System and method for controlling brake actuation energy in electronically-controlled brake systems of tractor and trailer vehicle combinations

• US 6,913,328 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2003
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wabco GmbH (Wabco Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wabco GmbH (Wabco Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gaulke, Arnd, Eckert, Horst
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SY, MARIANO ONG
• Application Number:
  US10/426,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20040041464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 303/17, 303/7, 303/20, 303/22.1, 303/9.62, 303/191, 188/181.T, 188/112.R, 188/349, 188/1.11 E, 188/1.11 R
• US Class Current: 303/191
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1708 for lorries or tractor-trailer combinations
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/266 using valves or actuators with external control means B60T8/261 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/184 Brake temperature, e.g. of fluid, pads or discs
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/22 Articulation angle, e.g. between tractor and trailer

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.

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.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of calculating a first mean temperature value of said first wheel brakes based on said ascertained temperatures of said first wheel brakes and calculating an additional mean temperature value of said additional wheel brakes based on said ascertained temperatures of said additional wheel brakes for comparison with one another and with said temperature limit value.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of adjusting a set brake actuation energy of at least one of said first vehicle train part and said at least one additional vehicle train part based on said ascertained temperatures of said wheel brakes.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein, if said set brake actuation energy of said at least one additional vehicle train part is lowered, said set brake actuation energy of said first vehicle train part is simultaneously raised, and, if said set brake actuation energy of said at least one additional vehicle train part is raised, said set brake actuation energy of said first vehicle train part is simultaneously lowered.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein said step of adjusting set brake actuation energy of at least one of said first vehicle train part and said at least one additional vehicle train part results in a neutral effect on total braking power of said vehicle train.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein said step of adjusting set brake actuation energy of at least one of said first vehicle train part and said at least one additional vehicle train part results in a reduction in total braking power of said vehicle train.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein said set brake actuation energy is adjusted as a function of a ratio of peak temperature of at least one of said wheel brakes to a mean temperature of all of said wheel brakes.

8. The method according to claim 3, wherein said set brake actuation energy is adjusted as a function of a level of absolute peak temperatures of at least one of said wheel brakes.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said steps of ascertaining temperatures of said first wheel brakes and said additional wheel brakes involve measuring said temperatures using temperature sensors.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said steps of ascertaining temperatures of said first wheel brakes and said additional wheel brakes involve calculating said temperatures according to a temperature model which takes into consideration at least one of a brake load signal representative of a load condition of said wheel brakes, heat energy supply to said wheel brakes, deformation of component parts of said wheel brakes, and instantaneous vehicle train deceleration and vehicle train speed.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said brake actuation energy is distributed as a function of a ratio of peak temperature of at least one of said wheel brakes to a mean temperature of all of said wheel brakes.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said brake actuation energy is distributed as a function of a level of absolute peak temperatures of at least one of said wheel brakes.

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 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.

14. The system according to claim 13, further comprising a brake signal transmitter for inputting a set value to at least one of said first electronically controlled brake system and said at least one additional electronically controlled brake system.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein said 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 includes at least one control unit of said first electronically controlled brake system and said at least one additional electronically controlled brake system.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said at least one control unit is adapted to distribute brake actuation energy as a function of a ratio of peak temperature of at least one of said wheel brakes to a mean temperature of all of said wheel brakes.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein said at least one control unit is adapted to distribute brake actuation energy as a function of a level of absolute peak temperatures of at least one of said wheel brakes.

18. The system according to claim 15, further comprising means associated with said at least one control unit for calculating a first mean temperature value of said first wheel brakes based on said ascertained temperatures of said first wheel brakes and for calculating an additional mean temperature value of said additional wheel brakes based on said ascertained temperatures of said additional wheel brakes for comparison with one another and with said temperature limit value.

19. The system according to claim 15, further comprising means associated with said at least one control unit for adjusting a set brake actuation energy of at least one of said first vehicle train part and said at least one additional vehicle train part based on said ascertained temperatures of said wheel brakes.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said means associated with said at least one control unit for adjusting a set brake actuation energy of at least one of said first vehicle train part and said at least one additional vehicle train part is adapted to simultaneously raise said set brake actuation energy of said first vehicle train part if said set brake actuation energy of said at least one additional vehicle train part is lowered, and to simultaneously lower said set brake actuation energy of said first vehicle train part if said set brake actuation energy of said at least one additional vehicle train part is raised.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said means associated with said at least one control unit for adjusting a set brake actuation energy of at least one of said first vehicle train part and said at least one additional vehicle train part yields one of a neutral effect and reduction in total braking power of said vehicle train.

22. The system according to claim 13, wherein said 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 includes at least one brake actuation energy allocation device separate from said first electronically controlled brake system and said at least one additional electronically controlled brake system.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said at least one brake actuation energy allocation device is adapted to distribute brake actuation energy as a function of a ratio of peak temperature of at least one of said wheel brakes to a mean temperature of all of said wheel brakes.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein said at least one brake actuation energy allocation device is adapted to distribute brake actuation energy as a function of a level of absolute peak temperatures of at least one of said wheel brakes.

25. The system according to claim 22, further comprising means associated with said at least one brake actuation energy allocation device for calculating a first mean temperature value of said first wheel brakes based on said ascertained temperatures of said first wheel brakes and for calculating an additional mean temperature value of said additional wheel brakes based on said ascertained temperatures of said additional wheel brakes for comparison with one another and with said temperature limit value.

26. The system according to claim 22, further comprising means associated with said at least one brake actuation energy allocation device for adjusting a set brake actuation energy of at least one of said first vehicle train part and said at least one additional vehicle train part based on said ascertained temperatures of said wheel brakes.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein said means associated with said at least one brake actuation energy allocation device for adjusting a set brake actuation energy of at least one of said first vehicle train part and said at least one additional vehicle train part is adapted to simultaneously raise said set brake actuation energy of said first vehicle train part if said set brake actuation energy of said at least one additional vehicle train part is lowered, and to simultaneously lower said set brake actuation energy of said first vehicle train part if said set brake actuation energy of said at least one additional vehicle train part is raised.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein said means associated with said at least one brake actuation energy allocation device for adjusting a set brake actuation energy of at least one of said first vehicle train part and said at least one additional vehicle train part yields at one of a neutral effect or a reduction in total braking power of said vehicle train.

29. The system according to claim 13, wherein said means for ascertaining temperatures of said first wheel brakes and said additional wheel brakes includes at least one temperature sensor.

30. The system according to claim 13, wherein said means for ascertaining temperatures of said first wheel brakes and said additional wheel brakes includes means for calculating said temperatures according to a temperature model which takes into consideration at least one of a brake load signal representative of a load condition of said wheel brakes, heat energy supply to said wheel brakes, deformation of component parts of said wheel brakes, and instantaneous vehicle deceleration and vehicle speed.

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 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.