Electro-pneumatic hand brake system

Abstract

An electro-pneumatic hand brake system is for a vehicle with spring-loaded brakes. The system includes a pneumatic relay valve, a bistable solenoid valve for controlling the relay valve and a control unit for controlling the bistable solenoid valve. An outlet of the relay valve is connected to ports for the spring-loaded brakes. An inlet of the bistable solenoid valve is provided for connecting to a line carrying ventilation pressure. A self-retaining switching valve with a control input is provided before the inlet of the bistable solenoid valve. The self-retaining switching valve can be moved against the force of a restoring element from a blocking position into a flow-through position when there is sufficient pressure at its control input. An outlet of the self-retaining switching valve is connected to the inlet of the bistable solenoid valve.

Claims

1. An electro-pneumatic hand brake system for a vehicle with spring-loaded brakes, the electro-pneumatic hand brake system comprising: a pneumatic relay valve having a relay valve outlet; a bistable solenoid valve for controlling said relay valve; a control unit for controlling the bistable solenoid valve; a plurality of ports associated with the spring-loaded brakes; said relay valve outlet being connected to said ports; said bistable solenoid valve having an inlet for connecting to a line carrying ventilation pressure; a self-retaining switching valve having a control input provided before said inlet of said bistable solenoid valve, a self-retaining switching valve inlet, and a self-retaining switching valve outlet; wherein: a) said self-retaining switching valve is moveable against a force of a restoring element from a blocking position into a flow-through position when there is sufficient pressure at said control input; b) said self-retaining switching valve outlet is connected to said inlet of the bistable solenoid valve; c) said control input of said self-retaining switching valve is also connected to a signal line via which a signal pressure is feedable to said control input as a control pressure at least for a short time; d) said self-retaining switching valve in said flow-through position connects said self-retaining switching valve outlet to said self-retaining switching valve inlet; and, e) said self-retaining switching valve in said blocking position connects said self-retaining switching valve outlet with a self-retaining switching valve bleed outlet.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said self-retaining switching valve is configured to assume said blocking position as soon as a pressure at said self-retaining switching valve outlet falls below a limit value.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a first bleed line; a second bleed line; said bistable solenoid valve having a bistable solenoid valve bleed outlet; said self-retaining switching valve bleed outlet being connected to said bistable solenoid valve bleed outlet via said first bleed line and said second bleed line.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said first bleed line is provided with a throttle.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said first bleed line and said second bleed line are connected via a third bleed line to a bleed outlet of said pneumatic relay valve.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said third bleed line or the second bleed line are connected to a bleed.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said control input of said self-retaining switching valve is connected to an input of said pneumatic relay valve.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said self-retaining switching valve is a 3/2-way shuttle valve.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said bistable solenoid valve is a 3/2-way valve.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said bistable solenoid valve has a bistable solenoid valve outlet connected to a relay valve control input of said pneumatic relay valve.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising: an electro-magnetic switching valve connected between said bistable solenoid valve output and said relay valve control input; and, said switching valve configured to switch from a flow-through position to a blocking position.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said electro-magnetic switching valve without current supply is in said flow-through position.

13. The system of claim 10 further comprising: a shuttle valve connected between said bistable solenoid valve outlet and said relay valve control input; wherein: a) said shuttle valve has a shuttle valve outlet connected to said relay valve control input; b) said shuttle valve has a first inlet directly or indirectly connected to said bistable solenoid valve outlet; and, c) said shuttle valve has a second shuttle valve inlet connected to a pressure inlet carrying a service brake pressure.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said self-retaining switching valve has a bleed outlet configured to bleed directly into the atmosphere.

15. An electronic braking system for a vehicle with spring-applied brakes comprising: an electro-pneumatic hand brake system including a pneumatic relay valve having a relay valve outlet, a bistable solenoid valve for controlling said relay valve; said electro-pneumatic hand brake system further including a control unit for controlling the bistable solenoid valve and a plurality of ports associated with the spring-loaded brakes; said relay valve outlet being connected to said ports; said bistable solenoid valve having an inlet for connecting to a line carrying ventilation pressure; said electro-pneumatic hand brake system further including a self-retaining switching valve having a control input provided before said inlet of said bistable solenoid valve, a self-retaining switching valve inlet, and a self-retaining switching valve outlet; wherein: a) said self-retaining switching valve is moveable against a force of a restoring element from a blocking position into a flow-through position when there is sufficient pressure at said control input; b) self-retaining switching valve has a self-retaining switching valve outlet connected to said inlet of the bistable solenoid valve; c) said control input of said self-retaining switching valve is also connected to a signal line via which a signal pressure is feedable to said control input as a control pressure at least for a short time; d) said self-retaining switching valve in said flow-through position connects said self-retaining switching valve outlet to said self-retaining switching valve inlet; and, e) said self-retaining switching valve in said blocking position connects said self-retaining switching valve outlet with a self-retaining switching valve bleed outlet.

16. A vehicle comprising: a pneumatic brake installation; spring-loaded brakes; an electronic braking system having an electro-pneumatic hand brake system including a pneumatic relay valve having a relay valve outlet, a bistable solenoid valve for controlling said relay valve; said electro-pneumatic hand brake system further including a control unit for controlling the bistable solenoid valve and a plurality of ports associated with the spring-loaded brakes; said relay valve outlet being connected to said ports; said bistable solenoid valve having an inlet for connecting to a line carrying ventilation pressure; said electro-pneumatic hand brake system further including a self-retaining switching valve having a control input provided before said inlet of said bistable solenoid valve, a self-retaining switching valve inlet, and a self-retaining switching valve outlet; wherein: a) said self-retaining switching valve is moveable against a force of a restoring element from a blocking position into a flow-through position when there is sufficient pressure at said control input; b) self-retaining switching valve has a self-retaining switching valve outlet connected to said inlet of the bistable solenoid valve; c) said control input of said self-retaining switching valve is also connected to a signal line via which a signal pressure is feedable to said control input as a control pressure at least for a short time; d) said self-retaining switching valve in said flow-through position connects said self-retaining switching valve outlet to said self-retaining switching valve inlet; and, e) said self-retaining switching valve in said blocking position connects said self-retaining switching valve outlet with a self-retaining switching valve bleed outlet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0044] The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram of an electro-pneumatic hand brake system, in the driving position;

[0046] FIG. 2 shows the circuit diagram of FIG. 1, but in the parking position; and,

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a slightly supplemented circuit diagram, as shown in FIG. 1, in a malfunction position following a driving position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram of an electro-pneumatic hand brake system 10 for a vehicle (not shown) with spring-loaded brakes. The hand brake system 10 is preferably a subsystem of an electronic brake system for a pneumatic brake installation. The vehicle is preferably a motor vehicle.

[0049] Important components of the hand brake system 10 are a pneumatic relay valve 11, a bistable solenoid valve 12 and a self-retaining pneumatic switching valve 13.

[0050] The relay valve 11 is connected with an inlet 14 to a line 15 carrying ventilation pressure. From an outlet 16 of the relay valve 11 a line 17 leads to ports 18 for spring brake cylinders (not shown). With relay valve 11 switched through, the spring brake cylinders are ventilated or at least can be ventilated.

[0051] The bistable solenoid valve 12 is preferably a 3/2-way valve and is electromagnetically switchable between the flow-through position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 and the blocking position shown in FIG. 2. In the flow-through position, inlet 19 and outlet 20 are connected. In the blocking position the outlet 20 is connected to a bleed outlet 21.

[0052] A second line 22 carrying ventilation pressure is indirectly connected to the inlet 19. The lines 15 and 22 carrying ventilation pressure can be connected to one another via a junction 23. The ventilation pressure preferably corresponds to the supply pressure in a brake circuit provided for the hand brake system 10. This is also known as the parking brake circuit. Lines 15, 22 are connected to ports (not shown) of the parking brake circuit.

[0053] The self-retaining, pneumatic switching valve 13 has inlet 24, outlet 25, bleed outlet 26 and control input 27 and is preferably realized as a 3/2-way valve. In the flow-through position, the switching valve 13 connects the line 22 with the inlet 19 of the bistable solenoid valve 12. In the blocking position of switching valve 13, the outlet 25 is switched to the bleed outlet 26, see FIG. 3. As long as there is a pressure above a limit value at outlet 25, the switching valve 13 remains in the flow-through position against the force of a restoring element and is self-retaining there. The limit value is approximately 1.2 to 2.5 bar, preferably 1.5 bar.

[0054] The control input 27 is connected to a line 28, which can be supplied with control pressure in a manner not shown, at least for a short time, and thus has the function of a signal line. As control pressure, for example, reserve pressure can be fed into line 28 at a suitable point via a switchable valve (not shown). The valve can be switched manually, pneumatically or electromagnetically, preferably either by an operator or automatically under defined conditions.

[0055] The pressure applied to the outlet 20 of the solenoid valve 12 feeds a control input 29 of the relay valve 11. As long as solenoid valve 12 and switching valve 13 are each in the flow-through position and ventilation pressure is present in each of the lines 15, 22, relay valve 11 is switched through, so that the spring brake cylinder is ventilated via the ports 18.

[0056] If there is no pressure at control input 29, the outlet 16 of the relay valve is connected to its bleed outlet 30. The spring brake cylinders are then bled via ports 18 and the relay valve 11, thus ensuring that the parking brakes are activated.

[0057] To modulate the pressure between bistable solenoid valve 12 and relay valve 11, an electro-magnetic switching valve 31 is provided, which is preferably a 2/2-way valve and is in the flow-through position without current supply, as shown in all three figures. With the electro-magnetic switching valve 31, the ventilation of the spring brake cylinders can be controlled in steps. In the through-flow position shown, inlet 32 and outlet 33 of the switching valve 31 are connected to each other.

[0058] Located here between the electromagnetic switching valve 31 and the relay valve 11 is a shuttle valve 34, also known as an OR valve, which has two inlets 35, 36 and one outlet 37. The inlet 35 is connected to the outlet 33 of the switching valve 31, outlet 37 to the control input 29 of the relay valve 11. The other inlet 36 is connected via a line 38 to a port 39, which is supplied with service brake pressure. When a service brake is actuated, service brake pressure enters the hand brake system 10 via port 39. The higher of the pressures applied to inlets 35, 36 is fed in each case to the control input 29 of the relay valve 11 via shuttle valve 34. This allows the spring brake cylinders to be ventilated depending on the actuation of the service brakes, which prevents mechanical overloading of the brakes.

[0059] In the driving position shown in FIG. 1, all four valves 11, 12, 13, 31 are in the flow-through position. The spring-loaded brake cylinders are ventilated with pressure via ports 18.

[0060] In the parking position pursuant to FIG. 2, the bistable solenoid valve 12 is in the blocking position, while switching valve 13 and switching valve 31 are preferably in the flow-through position. Due to the blocking position of solenoid valve 12, the pressure at the outlet 20 is reduced via the bleed outlet 21. For this purpose, the bleed outlet 21 is connected to a bleed 43 via a bleed line 40 and further bleed lines 41, 42. Bleed line 41 extends up to the bleed outlet 30 of the relay valve 11, so that bleed 43 is also connected to bleed outlet 30.

[0061] The bleed outlet 26 of the self-retaining switching valve 13 is connected to bleed line 40 and/or bleed line 41 via a bleed line 44. This also creates a connection from the bleed outlet 26 of the self-retaining switching valve 13 to the bleed 43.

[0062] Here the bleed line 44 is provided with a throttle 45. Accordingly, when the outlet 25 is bled via bleed outlet 26 in the blocking position of switching valve 13, the pressure in the bleed line 44 adjacent to the switching valve 13 is higher than in bleed line 41.

[0063] In another embodiment (not shown), the bleed outlet 26 opens to the atmosphere. Line 44 is not present. A throttle can be integrated in the switching valve 13 so that the pressure at outlet 25 is not reduced too much when bleeding.

[0064] In FIG. 3 a control unit (ECU) 46 is additionally shown. This is either provided specifically for the hand brake system 10 or is a component of a brake control unit (not shown) or another electronic control unit in the associated vehicle. Here the control unit 46 is used to control the functions of the bistable solenoid valve 12 and the electromagnetic switching valve 31. The switching status according to FIG. 3 proceeds from the following situation:

[0065] The hand brake system 10 is in the driving position, as shown in FIG. 1. Solenoid valve 12 and switching valves 13, 31 are in the flow-through position. The operator has been informed of a malfunction of the electronic braking system or the electronic braking system has failed completely or partially. The parking brakes can no longer be actively applied due to the failure. For safety reasons, in such a situation the operator should use the service brakes to bring the vehicle to a standstill and then apply the service brakes several times to reduce the pressure in the service brake circuits so that a bleed back function also reduces the pressure in the parking brake circuit. This will bleed the spring brake cylinders.

[0066] There is also a pressure drop in the region of outlet 25 of the self-retaining switching valve 13. This causes the switching valve 13 to move from its flow-through position to the blocking position as shown in FIG. 3. There is also no pressure at control input 27, since pressure is only fed in line 28 upon manual actuation or automatic actuation dependent on specific conditions. This means that the hand brake system cannot automatically ventilate the spring brake cylinders and thus release the parking brakes as soon as sufficient supply pressure is available again. Instead, a pressure impulse at control input 27 via line 28 is first required to ventilate the parking brake cylinders again.

[0067] In the hand brake system 10, the self-retaining switching valve 13 has the function of a safety device in case the situation described above arises. An unintentional release of the parking brakes by restarting the engine with a corresponding build-up of the supply pressure is avoided. The parking brakes remain active until control input 27 is activated with pressure via line 28, in particular by deliberate manual intervention or automatically under defined conditions.

[0068] Control unit 46 is connected to a hand brake lever (not shown) for the operator. When the hand brake lever is actuated, the control unit 46 receives the command to activate or deactivate the parking brakes.

[0069] It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the preferred embodiments of the invention and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS (PART OF THE DESCRIPTION)

[0070] 10 electro-pneumatic hand brake system [0071] 11 relay valve [0072] 12 bistable solenoid valve [0073] 13 self-retaining switching valve [0074] 14 relay valve inlet [0075] 15 line [0076] 16 relay valve outlet [0077] 17 line [0078] 18 ports [0079] 19 solenoid valve inlet [0080] 20 solenoid valve outlet [0081] 21 solenoid valve bleed outlet [0082] 22 line [0083] 23 junction [0084] 24 self-retaining switching valve inlet [0085] 25 self-retaining switching valve outlet [0086] 26 self-retaining switching valve bleed outlet [0087] 27 self-retaining switching valve control input [0088] 28 line [0089] 29 relay valve control input [0090] 30 relay valve bleed outlet [0091] 31 electromagnetic switching valve [0092] 32 self-retaining switching valve inlet [0093] 33 self-retaining switching valve outlet [0094] 34 shuttle valve [0095] 35 shuttle valve inlet [0096] 36 shuttle valve inlet [0097] 37 shuttle valve outlet [0098] 38 line [0099] 39 port [0100] 40 bleed line [0101] 41 bleed line [0102] 42 bleed line [0103] 43 bleed [0104] 44 bleed line [0105] 45 throttle [0106] 46 control unit