Leak detection for pneumatic braking systems

A method for detecting a leak in a pneumatic braking system of a vehicle, the pneumatic braking system having an air tank and a pneumatic circuit associated with the air tank, the pneumatic circuit including a plurality of valves, the method comprising:

• monitoring a pressure in the pneumatic circuit;
• individually controlling the plurality of valves so as to isolate a sub-circuit of the pneumatic circuit;
• and,
• wherein the leak is detected in the isolated sub-circuit if a decrease in the pressure in the pneumatic circuit is detected via said monitoring of the pressure in the pneumatic circuit;
• and, the pneumatic circuit has a plurality of sub-circuits;
• and,
• wherein said monitoring the pressure and said individually controlling the plurality of valves is repeated until the leak is detected.

An anti-lock braking system of a vehicle, the anti-lock braking system comprising:

• a pneumatic circuit;
• a pneumatic air tank configured to supply said pneumatic circuit with pneumatic pressure;
• said pneumatic circuit having a plurality of valves;
• a control unit configured to individually control said plurality of valves;
• a leak detection module configured to cause said control unit to individually control said plurality of valves of said pneumatic circuit such that a sub-circuit of said pneumatic circuit is isolated;
• said leak detection module being configured to monitor a pressure at the air tank and to determine a leak in said sub-circuit when detecting a decrease in the pressure at the air tank while the sub-circuit is isolated;
• and,
• wherein said leak detection module is configured to cause said control unit to individually control the plurality of valves of the pneumatic circuit such that a plurality of sub-circuits of the pneumatic circuit are isolated in succession.