Emergency brake system for a heavy-duty vehicle

An emergency brake system for a heavy-duty vehicle, comprising:

• a pressure sensor arrangement configured to determine the pressure in a regular brake circuit of a service brake system of the heavy-duty vehicle, wherein upon determination by the pressure sensor arrangement that the pressure in the regular brake circuit is zero or below a predefined pressure threshold value, the pressure sensor arrangement is configured to issue a first signal, S1;
• a speed sensor configured to determine the speed of the heavy-duty vehicle, wherein upon determination by the speed sensor that the speed of the heavy-duty vehicle exceeds a predefined speed threshold, the speed sensor is configured to issue a second signal, S2;
• a parking-brake sensor configured to determine a state of a parking brake of the heavy-duty vehicle, wherein upon determination by the parking-brake sensor that the parking brake is in an applied state, the parking-brake sensor is configured to issue a third signal, S3;
• a retarder brake configured to decelerate the heavy-duty vehicle upon activation of the retarder brake;
• processing circuitry operatively connected to said pressure sensor arrangement, said speed sensor and said parking-brake sensor, wherein, upon receiving all of said three signals S1, S2 and S3, the processing circuitry is configured to activate the retarder brake;
• and
• a gear box, wherein upon receiving all of said three signals S1, S2 and S3, the processing circuitry is configured to control the gear box of the heavy-duty vehicle to downshift to a lower gear.

An emergency brake system for a heavy-duty vehicle, comprising:

• a pressure sensor arrangement configured to determine the pressure in a regular brake circuit of a service brake system of the heavy-duty vehicle, wherein upon determination by the pressure sensor arrangement that the pressure in the regular brake circuit is zero or below a predefined pressure threshold value, the pressure sensor arrangement is configured to issue a first signal, S1;
• a speed sensor configured to determine the speed of the heavy-duty vehicle, wherein upon determination by the speed sensor that the speed of the heavy-duty vehicle exceeds a predefined speed threshold, the speed sensor is configured to issue a second signal, S2;
• a parking-brake sensor configured to determine a state of a parking brake of the heavy-duty vehicle, wherein upon determination by the parking-brake sensor that the parking brake is in an applied state, the parking-brake sensor is configured to issue a third signal, S3;
• a retarder brake configured to decelerate the heavy-duty vehicle upon activation of the retarder brake;
• and
• processing circuitry operatively connected to said pressure sensor arrangement, said speed sensor and said parking-brake sensor, wherein, upon receiving all of said three signals S1, S2 and S3, the processing circuitry is configured to activate the retarder brake, wherein the processing circuitry comprises, in series connection, a first switch, a second switch and a third switch, each switch having an open state and a closed state, wherein the first, second and third switches are configured to become closed by the signals S1, S2, and S3, respectively, wherein when at least one of the first, second and third switches is open, the processing circuitry is prevented from activating the retarder brake, wherein when each one of the first, second and third switches is closed, an electrical signal is sent to the retarder brake so as to activate the retarder brake.