Brake Torque Assistance Control for Service-Brake Overheating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle service-brake systems experience overheating during prolonged hill descents or steep gradients, leading to potential failure and increased costs due to the need for larger brakes and cooling systems, which can impact ride comfort and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and control system that monitor and evaluate demand indications and operating conditions to activate and deactivate a braking-torque assistance system, reducing energy intake into the service-brake system by using regenerative braking and energy dissipation methods only when necessary, thereby preventing overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the service-brake system is dimensioned to be larger and a cooling system is provided to prevent overheating, then the reliability of the braking system is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control system activates the braking-torque assistance system in advance before the service-brake system reaches critical temperature levels. By monitoring driving conditions and predicting overheating scenarios, the system preemptively engages regenerative braking or other energy dissipation methods, preventing thermal buildup before it compromises brake reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The braking-torque assistance system utilizes the vehicle's existing electric motor as a generator during deceleration, converting kinetic energy into electrical energy that can be stored or consumed. This self-service approach allows the system to dissipate braking energy without requiring external cooling infrastructure or larger brake components.
2Use of energy by moving object
If regenerative braking is deployed to relieve load on the service-brake system, then energy efficiency is improved, but the activation conditions become more complex and may not always be available
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts the activation state of the braking-torque assistance system based on real-time evaluation of multiple demand indications and operating conditions. The system transitions between different braking modes (regenerative, friction, or combined) depending on battery charge state, vehicle speed, driver input, and thermal conditions, ensuring optimal energy efficiency while maintaining adaptability across diverse driving scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors and responds to changes in key parameters including battery charge state, vehicle speed, brake pedal position, and estimated brake temperature. By detecting parameter thresholds and transitioning between braking modes accordingly, the system maximizes regenerative braking utilization while maintaining service-brake reliability when regenerative capabilities are limited.
3Temperature
If the braking-torque assistance system is activated to reduce energy intake, then the temperature of the service-brake system is reduced, but unnecessary activation may reduce ride comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors multiple demand indications and operating conditions, including brake pedal position, vehicle deceleration rate, and estimated brake temperature, to determine the appropriate activation state. This feedback mechanism ensures the braking-torque assistance system activates only when genuine overheating risk exists, maintaining natural brake feel and ride comfort during normal operation while preventing thermal buildup in sustained downhill or high-stress scenarios.
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
Effectively prevents overheating of the service-brake system by precisely activating and deactivating the braking-torque assistance system based on driving conditions, reducing the risk of system failure and energy wastage, while maintaining ride comfort and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
regenerative braking relieving the load on the service-brake system by virtue of the electric motor acting in this situation as a generator
Implementation Method 2
the service-brake system may experience a major persistent supply of energy which, in particular, may be converted into thermal energy
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling an activation state of a braking-torque assistance system for reducing intake of braking energy in the service-brake system of a vehicle includes capturing and evaluating of a plurality of demand indications for a startup of the braking-torque assistance system. The method further includes starting a capture of a plurality of operating conditions of the service-brake system and evaluation of the captured plurality of operating conditions over a monitoring period responsive to the evaluation of the captured plurality of demand indications reveals a demand for the startup of the braking-torque assistance system, activating the braking-torque assistance system and checking for temperature precursor parameters of the braking-torque assistance system, and deactivating the braking-torque assistance system responsive to the temperature precursor parameters indicating a trend toward an overheating of the service-brake system.