Redundant braking system

• US 7,393,065 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2006
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Fitzgibbons, Patrick J., Craig, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz; Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US11/421,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20070278856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 188156-162, 188/3.R, 188/3.H, 303/3, 30312209-12215, 303/152, 180/65.2, 180/370
• US Class Current: 303/122.09
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/588 both fluid and mechanical assistance or drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/18 Safety devices; Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2121/24 using motors
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2127/06 Locking mechanisms, e.g. acting on actuators, on release mechanisms or on force transmission mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2129/12 Electrostrictive or magnetostrictive elements, e.g. piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/18 adapted for drawing members together , e.g. for disc brakes

Abstract

Disclosed is a redundant braking system for a vehicle. A controller may monitor a status of a hydraulic braking system, and during vehicle travel, automatically switch to a modulated electric braking system which is separate from the hydraulic braking system when the hydraulic braking system fails. The modulated electric braking system may utilize a brake acting on a drive shaft of the vehicle, and an operator-actuated switch may set a mode of the modulated electric braking system to a non-modulated parking brake mode.

Claims

1. A braking system for a truck comprising:

a hydraulic braking system on the truck, the hydraulic braking system configured to apply brake force to the truck through a first brake apparatus;

a modulated electric braking system on the truck, the modulated electric braking system being separate from the hydraulic braking system and configured to apply brake force to the truck through a second brake apparatus completely separate from the first brake apparatus; and

a control system for monitoring a status of said hydraulic braking system and automatically switching to the modulated electric braking system from the hydraulic braking system during truck travel when the hydraulic braking system fails,

wherein the first brake apparatus is not actuable by the modulated electric braking system and the second brake apparatus is not actuable by the hydraulic braking system.

2. The braking system of claim 1, wherein the second brake apparatus is configured to act on a drive shaft of the truck.

3. The braking system of claim 2, wherein the second brake apparatus is located on an input side of a torque transfer unit.

4. The braking system of claim 2, wherein said hydraulic braking system is an air-over-hydraulic braking system.

5. The braking system of claim 1, further comprising:

an operator-actuated switch for setting a mode of the modulated electric braking system to a non-modulated parking brake mode.

6. The braking system of claim 5, wherein in the parking brake mode a mechanism of said first brake apparatus maintains a braking force to a drive shaft of the truck when electric power is removed.

7. The braking system of claim 6, wherein said mechanism is a ratcheting mechanism.

8. A braking system for a land vehicle under control of an operator comprising:

a hydraulic braking system configured to apply brake force through a first brake apparatus;

an electric braking system separate from the hydraulic braking system and configured to apply modulated brake force through a second brake apparatus completely separate from the first brake apparatus;

an operator actuated switch for switching the vehicle to a silent mode of operation; and

a controller for switching from the hydraulic braking system to the modulated electric braking system responsive to actuation of the switch during vehicle travel.

9. The braking system of claim 8, wherein the second brake apparatus is configured to act on a drive shaft of the vehicle.

10. The braking system of claim 9, wherein the second brake apparatus is located on an input side of a torque transfer unit.

11. The braking system of claim 9, further comprising:

an operator-actuated switch for setting a mode of the second brake apparatus to a non-modulated parking brake mode.

12. The braking system of claim 11, wherein in said parking brake mode a mechanism of the second brake apparatus maintains a braking force to the drive shaft when electric power is removed.

13. The braking system of claim 12, wherein said mechanism is a ratcheting mechanism.

14. The braking system of claim 9, wherein the second brake apparatus includes a brake selected from a drum brake and a disc brake.

15. A method of operating a braking system of a vehicle, comprising:

sensing a failure of air pressure in an air-over-hydraulic braking system on the vehicle during vehicle travel; and

automatically actuating an electric braking system responsive to said sensing to provide modulated electric braking during continued vehicle travel, the electric braking system being completely separate from the air-over-hydraulic braking system,

wherein the air-over-hydraulic braking system applies modulated force through a first brake apparatus, the electric braking system applies modulated force through a second brake apparatus, and the first brake apparatus is completely independent of the second brake apparatus.

16. The method of operating of claim 15, wherein the second brake apparatus is configured to act on a drive shaft of the vehicle.

17. The method of operating of claim 16, wherein said second brake apparatus is located on an input side of a torque transfer unit.

18. The method of operating of claim 15, further including an operator setting a mode of the electric braking system to a non-modulated parking brake mode.

19. The method of operating of claim 18, including maintaining a braking force to a drive shaft of the vehicle through a mechanism of the apparatus acting on a drive shaft of the vehicle when electric power is removed.

20. The method of operating of claim 19, wherein said mechanism is a ratcheting mechanism.