Electronic Treadle Valve for Proportional Trailer Air Brake Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional systems using pneumatic treadle valves for controlling trailer brakes with air brakes suffer from delays due to air compressibility and lack of complex pneumatic components in many towing vehicles, limiting effective proportional braking control.

Innovation Solution

An electronically controlled brake valve system that receives a proportional braking signal from the towing vehicle, processes it, and controls fluid pressure to actuate the trailer brakes, minimizing delays and enabling vehicles without pneumatic components to tow trailers with air brakes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a pneumatic treadle valve system is used to control trailer brakes, then the system can provide proportional braking control, but delays occur due to air compressibility in the signaling circuit

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproportional braking controlVSAvoidbrake actuation delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional pneumatic signaling circuit with an electronic control system. The electronic brake controller receives a proportional braking signal and sends electrical signals to the electronically controlled valve, eliminating the compressible air signaling line. This substitution of electrical signals for pneumatic signals removes the delay caused by air compressibility while maintaining proportional braking control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of the signaling medium from pneumatic (compressible gas) to electronic (electrical signal). By transforming the signaling mechanism from air pressure waves to electrical signals, the system achieves instantaneous signal transmission without the time delays inherent in pneumatic systems, while the electronically controlled valve translates these electrical signals back into pneumatic actuation for the air brakes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a traditional pneumatic treadle valve system is used, then air brakes can be controlled, but the system requires complex pneumatic components that are not present in many towing vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair brake control capabilityVSAvoidpneumatic system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex pneumatic treadle valve system with an electronically controlled valve system. The electronic controller and electronically controlled valve eliminate the need for complex pneumatic signaling circuits, pressure regulators, and treadle valves. This allows standard towing vehicles without complex pneumatic components to effectively control trailers with air brakes by using only electrical connections and a simple electronic control unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Speed

If the pneumatic signaling line is made smaller to minimize delay, then brake actuation speed improves, but the system still experiences delay due to air compressibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal transmission speedVSAvoidbrake release delay

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes electrical signaling for pneumatic signaling throughout the system. Electrical signals transmit instantaneously through the wiring harness, eliminating both the transmission delay and the release delay problems of pneumatic systems. The electronically controlled valve responds immediately to electrical signals, providing both fast brake actuation and equally fast brake release without the decompression delays inherent in pneumatic systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 near-instantaneous proportional control of trailer brakes, reducing delays and enhancing safety by allowing vehicles without complex pneumatic systems to effectively tow trailers with air brakes.

Implementation Method 1

A spring biases the inlet valve toward the closed position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Implementation Method 2

The control piston is moveable between multiple positions... The open position of the inlet valve provides fluid communication between the inlet chamber and the dispensing side

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS20250162554A1Electronic Treadle Valve

Publication Date: 2025.05.22 VALCRUM LLC

AI summary

An electrically controlled valve for electrically controlling air brakes by releasing pressurized air at a controlled rate. The electrically controlled valve is useful for connecting a trailer with air brakes to a standard electrical connector on a towing vehicle that provides a proportional braking signal. The proportional signal is sent to the electrically actuated valve and a controller within the valve process the signal. When electrically actuated valve receives the proportional braking signal from the towing vehicle representing no braking force, electrically actuated valve to produce no air pressure to the air brake. When the electrically actuated valve receives the proportional braking signal from the towing vehicle representing full braking force, the electrically actuated valve provides air to the air brakes corresponding to full braking force of the air brakes.