Trailer Braking Piloting Piston with Dual Diameters
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing trailer braking systems experience delays in pressure increase, leading to imbalanced braking forces, either too sudden or insufficient, due to the resistance from springs and internal frictions, affecting synchronization with the towing vehicle's braking system, especially under varying load conditions.
Innovation Solution
A piloting device for the trailer's braking valve featuring a piloting piston with two different external diameters and a contrasting circuit, which adjusts the piloting ratio by varying the pressure in the contrasting chamber, allowing for a rapid response to the towing vehicle's braking while modulating the braking force, ensuring the pressure growth in the trailer's system aligns with the towing vehicle's within safe limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If large diameter piloting pistons are used to obtain a prompt response of the trailer's braking system, then the response speed is improved, but the braking force becomes too intense and sudden, in particular when lightweight trailers are used
Solution Approach 1:
The piloting piston is designed with two different external diameters (first and second diameters) that can be selectively engaged with the piloting chamber. This allows the system to dynamically change the effective piston area, and thus the piloting ratio, depending on operating conditions. The contrasting circuit enables selective engagement of the smaller diameter portion to moderate the braking force while maintaining prompt response.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter of the piloting piston's effective area by providing two different external diameters. This parameter change allows the system to adjust the piloting ratio (ratio between piloting piston area and braking piston area) to optimize both response speed and braking force intensity for different trailer types and load conditions.
2Force
If the pressure in the braking circuit of the trailer increases with delay with respect to that of the towing vehicle, then the braking force intensity is reduced, but the synchronization between towing vehicle and trailer braking systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The contrasting circuit dynamically adjusts the piloting ratio by enabling selective engagement of different piston diameters. This dynamic adjustment optimizes the pressure transmission characteristics to achieve both prompt response (reduced time delay) and controlled force intensity, improving synchronization between towing vehicle and trailer braking systems.
3Reliability
If a piloting device with two different external diameters piloting pistons and contrasting circuit is implemented, then the synchronization and braking force control are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the piloting piston function with the contrasting circuit into a single integrated assembly. The piloting piston with two diameters and the contrasting circuit work together as a unified mechanism, reducing the need for separate components and simplifying the overall device structure despite the enhanced functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The piloting piston serves multiple functions: it acts as both the primary piloting element and the contrasting element through its two different external diameters. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby improving reliability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
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 solution enables optimized synchronization of braking pressures between the towing vehicle and trailer, providing a prompt and controlled braking response across different load conditions, maintaining force balance and safety, even in case of an electric default.
Implementation Method 1
By effect of the increase in pressure in the piloting chamber, the piloting piston moves towards the braking piston to cause it to move
Implementation Method 2
the force needed to move the braking piston and therefore to overcome the resistance of the springs acting on it
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A piloting device (4) for piloting a braking valve of a trailer, comprising a piloting circuit (45) that can be connected to the braking system of a towing vehicle, a hollow body (40) defining a chamber (41a, 41b) communicating with said piloting circuit (45) and inside which is housed sealed and sliding at least a piloting piston (42, 43) meant to cooperate with the braking valve (3) of a trailer, and a contrasting circuit (47) communicating with the chamber (41a, 41b) on the opposite side of the piloting circuit (45) with respect to the piloting piston (42, 43) in such a way that the piloting circuit (45) and the contrasting circuit (47) apply a first and a second action, respectively, on the piloting piston itself directed towards an opposite direction to one another.