Vehicle Brake Control for Selective Friction Brake Self-Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle brake systems with regenerative and friction brakes face issues such as corrosion, reduced braking effectiveness, and inefficient energy recovery due to frequent activation of friction brakes under unfavorable conditions, leading to increased wear and fuel consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method and brake system that utilize a defined switching pattern to selectively activate a self-cleaning operating mode for the friction brake based on its state, suppressing unnecessary activation and optimizing the distribution of deceleration torque between friction and regenerative brakes to enhance energy recovery and reduce wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the friction brake is activated frequently to prevent corrosion and maintain braking effectiveness, then the braking reliability is improved, but the wear of the friction brake increases and energy consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the operating parameters of the friction brake by using state information (such as brake pad thickness, temperature, and usage history) to determine whether activation is necessary. This allows the system to adjust the activation pattern from fixed to adaptive, reducing unnecessary wear while maintaining braking effectiveness when actually needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit receives state information from sensors monitoring the friction brake condition and uses this feedback to make intelligent decisions about activation. The system continuously monitors brake pad wear, temperature, and other parameters, then adjusts the self-cleaning activation pattern based on actual brake state, preventing both excessive wear and inadequate maintenance.
2Reliability
If the friction brake is activated according to a strict predetermined pattern to ensure cleaning, then the braking effectiveness is maintained, but the fuel consumption increases and regenerative braking efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static, predetermined activation pattern to a dynamic pattern that adapts to real-time brake state and driving conditions. The control unit continuously evaluates whether friction brake activation is necessary based on current state information, allowing the system to optimize the balance between maintaining braking effectiveness and minimizing energy consumption by reducing unnecessary activations.
Solution Approach 2:
The activation pattern parameters are changed from fixed time-based intervals to condition-based triggers. The system monitors brake pad state, temperature, and usage patterns, then adjusts activation timing and duration accordingly, enabling the friction brake to be activated only when genuinely necessary for maintenance or performance reasons.
3Reliability
If the friction brake is activated regularly for self-cleaning, then corrosion is prevented, but the number of activations exceeds what is actually necessary under favorable boundary conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The friction brake system performs self-diagnosis through state monitoring and activates self-cleaning only when actually needed rather than following a mandatory schedule. The control unit evaluates brake pad condition, environmental factors, and usage patterns to determine whether self-cleaning is necessary, allowing the system to serve itself intelligently without unnecessary interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary assessment of brake state before deciding on activation. By continuously monitoring brake pad thickness, temperature, and usage history, the system prepares state information in advance that enables proactive but selective activation decisions, preventing both premature and delayed activation.
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 improves energy efficiency and reduces friction brake wear by selectively activating the self-cleaning mode only when necessary, ensuring optimal operation and minimizing unnecessary friction brake usage.
Implementation Method 1
by operation of the electric drive as a generator (regenerative brake), the kinetic energy of the vehicle is converted at least partially into electrical energy
Implementation Method 2
By actuation of the friction brake system (friction brake, e.g. disk or drum brakes), on the other hand, the kinetic energy is converted into thermal energy on account of friction between corresponding friction partners
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a vehicle brake system, wherein the brake system has at least one friction brake and at least one regenerative brake. A defined switching pattern is specified for switching between a self-cleaning operating mode for cleaning the friction brake and a normal operating mode of the brake system. The method includes determining information describing the state of the at least one friction brake, determining the state of the at least one friction brake from the information, determining whether the state satisfies a specific switching criterion, and, if the self-cleaning operating mode is to be activated according to the switching pattern and the state of the friction brake does not satisfy the switching criterion, suppressing activation of the self-cleaning operating mode and maintaining the normal operating mode.