"Snow brake" control system, braking system and vehicle

Abstract

A "snow brake" control system is described, comprising: first control means (301) designed to receive a signal (305) indicative of a request to perform "snow brake" braking and to generate a "snow brake" brake apply command (308) upon receiving the signal (305) indicative of a request to perform "snow brake" braking; and second control means (303) designed to receive the "snow brake" brake apply command (308) and to request that braking means (304) apply "snow brake" braking upon receiving the "snow brake" brake apply command (308). The first control means (301) is further designed to receive an actual braking signal (310) indicative of actual braking, compare the actual braking with the requested "snow brake" braking, and determine that "snow brake" braking is not being properly applied when the actual braking does not correspond to the requested "snow brake" braking.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention is generally in the field of braking systems for at least one vehicle. In particular, the present invention relates to a "snow brake" control system, a braking system, and a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] In the vehicle sector, "snow brake" braking refers to the application of brakes with limited force and duration, which is applied with the aim of preventing the formation of ice and / or snow deposits on the braking means of the vehicle, for example on the brake application means of the braking means.

[0003] In one example, the braking means may be pneumatic, electro-pneumatic, mechanical or electro-mechanical brakes, etc. The brake application means of the braking means may be, for example, a brake shoe suitable for applying a braking force to a wheel, or a pad suitable for applying a braking force to a braking organ, such as a disk associated with a wheel of the vehicle or associated with an axle associated with at least one wheel.

[0004] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary situation in which snow and / or ice 100 has accumulated on brake shoes 102 of braking means 104 .

[0005] Snow and ice 100 can, under certain environmental conditions, accumulate on the brake means, such as the brake application means 102 (e.g., on the brake shoes, on the pads and / or discs, or on the calipers). In some rarer cases, snow and / or ice 100 can also accumulate on the wheels 106 or the axles to which the wheels 106 are coupled.

[0006] In the following, particular reference is made to the rail vehicle sector, however what is described may also be applied to other areas of vehicles.

[0007] If the vehicle is a rail sector vehicle, reference may be made to the European standards EN50129, EN50159, EN50126-1, EN50126-2, EN50128, according to the latest updates available at the filing date of the present invention, for the definition of the safety integrity level SIL.

[0008] -EN50126 ["Railway applications. Specification and demonstration of reliability, availability, maintainability and safety (RAMS)].

[0009] -EN50128 ["Railway applications. Communication, signalling and processing systems. Software for railway control and protection systems"] -EN50129 ["Railway applications. Communication, signalling and processing systems. Safety-related electronic systems for signalling"].

[0010] -EN50159 ["Railway applications. Communication, signalling and processing systems. Safety-related communications in transmission systems"].

[0011] In particular, the EN50126 standard defines a method for assigning SIL0 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 safety levels (with SIL4 representing the highest safety integrity level) to the subsystems that make up the system in question based on the results of a safety analysis, and standards EN50128 and EN50129 define design criteria to be applied to software and hardware components, respectively, based on the SIL levels assigned based on the results of the safety analysis.

[0012] A control means, device, unit or module etc. may be considered to be implemented according to a high safety integrity level if it is implemented according to a safety integrity level of at least SIL≧3.

[0013] As can be seen in Figure 2, in the prior art, "snow brake" braking is managed by a control means 200 that is similarly configured to manage and control the service brakes. Such control means 200 are implemented according to a low safety integrity level (SIL < 2).

[0014] The fact that "snow brake" braking is managed at a low safety integrity level exposes "snow brake" braking to a higher probability of malfunction and the risk that such malfunction will go undetected. For example, an inability to apply "snow brake" braking due to a malfunction of the control means 200, the brake means 204, or the brake application means 202 of the brake means 204 may result in excessive accumulation of snow or ice on the brake means 204, such as the brake application means 202, on the wheels 206, or on the axles associated with the wheels 206. In this case, if an emergency brake needs to be applied due to the unexpected presence of snow or ice, the emergency brake may initially be applied in a degraded manner. Only when the snow or ice is cleared can the expected emergency brake be effectively applied. As a result, despite the fact that the emergency brake is managed according to a high safety integrity level (SIL4), a degraded emergency brake application may adversely affect the performance of the emergency brake and result in an equivalent extended stopping time of the vehicle. Summary of the Invention

[0015] Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a solution that improves the level of safety at which "snow brake" braking is managed, without affecting the development costs of the systems responsible for managing the service and emergency brakes.

[0016] These and other objects and advantages are achieved according to one aspect of the present invention by a "snow brake" braking control system having the features defined in claim 1, according to a further aspect of the present invention by a braking system having the features defined in claim 13, and according to a further aspect of the present invention by a vehicle having the features defined in claim 14. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are defined in the dependent claims, the content of which is to be understood as an integral part of this description.

[0017] The functional and structural features of some preferred embodiments of the "snow brake" control system, braking system and vehicle according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary situation where snow and / or ice has accumulated on the brake application means. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows a prior art "snow brake" braking control system. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a control system for a "snow brake" according to the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of a control system for a "snow brake" according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Before describing several embodiments of the present invention in detail, it should be made clear that the present invention is not limited in its application to the details of design and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The present invention contemplates other embodiments and may actually be implemented or constructed in different ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology are for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as limiting. The use of "include" and "comprise" and variations thereof is intended to cover the elements and equivalents of the elements described below, as well as additional elements and additional equivalents.

[0020] 3 and 4, embodiments of "snow brake" control systems 300, 400 for at least one vehicle, and in particular at least one rail vehicle, will now be described.

[0021] A "snow brake" brake is a brake that, when applied, is suitable to remove accumulated ice and / or snow from either the brake application means 302 of the brake means 304, and / or at least one vehicle wheel 306, and / or the brake means 304, such as a brake organ associated with at least one vehicle wheel or associated with an axle to which at least one vehicle wheel is coupled, where the accumulation of ice or snow impairs the proper application of braking force by the brake means 304.

[0022] In other words, "snow brake" braking is braking suitable for preventing ice formation and / or snow accumulation on the brake application means 302 of the brake means 304, and / or at least one vehicle wheel 306, and / or on the brake means 304, such as a brake organ associated with at least one vehicle wheel or associated with an axle to which at least one vehicle wheel is coupled.

[0023] For example, the brake organ may be a brake disc. For example, the brake application means 302 of the braking means 304 may be a brake shoe if it is designed to act directly on the wheel, or a brake pad if it is designed to act on a brake disc. However, additional types of brakes and brake application means are applicable to the present invention.

[0024] During application of the "snow brake" braking force, snow and ice are removed or melted due to the effects of heat and / or friction caused by contact between the brake means 304 and the wheel 306 and / or brake organ associated with at least one vehicle wheel or associated with the axle to which at least one vehicle wheel is coupled. For example, contact between the brake means 304 and the wheel 306 and / or brake organ associated with at least one vehicle wheel or associated with the axle to which at least one vehicle wheel is coupled can be caused by movement of the brake application means 302 of the brake means 304.

[0025] The control system includes a first control means 301, receiving a signal indicating a request to perform the "snow brake" braking 305; - comprising first control means 301 configured to generate a "snow brake" brake apply command 308 upon receiving a signal indicating a request to perform said "snow brake" brake 305;

[0026] The signal indicating a request to perform said "snow brake" braking 305 is a signal indicating the fact that application of "snow brake" braking is required. The "snow brake" brake apply command 308 is a signal generated in response to receiving a signal indicating a request to perform said "snow brake" braking 305, and is generated for the purpose of requesting application of "snow brake" braking to said wheel 306 and / or a brake organ associated with at least one wheel of the vehicle or associated with an axle to which at least one wheel of the vehicle is coupled. Thus, the "snow brake" brake apply command 308 may be a signal indicating that the braking means 304 must be activated to apply "snow brake" braking.

[0027] In one example, the signal indicating a request to execute the "snow brake" brake 305 and / or "snow brake" brake apply command 308 may be an electrical signal.

[0028] For example, the first control means 301 may be or may include at least one processor, one microprocessor, one controller, one microcontroller, one FPGA, one PLC, etc.

[0029] The control system 300, 400 includes a second control means 303, receiving said "snow brake" brake application command 308 from the first control means 301; - when the second control means receives said "snow brake" brake application command 308, it requests that the braking means 304 of the vehicle apply said "snow brake" brake to said wheel 306 or to a braking organ associated with at least one wheel of the vehicle or associated with an axle to which at least one wheel of the vehicle is coupled, The second control means 303 is configured as follows.

[0030] To request that the vehicle's braking means 304 apply "snow brake" braking, the second control means 303 may issue an actuation signal 307 in response to receiving a "snow brake" brake apply command 308. Depending on the type of braking means 304 (e.g., pneumatic, electro-pneumatic, electro-mechanical), the actuation signal may be a pneumatic signal, an electrical actuation signal, or the like.

[0031] For example, the actuation signal may be a pneumatic signal suitable for supplying brake fluid at a given pressure to a pneumatic brake cylinder of the braking means 304. Alternatively, for example, the actuation signal 307 may be an electrical signal suitable for controlling the opening or closing of an electropneumatic valve suitable for regulating the pressure of the brake fluid supplied to the pneumatic brake cylinder of the braking means 304.

[0032] The second control means 303 may be, for example, at least one processor, one microprocessor, one controller, one microcontroller, one FPGA or one PLC, etc., or may include at least one processor, one microprocessor, one controller, one microcontroller, one FPGA or one PLC, etc.

[0033] The first control means 301 receiving an actual braking signal 310 indicative of the actual braking effectively applied by the braking means 304 to the wheels 306 or to the braking organs associated with or connected to the wheels of the vehicle in response to a "snow brake" brake application command 308 generated by the first control means 301; - comparing the actual braking indicated by the actual braking signal 310 with the requested "snow brake" braking; determining that "snow brake" braking has not been properly applied when the actual braking indicated by the actual braking signal 310 does not correspond to the requested "snow brake" braking; It is further designed to:

[0034] In other words, the first control means 301 may verify that "snow brake" braking has actually been applied through a comparison of the actual braking indicated by the actual braking signal 310 with the requested "snow brake" braking (i.e., what would be expected when the braking means 304 correctly applies "snow brake" braking). By such a comparison, the first control means 301 may immediately determine whether the second control means 303 of the braking means 304 and / or the brake application means 302 of the braking means 304 are not functioning properly and are not applying the expected "snow brake" braking.

[0035] The actual braking that is effectively applied to the wheels 306 by the braking means 304 in response to the "snow brake" brake application command 308 generated by the first control means 301 and transmitted / received to the second control means may be understood to mean the actual braking that is generated as a result of the fact that the application of "snow brake" braking has been requested by the "snow brake" brake application command 308.

[0036] Preferably, the first control means 301 also, when it is determined that the "snow brake" braking is not being properly applied, a) generating a fault signal 312 indicating the fact that the "snow brake" braking has not been properly applied; and / or b) It may be configured to generate an emergency braking request signal 314 indicating that emergency braking needs to be performed.

[0037] Preferably, the first control means 301 may be implemented according to a first safety integrity level SIL and said second control means may be implemented according to a second safety integrity level SIL, which may be greater than the second safety integrity level SIL.

[0038] Preferably, the first control means 301 may be implemented according to a first safety integrity level SIL4 and the second control means may be implemented according to a second safety integrity level SIL2.

[0039] Preferably, the first control means 301 may be different from the second control means 303, as can be seen in FIG.

[0040] Alternatively, as seen in Figure 4, the first control means and the second control means may be contained within a single control unit 402. For example, the control unit 402 may be a control unit responsible for controlling all functions related to braking (e.g., service brakes, emergency brakes, parking brakes) of such a vehicle.

[0041] Preferably, the first control means 301 determines whether said actual braking indicated by the actual braking signal 310 is: - the first actual brake application intensity value differs from the second requested "snow braking" brake application intensity value by at least the value of the predetermined brake application intensity difference, and / or - the first actual brake application duration differs from the second requested "snow brake" brake application duration by at least a predetermined brake application duration difference; At times, it may be configured to determine that the requested "snow brake" braking is not supported.

[0042] In a numerical example, considering a predetermined brake application intensity difference value equal to 50 N, if the "snow brake" braking involves the application of a second brake application intensity value of 200 N, but the first actual brake application intensity value indicated by the actual braking signal 310 is equal to 100 N, the first control means 301 may determine that said actual braking indicated by the actual braking signal 310 does not correspond to requested "snow brake" braking. On the other hand, if the "snow brake" braking involves the application of a second brake application intensity value of 200 N, but the first actual brake application intensity value indicated by the actual braking signal 310 is equal to 190 N, the first control means 301 may determine that said actual braking indicated by the actual braking signal 310 corresponds to requested "snow brake" braking.

[0043] In a further numerical example, taking into account a predetermined brake application intensity difference of 2 seconds, if the "snow brake" braking involves application of a second "snow brake" brake application intensity value of 10 seconds, but the first actual brake force application duration indicated by the actual braking signal 310 is equal to 6 seconds, the first control means 301 may determine that said actual braking indicated by the actual braking signal does not correspond to requested "snow brake" braking. On the other hand, if the "snow brake" braking involves application of a second "snow brake" brake application duration of 10 seconds, but the first actual brake application duration indicated by the actual braking signal 310 is equal to 9 seconds, the first control means 301 may determine that said actual braking indicated by the actual braking signal 310 corresponds to requested "snow brake" braking.

[0044] Preferably, the second control means 303 may also be designed to manage the application of service brakes, which for example in the railway industry may be understood to mean the braking of a railway vehicle in normal operation to stop it and reduce its speed.

[0045] Preferably, the first control means 301 may also be configured to manage the application of an emergency brake. An emergency brake, for example in the railway industry, may be understood to exhibit significantly greater braking force when compared to a standard service brake. An emergency brake may be used only as a last resort in an emergency situation where it is necessary to stop the vehicle as quickly as possible. For example, the emergency brake uses the maximum braking force available. The emergency brake may also be a brake that is completely separate from the conventional service brake and is designed to stop the vehicle as quickly as possible.

[0046] Preferably, the first control means 301 may be arranged to receive, via the communication means, a signal from the third control means 316 indicating a request to perform said "snow brake" braking 305.

[0047] The third control means 316 may be included in the vehicle or may be remote with respect to the vehicle (eg, included in a remote traffic control station).

[0048] For example, the communication means may be a wired communication means, such as the vehicle CAN line, or a wireless means such as wireless Bluetooth.

[0049] Preferably, the third control means 316 when the driver of the vehicle operates the control means 318, or when the snow or ice monitoring system 320 determines that there is ice or snow on the braking means 304, on the vehicle wheels 306, or on the braking organs associated with the vehicle wheels or associated with the axles connected to the vehicle wheels, It may be designed to transfer to the first control means 301 a signal indicating a request to perform said "snow brake" braking 305.

[0050] For example, the control means 318 may be a button, a switch, a lever, or a software button shown on a display. The control means 318 may be located, for example, in a vehicle cabin suitable for accommodating a driver of the vehicle.

[0051] For example, the monitoring system 320 may comprise brake application means or sensor means such as optical sensors designed to acquire infrared images or signals of wheels or axles, etc. The monitoring system 320 may also be combined with artificial intelligence and / or machine learning algorithms suitable for evaluating images acquired by the monitoring system 320 and determining whether snow or ice is present. The infrared images / information acquired by the monitoring system 320 may be stored, for example, in a database or memory.

[0052] Preferably, the third control means 316 - temperature sensor means for measuring a temperature outside the vehicle below a predetermined temperature threshold; Sometimes it may be designed to transfer said signal to the first control means 301 indicating a request to perform said "snow brake" braking 305.

[0053] For example, the temperature threshold may be equal to 0°C.

[0054] For example, signals indicating a request to apply the "snow brake" brakes 305 and / or "snow brake" brake apply command 308 may be generated or transmitted continuously over time or only at predetermined time intervals separated by predetermined time intervals.

[0055] In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a braking system for a vehicle. In one embodiment, the braking system comprises: braking means 304 designed to apply "snow brake" braking to the wheels 306 of the vehicle or to braking organs associated with or connected to the wheels of the vehicle, and - includes a control system 300, 400 for "snow brake" braking of at least one vehicle according to any one of the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0056] In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a vehicle. In one embodiment, the vehicle comprises a braking system according to one of the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0057] Obviously, the vehicle may comprise one or more of the following: at least one wheel (306), at least one braking organ designed to be associated with the wheel of the vehicle, or an axle connected to the wheel of the vehicle.

[0058] Preferably, the at least one vehicle may include at least one rail car, or the vehicle may be two or more vehicles that may be associated therebetween to form a convoy of vehicles, such as a railroad convoy.

[0059] However, preferably, the present invention may also be applicable to any type of vehicle, which may include, for example, rail cars / vehicles, road cars, automobiles, trucks (e.g., highway semi-trailer trucks, mining trucks, timber trucks, etc.), and the path may be, for example, a rail car, a road, or a sidewalk.

[0060] The advantage achieved is therefore to provide a solution that improves the level of safety with which "snow brake" braking is managed, without affecting the development costs of the systems responsible for managing the service and emergency brakes.

[0061] Various aspects and embodiments of the "snow brake" control system, braking system, and vehicle according to the present invention have been described. It is understood that each embodiment can be combined with any other embodiment. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, but can be modified within the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A control system (300, 400) for "snow brake" braking of at least one vehicle, in particular at least one rail vehicle, comprising first control means (301), The first control means receiving a signal indicating a request to perform said "snow brake" braking (305); generating a "snow brake" brake apply command (308) upon receiving said signal indicating a request to perform said "snow brake" braking (305); It is configured as follows: the control system (300, 400) further comprises a second control means (303); The second control means receiving said "snow brake" brake apply command (308) from said first control means (301); when the second control means receives the "snow brake" brake application command (308), requesting braking means (304) to apply the "snow brake" brake to the vehicle wheel (306) or to a braking organ associated with or coupled to the vehicle wheel; It is configured as follows: The first control means (301) receiving an actual braking signal (310) in response to the "snow brake" brake application command (308) generated by the first control means (301), the actual braking signal (310) indicating the actual braking effectively applied by the braking means (304) to the wheels (306) of the vehicle or to the brake organs associated with the wheels of the vehicle or associated with the axles coupled to the wheels of the vehicle; comparing the actual braking indicated by the actual braking signal (310) with the requested "snow brake" braking; determining that the "snow brake" braking is not properly applied if the actual braking indicated by the actual braking signal (310) does not correspond to the requested "snow brake" braking; The control system (300, 400) is further configured to:

2. The first control means (301) When it is determined that the "snow brake" braking has not been properly applied, a) generating a fault signal (312) indicating the fact that said "snow brake" braking is not being properly applied; and / or b) generating an emergency braking request signal (314) indicating the need for emergency braking; 2. The control system (300, 400) for "snow brake" braking according to claim 1, further configured to:

3. the first control means (301) is implemented according to a first safety integrity level and the second control means (303) is implemented according to a second safety integrity level; The control system (300, 400) of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first safety integrity level is greater than the second safety integrity level.

4. The control system (300) of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first control means (301) is different from the second control means (303).

5. The control system (400) of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first control means (301) and the second control means (303) are included in a single control unit (402).

6. when the first actual brake application intensity value differs from the second requested "snow brake" brake application intensity value by at least a predetermined brake application intensity difference value; and / or when the first actual brake application duration differs from the second requested "snow brake" brake application duration by at least a predetermined brake application duration difference; The first control means (301) determining that the actual braking indicated by the actual braking signal (310) does not correspond to the requested "snow brake" braking; A control system (300, 400) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, configured to:

7. 7. A control system (300, 400) according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first control means (301) is further configured to control the application of emergency braking.

8. 8. The control system (300, 400) of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the second control means (303) is further configured to control application of service brakes.

9. said first control means (301) being configured to receive, via communication means, from a third control means (316) said signal indicating a request to perform said "snow brake" braking (305); The control system (300, 400) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the communication means is a wired communication means or a wireless communication means.

10. The third control means (316) When the driver of said vehicle operates the appropriate "snow brake" braking control means (318), forwarding said signal indicating a request to perform said "snow brake" braking (305) to said first control means (301); The control system (300, 400) of claim 9, configured to:

11. The third control means (316) When the snow or ice monitoring system (320) determines that there is ice or snow on the braking means (304), on the wheels (306) of the vehicle, or on the braking organs associated with the wheels of the vehicle or associated with the axles coupled to the wheels of the vehicle, forwarding said signal indicating a request to perform said "snow brake" braking (305) to said first control means (301); 11. The system according to claim 9 or claim 10, configured to:

12. The third control means (316) when the temperature sensor means measures a temperature outside the vehicle below a predetermined temperature threshold; forwarding said signal indicating a request to perform said "snow brake" braking (305) to said first control means (301); 12. The system according to claim 9 or claim 11, configured to:

13. 1. A braking system for a vehicle, comprising: braking means (304) configured to apply "snow brake" braking to the vehicle wheels (306) or to braking organs associated with or connected to the vehicle wheels; A control system (300, 400) for "snow brake" braking of at least one vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 12, A braking system for a vehicle comprising:

14. A vehicle comprising a braking system according to claim 13.

15. 15. The vehicle of claim 14, comprising at least one rail car.

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