Trailer Control Valve Redundancy for Service Brake Failure

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Electronically controlled brake systems for vehicles and trailers face challenges in maintaining redundant electrical control of service brakes, especially when there is an energy source failure, leading to limited deceleration performance and instability, as the central service brake control module cannot compensate for failures in individual service brake circuits.

Innovation Solution

The system integrates a trailer control valve with a trailer control module that generates redundancy control pressure using solenoid control valves, allowing for redundant control of service brakes even when the service brake control module fails, by processing braking specifications directly within the trailer control valve, enabling continued braking through existing components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the parking brake control module is used as a fallback system for service brake circuit failure, then braking redundancy is achieved, but only one axle can be braked leading to reduced deceleration performance and potential instability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking redundancyVSAvoiddeceleration performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The trailer control valve is designed to perform multiple functions: normally controlling trailer brakes, and alternatively controlling service brakes on affected axles when electrical failure occurs. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain braking redundancy while enabling braking on multiple axles through the service brake circuit, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and deceleration performance

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

2Ease of operation

If the service brake control module is completely dependent on electrical power, then precise electrical control is achieved, but the system becomes vulnerable to electrical failures with no compensation capability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical control precisionVSAvoidfailure compensation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system prepares backup control pathways in advance by enabling the trailer control valve to be switched to service brake control mode. When electrical failure occurs, this pre-established alternative pathway allows immediate takeover without loss of control capability, cushioning against the harmful effect of electrical failures and maintaining system reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If additional components are added to achieve redundant service brake control, then failure compensation is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefailure compensationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The trailer control valve is designed as a multi-functional component that can control both trailer brakes and service brakes. By utilizing the existing trailer control valve for dual purposes rather than adding a separate dedicated backup control device, the system achieves failure compensation capability while minimizing the increase in system complexity

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

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

This solution ensures reliable and efficient redundant braking by allowing the trailer control valve to take over the control of service brakes, minimizing additional components and control effort, and maintaining braking performance even in the event of electrical failures, thus enhancing safety and stability.

Implementation Method 1

generates redundancy control pressure using solenoid control valves

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolenoid: Solenoid

Data Source

PatentEP3600992B1Electronically controllable braking system and method for controlling the electronically controllable braking system
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 ZF CV SYST HANNOVER GMBH
  • EP3600992B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3600992B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP3600992B1 patent drawingFigure 1c

AI summary

The invention relates to an electronically controllable braking system (1), comprising a trailer control valve (15), which has a trailer control module (28), the trailer control module (28) being designed to receive and process an electronically transmitted braking specification (VA, VB, VP) and the trailer control valve (15) being designed, under the control of the trailer control module (28), to produce and output a redundancy control pressure (pSR) in accordance with the electronically transmitted braking specification (VA, VB, VP). If an implementation of the braking specification (VA, VB, VP) by means of at least one service brake circuit (2a, 2b) by the control of a service-brake brake pressure (pBa, pBb), which implementation is electrically controlled by means of a service brake control module (10), is prevented, the service-brake brake pressure (pBa, pBb) can be produced in accordance with the redundancy control pressure (pSR) produced in the trailer control valve (15) and output to the service brakes (3) of the at least one service brake circuit (2a, 2b) for the redundant implementation of the brake specification (VA, VB, VP) in the vehicle (100) and/or a trailer control pressure (pT) can be produced in accordance with the redundancy control pressure (pSR) produced in the trailer control valve (15) and can be output to a trailer (200) for the redundant implementation of the brake specification (VA, VB, VP) in the trailer (200).