Tipper Vehicle Parking Brake Control During Body Lifting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Tipper trucks face safety risks due to drivers forgetting to engage the parking brake during material unloading, leading to potential accidents, and existing systems do not effectively mitigate this issue.

Innovation Solution

A parking brake system that automatically engages the brake when the vehicle is stationary, in neutral gear, and the tipper body is being lifted, using a valve device that changes state upon receiving tipping, neutral gear, and low-speed signals to discharge air from the brake chamber, ensuring the parking brake is applied if the driver has forgotten to do so, with a secondary valve for normal operation and a backup to prevent unnecessary wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the parking brake system automatically engages the brake during tipping operations, then safety is improved by preventing accidents caused by driver error, but device complexity increases due to the need for multiple detecting devices and valve control mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the safety function into multiple independent detecting devices (tipping detecting device, neutral gear detecting device, speed sensing device, parking brake detecting device) that each monitor a specific parameter. This segmentation allows the complex safety function to be broken down into manageable, independent components that can be reliably controlled by the valve device based on combined signals from all sensors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the valve device frequently changes state to ensure brake engagement, then safety is improved by guaranteeing brake application, but wear on the valve device increases due to repeated state changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrake engagement assuranceVSAvoidvalve device lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The parking brake detecting device continuously monitors the brake state in advance before a tipping operation begins. This preliminary detection allows the valve device to prepare for brake engagement only when necessary (when the brake is not already applied), avoiding unnecessary state changes and reducing wear while ensuring the brake is applied in time for safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Duration of action of stationary object

If the system monitors multiple parameters (tipping status, gear position, speed, brake state) before activating the brake, then unnecessary brake engagement is prevented reducing wear, but the control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve device lifespanVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple detection functions (tipping detection, gear position detection, speed sensing, brake state detection) into a single integrated control logic within the valve device. This consolidation allows the valve to receive and process multiple signals simultaneously, making intelligent decisions about brake engagement based on the combined state of all parameters without requiring separate complex control systems for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 effectively reduces the risk of accidents by ensuring the parking brake is engaged when necessary, while minimizing wear on system components by only activating the backup valve when the primary engagement is missed, allowing normal operation without unintended brake engagement during driving or gear changes.

Implementation Method 1

a brake chamber (12) which is pressurizable for releasing the parking brake

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPneumatics: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

the valve device has an activated state in which the brake chamber is in fluid communication with the exhaust port whereby air from the brake chamber is discharged

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid communication: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP4403424A1A parking brake system of a tipper vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.07.24 VOLVO TRUCK CORP
  • EP4403424A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4403424A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4403424A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

There is presented a parking brake system (10) of a tipper vehicle (1) having a tiltable tipper body (3). The system comprises a parking brake having a brake chamber (12) which is pressurizable for releasing the parking brake. A valve device (14) is in fluid communication with the brake chamber (12), the valve device (14) comprising an exhaust port (16). The valve device (14) has an activated state in which the brake chamber (12) is in fluid communication with the exhaust port (16) whereby air from the brake chamber (12) is discharged, thereby applying the parking brake, and an inactivated state in which said fluid communication is disconnected. Upon receipt of a tipping signal (21), a neutral gear signal (23) and a low speed signal (25), and upon detecting that the parking brake is still in the released state, the valve device (14) is changed from the inactivated state to the activated state in order to exhaust air from the brake chamber (12), thereby causing the parking brake to become changed to the applied state.