Commercial Vehicle Parking Brake Control Against Wheel Blocking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional brake systems for commercial vehicles do not adequately address wheel blocking during graduable braking, leading to a higher risk of vehicle instability and safety issues during parking brake operations.

Innovation Solution

An anti-blocking function is integrated into the brake system, utilizing an electronic control unit to detect wheel-blocking conditions and adjust the gradual actuation of the parking brake device, either by reducing or stopping it, in conjunction with the service brake device, to maintain vehicle stability. This is achieved through a wheel-blocking detection device and an automatic blending function between the parking and service brake systems, controlled by the electronic control unit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If the parking brake device is actuated to decelerate the vehicle, then the braking force is improved, but the vehicle stability deteriorates due to wheel blocking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking forceVSAvoidvehicle stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic control unit continuously monitors wheel speed signals from the wheel-blocking detection device and uses this feedback to detect wheel blocking conditions. Based on this feedback, the control unit automatically adjusts or aborts the parking brake actuation to prevent vehicle instability, creating a closed-loop control system that balances braking force with stability maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the parking brake actuation based on real-time wheel blocking detection. Instead of fixed brake application, the electronic control unit modulates the brake force dynamically by comparing current wheel speed with reference values, allowing the braking system to adapt its characteristics to prevailing road conditions and vehicle state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the parking brake gradual demand is executed independently, then the braking control simplicity is improved, but the safety deteriorates due to lack of wheel blocking consideration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrake control simplicityVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the parking brake control function with the wheel-blocking detection functionality into a unified control system. The electronic control unit integrates signals from both the parking brake demand and the wheel speed sensors, combining these previously independent functions into a coordinated control strategy that maintains simplicity while enhancing safety through automated wheel blocking prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the electronic control unit monitors wheel blocking conditions, then the vehicle safety is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle safetyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic control unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the brake control unit and the wheel-blocking detection device. This universal component performs multiple functions including monitoring wheel speed, detecting blocking conditions, and controlling brake actuation, thereby improving vehicle safety without proportionally increasing system complexity through separate dedicated components.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3789255B1Brake system for commercial vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.11.08 KNORR BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHIZEUGE GMBH
  • EP3789255B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3789255B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a brake system (10) for a motor vehicle (12), especially commercial vehicle (12), wherein the brake system (10) comprising at least one electronic control unit (14), at least one parking brake device (16), and at least one wheel-blocking detection device (18); wherein the wheel-blocking detection device (18) is configured to: detect at least one blocking condition of one or more wheels (20) of the motor vehicle (12), generate at least one blocking condition signal in response to the detected blocking condition, and transmit the blocking condition signal to the electronic control unit (14); wherein the electronic control (14) unit is configured to control the parking brake device (16) such that, in a moving condition of the motor vehicle (12), at least one gradual actuation of the parking brake device (16) is reduced or stopped if the blocking condition signal is generated. Further, the present invention relates to a method for operating such a brake system for a motor vehicle.