Braking System Leak Detection at Low Pressure

Solution Overview

Problem

Diagnostic cycles in safety-relevant systems, such as braking systems, often subject components to excessive loading and pressure, leading to increased wear and failure rates, particularly due to the need for frequent high-pressure checks to detect incipient failures like leaking seals.

Innovation Solution

A diagnostic method that performs individual or combined tests at low pressures, specifically after braking maneuvers when the system pressure is low, reducing the stress on components and extending the time between diagnostic cycles, thereby minimizing the probability of failure and wear on seals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If diagnostic cycles are performed frequently at high pressure to detect incipient failures, then the reliability of the braking system is improved, but the wear on seals and components increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection of incipient failuresVSAvoidwear on seals

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the pressure parameter from high to low during diagnostic cycles. Instead of performing diagnostics at high braking pressure, the system performs leak detection at low pressure conditions (e.g., when the vehicle is stationary or during specific braking phases), thereby detecting incipient failures without subjecting seals to excessive stress and wear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If additional components are added to perform diagnostic checks, then the detection capability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic capabilityVSAvoidadditional components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The braking system performs self-diagnosis using existing components. The control unit monitors pressure changes in the braking circuits using the existing pressure medium and system components, eliminating the need for additional diagnostic hardware. The system uses its own operational data to detect leaks and incipient failures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If diagnostic tests are performed at high pressure, then the leak detection sensitivity is improved, but the loading on components increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleak detection sensitivityVSAvoidloading on components

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the pressure parameter from high to low during diagnostic cycles. Instead of performing diagnostics at high braking pressure, the system performs leak detection at low pressure conditions (e.g., when the vehicle is stationary or during specific braking phases), thereby detecting incipient failures without subjecting seals to excessive stress and wear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10059321B2Diagnostic method for a braking system

Publication Date: 2018.08.28 IPGATE

AI summary

A diagnostic method may determine the leak-tightness of at least one seal and/or one valve function in a braking system with at least two brake circuits, following completion of a braking action. The diagnostic method may be carried out at a pressure still present after the braking action in one or both braking circuits and/or in hydraulic line or a working chamber of a piston-cylinder system or at a lower pressure, or it may be carried out at a pressure of at most 30 bar.