Pneumatic Park Brake Failover Using Automatic Air Pressure Drop
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing park brake systems in heavy-duty vehicles require a long time and significant energy to activate the manual service brake when the primary electronic park brake system fails, posing safety concerns as drivers hesitate to shut down the engine until the vehicle is parked and the brakes are applied.
Innovation Solution
A safety park brake system that includes a pneumatic park brake, a park brake electronic unit, a controller, and an air brake sub-system, where the controller detects failures in the electronic unit and impedes the inflow of pressurized air, allowing air to discharge and reducing pressure to automatically activate the pneumatic park brake below a predetermined threshold, thereby reducing activation time and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the driver manually applies the service brake to activate the park brake when the electronic system fails, then the park brake can be applied, but the activation time becomes very long and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller detects electronic system failures in advance and automatically initiates the pressure reduction sequence before the driver needs to manually activate the park brake. This preliminary detection and automatic response eliminates the time-consuming manual brake application process while ensuring the park brake is ready when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-diagnosis and self-activation when the electronic park brake fails. The controller automatically detects the failure, impedes air inflow, controls discharge to reduce pressure, and triggers the pneumatic park brake without requiring manual driver intervention, making the system self-sufficient in failure scenarios.
2Reliability
If the driver manually applies the service brake to activate the park brake when the electronic system fails, then the park brake can be applied, but significant energy is consumed during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects electronic failures and manages the entire pressure reduction and park brake activation process without requiring the driver to manually hold the service brake, thereby eliminating the continuous energy consumption associated with manual brake application and reducing overall energy usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and addresses the specific failure scenario by automatically impeding air inflow through the discharge line when electronic failure is detected, separating the failure response from normal operation and eliminating unnecessary energy consumption during the activation process.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the driver shuts off the engine before parking, then energy is saved, but the driver feels unsafe without the engine running
Solution Approach 1:
The system ensures the park brake is automatically activated before the driver shuts off the engine by detecting electronic failures and automatically initiating the pressure reduction sequence. This preliminary automatic activation eliminates the driver's safety concern about shutting off the engine before parking is secured.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the compressor continues to supply pressurized air during manual brake activation, then the air brake system remains pressurized, but the park brake activation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller extracts and blocks the pressurized air supply from the compressor through the discharge line when electronic failure is detected, preventing air from entering the air brake sub-system. This selective blocking maintains system stability while enabling rapid pressure reduction and quick park brake activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge line acts as an intermediary component that the controller can selectively block to control air flow. By impeding air inflow through this intermediate pathway, the system can rapidly reduce pressure without affecting the overall air brake system stability or requiring complete system depressurization.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
In one aspect the invention relates to a safety park brake system (100) of a vehicle. The safety system comprises a pneumatic park brake (102), a park brake electronic unit (104), a controller (106), an air brake sub-system (108) in air communication with the pneumatic park brake, and a compressor (110). The compressor is configured to provide pressurized air to the air brake sub-system through a discharge line (112) arranged between the compressor and the air brake sub-system. The controller is configured to receive a park brake request, detect an error associated with a failure in the park brake electronic unit, and impede inflow of pressurized air into the air brake sub-system. The safety park-brake system is configured to control discharge of air from the air brake sub-system to thereby achieve a drop in air pressure. The pneumatic park brake is configured to automatically apply once the air pressure in the air brake sub-system drops below a predetermined threshold. In a second aspect the invention relates to a method (200) of activating a pneumatic park brake of a vehicle.