Park-brake monitoring-system for a vehicle

• US 6,779,636 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Arnold, Norman K., Fleming, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US10/271,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20040069580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 188/1.11 W, 188/1.11 E, 188/265, 303/20, 303/89, 303/122, 340/453
• US Class Current: 188/1.11E
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/045 with locking and release means, e.g. providing parking brake application
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2066/003 Position, angle or speed

Abstract

A park-brake monitoring-system monitors the selected and actual operational states of a park-brake system of a vehicle. The park-brake monitoring-system includes one or more selected-state sensor(s) that produce signals implicative of the selected operational state of the park-brake system and one or more actual state sensor(s) that produce signal(s) implicative of the actual-operational state of the park-brake system. Logic device(s) of the park-brake monitoring-system operate dependent upon input from both the selected state sensor(s) and the actual state sensor(s).

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

one or more frame structures to which a majority of other components of said vehicle are engaged directly or indirectly and which function(s) to locate said other components of said vehicle relative to one another;

a suspension system that is engaged to and supports said one or more frame structures;

wherein said suspension system comprises one or more ground-engaging components that are rotatable relative to said one or more frame structure(s) of said vehicle, at least when certain subsystems of said vehicle are in certain operational states, and that provide said vehicle with a relatively low resistance to movement along said ground when they are rotatable relative to said one or more frame structure(s);

one or more body structures engaged directly or indirectly to and supported by said one or more frame structures and upon or within which occupants and/or cargo of said vehicle may reside;

a park-brake system that has a set operational state in which said park-brake system prevents rotation of one or more of said ground-engaging components relative to said one or more frame structures and that also has a release operational state in which said park-brake system does not prevent rotation of any of said ground-engaging components relative to said one or more frame structures;

wherein said park-brake system further comprises park-brake-actuating components that effect or allow said released operational state of said park-brake system when they are in a home position and that effect said set operational state of said park-brake system when they have been actuated away from their home position to a set position;

wherein said park-brake system further comprises park-brake-system controls that are operable by an operator of said vehicle to effect actuation and retraction of said park-brake-actuating components between said home position and said set position;

a park-brake monitoring-system that comprises one or more logic device(s);

wherein said park-brake monitoring-system further comprises one or more selected-state sensor(s) that are communicatively linked to said one or more logic device(s) and that interact with said park-brake-system controls in such a manner that said one or more selected-state sensor(s) produce and communicate to said logic device(s) signals implicative of a requested operational state of said park-brake system;

wherein said park-brake monitoring-system further comprises one or more actual-state sensor(s) that are communicatively linked to said logic device(s) and that interact with said park-brake-actuating components in such manner that said actual-state sensors produce and communicate to said logic device(s) signals implicative of an actual operational state of said park-brake system, which signals that are implicative of an actual operational state of said park brake system are dependent upon position(s) of said park-brake-actuating components relative to said home position and said set position thereof;

wherein said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

producing monitoring signals in a manner that is dependent upon both said signal(s) produced and communicated to said logic device(s) by said selected-state sensor(s) and said signal(s) produced and communicated to said logic device(s) by said actual-state sensor(s);

said one or more actual-state sensor(s) produce and communicate to said logic device(s) an under-travel signal when said park-brake-actuating components of said park-brake system are actuated and/or retracted to at least one position in and under-travel range of positions;

said one or more selected-state sensor(s) produce and communicate to said logic device(s) a set-requested signal during any presence in said park-brake system-controls of conditions that are only present when an operator has manipulated said park-brake-system controls in a manner to effect said set operational state of said park-brake system;

said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the steps of;

when a signal combination comprising an under-travel signal and a said set-requested signal, which is a non-allowed signal combination, is communicated to said logic device(s), executing a malfunction-verification algorithm comprising the steps of;

starting a timing operation;

continuing said timing operation until said timing operation has been active for a malfunction-verification period or said signal combination comprising said under-travel signal and said set-requested signal is no longer being communicated to said logic device(s);

if said signal combination comprising said under-travel signal and said set-requested signal ceases to be communicated to said logic device(s) before said timing operation has been active for said malfunction-verification period, terminating execution of said malfunction-verification algorithm and waiting until a non-allowed signal combination is once again communicated to said logic device(s) before initiating another execution of said malfunction-verification algorithm; and

if said timing operation has been active for said malfunction-verification period before said signal combination comprising said under-travel signal and said set-requested signal ceases to be communicated to said logic device(s), producing a monitoring signal that is an error signal.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said one or more actual-state sensor(s) produce and communicate to said logic device(s) an over-travel signal when said park-brake-actuating components of said park-brake system are actuated to at least one position in an over-travel range of positions; and

(b) said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

when a signal combination comprising an over-travel signal and said set-requested signal, which is a non-allowed signal combination, is communicated to said logic device(s), executing said malfunction-verification algorithm comprising the steps of;

starting a timing operation;

continuing said timing operation until said timing operation has been active for a malfunction-verification period or said signal combination comprising said over-travel signal and said set-requested signal is no longer being communicated to said logic device(s);

if said signal combination comprising said over-travel signal and said set-requested signal ceases to be communicated to said logic device(s) before said timing operation has been active for said malfunction-verification period, terminating execution of said malfunction-verification algorithm and waiting until a non-allowed signal combination is once again communicated to said logic device(s) before initiating another execution of said malfunction-verification algorithm; and

if said timing operation has been active for said malfunction-verification period before said signal combination comprising said over-travel signal and said set-requested signal ceases to be communicated to said logic device(s), producing a monitoring signal that is an error signal.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein:

(a) said one or more actual-state sensor(s) produce and communicate to said logic device(s) a full-travel signal when said park-brake-actuating components of said park-brake system are actuated to at least one position in a full-travel range of positions;

(b) said one or more selected-state sensor(s) produce and communicate to said logic device(s) said release-requested signal during any presence in said park-brake-system controls of conditions that are only present when an operator has manipulated said park-brake-system controls in a manner to effect said released operational state of said park-brake system;

(c) said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the steps of;

when a signal combination comprising a full-travel signal and said release-requested signal, which is a non-allowed signal combination, is communicated to said logic device(s), executing a malfunction-verification algorithm comprising the steps of;

starting a timing operation;

continuing said timing operation until said timing operation has been active for a malfunction-verification period or said signal combination comprising said full-travel signal and said release-requested signal is no longer being communicated to said logic device(s);

if said signal combination comprising said full-travel signal and said release-requested signal ceases to be communicated to said logic device(s) before said timing operation has been active for said malfunction-verification period, terminating execution of said malfunction-verification algorithm and waiting until a non-allowed signal combination is once again communicated to said logic device(s) before initiating another execution of said malfunction-verification algorithm; and

if said timing operation has been active for said malfunction-verification period before said signal combination comprising said full-travel signal and said release-requested signal ceases to be communicated to said logic device(s), producing a monitoring signal that is an error signal.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein:

(a) said one or more actual-state sensor(s) consist of a single actual-state sensor that is a binary-digital sensor that produces and communicates to said logic device(s) digital signals comprising a logic low signal and a logic high signal;

(b) said under-travel signal and said over-travel signal that said actual-state sensor produces and communicates to said logic device(s) are both a logic high signal or both a logic low signal; and

(c) said full-travel signal that said actual-state sensor produces and communicates to said logic device(s) is whichever of a logic high signal and a logic low signal said under-travel signal and said over-travel signal are not.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein:

(a) said park-brake monitoring-system further comprises one or more park-brake system/park-brake monitoring-system malfunction-indicator(s) that is/are communicatively linked to said one or more logic device(s); and

(b) said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

activating one or more of said one or more park-brake system/park-brake monitoring-system malfunction-indicator(s) anytime one of said monitoring signals that is an error signal is produced.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein:

(a) said vehicle further comprises computer memory to which said logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system are communicatively linked;

(b) said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

storing a fault code that is interpretable to indicate a malfunction of said park-brake system and/or said park-brake monitoring-system in said computer memory anytime one of said monitoring signals that is an error signal is produced.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein:

(a) said park-brake monitoring-system comprises a park-brake-set indicator that is communicatively linked to said logic device(s) and that is operable to indicate to an operator of said vehicle that said park-brake system has said set operational state;

(b) said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

when and only when both said selected-state sensor(s) communicate a set-requested signal to said logic device(s) and said actual-state sensor(s) communicate a full-travel signal to said logic device(s), activating said park-brake-set indicator to indicate to an operator of said vehicle that said park-brake system has said set operational state.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein:

(a) said vehicle further comprises a service-brake system with braking components that are separate and distinct from braking-components of said park-brake system.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said park-brake monitoring-system further comprises one or more park-brake system/park-brake monitoring-system malfunction-indicator(s) that is/are communicatively linked to said one or more logic device(s); and

(b) said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

activating one or more of said one or more park-brake system/park-brake monitoring-system malfunction-indicator(s) anytime one of said monitoring signals that is an error signal is produced.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein:

(a) said vehicle further comprises computer memory to which said logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system are communicatively linked;

(b) said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

storing a fault code that is interpretable to indicate a malfunction of said park-brake system and/or said park-brake monitoring-system in said computer memory anytime one of said monitoring signals that is an error signal is produced.

11. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein:

(a) said park-brake monitoring-system further comprises one or more park-brake system/park-brake monitoring-system malfunction-indicator(s) that is/are communicatively linked to said one or more logic device(s); and

(b) said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

activating one or more of said one or more park-brake system/park-brake monitoring-system malfunction-indicator(s) anytime one of said monitoring signals that is an error signal is produced.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein:

(a) said vehicle further comprises computer memory to which said logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system are communicatively linked;

(b) said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

storing a fault code that is interpretable to indicate a malfunction of said park-brake system and/or said park-brake monitoring-system in said computer memory anytime one of said monitoring signals that is an error signal is produced.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein:

(a) said park-brake monitoring-system comprises position-marking structure that is engaged to one of said park-brake-actuating components;

(b) said actual-state sensor(s) consist of a single actual-state sensor that is a binary-digital sensor that is engaged to said vehicle at a position adjacent a path of travel of said position-marking structure;

(c) said binary-digital sensor, which is said actual-state sensor, is located in such a position that, when said park-brake-actuating components are actuated to positions within a full-travel range of positions, said position-marking structure is aligned with said binary-digital sensor, which is said actual-state sensor, when said park-brake-actuating components are actuated and/or retracted to positions within said under-travel range of positions said position-marking structure is disposed upon a first side of said binary-digital sensor, which is said actual-state sensor, and when said park-brake-actuating components are actuated to positions within said over-travel range of positions said position-marking structure is disposed upon a second side of said binary-digital sensor, which is said actual-state sensor; and

(d) said binary-digital sensor, which is said actual-state sensor, is constructed in such a manner and interacts with said position-marking structure in such a manner that, when said binary-digital sensor, which is said actual-state sensor, and said position-marking structure are aligned with one another, said binary-digital sensor, which is said actual-state sensor, produces and communicate to said logic device(s) either a logic high signal or a logic low signal and, when said position-marking structure is disposed upon either said first side or said second side of said binary-digital sensor, which is said actual-state sensor, said binary-digital sensor, which is said actual-state sensor, produces and communicate to said logic device(s) whichever of a logic high signal and a logic low signal it does not produce and communicate to said logic device(s) when said position marking structure is aligned with it.

14. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein:

(a) said park-brake monitoring-system further comprises one or more park-brake system/park-brake monitoring-system malfunction-indicator(s) that is/are communicatively linked to said one or more logic device(s); and

(b) said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

activating one or more of said one or more park-brake system/park-brake monitoring-system malfunction-indicator(s) anytime one of said monitoring signals that is an error signal is produced.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein:

(a) said vehicle further comprises computer memory to which said logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system are communicatively linked;

(b) said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

storing a fault code that is interpretable to indicate a malfunction of said park-brake system and/or said park-brake monitoring-system in said computer memory anytime one of said monitoring signals that is an error signal is produced.

16. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said one or more actual-state sensor(s) produce and communicate to said logic device(s) a full-travel signal when said park-brake-actuating components of said park-brake system are actuated to at least one position in a full-travel range of positions;

(b) said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the steps of;

when a signal combination comprising a full-travel signal and a release-requested signal, which is a non-allowed signal combination, is communicated to said logic device(s), executing a malfunction-verification algorithm comprising the steps of;

starting a timing operation;

continuing said timing operation until said timing operation has been active for a malfunction-verification period or said signal combination comprising said full-travel signal and said release-requested signal is no longer being communicated to said logic device(s);

if said signal combination comprising said full-travel signal and said release-requested signal ceases to be communicated to said logic device(s) before said timing operation has been active for said malfunction-verification period, terminating execution of said malfunction-verification algorithm and waiting until a non-allowed signal combination is once again communicated to said logic device(s) before initiating another execution of said malfunction-verification algorithm; and

if said timing operation has been active for said malfunction-verification period before said signal combination comprising said full-travel signal and said release-requested signal ceases to be communicated to said logic device(s), producing a monitoring signal that is an error signal.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein:

(a) said park-brake monitoring-system further comprises one or more park-brake system/park-brake monitoring-system malfunction-indicator(s) that is/are communicatively linked to said one or more logic device(s); and

(b) said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

activating one or more of said one or more park-brake system/park-brake monitoring-system malfunction-indicator(s) anytime one of said monitoring signals that is an error signal is produced.

18. A vehicle, comprising:

one or more frame structures to which a majority of other components of said vehicle are engaged directly or indirectly and which function(s) to locate said other components of said vehicle relative to one another;

a suspension system that is engaged to and supports said one or more frame structures;

wherein said suspension system comprises one or more ground-engaging components that are rotatable relative to said one or more frame structure(s) of said vehicle, at least when certain subsystems of said vehicle are in certain operational states, and that provide said vehicle with a relatively low resistance to movement along said ground when they are rotatable relative to said one or more frame structure(s);

one or more body structures engaged directly or indirectly to and supported by said one or more frame structures and upon or within which occupants and/or cargo of said vehicle may reside;

a park-brake system that has a set operational state in which said park-brake system prevents rotation of one or more of said ground-engaging components relative to said one or more frame structures and that also has a release operational state in which said park-brake system does not prevent rotation of any of said around-engaging components relative to said one or more frame structures;

wherein said park-brake system further comprises park-brake-actuating components that effect or allow a released operational state of said park-brake system when they are in a home position and that effect said set operational state of said park-brake system when they have been actuated away from their home position to a set position;

wherein said park-brake system further comprises park-brake-system controls that are operable by an operator of said vehicle to effect actuation and retraction of said park-brake-actuating components between said home position and said set position;

a park-brake monitoring-system that comprises one or more logic device(s);

wherein said park-brake monitoring-system further comprises one or more selected-state sensor(s) that are communicatively linked to said one or more logic device(s) and that interact with said park-brake-system controls in such a manner that said one or more selected-state sensor(s) produce and communicate to said logic device(s) signals implicative of a requested operational state of said park-brake system;

wherein said park-brake monitoring-system further comprises one or more actual-state sensor(s) that are communicatively linked to said logic device(s) and that interact with said park-brake-actuating components in such manner that said actual-state sensors produce and communicate to said logic device(s) signals implicative of an actual operational state of said park-brake system, which signals that are implicative of an actual operational state of said park brake system are dependent upon position(s) of said park-brake-actuating components relative to said home position and said set position thereof;

wherein said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

producing monitoring signals in a manner that is dependent upon both said signal(s) produced and communicated to said logic device(s) by said selected-state sensor(s) and said signal(s) produced and communicated to said logic device(s) by said actual-state sensor(s);

said one or more actual-state sensor(s) produce and communicate to said logic device(s) an under-travel signal when said park-brake-actuating components of said park-brake system are actuated and/or retracted to at least one position in and under-travel range of positions;

said one or more actual-state sensor(s) produce and communicate to said logic device(s) a full-travel signal when said park-brake-actuating components of said park-brake system are actuated to at least one position in a full-travel range of positions;

said one or more actual-state sensor(s) produce and communicate to said logic device(s) a full-travel signal when said park-brake-actuating components of said park-brake system are actuated to any position in a full-travel range of positions;

said one or more selected-state sensor(s) produce and communicate to said logic device(s) a set-requested signal during any presence in said park-brake system-controls of conditions that are only present when an operator has manipulated said park-brake-system controls in a manner to effect said set operational state of said park-brake system;

said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

producing a park-brake-set signal when and only when said selected-state sensor is producing and communicating to said logic device(s) a set-requested signal and said actual-state sensor is producing and communicating to said logic device(s) a full-travel signal;

said one or more selected-state sensor(s) produce and communicate to said logic device(s) a release-requested signal during any presence in said park-brake system-controls of conditions that are only present when an operator has manipulated said park-brake-system controls in a manner to effect said released operational state of said park-brake system;

said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

when and only when said selected-state sensor(s) is/are producing and communicating to said logic device(s) a release-requested signal and said actual-state sensor(s) are not communicating to said logic device(s) a full-travel signal, said one or more logic device(s) producing a park-brake-released signal;

said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

when a signal combination comprising an under-travel signal and a set-requested signal, which is a non-allowed signal combination, is communicated to said logic device(s), executing a malfunction-verification algorithm comprising the steps of;

starting a timing operation;

continuing said timing operation until said timing operation has been active for a malfunction-verification period or said signal combination comprising said under-travel signal and said set-requested signal is no longer being communicated to said logic device(s);

if said signal combination comprising said under-travel signal and said set-requested signal ceases to be communicated to said logic device(s) before said timing operation has been active for said malfunction-verification period, terminating execution of said malfunction-verification algorithm and waiting until a non-allowed signal combination is once again communicated to said logic device(s) before initiating another execution of said malfunction-verification algorithm; and

if said timing operation has been active for said malfunction-verification period before said signal combination comprising said under-travel signal and said set-requested signal ceases to be communicated to said logic device(s), producing a monitoring signal that is an error signal.

19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein:

(a) said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

when a signal combination comprising a full-travel signal and a release-requested signal, which is a non-allowed signal combination, is communicated to said logic device(s), executing said malfunction-verification algorithm comprising the steps of;

starting a timing operation;

continuing said timing operation until said timing operation has been active for a malfunction-verification period or said signal combination comprising said full-travel signal and said release-requested signal is no longer being communicated to said logic device(s);

if said signal combination comprising said full-travel signal and said release-requested signal ceases to be communicated to said logic device(s) before said timing operation has been active for said malfunction-verification period, terminating execution of said malfunction-verification algorithm and waiting until a non-allowed signal combination is once again communicated to said logic device(s) before initiating another execution of said malfunction-verification algorithm; and

if said timing operation has been active for said malfunction-verification period before said signal combination comprising said full-travel signal and said release-requested signal ceases to be communicated to said logic device(s), producing a monitoring signal that is an error signal.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein:

(a) said park-brake monitoring-system further comprises one or more park-brake system/park-brake monitoring-system malfunction-indicator(s) that is/are communicatively linked to said one or more logic device(s); and

(b) said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

activating one or more of said one or more park-brake system/park-brake monitoring-system malfunction-indicator(s) anytime one of said monitoring signals that is an error signal is produced.

21. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein:

(a) said vehicle further comprises computer memory to which said logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system are communicatively linked;

(b) said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

storing a fault code that is interpretable to indicate a malfunction of said park-brake system and/or said park-brake monitoring-system in said computer memory anytime one of said monitoring signals that is an error signal is produced.

22. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein:

(a) said one or more actual-state sensor(s) produce and communicate to said logic device(s) an over-travel signal when said park-brake-actuating components of said park-brake system are actuated to positions within an over-travel range of positions; and

(b) said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

when a signal combination comprising an over-travel signal and said set-requested signal, which is a non-allowed signal combination, is communicated to said logic device(s), executing a malfunction-verification algorithm comprising the steps of;

starting a timing operation;

continuing said timing operation until said timing operation has been active for a malfunction-verification period or said signal combination comprising said over-travel signal and said set-requested signal is no longer being communicated to said logic device(s);

if said signal combination comprising said over-travel signal and said set-requested signal ceases to be communicated to said logic device(s) before said timing operation has been active for said malfunction-verification period, terminating execution of said malfunction-verification algorithm and waiting until a non-allowed signal combination is once again communicated to said logic device(s) before initiating another execution of said malfunction-verification algorithm; and

if said timing operation has been active for said malfunction-verification period before said signal combination comprising said over-travel signal and said set-requested signal ceases to be communicated to said logic device(s), producing a monitoring signal that is an error signal.

23. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein:

(a) said park-brake monitoring-system comprises position-marking structure that is engaged to one of said park-brake-actuating components;

(b) said actual-state sensor(s) consist of a single actual-state sensor that is a binary-digital sensor that is engaged to said vehicle at a position adjacent a path of travel of said position-marking structure;

(c) said binary-digital sensor, which is said actual-state sensor, is located in such a position that, when said park-brake-actuating components are actuated to positions within a full-travel range of positions, said position-marking structure is aligned with said binary-digital sensor, which is said actual-state sensor, when said park-brake-actuating components are actuated and/or retracted to positions within an under-travel range of positions said position-marking structure is disposed upon a first side of said binary-digital sensor, which is said actual-state sensor, and when said park-brake-actuating components are actuated to positions within an over-travel range of positions of said park-brake-system said position-marking structure is disposed upon a second side of said binary-digital sensor, which is said actual-state sensor; and

(d) said binary-digital sensor, which is said actual-state sensor, is constructed in such a manner and interacts with said position-marking structure in such a manner that, when said binary-digital sensor, which is said actual-state sensor, and said position-marking structure are aligned with one another, said binary-digital sensor, which is said actual-state sensor, produces and communicates to said logic device(s) either a logic high signal or a logic low signal and, when said position-marking structure is disposed upon either said first side or said second side of said binary-digital sensor, which is said actual-state sensor, said binary-digital sensor, which is said actual-state sensor, produces and communicates to said logic device(s) whichever of a logic high signal and a logic low signal it does not produce when said position marking structure is aligned with it.

24. A vehicle, comprising:

one or more frame structures to which a majority of other components of said vehicle are engaged directly or indirectly and which function(s) to locate said other components of said vehicle relative to one another;

a suspension system that is engaged to and supports said one or more frame structures;

wherein said suspension system comprises one or more ground-engaging components that are rotatable relative to said one or more frame structure(s) of said vehicle, at least when certain subsystems of said vehicle are in certain operational states, and that provide said vehicle with a relatively low resistance to movement along said ground when they are rotatable relative to said one or more frame structure(s);

one or more body structures engaged directly or indirectly to and supported by said one or more frame structures and upon or within which occupants and/or cargo of said vehicle may reside;

a park-brake system that has a set operational state in which said park-brake system prevents rotation of one or more of said ground-engaging components relative to said one or more frame structures and that also has a release operational state in which said park-brake system does not prevent rotation of any of said ground-engaging components relative to said one or more frame structures;

wherein said park-brake system further comprises park-brake-actuating components that effect or allow a released operational state of said park-brake system when they are in a home position and that effect said set operational state of said park-brake system when they have been actuated away from their home position to a set position;

wherein said park-brake system further comprises park-brake-system controls that are operable by an operator of said vehicle to effect actuation and retraction of said park-brake-actuating components between said home position and said set position;

a park-brake monitoring-system that comprises one or more logic device(s);

wherein said park-brake monitoring-system further comprises one or more selected-state sensor(s) that are communicatively linked to said one or more logic device(s) and that interact with said park-brake-system controls in such a manner that said one or more selected-state sensor(s) produce and communicate to said logic device(s) signals implicative of a requested operational state of said park-brake system;

wherein said park-brake monitoring-system further comprises one or more actual-state sensor(s) that are communicatively linked to said logic device(s) and that interact with said park-brake-actuating components in such manner that said actual-state sensors produce and communicate to said logic device(s) signals implicative of an actual operational state of said park-brake system, which signals that are implicative of an actual operational state of said park brake system are dependent upon position(s) of said park-brake-actuating components relative to said home position and said set position thereof;

wherein said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

producing monitoring signals in a manner that is dependent upon both said signal(s) produced and communicated to said logic device(s) by said selected-state sensor(s) and said signal(s) produced and communicated to said logic device(s) by said actual-state sensor(s);

said one or more actual-state sensor(s) produce and communicate to said logic device(s) an under-travel signal when said park-brake-actuating components of said park-brake system are actuated and/or retracted to at least one position in and under-travel range of positions;

said one or more actual-state sensor(s) produce and communicate to said logic device(s) a full-travel signal when said park-brake-actuating components of said park-brake system are actuated to at least one position in a full-travel range of positions;

said one or more selected-state sensor(s) produce and communicate to said logic device(s) a release-requested signal during any presence in said park-brake system-controls of conditions that are only present when an operator has manipulated said park-brake-system controls in a manner to effect said released operational state of said park-brake system;

said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

when and only when said selected-state sensor(s) is/are producing and communicating to said logic device(s) a release-requested signal and said actual-state sensor(s) are not communicating to said logic device(s) a full-travel signal, said one or more logic device(s) producing a park-brake-released signal;

said park-brake monitoring-system further comprises a park-brake-released indicator that is communicatively linked to one or more of said one or more logic device(s) and that is operable to indicate to an operator of said vehicle that said park-brake system has said released operational state;

said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the steps of;

when and only when said one or more logic device(s) are producing said park-brake-released signal, activating said park-brake-released indicator to indicate to an operator of said vehicle that said park-brake system has said released operational state;

said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the steps of;

when a signal combination comprising a full-travel signal and a release-requested signal, which is a non-allowed signal combination, is communicated to said logic device(s), executing a malfunction-verification algorithm comprising the steps of;

starting a timing operation;

continuing said timing operation until said timing operation has been active for a malfunction-verification period or said signal combination comprising said full-travel signal and said release-requested signal is no longer being communicated to said logic device(s);

if said signal combination comprising said full-travel signal and said release-requested signal ceases to be communicated to said logic device(s) before said timing operation has been active for said malfunction-verification period, terminating execution of said malfunction-verification algorithm and waiting until a non-allowed signal combination is once again communicated to said logic device(s) before initiating another execution of said malfunction-verification algorithm; and

if said timing operation has been active for said malfunction-verification period before said signal combination comprising said full-travel signal and said release-requested signal ceases to be communicated to said logic device(s), producing a monitoring signal that is an error signal.

25. A vehicle, comprising:

one or more frame structures to which a majority of other components of said vehicle are engaged directly or indirectly and which function(s) to locate said other components of said vehicle relative to one another;

a suspension system that is engaged to and supports said one or more frame structures;

wherein said suspension system comprises one or more ground-engaging components that are rotatable relative to said one or more frame structure(s) of said vehicle, at least when certain subsystems of said vehicle are in certain operational states, and that provide said vehicle with a relatively low resistance to movement along said ground when they are rotatable relative to said one or more frame structure(s);

one or more body structures engaged directly or indirectly to and supported by said one or more frame structures and upon or within which occupants and/or cargo of said vehicle may reside;

a park-brake system that has a set operational state in which said park-brake system prevents rotation of one or more of said around-engaging components relative to said one or more frame structures and that also has a release operational state in which said park-brake system does not prevent rotation of any of said around-engaging components relative to said one or more frame structures;

wherein said park-brake system further comprises park-brake-actuating components that effect or allow a released operational state of said park-brake system when they are in a home position and that effect said set operational state of said park-brake system when they have been actuated away from their home position to a set position;

wherein said park-brake system further comprises park-brake-system controls that are operable by an operator of said vehicle to effect actuation and retraction of said park-brake-actuating components between said home position and said set position;

a park-brake monitoring-system that comprises one or more logic device(s);

wherein said park-brake monitoring-system further comprises one or more selected-state sensor(s) that are communicatively linked to said one or more logic device(s) and that interact with said park-brake-system controls in such a manner that said one or more selected-state sensor(s) produce and communicate to said logic device(s) signals implicative of a requested operational state of said park-brake system;

wherein said park-brake monitoring-system further comprises one or more actual-state sensor(s) that are communicatively linked to said logic device(s) and that interact with said park-brake-actuating components in such manner that said actual-state sensors produce and communicate to said logic device(s) signals implicative of an actual operational state of said park-brake system, which signals that are implicative of an actual operational state of said park brake system are dependent upon position(s) of said park-brake-actuating components relative to said home position and said set position thereof;

wherein said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

producing monitoring signals in a manner that is dependent upon both said signal(s) produced and communicated to said logic device(s) by said selected-state sensor(s) and said signal(s) produced and communicated to said logic device(s) by said actual-state sensor(s);

said one or more actual-state sensor(s) produce and communicate to said logic device(s) a full-travel signal when said park-brake-actuating components of said park-brake system are actuated to at least one position in a full-travel range of positions;

said one or more selected-state sensor(s) produce and communicate to said logic device(s) a release-requested signal during any presence in said park-brake system-controls of conditions that are only present when an operator has manipulated said park-brake-system controls in a manner to effect said released operational state of said park-brake system; and

said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

when a signal combination comprising a full-travel signal and a release-requested signal, which is a non-allowed signal combination, is communicated to said logic device(s), executing a malfunction-verification algorithm comprising the steps of;

starting a timing operation;

continuing said timing operation until said timing operation has been active for a malfunction-verification period or said signal combination comprising said full-travel signal and said release-requested signal is no longer being communicated to said logic device(s);

if said signal combination comprising said full-travel signal and said release-requested signal ceases to be communicated to said logic device(s) before said timing operation has been active for said malfunction-verification period, terminating execution of said malfunction-verification algorithm and waiting until a non-allowed signal combination is once again communicated to said logic device(s) before initiating another execution of said malfunction-verification algorithm; and

if said timing operation has been active for said malfunction-verification period before said signal combination comprising said full-travel signal and said release-requested signal ceases to be communicated to said logic device(s), producing a monitoring signal that is an error signal.

26. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein:

(a) said park-brake monitoring-system further comprises one or more park-brake system/park-brake monitoring-system malfunction-indicator(s) that is/are communicatively linked to said one or more logic device(s); and

(b) said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

activating one or more of said one or more park-brake system/park-brake monitoring-system malfunction-indicator(s) anytime one of said monitoring signals that is an error signal is produced.

27. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein:

(a) said one or more actual-state sensor(s) produce and communicate to said logic device(s) an over-travel signal when said park-brake-actuating components of said park-brake system are actuated to at least one position in an over-travel range of positions;

(b) said one or more selected-state sensor(s) produce and communicate to said logic device(s) a set-requested signal during any presence in said park-brake system-controls of conditions that are only present when an operator has manipulated said park-brake-system controls in a manner to effect said set operational state of said park-brake system; and

(c) said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

when a signal combination comprising a over-travel signal and a set-requested signal, which is a non-allowed signal combination, is communicated to said logic device(s), executing a malfunction-verification algorithm comprising the steps of;

starting a timing operation;

continuing said timing operation until said timing operation has been active for a malfunction-verification period or said signal combination comprising said over-travel signal and said set-requested signal is no longer being communicated to said logic device(s);

if said signal combination comprising said over-travel signal and said set-requested signal ceases to be communicated to said logic device(s) before said timing operation has been active for said malfunction-verification period, terminating execution of said malfunction-verification algorithm and waiting until a non-allowed signal combination is once again communicated to said logic device(s) before initiating another execution of said malfunction-verification algorithm; and

if said timing operation has been active for said malfunction-verification period before said signal combination comprising said over-travel signal and said set-requested signal ceases to be communicated to said logic device(s), producing a monitoring signal that is an error signal.

28. The vehicle of claim 27, wherein:

(a) said park-brake monitoring-system further comprises one or more park-brake system/park-brake monitoring-system malfunction-indicator(s) that is/are communicatively linked to said one or more logic device(s); and

(b) said one or more logic device(s) of said park-brake monitoring-system operate in accordance with logic that cause it/them to operate in such a manner that it/they perform the step of;

activating one or more of said one or more park-brake system/park-brake monitoring-system malfunction-indicator(s) anytime one of said monitoring signals that is an error signal is produced.