Redundant Pneumatic Parking Brake Control for Autonomous Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parking brake systems for commercial vehicles lack redundancy, making them inadequate for semi-autonomous or autonomous driving scenarios where reliable braking is critical, especially in case of system failures.
Innovation Solution
A parking brake device with at least two compressed air connections, including a primary and a redundant connection, to ensure continuous operation even if the primary system fails, incorporating a bistable valve for precise control and integration with existing brake systems to provide independent control of the redundant brake system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single compressed air connection is used in the parking brake system, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates because there is no redundancy for autonomous driving scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The parking brake device is segmented into two independent compressed air supply paths: a first compressed air supply (12) and a second compressed air supply (36), each with separate connection lines (12, 36) to the device. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliability through redundancy while keeping each individual path relatively simple in structure
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements beforehand cushioning by providing a second compressed air supply (36) as a backup before any failure occurs. The control unit (25) is pre-programmed to automatically switch to the second supply when the first supply fails, ensuring continuous operation without interruption or manual intervention
2Reliability
If the parking brake system is integrated with the normal braking system, then cost is reduced, but reliability deteriorates because failures in the normal braking system could affect the parking brake function
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into independent functional segments: the parking brake device operates independently from the normal braking system, with its own dedicated compressed air supplies (12, 36) and control unit (25). This segmentation ensures that failures in the normal braking system cannot affect parking brake functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit (25) performs multiple functions: it controls both the first and second compressed air supplies (12, 36) and manages the switching between them. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain independent operation while managing complexity through a unified control architecture
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
Enhances system reliability and safety by enabling stepless braking and reducing costs through system integration, allowing the parking brake system to function independently of the normal braking system, thus meeting the safety requirements for autonomous driving.
Implementation Method 1
with at least one first compressed air outlet line for direct and/or indirect connection to a spring-applied brake cylinder
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a parking brake device (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 810, 910) having at least one first connection line (12, 112, 212, 312, 412, 512, 612, 712, 812, 912) for connection to a compressed air source and having at least one second connection line (36, 136, 236, 336, 436, 536, 636, 736, 836, 936) for connection to a compressed air source, having at least one first compressed air output line (34, 134, 234, 334, 434, 534, 634, 734, 834, 934) for direct and/or indirect connection to a spring brake actuator, and having at least one further redundant compressed air output line (56, 156, 256, 356, 456, 556, 656, 756, 856, 956) for direct and/or indirect connection to a redundant brake system.