Dual Hydraulic Brake Circuits With Cut-Off Valve Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional brake systems are not sufficiently silent, and they lack redundancy to ensure safety in emergency situations.
Innovation Solution
A brake system with two hydraulic pressure suppliers and a cut-off valve that connects or separates the hydraulic circuits based on operating modes, including a normal operating mode, emergency mode, and pressure balancing mode, to ensure silent operation and redundant component functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional brake systems operate with separate hydraulic circuits and pressure suppliers, then system reliability is maintained under normal conditions, but noise levels increase and redundancy is insufficient for emergency situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the first and second hydraulic circuits through a common return line that connects both circuits to a shared reservoir. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components and connections, thereby reducing noise from multiple pressure suppliers and valves operating independently, while maintaining circuit separation during normal braking operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The common return line serves multiple functions: it acts as a return path for hydraulic fluid from both circuits during normal operation, and provides a redundancy pathway during emergency situations when one pressure supplier fails. This multi-functionality reduces overall system noise by eliminating redundant separate return lines while ensuring reliability.
2Reliability
If redundant components are added to ensure emergency operation, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines redundant functionality into the existing hydraulic circuit structure by implementing a common return line that both circuits share. Instead of adding completely separate redundant systems, the invention integrates emergency pathway functionality into the return line architecture, reducing complexity while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The common return line acts as an intermediary element that enables redundancy without requiring additional complex components. During emergency conditions, this intermediary pathway allows hydraulic fluid to return to the reservoir through an alternative route, enabling the system to maintain operation with reduced complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If separate hydraulic circuits are used for each wheel brake, then braking precision is maintained, but the number of components increases leading to more potential failure points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the return pathways of separate hydraulic circuits into a common return line. This allows the system to maintain separate pressure supply circuits for precise braking control while consolidating the return path to reduce the total number of components and potential failure points.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic system is segmented into separate pressure supply circuits for precision control, while the return path is consolidated. This segmentation strategy maintains braking precision through independent pressure control while reducing overall complexity by combining common return functionality.
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
The brake system achieves reduced noise levels and enhanced safety by providing redundant components that can take over in case of failures, ensuring reliable operation in various modes.
Implementation Method 1
a first hydraulic pressure supplier including an actuator for pressurizing the first hydraulic circuit in a normal operating mode, a second hydraulic pressure supplier including an actuator for pressurizing the second hydraulic circuit in the normal operating mode
Implementation Method 2
the cut-off valve is a solenoid valve
Data Source
AI summary
Brake system (1) for a vehicle is provided, comprising a first hydraulic circuit (10) including a first wheel brake (11), a second hydraulic circuit (20) including a second wheel brake (21), a first hydraulic pressure supplier (12) including an actuator for pressurizing the first hydraulic circuit (10) in a normal operating mode, a second hydraulic pressure supplier (22) including an actuator for pressurizing the second hydraulic circuit (20) in the normal operating mode, a cut-off valve (30) hydraulically connecting the first and second hydraulic circuits (10, 20), a first control unit (14) for controlling the cut-off valve (30) and activating the first hydraulic pressure supplier (12) and the second hydraulic pressure supplier (22) depending on a brake request, and a second control unit (24) for controlling the cut-off valve (30) and activating the first hydraulic pressure supplier (12) and the second hydraulic pressure supplier (22) depending on a brake request.