Electro-pneumatic Brake Control Device for Throttled Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electro-pneumatic brake control systems fail to safely brake and park a vehicle in the event of an electric power supply failure, leading to potential hazards due to emergency braking or premature release of the parking brake.
Innovation Solution
An electro-pneumatic brake control device that vents the spring store part of the spring brake cylinder in a throttled manner when the electric power supply fails, using an air flow boosting valve and a monostable valve to apply the parking brake slowly, ensuring safe braking and parking without endangering following traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the spring store part is vented rapidly to apply the parking brake in emergency situations, then the braking response time is improved, but the safety of following traffic deteriorates due to sudden emergency braking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the venting process adaptable and variable. The system automatically adjusts the venting rate based on the failure mode detected: in total power supply failure, it uses rapid venting for immediate safety; in partial failure scenarios, it uses throttled venting to avoid sudden braking. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between fast response and traffic safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of air flow rate during the venting process. By introducing a throttle valve, the system transforms the venting from a high-speed process to a controlled, gradual process in certain failure scenarios. This parameter change allows the parking brake to be applied safely without causing hazardous sudden braking, thus resolving the contradiction between response speed and traffic safety.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the brake pedal is used to gradually brake the vehicle in power supply failure, then the braking smoothness is improved, but the parking brake reliability deteriorates because the spring brake cylinders are repressurized when the brake pedal is released
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the parking brake application function from the brake pedal operation. Instead of relying on continuous brake pedal actuation to maintain parking brake engagement, the system uses a dedicated failure-mode response mechanism that automatically vents the spring store part independently of brake pedal position. This separation ensures that the parking brake remains reliably applied even when the brake pedal is released.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by detecting power supply failure and automatically initiating the parking brake application process without requiring driver input. The control system proactively vents the spring store part upon detecting failure conditions, ensuring the parking brake is applied before the driver can release the brake pedal, thus preventing premature release and ensuring reliable parking brake engagement.
3Reliability
If automatic emergency braking is initiated by venting the spring actuator in power supply failure, then the vehicle safety is improved, but the traffic safety deteriorates due to maximum braking action endangering following traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the braking response adaptive rather than fixed. The system dynamically selects between rapid venting (for immediate vehicle safety in critical failures) and throttled venting (for gradual braking in less critical scenarios). This dynamic response allows the system to maintain vehicle safety while avoiding hazardous sudden braking that would endanger following traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by introducing a throttle valve as a cushioning element in the air line. This throttle valve provides a buffer that controls the rate of pressure reduction in the spring store part, preventing sudden maximum braking. The cushioning effect ensures that the parking brake is applied gradually, protecting following traffic from hazardous sudden stops while still ensuring vehicle safety.
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
Enables the vehicle to be safely braked and parked even during electric power supply failures, preventing sudden or emergency braking and maintaining traffic safety by gradually applying the parking brake.
Implementation Method 1
the control pressure is automatically lowered in throttled manner. Venting of the spring brake cylinders therefore is effected by means of a valve device, which, in turn, is controlled via a control pressure
Implementation Method 2
An electrically actuated monostable valve, such as, for example, a 3/2 way solenoid valve, is connected to an electric control unit and electrically controlled by this control unit
Implementation Method 3
venting of the spring store part of the spring brake cylinder is effected slowly, so that the parking brake is applied slowly
Data Source
AI summary
An electro-pneumatic brake control device is provided for controlling the parking brake of a vehicle having compressed-air-actuated brake cylinders, at least one of which is a spring brake cylinder with a spring store part. Valve devices place the brake control device into various operating states. In a first operating state, the valve devices are at least partially supplied with current and switched such that a compressed air line to the spring store part of the spring brake cylinder is aerated. In a second state, the valve devices are at least partially supplied with current and switched such that the compressed air line is deaerated. In a third state, which can be activated in the event of failure of the electrical energy supply of the brake control device, the valve devices are switched to a currentless state such that the compressed air line is automatically deaerated in throttled manner.