Brake assurance monitor
First Claim
1. A brake assurance monitor, for the braking and propulsion systems of a vehicle, the brake assurance monitor comprising:
- a controller for controlling three modes of vehicle braking, normal braking, a first level emergency braking, and a second level emergency braking, and which controller includes inlets for connection to lines carrying vital command signals and outlets for controlling the vehicle braking and propulsion systems;
a first switch means comprising a plurality of normal, first inputs for connection to lines carrying non-vital command signals, a plurality of alternative first inputs for first level emergency braking command signals, and a plurality of first outputs, which are connectible either to respective normal, first inputs or to respective, alternative first inputs;
a first actuation means connected to the controller and the first switch means, for switching the first outputs of the first switch means from the normal, first inputs to the alternative, first inputs, in response to a signal from the controller, wherein the first outputs are connected to the normal, first inputs during normal braking, and are switched to the alternative, first inputs when emergency braking is required;
a second switch means comprising a plurality of normal, second inputs connected to the outlets of the controller, a plurality of alternative, second inputs, for connection to the lines carrying the vital command signals, and a plurality of second outputs, which are connectible either to respective normal, second inputs or to respective alternative, second inputs; and
a second actuation means, connected to an outlet of the controller and the second switch means, for switching the second outputs of the second switch means from the normal, second inputs to the alternative, second inputs, in response to a signal from the controller, and which second outputs are connected to the normal, second inputs during normal braking and are switched to the alternative, second inputs when the second level emergency braking is required.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A brake assurance monitor, for controlling the braking and propulsion systems of a vehicle, has a controller for controlling normal braking, a first level emergency braking and a second level emergency braking. The controller has inlets for connection to lines carrying vital command signals and outlets. A first switch device has inputs for connection to other lines carrying command signals. A number of alternative first inputs and first outputs, which are connectible to the normal or alternative inputs. The outputs are switched from the normal to the alternative inputs by an actuator, controlled by the controller; switching occurs when emergency braking is required. A second switch device similarly has normal, second inputs connected to outlets of the controller, and alternative, second inputs for connection to the lines carrying vital command signals. A second actuator maintains second outputs of the second switch device connected to the normal second inputs during normal braking. When second level emergency braking is required, then the second outputs are connected directly to the vital command lines by connection to the alternative second inputs.
49 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A brake assurance monitor, for the braking and propulsion systems of a vehicle, the brake assurance monitor comprising:
-
a controller for controlling three modes of vehicle braking, normal braking, a first level emergency braking, and a second level emergency braking, and which controller includes inlets for connection to lines carrying vital command signals and outlets for controlling the vehicle braking and propulsion systems; a first switch means comprising a plurality of normal, first inputs for connection to lines carrying non-vital command signals, a plurality of alternative first inputs for first level emergency braking command signals, and a plurality of first outputs, which are connectible either to respective normal, first inputs or to respective, alternative first inputs; a first actuation means connected to the controller and the first switch means, for switching the first outputs of the first switch means from the normal, first inputs to the alternative, first inputs, in response to a signal from the controller, wherein the first outputs are connected to the normal, first inputs during normal braking, and are switched to the alternative, first inputs when emergency braking is required; a second switch means comprising a plurality of normal, second inputs connected to the outlets of the controller, a plurality of alternative, second inputs, for connection to the lines carrying the vital command signals, and a plurality of second outputs, which are connectible either to respective normal, second inputs or to respective alternative, second inputs; and a second actuation means, connected to an outlet of the controller and the second switch means, for switching the second outputs of the second switch means from the normal, second inputs to the alternative, second inputs, in response to a signal from the controller, and which second outputs are connected to the normal, second inputs during normal braking and are switched to the alternative, second inputs when the second level emergency braking is required. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A brake monitoring method, for a wheeled vehicle having a propulsion system for providing both a propulsive force and a braking force and a braking system including wheel brakes and other brakes, the brake monitoring method comprising, when braking is required:
-
(a) during normal braking, achieving the required braking effort using by both the braking and propulsion system; (b) when emergency braking is required, applying a first level emergency braking, in which the other brakes and the propulsion system apply the braking effort, to prevent wheels sliding; (c) during first level emergency braking, monitoring the braking effort and switching to a second level emergency braking if first level emergency braking is not in accordance with a predetermined stopping performance; and (d) when second level emergency braking is required, applying the braking effort using the propulsion system and the wheel and other brakes. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
-
Specification