Vehicle Wear Component Optimization via Route-Aware Auxiliary Braking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for operating vehicles, particularly motor and commercial vehicles, fail to effectively reduce the wear of critical components such as service brakes, leading to increased maintenance and repair costs due to inefficient wear management.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that detect and evaluate route section data to optimize the operation of wear components by activating auxiliary devices only when a significant wear reduction is achievable, using existing systems like navigation, traffic data, and braking systems to determine optimal driving parameters and activate auxiliary units like retarders or engine brakes for reduced wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If service brakes are used for deceleration and stopping, then the vehicle can be controlled effectively, but the wear of brake components increases leading to frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The system retrieves topography data of the route ahead in advance and evaluates wear reduction potential before actually needing to brake. By knowing upcoming gradients and traffic conditions beforehand, the control unit can plan deceleration strategies that minimize service brake usage, thus extending brake component life while maintaining reliable vehicle control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an auxiliary braking device as an intermediary between the driver's braking request and the service brakes. This auxiliary device (such as an engine brake or retarder) takes over part of the braking function, especially on downhill sections, thereby reducing the load and wear on the service brake components while maintaining effective vehicle control.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If auxiliary devices are activated continuously to reduce wear, then wear reduction is maximized, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system activates auxiliary devices only partially and selectively - specifically when the wear reduction potential exceeds a threshold value. The control unit evaluates whether activating the auxiliary device will actually reduce wear (e.g., on downhill sections where gravity assists deceleration) and only then activates it, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption on sections where service brakes would be optimal.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the activation parameter of auxiliary devices based on real-time evaluation of wear reduction potential, which is calculated from topography data, traffic conditions, and current vehicle state. This parameter-based control ensures auxiliary devices are activated only when conditions favor wear reduction, optimizing the balance between component life extension and energy consumption.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If route section data is evaluated in advance to optimize braking, then wear reduction is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses existing multi-functional components already present in modern vehicles - the navigation system's topography database, the traffic information receiving unit, and the auxiliary driving support systems. By making these existing components serve the additional function of wear optimization through integrated evaluation, the patent avoids adding dedicated complex hardware while still achieving intelligent wear reduction.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The method involves detecting a defined section of line data of to-be-traveled route section of commercial vehicle by a detecting device (2). The optimization of wear of the wear component such as brake (3) based on actuating parameters such as operation timing and/or an actuation period of time for wear component. The to-be-traveled route portion of vehicle corresponding to predetermined parameter of auxiliary device (4) is activated, after optimization of wear of wear component. An independent claim is included for device for operating commercial motor vehicle.