Trailer Brake Modulator Redundancy for Fail-Safe ABS Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brake systems in trailer vehicles lack sufficient redundancy to maintain critical functions, such as anti-lock control and stability control, in the event of a failure of the electronic control device, particularly in the context of autonomous driving.
Innovation Solution
A modulator system with a primary and secondary modulator device, each with its own electronic control unit, allowing the secondary modulator to take over control functions if the primary fails, ensuring continued operation through pneumatic control pressure and enabling anti-lock and stability control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single electronic control device is used to control the modulator, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability decreases because the system cannot maintain critical functions upon failure
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic control function is segmented into two separate control devices: a primary electronic control device and a secondary electronic control device. Each device can independently control the modulator, allowing the system to maintain functionality even if one device fails. This segmentation directly addresses the reliability issue by providing functional redundancy without requiring a completely complex system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares for potential failure by pre-configuring a secondary electronic control device that can take over control functions if the primary device fails. This beforehand cushioning ensures that critical brake control functions, including anti-lock and stability control, can continue operating without interruption, thereby improving system reliability in advance of actual failure scenarios.
2Reliability
If redundancy is added to maintain critical functions upon failure, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Both the primary and secondary electronic control devices are designed with identical functionality, each capable of independently controlling the modulator for anti-lock braking and stability control. This universality allows either device to perform all critical functions, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining high reliability through redundancy. The modulator itself is designed to accept control signals from either device, further reducing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary electronic control device is essentially a copy of the primary device, with both having identical control capabilities. This copying approach ensures that the redundant system maintains the same reliability characteristics as the original, while the standardized design reduces the overall complexity compared to creating a completely different backup system with unknown performance characteristics.
3Reliability
If the primary electronic control device fails, then the system must maintain anti-lock and stability control, but the loss of electronic control capability initially worsens the situation
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary electronic control device is pre-configured and ready to immediately take over control functions upon detection of primary device failure. The system establishes monitoring mechanisms that detect failure conditions and automatically switch to the secondary device without requiring manual intervention or prolonged reaction time, thereby minimizing the loss of time and maintaining continuous anti-lock and stability control capabilities.
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
Enhances fail-safe operation by maintaining essential brake system functions even when the primary electronic control device fails, allowing continued anti-lock and stability control.
Implementation Method 1
The modulator typically contains at least one pneumatic relay valve for outputting brake pressure and having inputs for control pressure and supply pressure, and two solenoid valves for modulating the control pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A modulator system for a brake system of a trailer vehicle includes a pneumatic brake installation which has a first modulator device. The first modulator device has a primary modulator and a first electronic control device. The primary modulator has an input for control pressure, an input for supply pressure, an output for brake pressure and an electrical input for electrical signals from the first electronic control device. The first electronic control device has an input for wheel speed signals and an output for connecting to the electrical input of the primary modulator. The primary modulator is able to be controlled by the first electronic control device. The modulator system further has a second modulator device.