Electronic control air management with parking brake and trailer supply control

• US 20040012249A1
• Filed: 07/16/2002
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haldex Brake Corporation
• Original Assignee: Haldex Brake Corporation
• Inventors: Koelzer, Robert L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,784,879 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 303/3
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0523 Regulating distributors or valves for pneumatic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/66 Electrical control in fluid-pressure brake systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/02 Arrangements of pumps or compressors, or control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/323 Systems specially adapted for tractor-trailer combinations

Abstract

A brake system assembly for a motor vehicle is provided comprising an air compressor operably engaged to the motor vehicle engine; a compressed air control device; at least one supply circuit for retaining compressed air in fluid communication with the compressed air control device; a service brake operably engaged by the application of compressed air; a parking brake operably disengaged by the application of compressed air; a dash control assembly having a parking brake control; a plurality of functional conduits for fluid communication; and a plurality of valves for manipulating compressed air including a foot brake valve for selectively engaging the brake system.

Claims

1. A brake system assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:

an air compressor operably engaged to the motor vehicle engine;

a compressed air control device;

at least one supply circuit for retaining said air compressor in fluid communication with the compressed air control device;

a service brake in fluid communication with said compressed air control device and operably engaged by the application of compressed air;

a parking brake in fluid communication with said compressed air control device and operably disengaged by the application of compressed air;

a trailer supply in fluid communication with said compressed air control device;

a dash control assembly having

a parking brake control, and

an trailer supply control;

said dash control assembly generating electrical signals to control said compressed air control device to selectively supply compressed air to the parking brake and the trailer supply; and

a foot brake valve to selectively supply compressed air to said service brake.

2. The brake system assembly of claim 1 wherein the compressed air control device further comprises:

a common housing,

a chamber for the passage of compressed air,

an electronic control unit,

an integrated electro-pneumatic multi-control circuit valve,

an electro-pneumatic unloader, and

a plurality of control units allocated to the circuits, each control unit disposed to control compressed air in response to a signal from the electronic control unit.

3. The brake system of claim 1 further comprising

a controller area network comprising

a cable for operatively connecting the dash control assembly and the electronic control unit of the compressed air control device.

4. The brake system assembly of claim 3 wherein

the electronic control unit further comprises a node for operatively connecting to the controller area network;

the dash control assembly further comprises a node for operatively connecting to the controller area network; and

the controller area network further comprises

a common protocol operable at each node for receiving and transmitting a plurality of messages.

6. The brake system assembly of claim 1 wherein the controller area network includes a topology from the group of series bus, star, or ring networks.

7. The brake system assembly of claim 1 further comprising an antilock braking subsystem comprising a node for operatively connecting to the controller area network.

8. The brake system assembly of claim 1 further comprising a traction control subsystem comprising a node for operatively connecting to the controller area network.

9. The brake system assembly of claim 1 further comprising a pneumatic suspension subsystem comprising a node for operatively connecting to the controller area network.

10. The brake system assembly of claim 1 further comprising

a trailer service brake in fluid communication with the compressed air control device and operably engaged by the application of compressed air and;

a trailer spring brake in fluid communication with the compressed air control device and operably disengaged by the application of compressed air.

11. A method of assembly for a brake system for a motor vehicle comprising the steps of:

providing

an air compressor operably engaged to the motor vehicle engine,

a compressed air control device;

at least one supply circuit for retaining the air compressor in fluid communication with the compressed air control device;

a service brake operably in fluid communication with the compressed air control device and operably engaged by the application of compressed air;

a parking brake operably in fluid communication with the compressed air control device and operably disengaged by the application of compressed air;

a dash control assembly;

the dash control assembly generating electrical signals to control the compressed air control device to selectively supply compressed air to the parking brake and the trailer supply;

a foot brake valve to selectively supply compressed air to the brake system;

operably connecting the air compressor to the compressed air control device with a plurality of conduits;

operably connecting the compressed air control device to the supply circuit;

operably connecting the supply circuit to the foot brake valve with a plurality of conduits and valves;

operably connecting the foot brake valve to the service brake with a plurality of conduits and valves; and

operably connecting the foot brake valve to the parking brake with a plurality of conduits and valves.

12. The method of assembly of claim 11 further comprising the steps of

providing a controller area network comprising

a cable for operably connecting the dash valve assembly and the electronic control unit of the compressed air control device;

and

operably connecting the dash valve assembly to the electronic control unit of the compressed air control device with the cable.

13. The method of assembly of claim 11 further comprising the step of

operably connecting the air compressor to the engine of the motor vehicle.

14. A method of operating a brake system assembly for a motor vehicle consisting of the steps of:

a) providing a compressed air control device in fluid communication with an air compressor;

b) providing a service brake in fluid communication with said compressed air control device;

c) providing a parking brake in fluid communication with said compressed air control device;

d) providing a trailer supply in fluid communication with said compressed air control device;

e) generating electrical signals by operation of a dash control assembly to control the compressed air control device to selectively supply compressed air to the parking brake and the trailer supply; and

f) controlling said compressed air control device to selectively supply compressed air to the service brake by engaging a foot brake valve.