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US 8,465,107 B2Granted
Regenerative air brake module
AssigneeArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
InventorJeffrey M. Lloyd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air braking system for a vehicle blends regenerative and foundation braking during low deceleration conditions in an effective and controlled manner. The braking system also includes a mechanical override that bypasses system electronics in response to an aggressive brake request such that treadle circuit pressure is sent directly to a brake relay circuit to actuate vehicle brakes.
Claims26
An air braking system for a vehicle comprising:
- a treadle input configured to receive a brake request, the treadle input mechanically actuating a treadle valve of a treadle circuit having a treadle circuit air pressure;
- a sensor that measures the brake request at the treadle circuit;
- a controller configured to determine a control valve command based on the brake request from the sensor and based on a regenerative braking level;
- a control valve configured to control a delivered air pressure level in a brake relay circuit based on the control valve command, wherein the brake relay circuit is configured to communicate the delivered air pressure level to a vehicle brake;
- and
- a bypass valve that is operable to directly communicate treadle pressure to the brake relay circuit when requested brake pressure is greater than an override limit.
3 more elements
An air braking system for a vehicle comprising:
- a treadle circuit including a treadle valve associated with a treadle input that is actuated in response to a brake request;
- a first pressure sensor that measures a requested brake pressure from the treadle valve;
- a relay circuit including a relay valve that communicates a delivered air pressure to a vehicle brake;
- a control valve in a normally open position to directly connect the treadle circuit and the relay circuit during a first mode of operation, and wherein the control valve is operable to block treadle pressure in a second mode of operation;
- an electronic pressure regulator configured to communicate treadle pressure to the relay valve when in the first mode of operation and configured to communicate an air pressure less than the treadle pressure when in the second mode of operation;
- a controller configured to generate a control signal based on the requested brake pressure and an available amount of regenerative braking, the control valve and electronic pressure regulator operating in the first or second mode of operation in response to the control signal to communicate the delivered air pressure to the vehicle brake;
- and
- a mechanical bypass valve that is operable to directly communicate treadle pressure to the relay valve when the requested brake pressure is greater than an override limit.
5 more elements
A method of controlling an air brake system for a vehicle comprising:
- initiating a brake request by actuating a treadle input associated with a treadle valve in a treadle circuit;
- measuring a requested brake pressure from the treadle valve with a first pressure sensor;
- providing a relay valve circuit to communicate a delivered air pressure to a vehicle brake via a relay valve;
- providing a control valve that is in a normally open position to directly connect the treadle circuit and the relay circuit during a first mode of operation;
- configuring the control valve to block treadle pressure in a second mode of operation;
- configuring an electronic pressure regulator to communicate treadle pressure to the relay valve when in the first mode of operation, and to communicate an air pressure less than the treadle pressure when in the second mode of operation;
- generating a control signal based on the requested brake pressure and an available amount of regenerative braking, with the control valve and electronic pressure regulator operating in the first or second mode of operation in response to the control signal to provide the delivered air pressure;
- communicating the delivered air pressure to the vehicle brake via the relay valve;
- and
- directly communicating treadle pressure to the relay valve when the requested brake pressure is greater than an override limit via a mechanical bypass valve.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.