Brake Actuator Pressure Control for Anti-Compounding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional brake actuators face excessive force compounding issues, leading to reduced component life, particularly in vehicles without anti-compounding valves, which add expense and weight.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that control compounding forces in brake actuators using existing vehicle fluid system components, including first and second valves and a controller to adjust fluid pressures in the parking and service brake chambers, eliminating the need for a special anti-compounding valve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If an anti-compounding valve is used to prevent compounding forces, then component life is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the anti-compounding function from a separate dedicated valve and integrates it into the existing brake control system using the service brake valve and parking brake valve. The controller manages fluid pressure distribution to prevent compounding forces without requiring a separate anti-compounding valve, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining component life protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing service brake valve and parking brake valve are made multi-functional by enabling them to perform both their traditional brake control functions and the additional function of preventing compounding forces. The controller coordinates these valves to regulate fluid pressure in both chambers, eliminating the need for a dedicated anti-compounding valve and reducing overall system complexity.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If an anti-compounding valve is used to control compounding forces, then component life is improved, but vehicle weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for a separate anti-compounding valve by extracting its compounding prevention function and implementing it through the existing brake control valves. This elimination of redundant hardware directly reduces vehicle weight while maintaining the ability to protect brake actuator components from excessive compounding forces.
3Ease of operation
If separate fluid supply lines are used for parking brake and service brake, then braking independence is improved, but compounding control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The controller implements feedback control by monitoring the positions of the service brake valve and parking brake valve, along with fluid pressure information, to determine when compounding conditions exist. Based on this feedback, the controller automatically coordinates the valves to regulate fluid pressure and prevent excessive compounding forces, simplifying compounding control while maintaining braking independence.
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 allows for precise and rapid control of compounding forces, preserving brake actuator and downstream component life without the added expense and weight of an anti-compounding valve, enabling adjustment for various vehicle operating conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a first valve configured to control a first fluid pressure in a parking brake chamber of a brake actuator that acts against a spring force
Implementation Method 2
a second valve configured to control a second fluid pressure in a service brake chamber of the brake actuator that applies a fluid force to the pushrod
Implementation Method 3
The controller is further configured to control, responsive to the total brake actuator force, at least one of the first valve and the second valve to adjust a corresponding one of the first fluid pressure and the second fluid pressure
Data Source
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AI summary
A system (66) for controlling compounding in a vehicle brake actuator (10) includes first and second valves (114 or 120, 102 or 104) configured to control, respectively, a first fluid pressure in a parking brake chamber (28) of a brake actuator (10) that acts against a spring force applied by a spring (24) of the actuator (10) to a pushrod (16) of the actuator (10) and a second fluid pressure in a service brake chamber (26) of the actuator (10) that applies a fluid force to the pushrod (16). A controller (84) is configured to receive first and second fluid pressure signals indicative of the first and second fluid pressures, determine a total brake actuator force applied to the pushrod (16) responsive to the first and second fluid pressure signals and control at least one of the first and second valves (114 or 120, 102 or 104) responsive to the total brake actuator force to adjust a corresponding one of the first and second fluid pressures and thereby obtain an adjusted total brake actuator force.