System and method for controlling brake actuation energy in electronically-controlled brake systems of tractor and trailer vehicle combinations
First Claim
1. A method for controlling brake actuation energy in electronically controlled brake systems of a vehicle train including a first vehicle train part and at least one additional vehicle train part coupled thereto, the first vehicle train part including first wheels and first wheel brakes controlled by a first electronically controlled brake system, the at least one additional vehicle train part including additional wheels and additional wheel brakes controlled by at least one additional electronically controlled brake system, and a coupling force control system for matching deceleration of the at least one additional vehicle train part caused by the additional wheel brakes to deceleration of the first vehicle train part caused by the first wheel brakes so that at least one of a force of zero magnitude and a force of small magnitude is transmitted between the at least one additional vehicle train part and the first vehicle train part during vehicle train braking, the method comprising the steps of setting a temperature limit value for said first wheel brakes and said additional wheel brakes in said first electronically controlled brake system and said at least one additional electronically controlled brake system, setting a temperature difference value for said first wheel brakes and said additional wheel brakes in said first electronically controlled brake system and said at least one additional electronically controlled brake system, ascertaining temperatures of said first wheel brakes and said additional wheel brakes, comparing said temperatures of said wheel brakes against one another and against said temperature limit value, if said temperatures of said first wheel brakes and said additional wheel brakes differ by said temperature difference value and at least one of said temperatures reaches said temperature limit value during vehicle train braking, reducing brake actuation energy into the wheel brakes of one of said first vehicle train part and said at least one additional vehicle train part having higher temperatures, increasing brake actuation energy into the wheel brakes of one of said first vehicle train part and said at least one additional vehicle train part having lower temperatures, and at least one of deactivating said coupling force control system and programming said coupling force control system to adjust a non-zero coupling force based on temperature-induced changes of brake actuation energy of said first vehicle train part and said at least one additional vehicle train part.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for controlling brake actuation energy in electronically controlled brake systems of tractor and trailer vehicle combinations. The temperatures of the brakes of the tractor and trailer vehicle parts are determined and compared with one another and with a preset temperature limit value. If the determined temperatures differ by at least a preset value and the temperatures of the brakes of at least one vehicle part reach the temperature limit, less brake actuation energy is provided to the brakes of the vehicle part having the higher temperatures, while more brake actuation energy is provided to the brakes of the vehicle part having the lower temperatures, and coupling force control is deactivated or programmed to adjust a coupling force which is not zero but the magnitude of which depends on the temperature induced changes of the brake actuation energy.
-
Citations
31 Claims
- 1. A method for controlling brake actuation energy in electronically controlled brake systems of a vehicle train including a first vehicle train part and at least one additional vehicle train part coupled thereto, the first vehicle train part including first wheels and first wheel brakes controlled by a first electronically controlled brake system, the at least one additional vehicle train part including additional wheels and additional wheel brakes controlled by at least one additional electronically controlled brake system, and a coupling force control system for matching deceleration of the at least one additional vehicle train part caused by the additional wheel brakes to deceleration of the first vehicle train part caused by the first wheel brakes so that at least one of a force of zero magnitude and a force of small magnitude is transmitted between the at least one additional vehicle train part and the first vehicle train part during vehicle train braking, the method comprising the steps of setting a temperature limit value for said first wheel brakes and said additional wheel brakes in said first electronically controlled brake system and said at least one additional electronically controlled brake system, setting a temperature difference value for said first wheel brakes and said additional wheel brakes in said first electronically controlled brake system and said at least one additional electronically controlled brake system, ascertaining temperatures of said first wheel brakes and said additional wheel brakes, comparing said temperatures of said wheel brakes against one another and against said temperature limit value, if said temperatures of said first wheel brakes and said additional wheel brakes differ by said temperature difference value and at least one of said temperatures reaches said temperature limit value during vehicle train braking, reducing brake actuation energy into the wheel brakes of one of said first vehicle train part and said at least one additional vehicle train part having higher temperatures, increasing brake actuation energy into the wheel brakes of one of said first vehicle train part and said at least one additional vehicle train part having lower temperatures, and at least one of deactivating said coupling force control system and programming said coupling force control system to adjust a non-zero coupling force based on temperature-induced changes of brake actuation energy of said first vehicle train part and said at least one additional vehicle train part.
- 13. A system for controlling brake actuation energy in electronically controlled brake systems of a vehicle train including a first vehicle train part and at least one additional vehicle train part coupled thereto, the first vehicle train part including first wheels, first wheel brakes and a first electronically controlled brake system for controlling the first wheel brakes, the at least one additional vehicle train part including additional wheels, additional wheel brakes and at least one additional electronically controlled brake system for controlling the additional wheel brakes, and a coupling force control system for matching deceleration of the at least one additional vehicle train part caused by the additional wheel brakes to deceleration of the first vehicle train part caused by the first wheel brakes so that at least one of a force of zero magnitude and a force of small magnitude is transmitted between the at least one additional vehicle train part and the first vehicle train part during vehicle train braking, the system comprising means for setting a temperature limit value for said first wheel brakes and said additional wheel brakes in said first electronically controlled brake system and said at least one additional electronically controlled brake system, means for setting a temperature difference value for said first wheel brakes and said additional wheel brakes in said first electronically controlled brake system and said at least one additional electronically controlled brake system, means for ascertaining temperatures of said first wheel brakes and said additional wheel brakes, means for comparing said temperatures of said wheel brakes against one another and against said temperature limit value, means for reducing brake actuation energy into the wheel brakes of one of said first vehicle train part and said at least one additional vehicle train part having higher temperatures and for increasing brake actuation energy into the wheel brakes of one of said first vehicle train part and said at least one additional vehicle train part having lower temperatures if said temperatures of said first wheel brakes and said additional wheel brakes differ by at least said temperature difference value and at least one of said temperatures reaches said temperature limit value during vehicle train braking, and at least one of means for deactivating said coupling force control system and program means associated with said coupling force control system for adjusting a non-zero coupling force based on temperature-induced changes of brake actuation energy of said first vehicle train part and said at least one additional vehicle train part.
-
31. A brake actuation energy control system for a vehicle train, the system comprising a first vehicle train part and at least one additional vehicle train part coupled thereto, said first vehicle train part including first wheels, first wheel brakes and a first electronically controlled brake system for controlling said first wheel brakes, said at least one additional vehicle train part including additional wheels, additional wheel brakes, at least one additional electronically controlled brake system for controlling said additional wheel brakes and a coupling force control system for matching deceleration of the at least one additional vehicle train part caused by the additional wheel brakes to deceleration of the first vehicle train part caused by the first wheel brakes so that at least one of a force of zero magnitude and a force of small magnitude is transmitted between the at least one additional vehicle train part and the first vehicle train part during vehicle train braking, means for setting a temperature limit value for said first wheel brakes and said additional wheel brakes in said first electronically controlled brake system and said at least one additional electronically controlled brake system, means for setting a temperature difference value for said first wheel brakes and said additional wheel brakes in said first electronically controlled brake system and said at least one additional electronically controlled brake system, means for ascertaining temperatures of said first wheel brakes and said additional wheel brakes, means for comparing said temperatures of said wheel brakes against one another and against said temperature limit value, means for reducing brake actuation energy into the wheel brakes of one of said first vehicle train part and said at least one additional vehicle train part having higher temperatures and for increasing brake actuation energy into the wheel brakes of one of said first vehicle train part and said at least one additional vehicle train part having lower temperatures if said temperatures of said first wheel brakes and said additional wheel brakes differ by at least said temperature difference value and at least one of said temperatures reaches said temperature limit value during vehicle train braking, and at least one of means for deactivating said coupling force control system and program means associated with said coupling force control system for adjusting a non-zero coupling force based on temperature-induced changes of brake actuation energy of said first vehicle train part and said at least one additional vehicle train part.
Specification