Utility Vehicle Brake System Select-High Valve Redundancy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing brake systems for commercial vehicles lack robust redundant safeguards, particularly for parking brake devices, which can lead to operational reliability issues due to pressure loss during driving, and are often cumbersome and costly.

Innovation Solution

A brake system incorporating a select-high valve, spring-loaded brake cylinder, and a control valve with a bypass line, allowing for redundant pressurization via two connecting lines and venting of the second connecting line during driving, enabling quicker pressurization of the brake cylinder and reducing the need for pneumatic components, thus enhancing operational safety and reducing weight and costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional single connecting line is used for pressurizing the brake cylinder, then the system is simpler, but the reliability is reduced due to pressure loss during driving

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The single connecting line is segmented into two separate connecting lines (first connecting line 24 and second connecting line 26), each capable of independently pressurizing the brake cylinder. This segmentation provides redundant pressure supply paths, ensuring that if one line experiences pressure loss, the other can maintain braking function, thereby improving reliability without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary venting of the second connecting line during normal driving operation before a pressure loss event occurs. This preliminary action prepares the system by removing air or contaminants from the line, so that when pressure loss occurs and the second line is activated, it is already in a ready state for immediate effective pressurization, enhancing reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If pneumatic components and control lines are used in the parking brake device, then the device is more robust, but the weight and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice robustnessVSAvoidsystem weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The parking brake device is merged with the service brake system by using the same brake cylinder for both functions. The spring-loaded brake cylinder serves dual purposes: providing parking brake holding force through spring pressure and service braking through hydraulic/pneumatic pressure. This merging eliminates the need for separate pneumatic components and control lines dedicated solely to parking brake, reducing weight and costs while maintaining robustness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The brake cylinder is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a parking brake actuator and a service brake actuator. The same cylinder receives pressure from either the parking brake mechanism or the service brake system, allowing one component to perform multiple functions. This universality reduces the overall number of components needed, particularly eliminating redundant pneumatic control lines and valves

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If pneumatic components are used in the brake system, then the system is more reliable, but the assembly complexity and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges hydraulic and pneumatic functions into a single integrated brake system. The brake cylinder can be pressurized by either hydraulic fluid from the service brake system or pneumatic pressure from the parking brake system, eliminating the need for separate hydraulic and pneumatic circuits. This merging reduces the number of connections, seals, and components that need to be assembled, thereby improving ease of manufacture and assembly while maintaining reliability through redundant pressure supply paths

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 system ensures rapid and reliable pressurization of the brake cylinder in case of pressure loss, improving operational safety and reducing the complexity and weight of the braking system, while also providing cost and assembly advantages by minimizing pneumatic components.

Implementation Method 1

spring-loaded brake cylinder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

select-high valve and a spring-loaded brake cylinder, wherein the parking brake device is connected to the select-high valve with a first connecting line at a first input port

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3411275B1Brake system for a utility vehicle
Publication Date: 2020.04.08 KNORR BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHIZEUGE GMBH
  • EP3411275B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3411275B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3411275B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a brake system (10, 10', 10'') for a utility vehicle, in particular a hydraulic and/or pneumatic brake system (10, 10', 10'') for a utility vehicle, having at least one parking brake device (12, 12', 12'') and having at least one further hydraulic and/or pneumatic module (14, 14', 14''), wherein, furthermore, a select-high valve (20, 20', 20'') and a spring brake cylinder (22, 22', 22'') are provided, wherein the parking brake device (12, 12', 12'') is connected by way of a first connecting line (24, 24', 24'') at a first input connector (20a, 20a', 20a'') to the select-high valve (20, 20', 20''), wherein the hydraulic and/or pneumatic module (14, 14', 14'') can be connected by way of a second connecting line (26, 26', 26'') at a second input connector (20b, 20b', 20b'') to the select-high valve (20, 20', 20''), wherein the spring brake cylinder (22, 22', 22'') is connected by way of a third connecting line (30, 30', 30'') at an output connector (20c, 20c', 20c'') to the select-high valve (20, 20', 20''), and wherein a control valve (18, 18', 18'') is provided in the second connecting line (26, 26', 26''), by means of which control valve (18, 18', 18'') the hydraulic and/or pneumatic module (14, 14', 14'') is not connected to the select-high valve (20, 20', 20'') in a first switching state of the control valve (18, 18', 18'') and is connected to the select-high valve (20, 20', 20'') in an at least second switching state of the control valve (18, 18', 18''). Furthermore, the present invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle, having at least one brake system of this type.