Trailer Brake Transmission Locking During ABS Overrun Braking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ABS braking technologies for vehicle trailers face challenges in efficiently managing braking forces during reverse motion and downhill runs, leading to potential instability and unwanted brake engagement.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a locking device with the ABS brake technology, which locks the mechanical brake transmission strand during ABS braking, preventing the transmission of braking forces and allowing the ABS brake elements to operate more effectively without resisting the trailer's mass.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the mechanical brake transmission line is made movable during overrun braking to transmit braking force, then the overrun brake system can effectively brake the vehicle wheels, but unwanted brake engagement occurs during reverse motion and downhill runs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking reliabilityVSAvoidunwanted brake engagement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The locking device is activated in advance during ABS braking to lock the brake transmission line before reverse motion or downhill running occurs. This preliminary locking prevents the transmission of braking forces during these operations, eliminating unwanted brake engagement while maintaining effective braking during forward overrun braking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The brake transmission line's mobility is dynamically controlled based on the braking mode. During forward overrun braking, the line remains movable to transmit braking force. During reverse motion and downhill runs, the locking device engages to fix the line's position, preventing unwanted brake activation. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between effective braking and preventing harmful engagement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the ABS brake elements act on the wheel brakes to prevent wheel locking, then the vehicle wheels can maintain normal movement during overrun braking, but the ABS brake elements must resist the trailer's mass which reduces braking efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewheel movement controlVSAvoidbraking force efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The braking function is segmented into two independent systems: the overrun brake system handles the transmission of braking force from the towing vehicle, while the ABS brake elements focus solely on modulating wheel brake application to prevent wheel locking. The locking device segments the brake transmission line to isolate these functions, allowing ABS elements to operate without resisting the entire trailer mass.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The locking device acts as an intermediary that locks the brake transmission line during ABS braking operations. This intermediary function allows the ABS brake elements to modulate wheel brakes independently without having to counteract the full force of the trailer's mass, thereby improving braking force efficiency while maintaining wheel movement control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Force

If the brake transmission line is locked during ABS braking, then the ABS brake elements can operate more effectively, but the mechanical brake transmission line cannot transmit overrun movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking force efficiencyVSAvoidbrake transmission functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The locking device operates periodically based on the braking phase: it remains unlocked during normal overrun braking to allow force transmission, then locks during ABS braking operations to improve efficiency, and unlocks again when ABS braking concludes. This periodic locking and unlocking resolves the contradiction by ensuring the line is locked only when needed for ABS effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The brake transmission line transitions between movable and locked states dynamically based on the braking mode. During normal overrun braking, the line is movable to transmit forces. During ABS braking, the locking device engages to lock the line, enabling more effective ABS operation. This dynamic state change allows the system to optimize performance for each specific braking scenario without permanent restriction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4261088B1Locking device and abs brake device
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 ALOIS KOBER GMBH
  • EP4261088B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4261088B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4261088B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a locking device and a locking method for a vehicle trailer (1) in towing mode, wherein the vehicle trailer (1) has vehicle wheels (12) with wheel brakes (13) and a service brake device (14), wherein the service brake device (14) comprises an overrun brake device (16) and an ABS brake device (28) that is effective during overrun braking and when the vehicle wheels (12) are locked, wherein the overrun brake device (16) has a mechanical and overrun-movable brake transmission train (18) leading to the wheel brakes (13) and the ABS brake device (28) comprises one or more ABS brake elements (29) acting on the wheel brakes (13), an ABS sensor (34) and an ABS control unit (33), wherein the one or more ABS brake elements (29) release the wheel brakes (13) when the ABS brake device (28) is activated and tense.The locking device (37) is connected to the ABS braking system (28), in particular the ABS control unit (33), and has a locking element (38) that can act on the mechanical brake transmission train (18), is supported on the vehicle trailer (1), and is controllable. The brake transmission train (18) and its overrun movement are locked by the locking device (37) during overrun braking and ABS braking when the ABS braking system (28) is activated, and are released again when the ABS braking is terminated and the ABS braking system (28) is deactivated.