Engine Braking Control Circuit for Vehicle Speed Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engine braking systems rely on manual operator input, which can lead to inefficiencies and increased wear on friction-based braking components, particularly when traversing steep grades, as they lack comprehensive control over vehicle speed and require operator skill and experience to manage road speed excursions effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a transmission system and an engine braking control circuit, which receives vehicle operations data and road grade data to determine the necessary braking power and engine braking power, automatically adjusting transmission settings to prevent speed excursions and optimize fuel efficiency by modifying gear ratios and engaging/disengaging engine braking as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If engine braking systems rely on manual operator input, then operator control flexibility is maintained, but vehicle speed control precision deteriorates and friction brake wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit continuously monitors vehicle speed, transmission setting, and road grade data, then automatically adjusts engine braking power to maintain precise speed control. This closed-loop feedback system eliminates the need for manual operator adjustment while maintaining speed precision within a threshold range.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically determines optimal engine braking power based on real-time sensor data and pre-stored braking characteristics, enabling the vehicle to self-regulate speed without operator intervention. The control circuit independently manages braking activation and power levels based on detected operating conditions.
2Reliability
If engine braking power is increased to prevent speed excursions on steep grades, then vehicle speed control improves, but fuel efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts engine braking power based on real-time road grade data and vehicle speed, rather than applying fixed braking levels. The control circuit modulates braking power to match actual downhill conditions, providing maximum braking only when necessary to prevent speed excursions and minimizing braking when gentle slopes allow coasting.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit changes engine operating parameters (braking power level, transmission setting) based on detected road grade and speed conditions. By adjusting these parameters dynamically according to actual needs, the system maintains reliable speed control while optimizing fuel consumption across varying operating conditions.
3Reliability
If automatic transmission adjustment is implemented to optimize engine braking power, then braking effectiveness improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit performs multiple functions using a single integrated system: it monitors vehicle speed, reads transmission settings, processes road grade data, determines optimal braking power, and controls engine braking activation. This multi-functional approach achieves effective automatic transmission adjustment without requiring separate dedicated systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit acts as an intermediary that receives data from multiple sensors (speed sensor, transmission position sensor, road grade data) and coordinates their information to make intelligent braking decisions. This intermediary processing layer simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing control logic rather than requiring direct complex interactions between multiple independent components.
4Measurement precision
If engine braking is used continuously to maintain speed threshold, then speed control precision improves, but wear on braking components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses engine braking as a consumable resource that is applied selectively rather than continuously. By deploying engine braking only when and where needed to prevent speed excursions (based on real-time condition assessment), the system maintains speed precision while minimizing the cumulative duration of braking action, thereby extending the effective lifespan of braking components.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit applies partial engine braking action only to the extent necessary to keep vehicle speed within the threshold range, rather than applying continuous maximum braking. This partial action approach achieves sufficient speed control precision while significantly reducing overall braking component wear compared to continuous full-power braking.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of substantially preventing road speed excursions while traversing a road grade includes: determining, by a controller, a predicted over speed for a vehicle during an upcoming downhill grade based on a difference between a predicted engine braking power of the vehicle and an amount of braking power that substantially prevents a speed of the vehicle from exceeding a speed threshold; and responsive to the determination, controlling, by the controller, one or more components of the vehicle to substantially prevent the vehicle from exceeding the speed threshold.