Method to reduce load transfer between axles of a common set during braking
AssigneeBendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
InventorCharles E. Eberling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
When a vehicle decelerates quickly or otherwise experiences a hard brake event, the described systems and methods facilitate reducing load transfer between axles of a common set of axles (e.g. a tandem axle, a tridem axle, etc.). Transfer of suspension pressure from a dynamically unloaded axle to a more loaded axle is limited by a suspension control component such as a valve or solenoid or the like that closes upon detection of a hard brake event in order to lock air in the suspension components of the respective axles. This in turn limits the dynamically unloaded axle from lifting, thereby permitting it to contribute more significantly to the braking effort and improving stopping distance.
Claims21
A method for reducing load transfer between axles of a common set during braking, comprising:
- via a processor:
- identifying a preset hard brake threshold for a vehicle;
- determining a load on at least one axle of the vehicle;
- detecting a hard brake event;
- and
- sending a command to a wheel suspension control component (SCC) to limit transfer of suspension load from a dynamically unloaded axle to a more loaded axle;
- wherein the command further comprises an instruction to increase an amount of rigidity in at least one controlled suspension component;
- and
- wherein the controlled suspension component comprises one or more air springs, and wherein the suspension control component is a valve that closes and locks air in the air springs thereby limiting air transfer between axles and maintaining a current amount of rigidity in the air springs, in response to the command.
A processor configured to reduce load transfer between axles of a common set during braking, wherein the processor is configured to:
- identify a preset hard brake threshold for a vehicle;
- determine a load on at least one axle of the vehicle;
- detect a hard brake event;
- and
- send a command to a wheel suspension control component (SCC) to limit transfer of suspension load from a dynamically unloaded axle to a more loaded axle
- wherein the command comprises an instruction to increase an amount of rigidity in at least one controlled suspension component;
- and
- wherein the controlled suspension component comprises one or more air springs, and wherein the suspension control component is a valve that is instructed by the command to close and lock air in the air springs thereby limiting air transfer between axles and maintaining a current amount of rigidity in the air springs.
A system that facilitates reducing load transfer between axles of a common set of axles on a vehicle during a hard brake event, comprising:
- a suspension control component configured to control one or more suspension components during the hard brake event;
- a processor configured to:
- identify a preset hard brake threshold for the vehicle;
- determine a load on at least one axle of the vehicle;
- detect a hard brake event;
- and
- send a command to a wheel suspension control component (SCC) to limit transfer of suspension load from a dynamically unloaded axle to a more loaded axle;
- wherein the command comprises an instruction to increase an amount of rigidity in at least one controlled suspension component;
- and
- wherein the controlled suspension component comprises one or more air springs, and wherein the suspension control component is a normally-open valve that is instructed by the command to close and lock air in the air springs thereby limiting air transfer between axles and increasing an amount of rigidity in the air springs.
An apparatus for reducing load transfer between axles of a common set during braking, comprising:
- identification means for identifying a preset hard brake threshold for a vehicle;
- sensing means for determining a load on at least one axle of the vehicle;
- detection means for detecting a hard brake event;
- and
- control means for sending a command to a wheel suspension control component (SCC) to limit transfer of suspension load from a dynamically unloaded axle to a more loaded axle;
- wherein the command comprises an instruction to increase an amount of rigidity in at least one controlled suspension component;
- and
- wherein the controlled suspension component comprises one or more air springs, and wherein the suspension control component is a normally-open valve that is instructed by the command to close and lock air in the air springs thereby limiting air transfer between axles and increasing an amount of rigidity in the air springs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.