Adaptive Brake Thermal Management for Commercial Vehicle Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Thermally loaded functional parts of vehicle brakes face reliability issues due to thermal stress, leading to material changes, wear, and overheating, necessitating frequent replacements and associated downtime and costs.

Innovation Solution

A method that uses sensors to read temperature and brake signals, adjusting brake requests and pressures to manage thermal loads, thereby extending the service life and reliability of brake components through computer-controlled readjustments and adaptive braking strategies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If brake components are monitored using temperature sensors and adaptive braking strategies are implemented, then operational reliability and service life of brake components are improved, but device complexity and control system requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational reliability of brake componentsVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting temperature trends and thermal errors before critical damage occurs. The control device monitors temperature signals from sensors and calculates thermal errors to predict potential overheating or material damage, allowing preventive braking adjustments to be made before actual failure occurs, thereby extending component service life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback by reading temperature signals from sensors mounted on brake components, comparing actual temperatures with expected temperatures based on braking requests, calculating thermal errors, and using this feedback to adaptively adjust braking strategies. This closed-loop control enables real-time optimization of brake reliability while managing system complexity through intelligent algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Duration of action of stationary object

If temperature monitoring and adaptive braking control are implemented, then service life of brake components is extended, but cost of system implementation and operation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice life of brake componentsVSAvoidsystem implementation cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The brake system performs self-service by using its own temperature sensors and control algorithms to monitor its thermal state and automatically adjust braking strategies to prevent self-damage. The system calculates thermal errors between actual and expected temperatures, and autonomously adapts braking requests to avoid overheating and material degradation, thereby extending its own service life without requiring external intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces purely mechanical brake wear and failure with an intelligent control system that uses temperature sensing, thermal error calculation, and adaptive braking algorithms. This substitution of mechanical durability with electronic-intelligent control allows for more precise management of brake component life, extending service life through software-based thermal management rather than relying solely on mechanical component robustness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If thermal error-based adaptive braking is used, then overheating and material damage are prevented, but brake performance and stopping power may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal damage to brake componentsVSAvoidbrake stopping power
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial adaptive braking adjustments only when thermal errors indicate potential damage risks. Instead of continuously reducing brake power, the control device selectively modifies braking requests based on calculated thermal errors, applying adaptive measures only when necessary to prevent thermal damage while maintaining full braking performance during normal operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes braking parameters based on thermal error calculations. The control device adjusts braking requests by modifying pressure, duration, or distribution of brake application based on real-time temperature feedback and thermal error analysis, allowing optimal balance between preventing thermal damage and maintaining adequate stopping power under varying operational conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach increases the operational safety and service life of brake components by preventing overheating and wear, reducing downtime and costs, and optimizing brake performance through adaptive thermal management.

Implementation Method 1

reading in a temperature signal of the at least one brake, which represents at least one temperature of the brake and/or a functional part of the brake detected by at least one sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation detection: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 2

with which temperature-dependent signals are generated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature-dependent electrical resistance: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 3

thermal stress, which results from the frictional contact of brake pads on a brake disc

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction heating: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3283342B1Method for improving relaibility of thermally loaded parts of a vehicle brake
Publication Date: 2022.01.05 KNORR BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHIZEUGE GMBH
  • EP3283342B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3283342B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3283342B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for increasing the operational safety of at least one thermally stressed functional part of at least one vehicle brake, in particular of a commercial vehicle and/or a trailer, and/or for reducing brake wear and/or drive power, wherein the method has the following steps: inputting a temperature signal of the at least one brake, which temperature signal represents at least one temperature of the brake and/or of a functional part of the brake detected by at least one sensor, and inputting a brake requirement signal and/or brake pressure signal for the at least one brake; determining a thermal error condition by using the temperature signal and the brake requirement signal and/or brake pressure signal; and providing an adapted brake requirement signal and/or adapted brake pressure signal using the determined thermal error condition in order to increase the operational safety of the at least one functional part of the at least one vehicle brake exposed to thermal stress, and/or to reduce the brake wear and/or the drive power. The invention also relates to a corresponding control device for carrying out the method.