What is ABS & how does it work!!!

Anti-lock Braking system is a closed loop control device that prevents wheel lock-up during braking and as a result vehicle stability and steering is maintained.

The purpose of Anti-lock Braking system (ABS) is to control the rate at which individual wheels accelerate and de-accelerate through the regulation of the line pressure applied to each foundation brake. The control signals, generated by the controller and applied to the brake pressure modulating unit, are derived from the analysis of the outputs taken from wheel speed sensors. Thus, when active, the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) makes optimum use of the available friction between the tyres and the road surface are important enough to take a look at how they work and clear up some misinformation about them.

 

As always, what is described here is how most systems work in general. Since different manufacturers have their own versions of ABS their specifications and part names may differ. If you're having a problem with the ABS on your vehicle you should always refer to the specific service and repair manuals for your vehicle.

  The ABS is a four-wheel system that prevents wheel lock-up by automatically modulating the brake pressure during an emergency stop. By preventing the wheels from locking, it enables the driver to maintain steering control and to stop in the shortest possible distance under most conditions. During normal braking, the ABS and non-ABS brake pedal feel will be the same. During ABS operation, a pulsation can be felt in the brake pedal, accompanied by a fall and then rise in brake pedal height and a clicking sound.

COMPONENTS OF ANTI-LOCK BREAKING SYSTEM(ABS)

There are four main components of the ABS:

•SPEED SENSOR

•VALVES

•PUMP

•CONTROLLER

 

 SPEED SENSOR

The purpose of the speed sensor is to monitor speed of each wheel and then to determine the acceleration and de-acceleration of the wheels. It consist of exciter(a ring with notched teeth)and a wire coil/magnet assembly which generates the pulses of electricity as teeth of exciter pass in front of it.

VALVES

The function of the valves is to regulate the air pressure to brakes during Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) action.They are placed in the brake line of the each brake controlled by the ABS. In most of the cases ,the valve has three positions:

•In position one, the valve is open and the pressure from the master cylinder is passed through the brake.

•In position two, the valve blocks the line resulting in isolating the brake from master cylinder.

•In position three, the valve releases some of the pressure from brakes.

PUMP

The purpose of the pump is to regulate or restore the pressure back to the brakes that has been released by the valves.

CONTROLLER

The controller of the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) consists of Electronic Control Unit(ECU) which processes all the ABS information and signal functions. The ECU gets the information from all the wheels and then control or limit the brake force to the each wheel.

BRAKE TYPES

Anti-lock breaking system or ABS has different types of brakes based on number of channels used.

 

FOUR-CHANNEL

This scheme is employed in most of the modern cars like Ferrari’s California T. In this scheme all the four wheels have there own individual speed sensors and valves. This gives best result as all the four wheels can be controlled individually which ensures the maximum braking force.

THREE CHANNEL

Three channel comes with two combination, one is three channel with four sensors and the other one with three channel and three sensors.

In three channel and four sensor scheme, along with the four sensors on the each wheel there is a separate valve for each of the front wheels and a common valve for the rear wheels.

The three channel and three sensor scheme is mostly employed in pickup trucks. There are individual sensors and valves for both the front wheels with a common valve and sensor for both of the rear wheel.

TWO CHANNEL

This system works with four sensors and two valves. It uses a speed sensors at each wheel, with one control valve for both of the front wheels and the other one for the rear wheels.

ONE CHANNEL

This system is found on pickup trucks which uses rear wheel ABS. It has one valve and one sensor for both of the rear wheels. This system is not very effective because as there is a possibility that one of the rear wheel will lock, reducing the effectiveness of brakes.

 

WORKING OF ABS OR ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM

•When the brakes are applied, fluid is forced from the master cylinder to the HCU inlet ports with the help of open solenoid valves that are contained in the HCU, then through the outlet ports of HCU to the each wheel.

•The rear part of the master cylinder feeds the front brakes and vice-versa.

•After the fluid in inserted in each wheel, the wheel starts locking-up.

•When the control module senses that wheel is going to lock up, it closes the normally open solenoid valves for that wheel.

•The anti-lock brake control module then looks at anti-lock brake sensor signal from the affected wheel.

•Once the affected wheel comes back up to the speed, then the control module returns the solenoid valve to there normal condition.



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