Brake System for Leaning Vehicle with Dynamic Wheel Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional brake systems for vehicles with a leaning body frame and two front wheels, and a single rear wheel are inefficient in distributing braking forces, leading to uneven load distribution and inadequate control during turning, particularly affecting the inner and outer wheels with different turning radii.
Innovation Solution
A brake system that activates the central rear brake first, followed by either the right or left front brake based on the operation amount, with the right front brake engaging when the operation amount exceeds a certain threshold, and the left front brake engaging when the operation amount reaches a maximum, dividing the operation range into low, middle, and high braking force areas to optimize braking force distribution across the wheels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional brake systems activate all brakes simultaneously or in fixed sequence, then the braking system is simple to control, but the braking force distribution becomes uneven and ineffective during turning
Solution Approach 1:
The brake system dynamically adjusts which brakes are activated and their activation timing based on real-time operating conditions (turning detection and operation amount). The control unit switches between different brake activation patterns: during turning, it activates only the outer front brake or inner front brake depending on operation amount, while during straight travel it activates both front brakes. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the control system intelligent rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the activation parameters of different brakes based on detected operating conditions. When turning is detected, the control unit modifies which brakes are activated (changing from both front brakes to selective front brake activation) and adjusts activation timing based on operation amount thresholds. This parameter change enables effective braking force distribution during turning while maintaining simple rider input.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the brake system activates the central rear brake first with low operation amount, then small braking forces are reduced, but the overall braking efficiency decreases for normal stopping
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit applies partial action by selectively activating only the necessary brake based on operating conditions. During turning with low operation amount, it activates only the central rear brake to eliminate small braking forces on front wheels. During normal stopping without turning, it activates both front brakes for maximum braking efficiency. This partial activation strategy resolves the contradiction by applying the right level of braking force to the right wheels based on actual needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses different brake activation patterns copied from different operating scenarios. For turning conditions, it copies the pattern of activating only the central rear brake or selective front brake. For normal stopping, it copies the pattern of activating both front brakes. This conditional copying enables the system to optimize for each specific scenario, reducing small braking forces during turns while maintaining high efficiency during normal stops.
3Device complexity
If the brake system uses fixed activation thresholds for front brakes, then the control logic is simple, but it cannot adapt to different turning conditions and operation amounts
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit implements dynamic threshold adjustment based on turning detection and operation amount. When turning is detected and operation amount exceeds the second threshold, it activates the inner front brake. When operation amount is below the second threshold, it activates the outer front brake. This dynamic threshold application enables adaptation to different turning conditions while maintaining relatively simple control logic through clear conditional rules.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes activation parameters (which brake to activate, when to activate it) based on detected operating conditions. The control unit monitors turning status and operation amount, then changes the activation pattern accordingly: during turning with high operation amount, it activates the inner front brake; during turning with low operation amount, it activates the outer front brake; during straight travel, it activates both front brakes. This parameter change strategy provides adaptability without excessive complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A brake system includes a brake activator which first activates a central rear brake and lastly activates a front brake of a right front brake and a left front brake which is provided on a front wheel which is an inner wheel by operating an input member. When an operation amount of the input member from an initial state to a maximum operated state thereof is divided equally into three portions which are defined as a low braking force area, a middle braking force area, and a high braking force area, the brake activator activates the central rear brake, the right front brake, and the left front brake to operate in the low braking force area.