Service Brake Valve Relay Piston Direct Switch Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing service brake valves in electro-pneumatic braking systems face challenges in compactness and mechanical flexibility, particularly in transmitting actuating movements to electrical switches, which are essential for activating redundant brake circuits, especially when the ignition is off and the vehicle is rolling downhill.
Innovation Solution
The service brake valve design includes direct actuation of the electrical switch by the relay piston, eliminating additional transmission elements and leveraging existing components within the valve housing to ensure immediate activation of the electrical brake circuit upon foot brake actuation, thereby reducing installation space and tolerances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a complex lever mechanism is used to transmit movement from the spring plate to the microswitch, then the microswitch can be actuated, but the device becomes less compact and mechanical flexibility increases (which is undesirable)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex lever mechanism from the transmission path. Instead of using intermediaries like levers and shafts, the relay piston directly actuates the electrical switch, removing unnecessary components that added complexity and space requirements while maintaining the essential function of transmitting actuation movement to the switch.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric positioning of the electrical switch relative to the relay piston, allowing direct contact between the piston rod and switch actuator. This asymmetric arrangement eliminates the need for symmetric lever mechanisms and enables more compact positioning of components within the valve housing.
2Ease of operation
If additional transmission elements are used to actuate the electrical switch, then the switch can be activated, but the installation space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the actuation function of the relay piston with the switching function of the electrical switch by positioning them in direct contact. This merging eliminates intermediate transmission elements and reduces the overall space required for the brake valve assembly, as components are integrated rather than separated by mechanical linkages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent eliminates the need for intermediary transmission elements (levers, shafts, couplings) by establishing direct contact between the relay piston rod and the electrical switch actuator. This removal of intermediaries simplifies the mechanical path and reduces the space occupied by transmission components.
3Ease of operation
If a lever mechanism with elasticity and bearing play is used, then movement transmission is achieved, but mechanical flexibility increases which is undesirable for precise actuation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the lever mechanism that introduced elasticity and bearing play from the system. By eliminating these intermediate components, the direct contact between the relay piston and electrical switch ensures more precise and consistent actuation, reducing variability in the switching point and improving overall actuation precision.
4Reliability
If the electrical switch is actuated indirectly through multiple components, then the brake circuit can be activated, but the activation is not immediate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates intermediate transmission components that caused activation delay. The direct actuation of the electrical switch by the relay piston ensures that the electrical signal is generated immediately when the brake is applied, eliminating time losses associated with mechanical play and flexibility in lever mechanisms.
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
This design enhances compactness, reduces mechanical flexibility, and ensures immediate activation of the electrical brake circuit, meeting safety requirements for redundant brake circuits without additional components, thus improving the reliability and efficiency of the braking system.
Implementation Method 1
spring means (9) for transmitting the actuating forces acting on the tappet (2) to a relay piston (10) and to at least one electrical switch (12)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a service brake valve (1) for at least one pneumatic braking circuit of a pneumatic or electro-pneumatic braking device of a vehicle, containing a service brake valve housing (4), a tappet (2) actuable by a foot brake plate, a tappet receptacle (6) with a spring plate (8), spring means (9) for transmitting the actuating forces acting on the tappet (2) to at least one relay piston (10), and at least one electric switch (12) for changing an electric signal directly after actuation of the foot brake plate. According to the invention, the electric switch (12) can be directly actuable by the relay piston (10)..