Redundant Brake Actuation Power for Failure-Tolerant Braking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electro-mechanical brake systems face the risk of complete failure if one of several components fails, compromising safety.
Innovation Solution
A brake system with a redundant power supply and actuation system, including a first power supply unit and a redundant power supply unit, such as a supercapacitor, to autonomously activate the brake actuator in case of failure, ensuring increased safety and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single power supply unit is used for the brake actuation system, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to the risk of complete failure if the power supply unit fails
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply system is segmented into a first power supply unit for normal operation and a second redundant power supply unit for backup. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliability through redundancy while keeping each individual power supply unit relatively simple in design.
Solution Approach 2:
The second power supply unit is configured to provide backup power in advance for a limited number of brake actions or a predetermined time period. This beforehand cushioning ensures that if the first power supply unit fails, the brake system can still operate safely for a transition period without complete system failure.
2Reliability
If a redundant power supply unit is added to the brake system, then the reliability is improved, but the weight and volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The second power supply unit is designed to provide only partial redundancy - sufficient for a limited number of brake actions or a predetermined time period rather than full continuous operation. This partial redundancy approach achieves the necessary safety improvement while minimizing the weight increase compared to a fully redundant system.
3Reliability
If a redundant power supply unit is added to the brake system, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit integrates both the first and second power supply units along with their control logic into a single unified system. This merging approach manages the complexity of the redundant power supply system through integrated control, allowing the system to switch between power sources and manage redundancy without requiring separate complex control systems for each power supply unit.
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 system provides enhanced safety by allowing the brake to function autonomously even if the primary components fail, reducing the risk of complete system failure and ensuring reliable braking operations.
Implementation Method 1
The first power supply unit is a battery. The redundant power supply unit may, for example, be a supercapacitor or a further, typically much smaller battery.
Implementation Method 2
The redundant power supply unit may, for example, be a supercapacitor or a further, typically much smaller battery.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a brake system including at least one brake with an electric brake actuator, at least one electronic control unit for controlling the at least one electric brake, and two different power supply units connected to the at least one electronic control unit and configured for supplying energy to the at least one electric brake actuator. The at least one electronic control unit comprises a first brake actuation system for activating the electric brake actuator and a redundant brake actuation system for activating the electric brake actuator in case of a failure of the first brake actuation system. The invention also relates to a method for using the brake system.