Fluid-pressure and analogous brake systems – Electric control
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-13
2002-09-10
Butler, Douglas C. (Department: 3683)
Fluid-pressure and analogous brake systems
Electric control
C188S195000, C303S022100, C303S007000, C303S198000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06447075
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a vehicle braking system using stored vehicle parameters for electronic control of brake forces and relates more especially but not exclusively to road trailer vehicle compressed air operable brakes which are signalled from a tractor vehicle.
In European and other countries there are a large number of small engineering companies building road trailer vehicles designed for use with various tractors employing compressed air operable brakes. Such trailer builders tend to specialise in specific vehicle types but to meet statutory braking requirements it is a common feature that trailers are provided with means which controls the braking force signalled from a towing tractor, and uses a proportional load sensing valve for adjusting brake pressure or in the case of electronic load sensing has an electronic control unit (ECU). In the case of a system which a mechanical load sensing pressure proportioning valve, if the valve needs to be replaced, a replacement valve can be readily set up using parameters supplied to the user with the trailer, by the builder, to define pressure producing the onset of braking (i.e. inshot), tare weight braking and full load braking.
However in the case of electronic control by an ECU, possibly also including anti-lock control, specific trailer parameters are initially installed into a configuration data memory of the ECU by a trailer builder using specialised equipment. If the ECU is subsequently required to be replaced due to failure or damage there is a problem in that the vehicle operator is normally unlikely to possess or have ready access to such specialised or suitable peripheral electronic equipment to re-enter specific system parameter settings into the memory of a replaced and unparameterised ECU.
The present invention has an object to provide a vehicle braking system wherein the aforesaid problem is removed or substantially reduced.
According to the invention there is provided a vehicle braking system including means operable to provide a signal indicative of vehicle loading, load responsive means responsive thereto and to a braking signal indicative of intended vehicle deceleration for controlling braking force produced by brake actuators of the vehicle said load responsive means comprising a parameterisable electronic braking control unit with a main configuration memory for storing parameters particular to the vehicle for control of vehicle brake force according to vehicle loading characterised in that said system includes a further electronic storage memory wherein said parameters particular to the vehicle are permanently retainable and means to effect entry of said parameters from said further memory to the main configuration memory of an unparameterised electronic braking control unit.
More especially, the invention provides a trailer vehicle braking system including means operable to produce a signal indicative of vehicle loading, load responsive means responsive thereto and to a braking signal indicative of intended vehicle deceleration for controlling braking force produced by brake actuators of the vehicle said load responsive means comprising a main parameterisable electronic braking control unit with a main configuration memory for storing braking parameters particular to the vehicle for control of vehicle brake force according to vehicle loading a further electronic control unit including a configuration memory storing parameters particular to management of the vehicle and also a further electronic storage memory wherein said braking parameters particular to the vehicle are also permanently retainable and means operable to effect entry of said parameters from said further electronic memory to the main configuration memory of another unparameterised electronic braking control unit when substituted for said main unit.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a trailer vehicle braking system including means operable to produce a signal indicative of vehicle loading, load responsive means responsive thereto and to a braking signal indicative of intended vehicle deceleration for controlling braking force produced by brake actuators of the vehicle said load responsive means comprising a main parameterisable electronic braking control unit with a main configuration memory for storing braking parameters particular to the vehicle for control of vehicle brake force according to vehicle loading a further electronic vehicle management control unit including a further configuration memory for storing management parameters particular to management of the vehicle and wherein said main control unit includes additional electronic storage memory wherein said parameters particular to management of the vehicle are also retainable and means operable to effect entry of said management parameters from said additional memory to a configuration memory of an unparameterised electronic control unit when substituted for said vehicle management control unit.
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Fry Matthew John
Ross Colin Ford
Barnes & Thornburg
Butler Douglas C.
Knorr-Bremse Systems for Commercial Vehicles Limited
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