HEAVY VEHICLE TRAILER ABS MODULE

• US 20100106388A1
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Original Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Inventors: Eberling, Charles E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,260,520 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/265 dependent systems, e.g. trailer systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/403 specially adapted for coupling with dependent systems, e.g. tractor-trailer systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/683 in pneumatic systems or parts thereof in vacuum systems B60T13/72
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/20 specially for trailers, e.g. in case of uncoupling of or overrunning by trailer inertia-actuated overrun brakes B60T13/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1708 for lorries or tractor-trailer combinations
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/323 Systems specially adapted for tractor-trailer combinations
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/327 Pneumatic systems

Abstract

A heavy vehicle trailer antilock braking system module includes a module control port receiving a pressure signal, a module exhaust port fluidly communicating with atmosphere, a first switching valve, a second switching valve, a relay valve, and control logic. The first switching valve includes an input port and an output port. The first switching valve input port fluidly communicates with the module control port. The second switching valve includes an input port and an output port. The second switching valve output port fluidly communicates with the module exhaust port. A relay valve includes a supply port, a delivery port, an exhaust port, and a control port. The relay valve control port fluidly communicates with the first switching valve output port and the second switching valve input port. The delivery port fluidly communicates with the supply port and the exhaust port as a function of a pressure signal at the relay valve control port. Control logic causes the second switching valve input port to fluidly communicate with the second switching valve output port for a predetermined time after electrical power is no longer supplied to a vehicle service brake stop lamp.

Claims

1. A heavy vehicle trailer antilock braking system module, comprising:

a module control port receiving a pressure signal;

a module exhaust port fluidly communicating with atmosphere;

a first switching valve including an input port and an output port, the first switching valve input port fluidly communicating with the module control port;

a second switching valve including an input port and an output port, the second switching valve output port fluidly communicating with the module exhaust port;

a relay valve including a supply port, a delivery port, an exhaust port, and a control port, the relay valve control port fluidly communicating with the first switching valve output port and the second switching valve input port, the delivery port fluidly communicating with the supply port and the exhaust port as a function of a pressure signal at the relay valve control port; and

control logic for causing the second switching valve input port to fluidly communicate with the second switching valve output port for a predetermined time after electrical power is no longer supplied to a vehicle service brake stop lamp.

2. The antilock braking system module as set forth in claim 1, wherein when it is desired to fluidly communicate the supply port with the delivery port, the control logic causes the first switching valve input port to fluidly communicate with the first switching valve output port for transmitting the pressure signal from the module control port to the valve control port.

3. The antilock braking system module as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the first switching valve is in a normally open state for causing the first switching valve input port to fluidly communicate with the first switching valve output port;

the second switching valve is in a normally closed state for causing the second switching valve input port to not fluidly communicate with the second switching valve output port; and

the pressure signal is received at the module control port when a vehicle brake pedal is depressed causing the electrical power to be supplied to the vehicle service brake stop lamp.

4. The antilock braking system module as set forth in claim 3, wherein the vehicle service brake stop lamp is turned-off when no electrical power is supplied to the vehicle service brake stop lamp via a service brake stop lamp power line.

5. The antilock braking system module as set forth in claim 3, wherein the vehicle service brake stop lamp is turned-off when the vehicle brake pedal is released.

6. The antilock braking system module as set forth in claim 3, wherein, during an antilock braking system event:

the control logic causes the first switching valve to selectively and independently open and close fluid communication between the first switching valve input port and the first switching valve output port.

7. The antilock braking system module as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the control logic provides an electronic control signal to the second switching valve for the predetermined time after the electrical power is no longer supplied to the vehicle service brake stop lamp for causing the second switching valve input port to fluidly communicate with the second switching valve output port; and

any residual pressure signal at the valve control port is exhausted to atmosphere, during the predetermined time, via the second switching valve and the module exhaust port.

8. The antilock braking system module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and second switching valves are solenoid valves.

9. The antilock braking system module as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the valve is a relay valve in a compressed air braking system.

10. An electronic control unit (ECU) for controlling a heavy vehicle trailer antilock braking system module, the ECU comprising:

means for controlling passage of a pressure signal from a module control port to a valve control port as a function of a brake event request;

means for determining the brake event is no longer requested; and

means for exhausting any residual pressure signal from the valve control port for a predetermined time after the brake event is no longer requested.

11. The ECU for controlling a heavy vehicle trailer antilock braking system module as set forth in claim 10, wherein the means for controlling includes:

a hold solenoid including an input port fluidly communicating with a control port of the module and an output port fluidly communicating with the valve control port.

12. The ECU for controlling a heavy vehicle trailer antilock braking system module as set forth in claim 11, wherein the means for exhausting includes:

an exhaust solenoid including an input port fluidly communicating with the valve control port and an output port fluidly communicating with an exhaust port of the module.

13. The ECU for controlling a heavy vehicle trailer antilock braking system module as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

the means for controlling provides fluid communication between the hold solenoid input port and the hold solenoid output port for passing the pressure signal from the module control port to the valve control port as a function of the brake event request.

14. The ECU for controlling a heavy vehicle trailer antilock braking system module as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

the means for exhausting provides fluid communication between the exhaust solenoid input port and the exhaust solenoid output port, during the predetermined time, for exhausting the pressure signal from the valve control port as a function of the brake event request.

15. The ECU for controlling a heavy vehicle trailer antilock braking system module as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

the means for determining determines the brake event is no longer requested once electrical power is no longer supplied to a vehicle service brake stop lamp.

16. A method for controlling a heavy vehicle trailer antilock braking system module, the method comprising:

controlling passage of a pressure signal from a module control port to a valve control port as a function of a brake event request;

determining when the brake event is no longer requested; and

exhausting any residual pressure signal from the valve control port for a predetermined time after the brake event is no longer requested.

17. The method for controlling a heavy vehicle trailer antilock braking system module as set forth in claim 16, wherein the controlling step includes:

providing fluid communication between an input port of a hold solenoid and an output port of the hold solenoid for passing the pressure signal from the module control port to the valve control port as a function of the brake event request.

18. The method for controlling a heavy vehicle trailer antilock braking system module as set forth in claim 17, further including:

providing fluid communication between an input port of an exhaust solenoid and an output port of the exhaust solenoid, during the predetermined time, for exhausting the pressure signal from the valve control port as a function of the brake event request.

19. The method for controlling a heavy vehicle trailer antilock braking system module as set forth in claim 18, further including:

alternately providing the fluid communication between the exhaust solenoid input port and the exhaust solenoid output port during the predetermined time.

20. The method for controlling a heavy vehicle trailer antilock braking system module as set forth in claim 16, wherein the determining step includes:

determining when electrical power is no longer supplied to a vehicle service brake stop lamp.

21. A system for exhausting a control pressure signal from a relay valve in a heavy vehicle trailer antilock braking system module, the system comprising:

a module control port receiving a pressure signal;

a module exhaust port fluidly communicating with atmosphere;

a hold solenoid including an input port and an output port, the hold solenoid input port fluidly communicating with the module control port;

an exhaust solenoid including an input port and an output port, the exhaust solenoid output port fluidly communicating with the module exhaust port;

a valve including a supply port, a delivery port, an exhaust port, and a control port, the valve control port fluidly communicating with the hold solenoid output port and the exhaust solenoid input port, the delivery port fluidly communicating with the supply port and the exhaust port as a function of a pressure signal at the valve control port; and

control logic for causing the exhaust solenoid input port to fluidly communicate with the exhaust solenoid output port for a predetermined time after electrical power is no longer supplied to a vehicle service brake stop lamp.

22. The system for exhausting a control pressure signal as set forth in claim 21, wherein:

during a braking event, it is desired to fluidly communicate the supply port with the delivery port; and

the control logic causes the hold solenoid input port to fluidly communicate with the hold solenoid output port during the braking event for transmitting the pressure signal from the module control port to the valve control port.

23. The system for exhausting a control pressure signal as set forth in claim 21, wherein, during the predetermined time:

the control logic causes the hold solenoid input port to stop fluidly communicating with the hold solenoid output port for preventing the pressure signal from continuing to be transmitted to the valve control port; and

the control logic causes any residual pressure signal at the valve control port to be exhausted via the module exhaust port for the predetermined time.

24. The system for exhausting a control pressure signal as set forth in claim 21, wherein the valve is a relay valve.

25. A heavy vehicle trailer antilock braking system module, comprising:

a module control port receiving a pressure signal;

a module exhaust port fluidly communicating with atmosphere;

a first switching valve including an input port and an output port, the first switching valve input port fluidly communicating with the module control port;

a second switching valve including an input port and an output port, the second switching valve output port fluidly communicating with the module exhaust port;

a relay valve including a supply port, a delivery port, an exhaust port, and a control port, the relay valve control port fluidly communicating with the first switching valve output port and the second switching valve input port, the delivery port fluidly communicating with the supply port and the exhaust port as a function of a pressure signal at the relay valve control port; and

means for causing the second switching valve input port to fluidly communicate with the second switching valve output port for a predetermined time after electrical power is no longer supplied to a vehicle service brake stop lamp.

26. The heavy vehicle trailer antilock braking system module as set forth in claim 25, wherein the means for causing the second switching valve input port to fluidly communicate with the second switching valve output port includes:

an electronic control unit (ECU) providing an electronic signal to the second switching valve.

27. The heavy vehicle trailer antilock braking system module as set forth in claim 26, wherein:

the first and second switching valves are solenoids.

28. The heavy vehicle trailer antilock braking system module as set forth in claim 26, wherein:

the relay valve control port fluidly communicates with the module exhaust port when the second switching valve input port fluidly communicates with the second switching valve output port.