BRAKE SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20090198427A1
• Filed: 02/06/2009
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Braking Systems UK Ltd. (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Braking Systems UK Ltd. (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Taylor, Martin Pors, Leiter, Ralf, Christopher Jackson, Jonathan Leslie, Wilde, Brendan Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,386,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/683 in pneumatic systems or parts thereof in vacuum systems B60T13/72
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/221 Procedure or apparatus for checking or keeping in a correct functioning condition of brake systems hydraulic pressure systems in general F15B19/00, F15B21/04; testing structures or apparatus G01M
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/06 Hill holder; Start aid systems on inclined road
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/122 for locking of reverse movement
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1708 for lorries or tractor-trailer combinations

Abstract

A system configured to estimate a change in temperature of a brake component of a vehicle brake during a braking operation. The system includes a weight estimation module for estimating a weight of a vehicle to which a brake is fitted, a volume estimation module for estimating a volume of a brake component, a temperature model module for calculating a change in temperature during brake application based on a relationship between the weight of the vehicle as estimated by the weight estimation module, the volume of the brake component as estimated by the volume estimation module, the deceleration of the vehicle, and further constants of the vehicle and/or the brake.

Claims

1. A system configured to estimate a change in temperature of a brake component of a vehicle brake during a braking operation, the system comprising:

a weight estimation module for estimating a weight of a vehicle to which a brake is fitted;

a volume estimation module for estimating a volume of a brake component; and

a temperature model module for calculating a change in temperature during brake application based on a relationship between the weight of the vehicle as estimated by the weight estimation module, the volume of the brake component as estimated by the volume estimation module, deceleration of the vehicle, and further constants of at least one of the vehicle and the brake.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the weight estimation module is configured to derive the weight of the vehicle from air pressure in an air suspension system of the vehicle or from a load sensitive regulating valve of a brake system of the vehicle.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the weight estimation module is configured to derive the weight of the vehicle by comparing a measurement of engine torque with vehicle acceleration.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the weight estimation module is configured to derive the weight of the vehicle by estimating brake torque during braking.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the volume estimation module includes a counter to detect duration of braking.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the temperature model module further uses distribution of a brake force to calculate the change in temperature of the brake component.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the temperature model module further uses a factor for a proportion of energy entering the brake component to calculate the change in temperature of the brake component.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the temperature model module further uses data from an inclinometer to calculate deceleration overcoming the effect of gravity.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the brake component is a brake disc.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the volume estimation module uses a continuous brake pad wear sensor output to derive a value for the volume of the brake disc.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the volume estimation module includes a counter of total distance traveled with the brake component in place in the vehicle.

12. A method of estimating a change in temperature of a brake component of a vehicle brake during a braking operation, the method comprising the steps of:

a) estimating a weight of a vehicle to which a brake is fitted;

b) estimating a volume of a brake component; and

c) calculating a change in temperature of the brake component based upon a change in velocity of the vehicle, the estimated weight of the vehicle, the estimated volume of the brake component, and further constant values of the brake.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the weight is estimated from air pressure in an air suspension system of the vehicle or from a load sensitive regulating valve of a brake system of the vehicle.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the weight of the vehicle is estimated by comparing a measurement of engine torque with vehicle acceleration.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the weight of the vehicle is derived by estimating brake torque during braking.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of estimating the volume uses a counter to detect the duration of braking.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the change in temperature is further calculated by using distribution of the brake force during braking.

18. The method according to claim 12, wherein the change in temperature is further calculated using a factor for a proportion of energy entering the brake component.

19. The method according to claim 12, wherein the change in temperature is further calculated using data from an inclinometer to determine deceleration overcoming the effect of gravity.

20. The method according to claim 12, wherein the brake component is a brake disc.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the volume is estimated by using a continuous brake pad wear sensor.

22. The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of estimating the volume uses a counter of total distance traveled with the brake component in place in the vehicle.