Methods and Systems for Implementing a Redundant Brake System
AssigneeWaymo LLC
InventorsTimothy Alexander Buchert, David James Smith, Juan Manuel Gomez-Ramos
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Example embodiments relate to triple redundant brake systems for trucks and other types of vehicles. Disclosed systems offer additional redundancy for braking applications by incorporating a third service brake actuator (e.g., a third ECU), which may be installed parallel to the second controller (e.g., a second ECU). In some examples, the third service brake actuator is an electronically activatable pressure valve and can be implemented using pneumatic select-high valves. These valves can be used to perform a mechanical max arbitration between pressure provided by the second controller and the third controller.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- providing power to a first solenoid valve and a second solenoid valve of a brake system of a vehicle, wherein the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve are normally closed valves;
- and
- wherein the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve are configured such that, upon loss of power to both the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve, one or more brakes of the vehicle are applied.
A system comprising:
- a vehicle having a brake system, wherein the brake system comprises:
- a first solenoid valve fluidly coupled to a first reservoir, wherein the first solenoid valve is a normally closed valve;
- a second solenoid valve fluidly coupled to a second reservoir, wherein the second solenoid valve is a normally closed valve;
- a pneumatic select high valve having a first input connected to an output of the first solenoid valve and a second input connected to an output of the second solenoid valve, wherein the pneumatic select high valve is configured to output pressure corresponding to whichever of the first input or the second input has higher pressure;
- and
- a relay valve having a pilot line input connected to an output of the pneumatic select high valve;
- and
- a computing system coupled to the vehicle, wherein the computing system is configured to provide control signals that cause power to be provided to the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve during normal operation.
A method comprising:
- during operation of a vehicle, providing power to a first solenoid valve connected to a first pneumatic circuit and a second solenoid valve connected to a second pneumatic circuit, wherein the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve are normally closed valves, and wherein outputs of the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve are connected to inputs of a select high valve;
- and
- wherein, upon a single-sided failure in one of the first pneumatic circuit or the second pneumatic circuit causing loss of power to one of the first solenoid valve or the second solenoid valve, the select high valve continues to receive pressure from a functional one of the first pneumatic circuit or the second pneumatic circuit such that a single-sided failure does not lead to a loss of braking for the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.