Auxiliary Ride-Height Control for EBS Failure in Commercial Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle suspension systems, particularly in commercial vehicles like HGVs, face challenges in maintaining optimal ride height due to failures in Electronic Braking Systems (EBS), which can lead to safety issues such as bridge strikes and compromised handling, especially when EBS signals are absent or faulty.
Innovation Solution
An auxiliary control system that automatically adjusts suspension ride height using a separate brake light signal, independent of the EBS signal, ensuring continuous operation and safety even in the event of EBS failure, by activating a suspension ride-height control valve based on inputs from the brake pedal or timer settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If an Electronic Braking System (EBS) is used to control suspension ride-height, then the response time and braking performance are improved, but the system reliability deteriorates when EBS fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a backup control system that is pre-configured to take over when the EBS fails. This backup system uses alternative signal sources (brake light switch, timer) to maintain suspension control functionality, cushioning against the reliability loss from EBS failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary backup control mechanism that mediates between the primary EBS and the suspension control valve. When EBS signals are unavailable, the intermediary system uses alternative inputs (brake light switch, timer circuit) to activate the suspension control, ensuring continuous operation.
2Measurement precision
If a primary control system dependent on EBS is used, then the braking control precision is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates when EBS signals are absent
Solution Approach 1:
The backup control system operates autonomously using alternative signal sources. When EBS is unavailable, the system self-activates through the brake light switch or timer circuit without requiring manual intervention, maintaining ease of operation despite the loss of precise EBS control signals.
3Reliability
If EBS is made mandatory for safety, then the safety performance is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional connectors and systems
Solution Approach 1:
The backup control system uses multi-functional signal sources. The brake light switch and timer circuit serve dual purposes: normal braking indication and suspension control activation. This universality reduces the need for dedicated additional components, mitigating the complexity increase from making EBS mandatory.
Data Source
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AI summary
A commercial vehicle control system 30 for controlling a suspension ride-height, the control system 30 has an auxiliary control system 40 for controlling the suspension ride-height. The auxiliary control system 40 is additional to a primary control system 23 for automatically controlling the suspension ride-height. The primary control system 23 is a suspension ride-height control system operable in dependence on an Electronic Braking System (EBS) signal. The auxiliary control system 40 is an automatic suspension ride-height control system operable in dependence on an auxiliary signal from an alternative source other than the Electronic Braking System (EBS).