Power Brake Hydraulic Fallback for Electrical Fault Braking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power brake systems face challenges in ensuring safe braking in the event of a fault in the electrical power supply, as equipping vehicles with redundant systems is complex, costly, and requires significant installation space.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic fallback solution is introduced, featuring a first pressure medium connection between the brake master cylinder and a simulator, and a second operable connection between the brake master cylinder and pressure-medium-actuable wheel brakes, allowing the driver to manually build up brake pressure in case of electrical system faults, with the electronic controller controlling these connections to switch between open and closed states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundant systems are equipped to ensure safe braking in case of power supply fault, then vehicle safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential safety function from complex redundant systems by implementing a fallback solution that uses only the mechanically actuable master cylinder and simulator, eliminating the need for redundant electronic controllers and sensors. This extraction approach maintains safety while reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The simulator is designed to automatically receive pressure medium from the master cylinder in case of power supply failure, enabling self-service operation without requiring additional active control systems. The passive fallback mechanism activates automatically when the electrical system fails.
2Reliability
If redundant systems are equipped to ensure safe braking in case of power supply fault, then vehicle safety is improved, but installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes unnecessary redundant components such as additional electronic controllers and sensors, keeping only the essential mechanical elements (master cylinder and simulator) that are already present in the system. This extraction significantly reduces the installation space required for safety systems.
3Reliability
If redundant systems are equipped to ensure safe braking in case of power supply fault, then vehicle safety is improved, but costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a simple, cost-effective fallback solution using basic mechanical components (master cylinder and simulator) that are already part of the standard brake system, rather than expensive redundant electronic systems. This approach prioritizes essential safety functionality over advanced features, reducing manufacturing costs.
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
Enables safe braking by allowing manual control of brake pressure in the event of a power supply fault, enhancing vehicle safety without the need for extensive redundant systems, thus simplifying installation and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a second operable pressure medium connection (60b) between the brake master cylinder (26) and the pressure-medium-actuable wheel brakes (12)
Implementation Method 2
The electronic controller (28) is also configured to operate the pressure medium connections (60a, 60b) in opposite directions from one another
Data Source
AI summary
An electronically slip-controllable power brake system, The system includes pressure-medium-actuable wheel brakes on a first axle and electromechanically actuable wheel brakes on a second axle of a motor vehicle. A hydraulic unit is provided having a brake master cylinder for specifying a braking request by the driver, a simulator coupled thereto for providing haptic feedback to the driver, a first electronic controller for electrically activating a drive motor of a brake pressure generator using external energy, and a pressure modulator for adjusting one wheel-specific wheel brake pressure per pressure-medium-actuable wheel brake. A controllable first pressure medium connection is provided between the brake master cylinder and the simulator and a controllable second pressure medium connection is provided between the brake master cylinder and one of the pressure-medium-actuated wheel brakes.