Vehicle braking system and method of operation thereof
AssigneeWabco Automotive UK Limited
InventorAndrew Howard Beck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air braking system of a vehicle has a compressor, non-return valve, manifold, electrically actuable demand valve, an air consumer circuit. An auxiliary circuit connects the manifold to the consumer circuit via an electrically actuable valve and non-return valve. In the event of electrical failure air under pressure can be supplied to the consumer circuit via the auxiliary circuit. In another aspect a plurality of consumer circuits are provided. These circuits may be charged from the compressor via the manifold, or interconnected via the manifold independently of the compressor. This arrangement permits more flexible compressor operation and/or a greater reserve in the event of failure of the pressure source.
Claims8
An air braking system of a vehicle comprising a compressor, an air consumer circuit, a first electrically actuable valve between said compressor and said consumer circuit, an auxiliary air circuit, and a second electrically actuable valve between said compressor and said auxiliary circuit, wherein said first electrically actuable valve is of the normally closed type, and said second electrically actuable valve is of the normally open type, and said auxiliary circuit is connected for supply to said consumer circuit downstream of said first electrically actuable valve via a non-return valve.
A method of operating an air braking system of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- 1) providing the air braking system, the air braking system having a compressor, an air consumer circuit, a first electrically actuable valve between said compressor and said consumer circuit, an auxiliary air circuit, and a second electrically actuable valve between said compressor and said auxiliary circuit, wherein said first electrically actuable valve is of the normally closed type, and said second electrically actuable valve is of the normally open type, and said auxiliary circuit is connected for supply to said consumer circuit downstream of said first electrically actuable valve via a non-return valve;
- 2) maintaining said first and second valves closed,
- 3) opening said first valve on demand to supply said consumer circuit, and
- 4) in the event of an electrical failure, causing said second valve to open, thereby to supply air under pressure to said consumer circuit via said auxiliary circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.