Modular braking system

Abstract

Provided is a modular braking apparatus (1) suitable for installation in a modular vehicle system (2), the system (2) comprising at least two vehicles (21, 22) removably connectable to one another, the vehicles (21, 22) forming a rigid train with no relative rotation between them when connected to form the system (2), each of the vehicles (21, 22) having a braking system (3) that can be activated by a user-accessible control means (4), each of the vehicles (21, 22) having means (41) for connecting the control means (4) to a transmission bar (42) of the brake control, the transmission bar (42) extending the length of the vehicles (21, 22), the bar (42) of each of the vehicles (21, 22) being connected when the vehicles (21, 22) are connected to form the modular vehicle system (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0006]

[0001] The present invention relates to a modular braking device adapted to be installed in a modular vehicle system of the type specified in the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Systems are known which are suitable for transmitting brake commands to a series of vehicles which are not rigidly but articulately connected to one another, and which are thus capable of relative rotation between the vehicles of the train.

[0003] Pneumatic and / or inertial braking systems in vehicles towing trailers, or combinations of such systems, are actually known.

[0004] They have connections which can be mechanical, pneumatic, etc.

[0005] The known art described has several significant drawbacks.

[0006] For example, pneumatic and / or inertial braking systems typical of vehicles towing trailers are not suitable for a train of vehicles rigidly connected to one another, and moreover they do not allow the successive connection of two or more trailers.

[0007] In particular, pneumatic systems are very complex and expensive and are not suitable for connected vehicles with their own independent braking systems, such as, for example, two independent vehicles connected to form a modular vehicle system.

[0008] In this context, the technical problem underlying the present invention is to devise a modular braking device which can substantially eliminate at least some of the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[0009] Within the scope of the above technical problem, an important object of the present invention is to obtain a "plug and play" type of device which operates to connect two vehicles without the need for an operator.

[0010] Another important object of the present invention is to provide modular devices that reside on a vehicle and can be securely connected to one another in a modular vehicle system.

[0011] Another important objective of the present invention is to provide a fully mechanical device that eliminates delays in the transmission of brake commands between different vehicles.

[0012] In addition, an important objective of the present invention is to provide a highly safe device in the event of a malfunction in a vehicle's servo-assisted braking system.

[0013] Finally, an important objective of the present invention is to provide a device that can connect multiple vehicle brake systems and transmit commands to them.

[0014] The technical challenges and specified objectives are achieved by a modular braking system adapted to be installed on the modular vehicle system described in appended claim 1.

[0015] Preferred technical solutions are highlighted in the dependent claims.

[0016] The features and advantages of the present invention will be revealed below by a detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a modular braking system installed on two modules of a modular vehicle system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] In this document, when measurements, values, shapes, and geometric references (e.g., perpendicularity and parallelism) are associated with words such as “approximately” or other similar terms such as “roughly” or “substantially,” measurement errors or inaccuracies due to production and / or manufacturing tolerances should be considered to exclude, in particular, slight deviations from the associated value, measurement, shape, or geometric reference. For example, when these terms are associated with a value, preferably they indicate a deviation of 10% or less of the value.

[0019] Furthermore, when used, terms such as "first," "second," "higher," "lower," "principal," and "secondary" do not necessarily specify priority in order, relationship, or relative position, but can simply be used to clearly distinguish their different components.

[0020] Unless otherwise stated, as a result of the following descriptions, terms such as “processing,” “calculating,” “confirming,” “calculating,” or similar terms refer to the operations and / or work of a computer or similar electronic computing device that manipulates and / or transforms data, which is represented as physical quantities such as the amount of electrons in the registers and / or memory of a computer system, into other data, which is similarly represented as physical quantities in the computer system, registers, or other storage, transmission, or information display devices.

[0021] Unless otherwise noted, the measurements and data reported in this text should be assumed to have been performed in accordance with the International Standard Atmosphere (ICAO) (ISO 2533:1975).

[0022] Referring to the figure, the modular brake device according to the present invention is shown as a whole by reference numeral 1.

[0023] The modular brake system 1 is preferably adapted to be installed on a modular vehicle system 2.

[0024] The above modular vehicle system 2 has at least two vehicles 21, 22 as shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0025] As will become apparent below, the device 1 is suitable for being installed on a system 2 of modular vehicles including a plurality of vehicles. In fact, the same modular device 1 exists on each vehicle suitable for constituting the system 2.

[0026] The above vehicles 21, 22 are removably connectable to each other. When they are connected, they form a rigid row without relative rotation between the above vehicles 21, 22. Therefore, the above vehicles 21, 22 form a rigid row without relative rotation in the horizontal plane, the lateral direction plane, and the vertical plane. The structural connection between the above vehicles 21, 22 can be carried out according to any system that enables the formation of a rigid row. The connection forming the above rigid row should also be understood as a non-articulated connection between the above vehicles 21 and 22 forming the above system 2 as described above.

[0027] Each of the above vehicles 21, 22 preferably has a braking system 3 that can be activated by control means 4 accessible to the user. These can be manual, assisted, remote, or automatic, etc. The braking system 3 can be, for example, any braking system of known technology. The braking system 3 is preferably a hydraulic system servo-assisted by a pneumatic vacuum servo.

[0028] The above control unit 4 can consist of a pedal or any other element capable of transmitting a braking command by moving at least a part of the components of the control unit 4. The above control unit 4 can be operated by a physical user or by an automatic system, for example, a remote control and / or a guidance system. Also, the above control unit 4 accessible to the user preferably includes at least the control units of the service brakes of the vehicles 21, 22.

[0029] According to the invention, the device 1 preferably comprises, in each of the vehicles 21, 22, connecting means 41 for connecting the command 4 to the transmission bar 42 of the brake command. The connecting means 41 in this document means a preferably mechanical system capable of transmitting the movement caused by the brake command.

[0030] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the connecting means 41 includes a mechanical lever device 411.

[0031] According to the invention, the transmission bar 42 preferably extends over the length of the vehicles 21, 22.

[0032] Also, when the vehicles 21, 22 are connected so as to form the system 2 of modular vehicles, the bars 42 of the vehicles 21, 22 are preferably connected. Thus, generally, each brake system 3 of the prior art has a position return system for returning the system 3 and the bars 42 connected thereto and to each other to the non-brake position. Therefore, by the connection or contact of the bar 42, by mechanical movement at least in a single direction, or rather, by pushing in the direction that enables the transmission of the brake command from the leading vehicle to the following vehicle or vice versa, the transmission of the brake command from one vehicle 21 to the other vehicle 22 or vice versa becomes possible. The strong assembly formed by the connection of the bar 42 enables the operation of the brake system 3 of each vehicle of the modular vehicle system 2 through the movement of the connecting means 41, the control unit 4, and finally the actuator of the brake system 3.

[0033] Also, according to the invention, at the distal end of the transmission rod 42, joining means 421 are preferably provided for joining the transmission bar 42 together, including in particular magnetic coupling, mechanical, pneumatic, and / or electronic action of the brake command. Finally, in an alternative embodiment or in combination with what has been described, the brake system 3, the connecting means 41, and the transmission bar 42 of the brake control are preferably a servo assist system.

[0034] From a structural standpoint, the operation of the aforementioned device 1 is as follows:

[0035] In its simplest embodiment, shown in Figure 1, the service brake pedal 4 is connected to a lever 41 that pushes in parallel both the cylinder of the vehicle's brake system 3 or any other actuation system, which is parallel to a bar 42 that extends to the rear and front ends of the vehicles. Due to the moment of the strong connection of another vehicle, the rear of the bar 42 of the leading vehicle contacts the front of the bar 42 of the following vehicle, which further pushes the cylinder of the brake system 3 of the rear vehicle. In this way, the bar 42 places the brake systems 3 of all connected vehicles in series, forming a modular system 2. Thus, when the driver in the leading vehicle, or an equivalent remote or unmanned driving system, presses the brake pedal, the brake cylinder of the rear-connected vehicle is also pushed in a completely mechanical manner.

[0036] The apparatus 1 according to the present invention achieves significant advantages.

[0037] In fact, this solution has the advantage of not requiring complex connection systems, such as inertial or electro-pneumatic systems, between one vehicle and another, and therefore its construction and maintenance costs are far lower than existing solutions.

[0038] Furthermore, when the vehicles are tightly coupled, the modular brake system 1 automatically engages with a further modular brake system 1 of another vehicle because the bar 42 contacts that of the rear vehicle.

[0039] In addition, an advantage is that, unlike known technology systems, such as trailer brake systems based on pneumatic circuits, the mechanical bar 42 is rigid and incompressible, thus eliminating delays in the transmission of brake commands.

[0040] A further advantage of the device 1 according to the present invention is that, since the force generated on the bar 42 is always the sum of the contributions of the brake servo assist systems of all connected units, if the servo assist in one of the connected means fails, the modular vehicle system 2 will maintain a safely braked state by applying a relatively small force to the pedal or control unit 4.

[0041] Finally, in terms of regulatory and certification levels, this system is not configured as a “brake-by-wire” system or a trailer braking system, as each vehicle can be configured as an independent unit with a robust coupling and its own traction, steering, brakes, and energy source. The resulting vehicle, called Modular Vehicle System 2, is configured as a single, longer vehicle rather than a towing vehicle and trailer combination. In this embodiment, the system meets the ECE13 braking system standard as type M1 / N1 when there is one vehicle, and as M2 / M3 / N2 when there are two or more vehicles.

[0042] This invention is subject to modifications that fall within the scope of the inventive concept as defined by the claims.

[0043] In this context, all details can be replaced by uniform elements, and the material, shape, and dimensions can be arbitrary.

Claims

1. A modular brake system that can be installed in a system of modular vehicles, the system comprising at least two vehicles that are detachably connected to one another, the at least two vehicles forming a row with no relative rotation between them when connected to form the system, and each of the at least two vehicles having at least one brake system that can be activated for user-accessible control means, the at least two vehicles having means for connecting the control means to a brake control transmission bar, the transmission bar extending over the length of the vehicle, and the transmission bars of the at least two vehicles being connected to each other when the at least two vehicles are connected to form the system of the modular vehicle.

2. The modular brake device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means has a lever mechanism.

3. The modular braking device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control means accessible to the user has at least the normal brake control of the vehicle.

4. The modular brake device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the brake system, the connecting means, and the transmission bar for brake control are a servo assist system.

5. The modular brake device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the distal end of the transmission bar is provided with a joint means having a magnetic, mechanical, pneumatic, and / or electrical joint suitable for connecting thereto, which is called a transmission bar.

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