Pneumatic Brake Shuttle Valve Redundancy for Pipe Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle platooning control systems do not adequately address abnormalities in pneumatic brake systems, particularly structural issues like pipe or valve device failures, leading to a need for increased redundancy to ensure safety and reliable operation in autonomous or driver-assisted vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic brake system with a safety air supplier and shuttle valve configuration that allows air to flow from a higher-pressure source to the brake mechanism, enabling redundancy and emergency braking even in case of structural abnormalities, and a dual-control system for air supply and discharge to ensure continued operation during faults.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single brake air supply circuit is used, then the system is simple, but the reliability is insufficient when structural abnormalities occur
Solution Approach 1:
The air supply system is divided into two independent circuits: a normal brake air supply circuit and a safety brake air supply circuit. Each circuit has its own air source and control mechanisms, allowing the system to segment functionality so that a failure in one circuit does not compromise the entire brake system. This segmentation directly resolves the contradiction by providing redundancy (improving reliability) while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by providing a standby safety air supply circuit that is prepared in advance to take over if the normal circuit fails. The safety air supplier and associated components are pre-configured and can immediately activate when an abnormality is detected, cushioning against the harmful effect of brake system failure and ensuring continuous operational reliability.
2Reliability
If redundancy is increased to accommodate structural abnormalities, then the safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety air supplier is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a backup air source and as an active component in the normal operation sequence. The same safety air supplier that provides redundancy can also participate in controlled braking operations, eliminating the need for completely separate dedicated backup components and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining enhanced safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary control devices such as control valves and switching mechanisms that mediate between the normal and safety circuits. These intermediaries manage the complexity by providing standardized interfaces and control logic, allowing the redundant safety system to be integrated without creating unmanageable system complexity. The intermediaries abstract the complexity of dual-circuit management.
3Speed
If a safety air supplier is added for emergency braking, then the responsiveness to abnormalities is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety air supplier is pre-charged and ready to deliver air pressure immediately when needed, without requiring activation or preparation time. The system performs preliminary action by maintaining the safety air supply in a ready state, ensuring that when an abnormality occurs, the emergency brake can respond instantly. This preliminary preparation improves responsiveness while the automated control logic manages the complexity of the additional components.
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
Enhances the redundancy and responsiveness of the pneumatic brake system, allowing for safe and reliable operation even when structural abnormalities occur, ensuring continued braking functionality and improved safety in vehicle platooning and autonomous driving scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
The shuttle valve allows a flow of air only in a direction toward the brake mechanism from one of the safety air supplier and the brake air supply circuit that has higher pressure
Data Source
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AI summary
A pneumatic brake system causes brakes to operate by supplying air to a brake mechanism provided on each wheel of a vehicle, and releases the brakes by discharging air from the brake mechanism. A safety air supply part and a shuttle valve are provided to each brake mechanism. The safety air supply part is operated by a safety brake control device in emergencies, and supplies air to the brake mechanism. The shuttle valve is connected to the safety air supply part and to a brake air supply circuit for supplying air to the brake mechanism by way of a route that is different from the safety air supply part, and the shuttle valve allows the flow of air to the brake mechanism only from the part having the higher pressure, among the safety air supply part and the brake air supply circuit.