Hydraulic Brake Assist with Compensation Volume Pressure Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic brake systems for vehicles, such as electric bikes and light electric vehicles, face compatibility issues with conventional brakes due to limited storage chamber size, leading to insufficient braking pressure reduction and power demands that increase with hand pressure variations, and potential air intake during actuator malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A brake assistance device with a sensor-actuated first piston and a compensation volume driven by a pretensioning element, featuring a 2/2-way valve and an actuator that modulates brake pressure, includes a check valve to prevent air intake and ensures regulatory minimum delay through spring pretensioning, and a separable connection to prevent piston displacement during actuator failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a storage chamber is used in the brake system, then braking pressure reduction is achieved, but the storage chamber size is limited by regulatory minimum delay, leading to incompatibility with conventional brakes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the storage chamber from the brake system and replaces it with a compensation volume that has sufficiently large volume to accommodate all brake fluid from the brake lever. This extraction of the storage chamber eliminates the volume limitation while maintaining the ability to achieve regulatory minimum delay through the compensation volume's capacity to hold excess fluid.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a bypass as an intermediary element that directs brake fluid from the brake lever directly to the brake caliper, bypassing the need for a storage chamber. This intermediary pathway enables compatibility with conventional brakes by providing an alternative fluid route that doesn't depend on storage chamber volume.
2Reliability
If the storage chamber is made larger to ensure sufficient braking pressure reduction, then ABS functionality is improved, but the brake lever displacement volume is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the volume contradiction by transitioning from a storage chamber dimension to a compensation volume dimension that is sufficiently large. The compensation volume is designed to accommodate all brake fluid from the brake lever, effectively using the available displacement volume in a different dimensional configuration that doesn't conflict with brake lever travel limits.
3Reliability
If an electric motor is used to displace the piston against hand pressure, then brake pressure modulation is achieved, but power demand increases significantly with higher hand pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for an electric motor to counteract hand pressure by using a spring-supported piston that automatically responds to pressure differences between chambers. The spring mechanism provides the necessary force to displace the piston based on pressure differential alone, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the power demand associated with motor-driven pressure compensation.
4Reliability
If a blocking of the wheel is detected, then wheel protection is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements wheel blocking protection through a sensor that detects wheel rotation and automatically actuates the 2/2-way valve to open the bypass when blocking is detected. This self-actuating mechanism eliminates the need for complex control systems, microprocessors, or additional actuators, achieving wheel protection through a simple sensor-valve linkage that responds automatically to detected conditions.
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
The solution ensures consistent braking pressure and compatibility with conventional brakes, reduces power consumption, and prevents air intake during malfunctions, maintaining system functionality and simplifying design.
Implementation Method 1
The pretensioning element is designed to apply a pressure to the second piston (6) and thus to a hydraulic fluid of the brake system
Implementation Method 2
The first piston (4) acts on a first line section (16) of the hydraulic brake system... The first piston (4) is hydraulically coupled to the brake piston (9)
Implementation Method 3
The actuator (11) is coupled to the second piston (6) via a selectively separable connection (15)... prevents air intake during malfunctions
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle is driven by muscle power and/or an electric motor and includes a brake assistance device for a hydraulic brake system. The brake assistance device has a sensor with a first piston, a compensation volume with a second piston and a pretensioning element, a 2/2-way valve, a brake piston, and an actuator. The pretensioning element is configured to exert a pressure onto the second piston and thus onto a hydraulic fluid of the hydraulic brake system. The actuator is configured to move the second piston selectively in a first direction or in a second direction oriented opposite the first direction.