Electric parking brakes

KÜSTER are global market leaders in the development and production of electric parking brakes for production vehicles.

Modern vehicle concepts typically feature a number of systems designed to further enhance the driver’s safety and comfort. Furthermore, the growing need for manufacturers to differentiate themselves from their competitors has prompted the development of new system concepts. The electric parking brake, which replaces the conventional mechanically-operated handbrake, satisfies escalating demands in terms of driver comfort, functionality, durability, and space in the passenger compartment.

The companies KÜSTER ACS and Conti Temic microelectronic joined forces to develop an electric parking brake in collaboration with their customer Renault for the production launch of the Vel Satis in 2001. Other Renault cars have since followed suit – the Espace, Mégane Scénic and Grand Scénic The company also supplies other manufacturers including Ford and Land Rover, and more than 800,000 units are now sent out from the KÜSTER plant in Ehringshausen each year.

The KÜSTER electric parking brake is fully flexible, both in terms of its ability to adapt to different brake systems such as duo-servo, combined caliper and drum brakes, and with respect to its installation location in either the centre tunnel or axle area.

As well as the standard functions of a parking brake, the KÜSTER electric parking brake also incorporates a number of additional functions:

• Gradient-dependent control of braking forces minimizes wear on the entire braking system throughout its service life, thus increasing durability.
• Use of a force and gradient sensor allows the braking force, vehicle incline and changes to the braking system (such as the influence of temperature) to be monitored and corrected where necessary.
• A built-in emergency release allows the parking brake to be released if the vehicle cannot be towed away due to a failure in the power supply. If the emergency release is activated without there being a malfunction in the system, the system will identify this and regenerate itself automatically.
• Additionally, a variety of added extras are easily incorporated, such as: assisted hill start, hill holder (to prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards on slopes), autopark and anti-lock braking control.
• What is more, by removing the handbrake from the passenger compartment, additional space is created e.g. for an air-conditioning system, mobile phone, stowage compartments etc.