Compound Pneumatic Braking for Faster Heavy Vehicle Emergency Stops
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heavy vehicles experience a delay in generating brake force due to resistance/friction forces in pneumatic brake systems, which increases stopping distance and accident risk in emergency situations.
Innovation Solution
A method that proactively increases the air pressure in the service brake system and decreases the air pressure in the parking brake system when an imminent emergency braking request is detected, allowing both systems to compound their forces for quicker brake application, utilizing the faster activation of pressure decrease in parking brakes to reduce delay.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the driver presses the brake pedal to activate service brakes, then brake force is generated to reduce vehicle speed, but there is a delay before brake force starts due to air pressure buildup needed to overcome resistance and friction forces in the pneumatic system
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting when emergency braking is likely needed and proactively pre-compressing the spring brakes (second brake system) and pre-pressurizing the service brake system (first brake system) before the actual emergency braking request is made. This preliminary preparation eliminates the delay that would otherwise occur when waiting for pressure buildup, allowing immediate brake force application when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges two different brake systems with opposite activation mechanisms: spring brakes that activate when air pressure drops below a threshold, and service brakes that activate when air pressure exceeds a threshold. By combining these systems and coordinating their activation, the patent achieves immediate brake force application without the delay inherent in single-system approaches, as one system can be pre-positioned while the other provides the primary braking force.
2Reliability
If the air pressure in the service brake system is increased to overcome resistance and friction forces, then brake force generation is enabled, but the stopping distance increases due to the time delay in pressure buildup
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting when emergency braking is likely needed and proactively pre-compressing the spring brakes (second brake system) and pre-pressurizing the service brake system (first brake system) before the actual emergency braking request is made. This preliminary preparation eliminates the delay that would otherwise occur when waiting for pressure buildup, allowing immediate brake force application when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges two different brake systems with opposite activation mechanisms: spring brakes that activate when air pressure drops below a threshold, and service brakes that activate when air pressure exceeds a threshold. By combining these systems and coordinating their activation, the patent achieves immediate brake force application without the delay inherent in single-system approaches, as one system can be pre-positioned while the other provides the primary braking force.
3Power
If the brake system uses pneumatic operation with compressed air to generate brake force, then sufficient braking power is achieved for heavy vehicles, but the system complexity increases due to the need for pressure thresholds and delay compensation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges two different brake systems with opposite activation mechanisms: spring brakes that activate when air pressure drops below a threshold, and service brakes that activate when air pressure exceeds a threshold. By combining these systems and coordinating their activation, the patent achieves immediate brake force application without the delay inherent in single-system approaches, as one system can be pre-positioned while the other provides the primary braking force.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes parameter changes by operating the two brake systems with opposite pressure threshold behaviors: the spring brake system activates when pressure decreases below a threshold, while the service brake system activates when pressure increases above a threshold. This parameter-based control strategy allows the system to leverage existing pneumatic infrastructure while achieving improved response characteristics through intelligent coordination of the two systems.
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
Reduces the stopping distance and enhances safety by minimizing the delay in generating brake force, leveraging the quicker response of pressure decrease-activated parking brakes to complement pressure increase-activated service brakes.
Implementation Method 1
the brakes use compressed air to generate brake force e.g., by pushing a brake shoe against a brake drum (in case of drum brakes) and/or by pushing a brake pad against a brake rotor (in case of disc brakes). By increasing the air pressure in the brake system, more brake force is thus generated.
Implementation Method 2
the second brake system is configured to start generating brake force when an air pressure of the second brake system (instead) goes/falls below a second pressure threshold
Data Source
AI summary
A method of brake management in a heavy vehicle is provided, and includes, in response to determining that a request for emergency braking is imminent, increasing an air pressure of e.g., a service brake system of the vehicle and decreasing an air pressure of e.g., a parking brake system of the vehicle. The method further includes, in response to actually receiving the request for emergency braking of the vehicle, performing an emergency braking of the vehicle by compounding both the service and parking brake systems, including further increasing the air pressure of the service brake system and further decreasing the air pressure of the parking brake system. A corresponding brake system controller, brake system, heavy vehicle, computer program and computer program product are also provided.