Trailer Brake Alert Mechanism for Snaking Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing additional braking systems for trailer vehicles with overrun brakes have long response times, leading to delayed brake actuation and increased snaking values, which can result in dangerous driving situations.
Innovation Solution
The system puts the vehicle brake on alert by overcoming the idle stroke when a threshold snaking value is reached, allowing for immediate brake application without the need to first overcome the idle stroke, thereby reducing response time and preventing escalation of snaking movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the brake is actuated only when the critical snaking value is reached, then the brake activation threshold is clear and simple, but the response time is too long allowing snaking values to increase further
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by putting the brake on alert before the critical snaking value is reached. When a threshold value (first snaking value) is detected, the monitoring unit activates the brake in an alert state, overcoming the idle stroke in advance. This preliminary action ensures that when the critical value is subsequently reached, the brake can be fully actuated immediately without delay, thus reducing response time while maintaining reliability through the two-stage threshold approach.
2Loss of time
If the idle stroke is overcome in advance to put the brake on alert, then the response time is reduced, but the brake may be activated unnecessarily causing false excitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by putting the brake on alert before the critical snaking value is reached. When a threshold value (first snaking value) is detected, the monitoring unit activates the brake in an alert state, overcoming the idle stroke in advance. This preliminary action ensures that when the critical value is subsequently reached, the brake can be fully actuated immediately without delay, thus reducing response time while maintaining reliability through the two-stage threshold approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring snaking values and using this information to control the brake's alert state. The monitoring unit evaluates the sensed snaking values in real-time and adjusts the brake state accordingly - activating alert when the threshold is reached and deactivating it when the critical value is not reached within a predetermined time period. This feedback mechanism prevents false excitations by ensuring the brake is only activated when actual snaking conditions warrant intervention.
3Loss of time
If the brake remains activated after alert to ensure readiness, then response time is minimized, but energy is consumed continuously and brakes wear prematurely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by activating and deactivating the brake's alert state based on periodic monitoring of snaking values. The monitoring unit continuously evaluates snaking values and periodically transitions the brake between alert and inactive states. This periodic control ensures the brake is ready to respond quickly when needed while consuming minimal energy and causing minimal wear during normal operation, thus resolving the contradiction between response time and energy consumption.
Data Source
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AI summary
The system has an actuating element (4) i.e. electric motor, for actuating a vehicle brake. A sensor element (32a) includes a side motion value of a vehicle i.e. inertia braked trailer, and a monitoring unit (32b) is arranged over the actuating element during attaining a critical side motion value for actuating the vehicle brake. The vehicle brake is displaceable on an alert during attaining a threshold lying below the critical side motion value, which resolves an idle stroke of the vehicle brake. An independent claim is also included for a method for actuating a vehicle brake.