, in which parts of the line system are closed by valves, a conventionally carried out ventilation is not sufficient to keep all areas of the brake system free of air and gas bubbles, since such a ventilation only the brake line between the master brake cylinder and the respective wheel brake detected. In particular, in the event that the suction line of the pump to the pressure medium reservoir has to be loosened for repair reasons, air can get into the pump, which neither medium storage container rises, can still be removed by a conventional ventilation. Since this air can possibly get into the brake circuit, it must be removed before the vehicle is started up.

From DE 38 06 840 C2, a ventilation system for an ABS brake system is known, in which a pump operation is provided for venting the return line. Since this ABS system is a closed system in which the pump for lowering the wheel brake pressure directly delivers pressure medium from the wheel brakes to the master brake cylinder (recirculation), the problem of air inclusion in the suction line does not arise here.

The invention is therefore based on the problem of representing a method for a pressure medium reservoir for an electrohydraulic brake system in which an open return system is provided, that is to say the pumps are conveying from an unpressurized pressure medium reservoir, which enables all areas of the brake system, but in particular the intake area of the pump.

To solve the problem, the invention provides that the following method steps are initiated.

1.Connect a bleed bottle to the wheel bleed connections on the wheel brakes.

2. Connect a breather device to a filler neck of the pressure medium reservoir.

3. Switch on the pump and convey pressure medium from the reservoir. 4. Switching the inlet and outlet valves and the separating valves in such a way that pressure medium from the high-pressure accumulator either reaches the wheel bleeder connections or the pressure medium reservoir.

With the last alternative of process step 4 in particular, the suction area is vented.

The first-mentioned alternative of process step 4 serves to vent further areas of the brake system.

Since large parts of the line system correspond to a conventional brake system (namely the brake lines which lead from the master brake cylinder via the isolating valves to the wheel brakes), they can be vented in a conventional manner, i. H. Pressure fluid is pumped by an aerator on the pressure fluid reservoir from the master brake cylinder via the brake lines to the wheel brakes, where it is drained off at the corresponding wheel bleeder connections. Such a conventional ventilation can be connected upstream of the process according to claim 1.

In order to bleed the other areas of the brake system, the pump is switched on and the valves of the system are controlled so that fresh pressure medium is pumped into these areas by the pump. The pump can also be controlled in a clocked manner in order to generate pressure pulsations with which air bubbles are released in the line system. The same effect is achieved if the exhaust valves are actuated in a clocked manner.

To achieve complete ventilation, the ventilation is carried out in the following order: 1. First a conventional ventilation in the direction of the wheel bleeder connections.

2. A pump vent also in the direction of the wheel vent connection.

3. Then load the accumulator and vent it in the direction of the wheel vent connections.

4. Reload the accumulator and vent in the direction of the pressure medium reservoir.

5. Finally, another pump vent in the direction of the wheel vent connections.

This last bleeding step can also be used to check whether the brake lines have been connected correctly. For this purpose, the ventilation is carried out for one wheel brake, d. H. with the wheel bleeder connection open while the other wheel brakes are closed. A corresponding pressure build-up in the wheel brakes can be determined by opening the respective inlet valves. By gradually combining all four wheel brakes in triplets, it is possible to determine which lines may have been interchanged, since pressure build-up in each sub-step may only be determined in the wheel brakes whose inlet valves have been opened. If there are deviations here, z. B. the assignment of the intake valves to the wheel brakes no longer.

The invention is to be explained in more detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment. To show:

1 shows the hydraulic circuit diagram of a hydraulic brake system, 2 is a diagram showing a first sequence of the method according to the invention,

3 shows a diagram to illustrate a second sequence of the method according to the invention,

4 shows a diagram to illustrate a third sequence of the method according to the invention,

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a fourth

Sequence of the method according to the invention and

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a fifth sequence of the method according to the invention.

Reference is first made to FIG. 1. This shows a typical electro-hydraulic brake system, which is constructed as follows:

A master brake cylinder 1 in tandem form has two brake circuits, namely a primary circuit (also called push rod circuit DK) and a secondary circuit SK, the primary brake circuit 2 shown being connected to a pedal simulator 3. In addition, a pressure medium reservoir 4 is connected to the master cylinder 1. Motor-driven pumps 5 and a high-pressure accumulator, e.g. B. a metal bellows accumulator 6, form a pressure supply system that is supplied from the pressure medium reservoir 4 with a pressure medium (brake fluid), for which purpose the pump 5 is connected via a suction line 17 to the pressure medium reservoir 4. The wheel brakes 7 of the rear axle are each connected to this pressure medium supply system via an inlet valve 8. In addition, each via an outlet valve 9 and a return line 18 a connection to the pressure medium reservoir 4 can be established. The inlet and outlet valves 8, 9 are normally closed. A pressure build-up in the wheel brakes 7 takes place by opening the respective inlet valve 8, a pressure reduction by opening the respective outlet valve 9. In this way, a controlled brake circuit 2 'is formed, the pressure made available to the wheel brakes 7 being determined by the master cylinder pressure, which is at controlled braking is hydraulically separated from the wheel brakes 7. For this purpose, there is a line valve 2a, which flows downstream of the inlet valve 8 into the lines 2b leading to the wheel brakes 7, a separating valve 10, which is closed in the control mode and only remains open when the regulated brake circuit 2 ', e.g. B. because of a failure of the pressure medium supply.

The system is u. a. monitored and controlled by various pressure sensors. Brake pressure sensors 11 are assigned to the individual wheel brakes 7, a pump pressure sensor 12 to the pressure medium supply system and a simulation pressure sensor 13 to the master brake cylinder per brake circuit. The isolating valve is closed in the case of electrohydraulic braking. The pressure in the master brake cylinder serves as a control variable. For this purpose, the pressure of the master brake cylinder 1 is measured with the simulation pressure sensor 13 and given as a control variable to the control of the regulated brake circuit 2 '. If the pressure supply system fails, the isolating valve 10 remains open. The wheel brakes 7 are thus connected in a conventional manner directly to the master brake cylinder 1 via lines 2a and 2b. A compensating valve 14 ensures pressure equalization between the wheel brakes of an axle.

The brake system must be serviced regularly, in particular the brake fluid must be changed. This can lead to errors. For example, connections can be interchanged or the brake system cannot be properly vented, which leads to air pockets. The following procedure is therefore proposed for checking the braking system:

The wheel brakes 7, which is only indicated schematically, are provided with valve-controlled wheel bleeder connections 20, if necessary, via which pressure medium can be removed from the brake circuits.

To bleed and refill the system, 20 bleeding bottles are connected to these wheel bleeding connections, in which the pressure medium drained from the brake circuits flows.

Furthermore, a so-called bleeding device is connected to the filler neck 21 of the pressure medium reservoir 4, which provides fresh brake fluid and is able to build up a pressure of approx. 2 bar in order to accelerate the bleeding process.

The individual sequences for performing the bleeding and refilling the hydraulic brake system are shown in the form of diagrams which are shown in FIGS. 2-6. The time is plotted on the horizontal axis and the switching states for the individual components of the braking system on the vertical axis. The curves in the diagram show the switching status of the individual components. The following components are considered from top to bottom:

Pump:

With the switching states: 0: switched off, 1: pumping. Inlet valves EV:

With the switching states: 0: closed, 1: open.

Exhaust valves AV:

With the switching states: 0: closed, 1: open.

The abbreviations VL, VR, HL, HR stand for front left, front right, rear left and rear right for the intake and exhaust valves EV and AV.

Isolation valve TV:

For the push rod circuit DK and the secondary circuit SK in the switching states: 0: open, 1: closed.

Wheel bleeder connections ENTL:

With the switching states: 0: closed, 1: open

Breather device ENTL pressure:

With the switching states 0: depressurized, 1: switched on when the pressure medium reservoir 4 is pressurized (venting pressure).

If all valves and the pump are in state 0, the brake system is in the basic state. During the entire bleeding procedure, the bleeding device is connected so that a bleeding pressure is applied to the brake system (state 1).

In the first switching sequence shown in FIG. 2, it can easily be seen that the wheel bleeder connections VR, HR, VL and VR are opened in succession for approx. 30 seconds each (markings 101, 102, 103, 104), with a bleeder pressure (mark 105) being constantly applied. The conventional brake circuit, consisting of the master brake cylinder 1, the isolating valve 2, the brake lines 2a, 2b and the wheel brakes 7, is flowed through by pressure medium and thus vented. The regulated brake circuit 2 'remains unaffected, since both the intake valves 8 and the exhaust valves 9 remain closed. This process corresponds to a conventional bleeding, i.e. the bleeding of a conventional, non-regulated brake system.

In the following diagrams of FIG. 3, the switching state of the compensating valve AV 14 in the pressure rod circuit and secondary circuit is also indicated. The states are 0: open and 1: closed.

The second switching sequence begins with a memory drain SE, in which the isolating valves 10 (marking 201) and the compensating valves 14 (marking 202) are closed. In addition, the inlet valve 8 and the outlet valve 9 for a wheel brake, for. B. the front right, open (marking 203, 204). This leads to the storage 6 being emptied via the return line 18.

Thereafter, in a partial sequence 2.1, all inlet valves 8 are opened, all outlet valves 9 are closed, and the separating valves 10 of the two brake circuits are closed, the compensating valves 14 being able to remain open. Furthermore, the wheel vent connection at the front left remains open or the wheel vent connection 20, on which the vent bottle is located, so that the pumps 5 pump from the pressure medium reservoir 4 into this wheel vent connection 20 (marking 205, 206). In particular, the suction line 17 is flushed and thus vented. If necessary, switching breaks must be provided for the pumps 5. To end this partial sequence 2.1, the inlet valves 8 are closed again, it being important to ensure that the pumps 5 stop operating shortly beforehand in order to avoid pressure peaks. The partial sequence 2.1 can be repeated up to 5 times. The following partial sequence 2.2 initially provides for a storage discharge SE and a subsequent defined storage filling SF, in which the inlet valves 8 are closed while the pump 5 is delivering (marking 207). The inlet valve at the front left is then opened and closed 40 times in short cycles of less than 0.1 seconds (marking 208), so that the reservoir 6 is emptied in a pulsed manner and the pressure medium can flow off via the vent connection 20 at the front left. The pulsing load on the system releases adhering bubbles, particularly in the valve block.

This is followed by a step in which the memory is emptied again and the system is reset to the basic state.

In the following switching sequence 3 (FIG. 4), all inlet valves 8 and all outlet valves 9 are opened. The wheel vent connections 20 are closed, so that when the pump 5 (marking 301) is switched on, pressure medium is conveyed from the reservoir 4 through the inlet and outlet valves 8, 9 and via the return line 18 back to the pressure medium reservoir 4. This step serves in particular to vent the return line 18. Air trapped there arrives in the pressure medium reservoir. There it separates from the pressure medium and collects in the gas phase above the level.

In process step 4 (FIG. 5), the return line 18 is also flushed. However, the outlet valves 9 (markings 401 to 404) are switched in succession in each case, so that pressure pulsations are again generated and the return line 18 is flushed intermittently. This should also cause that Release air bubbles. Switching sequence 4 can be carried out twice.

In a concluding fifth sequence, shown in FIG. 6, the wheel bleeder connections 20 are opened one after the other in sub-sequences 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4 (markings 501 to 504), whereby, before the inlet valve 8 of the wheel brake is opened with the wheel bleeder connection 20 opened ( Marking 505), first the other three intake valves (triple) are opened (marking 506) so that a pressure builds up in the closed wheel brakes, which is then restored to approx. 2 bar shortly afterwards by opening the associated exhaust valves 9 (marking 507). The pressure in the wheel brakes can be monitored. This must correspond to the respective switching states. Since in this way a pressure is built up and reduced again in succession in wheel brakes, each of which is composed of triples, it can be determined whether lines have possibly been interchanged.

Claims

Process for bleeding and refilling an electro-hydraulic brake system, consisting of a pedal-operated master brake cylinder and a brake circuit controlled by the master brake cylinder pressure with a pump, the suction side of which is connected via a suction line to a pressure medium reservoir, and a high-pressure accumulator, as well as inlet and outlet valves for the Brake circuit connected wheel brakes, wherein an inlet valve controls the connection of the associated wheel brake to the high-pressure accumulator and an outlet valve controls the connection of the associated wheel brake to the pressure medium reservoir via an unpressurized return line, and wherein the master brake cylinder is connected to the brake circuit via a separating valve downstream of the inlet valves, with at least the following steps:

1.Connect a bleed bottle to the wheel bleed connections on the wheel brakes.

2. Connect a breather device to a filler neck of the pressure medium reservoir.

3. Switch on the pump and convey pressure medium from the reservoir.

4. Switch the inlet and outlet valves and the isolation valves in such a way that pressure medium from the high-pressure accumulator either to the Wheel vent connections or in the pressure medium reservoir.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a conventional ventilation takes place before the pump is switched on.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pump is controlled in a clocked manner when venting into the pressure medium reservoir.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the exhaust valves are controlled in a timed manner when venting into the pressure medium reservoir.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ventilation is carried out by means of a pump in the following order:

Conventional ventilation in the direction of the wheel vent connections;

Pump ventilation also in the direction of the wheel vent connections;

Loading the memory and venting in the direction of the wheel vent connections;

Loading the reservoir and venting in the direction of the pressure medium reservoir;

Pump ventilation in the direction of the wheel ventilation connections. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that during a bleeding of the brake system via the wheel bleeder connection of a wheel, the other three wheel brakes are pressurized by opening the associated inlet valves, the wheel brake pressures being measured and the determined pressure triples in correlation to the switched ones Inlet valves 8 are brought.