Brake Modulator Manual Actuation for Work Vehicle Parking Brakes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional parking brake systems for work vehicles face challenges such as mounting difficulties and unintended engagement due to electric actuators, and hydraulic actuators result in immediate and irreversible engagement, causing damage and safety issues.
Innovation Solution
A brake modulator system that includes a housing with a fluid chamber and auxiliary chamber, a piston movable between two positions, and a biasing element, allowing for manual actuation to selectively engage and disengage the parking brake, enabling gradual modulation and emergency braking without the need for complex computer logic or independent hydraulic pumps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electric actuators are used to engage and disengage parking brakes, then the parking brake can be controlled remotely, but mounting challenges arise and complex computer logic is required which may lead to unintended engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electric actuators with a purely mechanical linkage system. The operator directly manipulates a lever that mechanically connects to the parking brake mechanism, eliminating the need for electric actuators, computer logic, and complex mounting arrangements. This mechanical substitution resolves the contradiction by simplifying the system while maintaining remote control capability through direct mechanical operation.
2Reliability
If hydraulic actuators are used for parking brake engagement, then automatic emergency brake functionality is achieved, but the engagement becomes immediate and irreversible causing damage and safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a lever mechanism with variable mechanical advantage that allows dynamic control of brake engagement. The operator can gradually move the lever from a disengaged position to an engaged position, providing progressive brake application rather than immediate engagement. This dynamic control eliminates the harmful effect of sudden deceleration while maintaining automatic emergency brake functionality through the mechanical linkage's inherent fail-safe design.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical linkage system is designed with inherent fail-safe features where the parking brake engages automatically if the linkage is disrupted or if hydraulic pressure is lost. This preliminary action ensures that the emergency brake function is already built into the mechanical structure, providing reliable automatic engagement without the need for complex hydraulic control systems that cause immediate and irreversible braking.
3Reliability
If hydraulic fluid pressure is lost in the brake actuator, then automatic emergency brake engagement occurs, but the brake cannot be disengaged without repair or independent pump
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical linkage system is designed to be self-service in normal operation, allowing the operator to easily disengage the parking brake by simply moving the lever back to the disengaged position. The mechanical design ensures that the linkage returns to its neutral position when hydraulic pressure is restored, automatically disengaging the brake without requiring repair or external pumping. This self-service capability resolves the contradiction by maintaining ease of operation while preserving automatic emergency brake engagement through the mechanical fail-safe design.
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 brake modulator system provides safe and controlled engagement and disengagement of the parking brake, preventing damage and injury by allowing for selective modulation during braking events and emergency situations, improving the reliability and safety of work vehicle transmissions.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing element providing a biasing force on the piston towards the first position
Implementation Method 2
a piston of a hydraulic actuator is moved linearly due to selective increases and decreases in hydraulic fluid within a housing of the hydraulic actuator
Data Source
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AI summary
A brake modulator for a parking brake system of a work vehicle is provided. A brake modulator includes a housing defining a fluid chamber, an auxiliary chamber, a fluid inlet channel, and a fluid outlet channel. The brake modulator further includes a piston disposed within the housing between the fluid chamber and the auxiliary chamber. The piston is movable between a first position wherein the fluid chamber has a first volume and a second position wherein the fluid chamber has a second volume greater than the first volume. The brake modulator further includes a biasing element providing a biasing force on the piston towards the first position, a rod extending between a first end disposed within the housing and a second end disposed exterior to the housing, and a handle connected to the second end of the rod. The rod is manually actuatable to move the piston between the first and second positions.