Combination Vehicle Brake Control for Jackknife Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Combination vehicles coupled in a line face challenges in braking, particularly the jackknife phenomenon, where the vehicle bends at the coupler during braking, which existing solutions attempt to mitigate by fixing the coupler, leading to complex structures.
Innovation Solution
A brake system with multiple brake devices and a controller that optimizes braking force magnitude and timing across vehicles based on loaded weight, employing deceleration adjusting control and braking-force generation-timing adjusting control to prevent jackknife phenomena without fixing the coupler.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the coupler is fixed to prevent jackknife phenomenon, then the vehicle stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the control parameters of the braking system by implementing individualized braking force control for each vehicle based on its loaded weight. The controller adjusts the magnitude and timing of braking forces applied to each vehicle, transforming the problem from a mechanical structural fix to a controllable parameter-based solution that prevents jackknife phenomenon without fixing the coupler.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical coupling fixation approach with an electronic control system. Instead of mechanically fixing the coupler to prevent bending, the system uses a controller that communicates with individual brake devices on each vehicle to coordinate braking forces, substituting a mechanical structural solution with an electronic control-based solution.
2Device complexity
If braking force is applied uniformly to all vehicles, then the braking system simplicity is maintained, but the jackknife phenomenon occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing differentiated braking control for each vehicle based on its specific loaded weight. Instead of uniform braking across all vehicles, each vehicle receives customized braking force commands from the controller, with heavier vehicles receiving proportionally higher braking forces. This localized adaptation of braking parameters prevents jackknife phenomenon while maintaining system simplicity.
3Reliability
If deceleration of rearward vehicles is made not lower than frontward vehicles, then the jackknife phenomenon is prevented, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the controller pre-calculate and distribute appropriate braking force commands to each vehicle before braking occurs. The controller receives information about loaded weights of individual vehicles and pre-determines the braking force magnitude and timing for each vehicle, ensuring that rearward vehicles achieve sufficient deceleration to prevent jackknife phenomenon without requiring complex real-time coordination during braking.
Data Source
AI summary
A brake system for a combination vehicle in which a plurality of vehicles are coupled in a line, including: a plurality of brake devices respectively provided for the plurality of vehicles; and a controller configured to control the plurality of brake devices, wherein the controller is configured to control a braking force applied to each of the plurality of vehicles based on a loaded weight or a weight of each of the plurality of vehicles.