Redundant Parking Brake Release Circuit for Power Failure Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated parking brake systems with electric motors can become inoperable due to power supply failures, causing the parking brakes to lock solidly and become unreleasable, posing a safety risk when the driver attempts to move the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a processor and an electronically controlled, normally-open switch connects a secondary energy source to the electric motor, allowing it to reverse direction and release the parking brake, even if the primary energy source fails, utilizing timers to ensure timely activation and reset signals for reliable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If an electric motor is used to actuate the parking brake, then the brake applying force is increased, but the system reliability deteriorates due to power supply failure risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a backup power supply system that is pre-configured and ready to activate when the primary power supply fails. This includes a second battery connected through a normally-open switch that can be closed by a transistor upon detecting power failure, ensuring the motor can still operate to release the parking brake even when the primary power source is unavailable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the power source parameter from a single primary battery to a dual-battery configuration with different operational states. The normally-open switch and transistor mechanism allow the system to transition from using only the first battery to utilizing the second battery when needed, changing the electrical energy supply parameter to maintain system functionality.
2Ease of operation
If a complex electronic system is implemented for parking brake control, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates automatic detection of power supply failure by the processor and self-activates the backup power source through the transistor-controlled switch without requiring manual intervention. The timers automatically manage the activation sequence, making the complex backup system operate autonomously and maintaining ease of operation for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor continuously monitors the power supply status and provides feedback control by activating the transistor to close the normally-open switch when power failure is detected. This feedback mechanism ensures the backup power source is automatically engaged only when necessary, managing system complexity while maintaining operational simplicity.
3Reliability
If timers and control circuits are added to manage power failure response, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The timers are pre-configured with predetermined time periods that automatically trigger the backup power activation sequence. The first timer monitors the primary power supply status, and upon detecting failure, automatically initiates the transistor switching action after the predetermined time elapses, ensuring reliable automatic response without adding complex control logic.
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 solution ensures that the parking brake can be reliably released in case of power supply failure, enhancing safety by providing a fail-safe mechanism that automatically releases the brake when the vehicle is started or if the integrated parking brake controller fails, thus preventing wheel lock and enabling movement.
Implementation Method 1
an electric motor that is mechanically coupled to the mechanical parking brake, the electric motor being normally driven by a first electrical energy source
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
An electric motor-driven parking brake of a motor vehicle can be released in an emergency by applying emergency current from a parallel emergency current source to the motors controlling the parking brake. The direction of the emergency current is selected to reverse the motors, i.e., release the parking brake.