Spring Brake Actuator Internal Venting Conduit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spring brake actuators for commercial vehicles face challenges in providing efficient and cost-effective venting between the spring chamber and non-pressure chamber, with internal breather valves being complex and expensive, and external piping requiring significant space and varying actuator housing variants.
Innovation Solution
A spring brake actuator design featuring a ventilation conduit that connects the spring chamber and non-pressure chamber internally, eliminating the need for valve elements and external piping, allowing for customizable flow resistance and independent ventilation of the spring brake and service brake functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If internal breather valves are used to vent the spring chamber, then ventilation function is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ventilation function from the complex internal breather valve and implements it through a simple vent opening in the housing that communicates with the spring chamber. This eliminates the need for valve elements while maintaining the essential ventilation capability, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the ventilation function from the main brake actuator body by providing a dedicated vent opening in the housing. This separate, simple ventilation path allows the spring chamber to be vented independently without requiring complex valve mechanisms integrated into the main actuator structure.
2Reliability
If external breathing pipes are used to connect spring chamber to non-pressure chamber, then ventilation is achieved, but space requirement and housing variants increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the ventilation function into the actuator housing structure itself by providing a vent opening that communicates with the spring chamber. This eliminates the need for separate external breathing pipes and reduces the requirement for multiple housing variants, as the ventilation capability is integrated into the standard housing design.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides structural support, contains the brake mechanism, and includes an integrated vent opening for spring chamber ventilation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate external piping and reduces the number of housing variants required.
3Reliability
If internal breather valves are used, then ventilation control is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, complex internal breather valves with a simple vent opening in the housing that can be manufactured as an integral part of the housing structure. This simple ventilation solution is sufficient for the application and dramatically reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining adequate ventilation control.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex active valve elements to control ventilation, the patent uses a passive vent opening in the housing structure. This inverted approach simplifies the design and manufacturing while achieving the essential ventilation function without requiring expensive valve components.
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
This design ensures reliable and space-efficient venting, reducing manufacturing costs and enhancing mounting flexibility across different vehicle types, while maintaining independent operation of the spring brake and service brake functions.
Implementation Method 1
the compression spring is allowed to expand into an extended position, moving the spring brake piston which leads to a transmission of braking force to the brake mechanism
Implementation Method 2
the diaphragm that separates the pressure chamber from the non-pressure chamber is deformed, thus increasing the volume of the pressure chamber and simultaneously decreasing the volume of the non-pressure chamber. The push rod which is mounted inside the non-pressure chamber is displaced by the diaphragm
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a spring brake actuator (1) for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, comprising a spring brake portion (3) and a service brake portion (5), wherein the spring brake portion (3) comprises a spring chamber (9) and a compression spring (10) mounted within the spring chamber (9), wherein the compression spring (10) is configured to generate a spring brake force, the service brake portion (5) comprises a pressure chamber (23) and a non-pressure chamber (25) separated from the pressure chamber (23) by a diaphragm (21), wherein the diaphragm (21) is elastically deformable upon pressure inside the pressure chamber (23). The inventions suggests that the spring chamber (10) of the spring brake portion (3) and the non-pressure chamber (25) of the service portion (5) are connected by at least one ventilation conduit (c) to be in fluid communication with each other, wherein the ventilation conduit (c) extends completely inside the spring brake actuator (1).