Trailer Parking Valve Actuation for Automatic Emergency Braking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current compressed air devices for commercial vehicle trailers lack a compact design that can expand functionality while ensuring safety and efficiency in braking operations, particularly in scenarios where manual intervention is forgotten or unavailable.

Innovation Solution

A compressed air device with a parking valve equipped with two electrically actuated actuators and an electronic control unit that provides additional functions such as authorization checks, emergency braking, and automated parking safety, integrated into a structural unit that includes a shunting valve, lifting/lowering valve, and pressure sensors to enhance operational control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a parking valve is manually operated, then the device structure remains simple, but the risk of forgotten manual intervention increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking safetyVSAvoidvalve control system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The parking valve system performs automatic parking brake actuation without requiring manual intervention. The control unit monitors system pressure and automatically activates the parking valve when uncoupling is detected, making the system self-serve the safety function rather than relying on user action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit continuously monitors the pneumatic system pressure and coupling status, providing feedback to determine when automatic parking brake actuation is required. This feedback mechanism enables the system to respond automatically to changing operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Volume of moving object

If multiple valve functions are integrated into one structural unit, then the device compactness improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompressed air deviceVSAvoidstructural unit assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The parking valve, shunting valve, and lifting/lowering valve are integrated into a single structural unit with a common housing. This merging of previously separate components into one compact assembly reduces overall system volume while the modular internal design maintains manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The structural unit is designed as a multi-functional valve device that performs parking brake control, air supply shunting, and lifting/lowering operations through integrated valves. This universal design consolidates multiple functions into one component, reducing the number of separate parts needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If automated control functions are added, then the operational safety improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking operation safetyVSAvoidelectronic control system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit is pre-programmed with logic to detect uncoupling conditions and automatically activate the parking brake before the vehicle can move. This preliminary automated action prevents the safety hazard of forgotten manual intervention from occurring in the first place.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3967562B1Compressed air device for a trailer
Publication Date: 2023.12.13 HALDEX AB
  • EP3967562B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3967562B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3967562B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a compressed air system (125) for a trailer of a commercial vehicle. In the compressed air system (125), a parking valve (10) has two actuators (109, 110). The actuators (109, 110) allow for electrical actuation of the parking valve (10) in addition to manual actuation. This enables additional functions such as an immobilization function, an emergency braking function, an emergency braking function override function, and/or a parking safety function.