By Eliza Geh
Antilock Braking System
Antilock Braking System
Antilock braking system (ABS) are designed to aid the driver to maintain some steering ability and avoid skidding while braking. Often when a driver in the vehicle suddenly brakes to avoid a collision, they will press their foot hard on the brake pedal. This will then lead to the brakes locking the wheels, which will hold them firmly in place and as a result the vehicle will slide on the road and the driver will lose the ability to steer. ABS aid the vehicles to brake smoothly and quickly in these situations. The controller monitors in the (ABS) look for deceleration in the wheel that are out of the ordinary. The moment before a wheel is about to lock up, it will experience a rapid deceleration. The ABS controller reduces the pressure to the brake until it sees an acceleration and will then increase the pressure until a deceleration is evident again.
Antilock Braking System
The four main components to an antilock braking system are speed sensors, pump, valves and controller. The speed sensors are located at each wheel which communicate to the ABS when a wheel is about the lock up. There is a valve located in the brake line of each brake controlled by the ABS. The valve has three positions in some systems, in position one the valve is open and the pressure from the master cylinder travels to the brake. In position two the valve blocks the line, which prevents the pressure from rising if the driver were to push the brake pedal harder. Finally, in position three, the valve releases a small amount of the pressure from the brake. When the valve reduces the pressure in a line, the pump’s responsibility is to bring the pressure back up. The controllers responsibility is to watch the speed sensors and control the valves.