Electronically Pressure-Controllable Braking System Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronically pressure-controllable braking systems for driver-controlled vehicles are not suitable for autonomously driving vehicles, as they lack redundancy, increasing construction complexity, space requirements, and costs, and do not ensure passenger safety in emergency situations without manual intervention.
Innovation Solution
A compact and cost-effective electronically pressure-controllable braking system is designed using electrohydraulically operable components with a non-return valve and configurable pressure medium units, eliminating the need for a master brake cylinder and brake pedal, and allowing for alternating control of subunits to reduce load and costs, while ensuring redundancy and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional braking systems are designed with mechanical or hydraulic fall-back level for driver intervention, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases when redundancy is required for autonomous vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical/hydraulic driver intervention system with an electronically controllable pump unit that can autonomously generate brake pressure. The pump unit is controlled by an electronic control unit that monitors system status and activates the pump when braking is required, eliminating the need for mechanical fall-back systems while maintaining full braking functionality for autonomous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronically controllable pump unit serves multiple functions: it generates brake pressure for normal operation, provides redundancy for safety-critical scenarios, and replaces both the mechanical fall-back system and the traditional master cylinder. This multi-functional component reduces overall system complexity while maintaining all necessary braking capabilities.
2Reliability
If redundant braking systems are implemented for autonomous vehicles, then reliability is improved, but construction effort and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of multiple separate systems into a single integrated pressure medium unit. The pump unit, control unit, and pressure medium management are merged into one compact assembly that provides redundant braking capability without requiring separate mechanical fall-back systems or additional space-consuming components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential redundancy function from the complex mechanical/hydraulic fall-back system and implements it through a simplified electronically controlled pump unit. This extraction removes unnecessary mechanical complexity while retaining the critical safety function of redundant braking capability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If non-return valves are installed downstream from intake valves to prevent pressure dissipation, then brake pressure stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs simple non-return valves that automatically prevent pressure dissipation from the first brake circuit through the second brake circuit without requiring active control or additional complexity. The non-return valves passively maintain pressure stability by allowing flow in only one direction, eliminating the need for complex active pressure management 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
The system provides a redundant braking solution that is compact and cost-effective, capable of operating autonomously with reduced component loads and costs, ensuring vehicle safety without manual intervention, and maintaining brake pressure stability during high-pressure conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A simple, preferably springlessly designed non-return valve, which is situated downstream from each intake valve associated with a wheel brake, prevents the generated brake pressure from a first pump associated with a first brake circuit from being able to dissipate in undesired fashion via a second intake valve of a second brake circuit
Implementation Method 2
The pressure medium unit has one electronically controllable pump unit per brake circuit and one electronically controllable valve device per connected wheel brake
Implementation Method 3
The intake valve controls an inflow of pressure medium to the associated wheel brake
Implementation Method 4
the discharge valve controls an outflow of pressure medium from the associated wheel brake
Data Source
AI summary
An electronically pressure-controllable braking system and methods for controlling an electronically pressure-controllable braking system. Each wheel brake of the braking system is connected respectively to at least two brake circuits, pump units and valve devices of one brake circuit are operable respectively independently of the pump units and the valve devices of the respective other brake circuit. This provides a cost-effectively and compactly designed redundant braking system, which is suitable for use in autonomously, i.e., driverlessly drivable, motor vehicles.