Single Power Source For Both Power Steering And Power Boosted Brakes

Improved power brake booster designs and systems with redundant capabilities are anticipated to be required as a result of the new safety regulations for improved stopping distances, and indirectly, as the result of the new emission controls because of the potential loss of vacuum availability and increased underhood temperatures. In early 1968 it was becoming obvious to certain brake engineering groups that a new brake booster system with reserve capabilities for truck hydraulic brakes would be a requirement in the near future. Bendix, as a major independent supplier of power brake boosters, had more than a casual interest in this trend appearing over the horizon. As the result of discussions with customers and our internal analysis of various power booster systems, hydraulics, in the form of the Bendix Hydro-Boost system with an integral electric motor pump backup, was settled upon as one major approach to best serve the industry. This paper is devoted primarily to the design and operating characteristics of the Bendix Hydro-Boost Power Brake Booster Unit for trucks.