Method for ensuring vehicle braking under wet conditions
AssigneeMercedes-Benz AG
InventorStephan Wolfsried
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method ensures that, even under wet conditions, the unrestricted intended braking effect is always achieved on wheels of a vehicle brake system. At the same time, the service life of the brake system is not to be influenced appreciably. When a sensor device detects that wet conditions influencing the braking effect are present and it has been detected that the braking effect of a brake could be impaired, a temporary braking operation is carried out on at least that particular brake, in such a way that the deceleration of the vehicle cannot be perceived by the driver.
Claims33
A method for ensuring in a vehicle utilizing a control unit a braking effect of vehicle brakes under wet conditions, comprising the steps of
- (a) determining a presence of wet conditions via a sensor device;
- (b) recording a time free of brake actuation when the wet conditions are present;
- (c) carrying out a braking operation during an action time at least when the recorded time free of brake actuation exceeds a time-threshold value;
- and
- (d) generating a brake pressure during the braking operation such that the braking effect is determined so to achieve a vehicle deceleration undetectable by a driver.
A system for ensuring a braking effect of vehicle brakes during wet conditions, comprising
- at least one brake circuit for supplying wheel brakes of wheel brakes of ones of the associated axle;
- a sensor device for detecting presence of wet conditions in selected wheel brakes;
- a control unit associated with the at least one brake circuit, including
- means for recording a time free of brake actuation when the wet conditions are present and issuing a control signal for carrying out a braking operation during an action time at least when the recorded time exceeds a time-threshold value;
- wherein the at least one brake circuit is configured to generate a brake pressure during the braking operation such that vehicle deceleration is undetectable by vehicle occupants.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.