Trailer Brake Pressure Control for Faster Coasting Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing braking apparatuses for vehicles with trailers do not effectively account for the impact of trailers on braking performance, leading to delayed or inefficient trailer braking responses.
Innovation Solution
An integrated braking system for tractors and trailers featuring electronic management means that includes vehicle control, trailer braking control, gearbox control, and engine control, which detects coasting conditions and adjusts trailer brake pressure to ensure immediate and responsive braking by maintaining a fluctuating pressure in the trailer brake circuit during coasting, thereby synchronizing with driver-initiated braking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional braking systems are used without electronic management, then the device complexity is reduced, but the braking response time increases and braking performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic management means detects coasting conditions and proactively adjusts trailer brake pressure before the driver initiates braking, maintaining optimal pressure levels in advance to ensure immediate responsive braking when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors vehicle operating conditions through sensors and automatically adjusts trailer brake pressure based on detected coasting states, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes braking performance in real-time
2Loss of time
If trailer brake pressure is constantly maintained at maximum level, then the braking response time is reduced, but energy consumption increases and brake system wear accelerates
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains optimal brake pressure only during detected coasting conditions, preparing the braking system in advance while avoiding continuous high-pressure maintenance that would waste energy and accelerate wear
Solution Approach 2:
The trailer brake pressure is dynamically adjusted based on real-time detection of coasting conditions, transitioning between different pressure levels as needed rather than maintaining a constant high pressure state
Data Source
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Figure 2
AI summary
A vehicle (1) consisting of a tractor (2) and at least one trailer (4) comprises electronic management means (100) configured to control a trailer brake master valve (70) to increase the pressure in the trailer brake circuit (120) from an existing base pressure (P0) to a coasting pressure (Pc), which is less than the braking pressure (Pb), when said management means (100) detect a coasting condition in which the speed of the tractor (2) is greater than a limit speed (Vt) and the brake assembly (40) does not actuate the tractor brake (12), and the engine (6) does not supply power to the tractor wheels (10).