Control for an electromagnetic brake for a multiple-ratio power transmission that has a brake actuation counter

• US 8,057,358 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2007
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Hornbrook, Michael J., Wang, Yeidei
• Primary Examiner(s): PANG, ROGER L
• Application Number:
  US11/900,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20080045383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: 477/59, 477/60, 477/94, 477/124, 477/906, 475/154, 475/900, 743/39, 180/164, 192/13.R, 192/18.B, 701/51, 701/66
• US Class Current: 477/124
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 13/44 in which the clutching pressure is produced by springs only
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2121/12 for releasing a normally applied brake, the type of actuator being irrelevant or not provided for in groups F16D2121/04 - F16D2121/10
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2121/20 using electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 67/02 Clutch-brake combinations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 477/906 Means detecting or ameliorating the effects of malfunction or potential malfunction

Abstract

A control system and method for an electromagnetic clutch brake, including an electromagnetic clutch brake actuator coil surrounding a power input shaft for a multiple-ratio transmission in a vehicle powertrain. A protective circuit of the control system normally monitors data inputs from a databus that may indicate conditions that are not favorable for clutch brake actuation. The protective circuit prevents actuation of the clutch brake under such conditions. In the event the data inputs are not available from the databus, the protective circuit permits operation in a fall-back mode in which a brake ON timer is checked prior to clutch brake actuation. A primary counter is incremented with each normal clutch brake actuation and a secondary counter is incremented with each fall-back clutch brake actuation.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic brake for a vehicle powertrain for a wheeled vehicle, the powertrain comprising an engine, a multiple-ratio power transmission having a housing enclosing multiple-ratio gear elements, a power output shaft driveably connected to vehicle traction wheels, a power input shaft driveably connected to the multiple-ratio gear elements and a master clutch selectively connecting the power input shaft to the engine, the master clutch being enclosed by a master clutch housing forming a part of the transmission housing, the electromagnetic brake comprising:

a stator coil housing secured to the transmission housing, the stator coil housing enclosing a stator coil surrounding the power input shaft and defining with the stator coil housing an electromagnetic pole face;

a stator coil circuit including a voltage source and a switch for opening and closing the stator coil circuit;

an armature plate having a hub portion secured to the power input shaft and a peripheral portion disposed adjacent the stator coil;

a control system for electrically energizing the stator coil thereby effecting frictional engagement of the armature plate with the pole face as an electromagnetic flux flow path is established around the stator coil through the stator coil housing and the peripheral armature plate portion;

the control system further including a protective circuit that is adapted to receive at least one data input from a databus, the protective circuit determining whether the data input is within a predetermined range that is appropriate for energizing the stator coil, and wherein the protective circuit further comprises a fallback mechanism in communication with the stator coil to permit operation of the electromagnetic brake when no data input is received from the databus.

2. An electromagnetic brake according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of data inputs is received from the databus, the data inputs comprises at least one of an engine speed data input, a throttle position data input, and a vehicle speed timer input.

3. The electromagnetic brake of claim 1 wherein the fallback mechanism in the protective circuit further comprises a software timer that times the period during which the stator coil for the electromagnetic brake is energized.

4. The electromagnetic brake of claim 1 wherein fallback mechanism in the protective circuit further comprises a software timer that times the duration of electromagnetic brake application to permit operation of the electromagnetic brake when no data input is received from the databus.

5. The electromagnetic brake of claim 1 further comprising a primary counter that is incremented each time the electromagnetic brake is applied as the data inputs are received from the databus.

6. The electromagnetic brake of claim 5 further comprising a secondary counter that is incremented each time the electromagnetic brake is applied while the data input from the databus is unavailable.

7. An electromagnetic brake for a vehicle powertrain for a wheeled vehicle, the powertrain comprising an engine, a multiple-ratio power transmission having a housing enclosing multiple-ratio gear elements, a power output shaft driveably connected to vehicle traction wheels, a power input shaft driveably connected to the multiple-ratio gear elements and a master clutch selectively connecting the power input shaft to the engine, the master clutch being enclosed by a master clutch housing forming a part of the transmission housing, the electromagnetic brake comprising:

a stator coil housing secured to the transmission housing, the stator coil housing enclosing a stator coil surrounding the power input shaft and defining with the coil housing an electromagnetic pole face;

a stator coil circuit including a voltage source and a switch for opening and closing the stator coil circuit;

an armature plate having a hub portion secured to the power input shaft and a peripheral portion disposed adjacent the stator coil;

a control system for electrically energizing the stator coil thereby effecting frictional engagement of the armature plate with the pole face as an electromagnetic flux flow path is established around the stator coil through the stator coil housing and the peripheral armature plate portion;

the control system further including a protective circuit that is adapted to receive at least one data input from a databus, the protective circuit determining whether the data input is within a predetermined range that is appropriate for energizing the stator coil wherein the protective circuit further comprises a software timer that times the period during which the stator coil for the electromagnetic brake is energized.

8. An electromagnetic brake according to claim 7 wherein a plurality of data inputs is received from the databus, the data inputs comprising comprises at least one of an engine speed data input, a throttle position data input, and a vehicle speed timer input.

9. The electromagnetic brake of claim 7 further comprising a primary counter that is incremented each time the electromagnetic brake is applied as the data inputs are received from the databus.

10. The electromagnetic brake of claim 9 further comprising a secondary counter that is incremented each time the brake is applied while the data input from the databus is unavailable.

11. An electromagnetic brake for a vehicle powertrain for a wheeled vehicle, the powertrain comprising an engine, a multiple-ratio power transmission having a housing enclosing multiple-ratio gear elements, a power output shaft driveably connected to vehicle traction wheels, a power input shaft driveably connected to the multiple-ratio gear elements and a master clutch selectively connecting the power input shaft to the engine, the master clutch being enclosed by a master clutch housing forming a part of the transmission housing, the electromagnetic brake comprising:

a stator coil housing secured to the transmission housing, the stator coil housing enclosing a stator coil surrounding the power input shaft and defining with the coil housing an electromagnetic pole face;

a stator coil circuit including a voltage source and a switch for opening and closing the stator coil circuit;

an armature plate having a hub portion secured to the power input shaft and a peripheral portion disposed adjacent the stator coil;

a control system for electrically energizing the stator coil thereby effecting frictional engagement of the armature plate with the pole face as an electromagnetic flux flow path is established around the stator coil through the stator coil housing and the peripheral armature plate portion;

the control system further including a protective circuit that is adapted to receive at least one data input from a databus, the protective circuit determining whether the data input is within a predetermined range that is appropriate for energizing the stator coil, wherein the protective circuit permits operation of the electromagnetic brake when no data input is received from databus, and wherein the protective circuit includes a software timer that times the duration of brake application.

12. An electromagnetic brake according to claim 11 wherein a plurality of data inputs is received from the databus, the data inputs comprises at least one of an engine speed data input, a throttle position data input, and a vehicle speed timer input.

13. The electromagnetic brake of claim 11 wherein the protective circuit further comprising a primary counter that is incremented each time the brake is applied as the data inputs are received from the databus.

14. The electromagnetic brake of claim 13 wherein the protective circuit further comprise a secondary counter that is incremented each time the brake is applied while the data input from the databus is unavailable.