Brake cooling control system
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorYanling Li
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In some examples, a cooling system defines a first flow path for a first gas stream and a second flow path for a second gas stream. The cooling system is configured to merge the first gas stream and the second gas stream to produce a mixed gas stream and provide the mixed gas stream to cool a brake assembly of a wheel. Control circuitry is configured to adjust a flow rate of the second gas stream based on a pressure and/or other flow parameter of the first gas stream. In examples, the control circuitry is configured to initiate and/or substantially cease cooling to the brake assembly based on a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the brake assembly.
Claims20
A system for a vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of sensors, wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is coupled to a brake assembly of a vehicle, and wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a weight on wheels (WOW) sensor;
- and
- a brake control unit comprising processing circuitry and coupled to the plurality of sensors and a brake cooling device of the vehicle, wherein the brake cooling device is configured to cool the brake assembly of the vehicle, and wherein the brake control unit is configured to:
- receive, from the plurality of sensors, signals corresponding to temperatures of one or more brakes of the vehicle, a status of the vehicle, and a cooling rate of the brake cooling device;
- determine that the status of the vehicle satisfies at least one threshold status by:
- receiving at least one signal from the WOW sensor;
- determining, based on the received at least one signal, that the vehicle is grounded;
- and
- determining that a velocity of the vehicle is less than or equal to a threshold velocity;
- and
- cause the brake cooling device to begin cooling the one or more brakes in response to:
- a determination that the cooling rate of the brake cooling device satisfies a threshold cooling rate;
- and
- one or more of a determination that the temperatures of the one or more brakes satisfies a threshold temperature, or a determination that the status of the vehicle satisfies the at least one threshold status of one or more threshold statuses.
A method comprising:
- receiving, by a brake control unit of a vehicle from one or more sensors of the vehicle comprising a weight on wheels (WOW) sensor, signals corresponding to temperatures of one or more brakes of the vehicle, a status of the vehicle comprising an indication of vehicle position from the WOW sensor, and a status of a brake cooling device of the vehicle;
- determining, by the brake control unit, that the status of the brake control unit satisfies a threshold brake control unit status;
- determining, by the brake control unit, that the received signals satisfy one or more threshold conditions by:
- determining, by the brake control unit and based on the indication of vehicle position from the WOW sensor, that the vehicle is grounded;
- determining, by the brake control unit and based on the indication of vehicle position from the WOW sensor, a velocity of the vehicle;
- and
- determining, by the brake control unit, that the velocity of the vehicle is less than or equal to a threshold velocity;
- and
- in response to determining that the received signals satisfy the one or more threshold conditions and that the status of the brake control unit satisfies the threshold brake control unit status, causing, by the brake control unit, the brake cooling device to actively cool the one or more brakes.
A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, causes processing circuitry of a brake control unit of a vehicle to cause the brake control unit to:
- receive, from a weight on wheels (WOW) sensor of the vehicle, signals corresponding to temperatures of one or more brakes of the vehicle, a status of the vehicle, and a status of a brake cooling device of the vehicle;
- determine that the status of the brake control unit satisfies a threshold brake control unit status;
- determine that the received signals satisfy one or more threshold conditions by:
- receiving at least one signal from the WOW sensor;
- determining, based on the received at least one signal, that the vehicle is grounded;
- and
- determining, based on the received at least one signal, that a velocity of the vehicle is less than or equal to a threshold velocity;
- and
- in response to determining that the received signals satisfy the one or more threshold conditions and that the status of the brake control unit satisfies the threshold brake control unit status, cause the brake cooling device to actively cool the one or more brakes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.