Parking Brake Valve Assembly Merging Solenoid Functions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrically controlled parking brake valve arrangements for commercial vehicles with trailers are costly and prone to mechanical wear, requiring multiple solenoid valves and increased energy consumption, and often fail to maintain safety-critical states during power supply failures.

Innovation Solution

An electrically controlled parking brake valve arrangement using a minimum of two solenoid valves, with a bistable 3/2-way valve and a monostable 3/2-way valve, that maintains the last set operating state without power and requires active signals for switching, reducing material and energy costs, and ensuring safety by preventing unintended vehicle movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple solenoid valves are used to control different parking brake modes, then the system can provide both trailer brake variants, but the material cost and manufacturing complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrailer brake mode variantsVSAvoidnumber of solenoid valves
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the functions of multiple solenoid valves into a single solenoid valve that controls a shuttle mechanism. This single valve can redirect compressed air to different outlets (first outlet for trailer braking in parked position, second outlet for trailer not braking in parked position), thereby providing both trailer brake variants without requiring multiple separate valves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single solenoid valve is designed with multi-functionality to perform the work of multiple valves. By incorporating a shuttle mechanism with movable shuttle body, the valve can switch between different flow paths and control both parking brake modes (trailer brakes in parked position and trailer does not brake in parked position) through one universal component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple solenoid valves are used to provide precise switching behavior, then both trailer brake variants can be controlled, but the manufacturing cost increases due to precise switching requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrailer brake mode controlVSAvoidmanufacturing cost of solenoid valves
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple valve functions into a single solenoid valve assembly with a shuttle mechanism. This reduces the total number of solenoid valves from multiple to one, significantly lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining the capability to control both trailer brake variants through the shuttle's position-dependent outlet connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If multiple solenoid valves with moving components are used, then precise switching is achieved, but mechanical wear increases due to load on moving components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswitching behavior precisionVSAvoidservice life of solenoid valves
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple valve functions into a single solenoid valve with a shuttle mechanism, reducing the total number of moving components across the system. While the shuttle mechanism itself has moving parts, consolidating functions into one valve reduces the cumulative wear from multiple separate valves, potentially extending overall system service life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple solenoid valves are used to control parking brake modes, then both trailer brake variants are available, but energy consumption increases due to additional power consumers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrailer brake mode optionsVSAvoidenergy consumption of solenoid valves
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of multiple solenoid valves into a single solenoid valve that controls both trailer brake variants. This reduces the number of power consumers from multiple valves to one valve, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining the ability to switch between 'trailer brakes in parked position' and 'trailer does not brake in parked position' modes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 reduces material and energy costs, minimizes wear, and enhances safety by maintaining critical brake states during power failures, ensuring the trailer brakes only when intended and preventing unauthorized manipulation.

Implementation Method 1

The parking brake valve arrangement (10) comprises at most two solenoid valves (12, 14), in particular a first solenoid valve (12) and a second solenoid valve (14)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic force: Electromagnet

Data Source

PatentEP2133247B1Parking brake valve assembly
Publication Date: 2012.10.10 KNORR BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHIZEUGE GMBH
  • EP2133247B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2133247B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2133247B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The arrangement has a contact (40) provided such that a trailer control valve arrangement (48) is subjected with a pressure, so that a trailer is braked by parking brake operation of a commercial vehicle. Another contact (42) is provided such that the trailer control valve arrangement is subjected with the pressure, so that the trailer is not braked by the parking brake operation of the vehicle. The arrangement remains in a last adjusted operating condition during failure of control of a bistable 3/2 way valve (14) and a mono stable 3/2 way valve (12).