Nested Brake Cylinder Layout to Cut Air Use and Parking Brake Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing combined service brake and spring brake cylinders for commercial vehicles face challenges such as increased installation space requirements and interference between service brake and spring brake functions, leading to inefficiencies in compressed air consumption and parking brake force.

Innovation Solution

A compact design for a combined service brake and spring brake cylinder is achieved by arranging the service brake cylinder radially inside the spring brake cylinder, with the service brake piston guided directly on the inner surface of the service brake cylinder or assisted by a diaphragm. This configuration minimizes interference between the two brake functions and allows for a larger effective area for the spring brake piston.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the service brake cylinder and spring brake cylinder are arranged coaxially one behind the other, then the brake system can be compact, but the installation space within the wheel arches becomes too long

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrake cylinder compactnessVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The service brake cylinder is nested inside the spring brake cylinder, with the service brake piston rod passing through the spring brake piston. This nesting arrangement allows both brake systems to occupy the same radial space, dramatically reducing the axial installation length while maintaining both braking functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Device complexity

If the service brake piston is guided within the spring brake piston with a radially inwardly extending peripheral edge, then the brake system can be integrated, but the spring brake piston is loaded by service brake pressure generating unwanted forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrake system integrationVSAvoidunwanted force on spring brake piston
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The service brake piston is extracted from the spring brake piston structure and guided independently on the inner circumferential surface of the spring brake cylinder. This separation eliminates the harmful interaction where service brake pressure would load the spring brake piston, while maintaining compact integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A guide structure on the spring brake cylinder inner surface serves as an intermediary element that guides the service brake piston independently, preventing direct harmful contact between the service brake pressure and the spring brake piston while maintaining structural integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If the effective area of the spring brake piston is reduced to accommodate the service brake piston, then the brake system can be integrated, but the parking brake release pressure becomes too high or the spring stiffness too low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrake system integrationVSAvoidparking brake release pressure
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The service brake cylinder is nested within the spring brake cylinder, allowing the spring brake piston to maintain its full effective area for parking brake release pressure while the service brake components occupy the central radial space. This nesting preserves the hydraulic effectiveness of the spring brake system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The service brake piston operates in the radial dimension inside the spring brake cylinder, while the spring brake piston maintains its full axial effective area. This dimensional arrangement allows both systems to function independently without compromising the spring brake's pressure-generating capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Device complexity

If the service brake chamber and spring brake chamber are connected through a common piston rod, then both brakes can be actuated through the same mechanism, but dirt and air can flow between chambers affecting brake function

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuation mechanismVSAvoidbrake function independence
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The service brake piston is extracted from the spring brake piston structure and given its own independent guiding mechanism on the spring brake cylinder inner surface. This separation ensures that the service brake chamber and spring brake chamber remain hydraulically independent, preventing contamination while allowing both to be actuated through their respective pressure sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 proposed design reduces compressed air consumption and enhances the parking brake force by minimizing the influence of service brake pressure on the spring brake piston and increasing the effective area for the parking brake release pressure, thereby improving the overall efficiency and reliability of the brake system.

Implementation Method 1

a spring brake piston and at least one accumulator spring loading the spring brake piston in an application direction of the parking brake

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

the spring brake piston and the spring brake cylinder delimiting a spring brake chamber which can be pressurized by a parking brake release pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP4286232B1Combined service brake and spring brake cylinder with service brake cylinder mounted inside the spring brake cylinder
Publication Date: 2025.02.26 KNORR BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHIZEUGE GMBH
  • EP4286232B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4286232B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4286232B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a combined service brake and spring brake cylinder (1) for operating a service brake and a parking brake, comprising: A spring brake cylinder (4), a spring brake piston (10) and at least one accumulator spring (3) loading the spring brake piston (10) in a parking brake application direction, a service brake cylinder (6) and a service brake piston (18), the service brake cylinder (6) and the service brake piston (18) delimiting a service brake chamber (19) which can be pressurized and vented with a service brake pressure, the service brake cylinder (6), viewed radially, being arranged inside the spring brake cylinder (4). It is provided that the service brake piston (18) is displaceably guided directly on a radially inner circumferential surface of the service brake cylinder (6), or in that a diaphragm cooperating with the service brake piston (18) is fastened to the service brake cylinder (6) and/or to the spring brake cylinder (4).