Design of a pressure modulator using fast-acting bistable valves. (April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Henderson, L; Cebon, D
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Volume 235:Number 7(2021)
• Page Start: 1133
• Page End: 1147
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Subjects: Solenoid valve -- pneumatic -- antilock braking system -- electronic braking system -- slip control -- magnetic modeling -- brake system design -- heavy vehicle; Mechanical engineering -- Periodicals; 621.05
• DOI: 10.1177/0954406220944203
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-4062

Abstract

Fast-acting pneumatic valves, combined with a slip-control braking algorithm, have recently been used to improve the straight-line braking performance of an experimental heavy goods vehicle, on low friction roads, by 16%. This paper describes how the fast-acting valves, which were central to the aforementioned research, were designed for use on a commercial vehicle. Design equations, as well as a generalized design method, are first presented for the fast-acting bistable pneumatic valve. A pressure observer is developed to predict the brake chamber pressure in cases where a pressure transducer is mounted upstream. A simple fault detection algorithm is then introduced, which utilizes some of the calculations made in the pressure observer, and is shown to correctly identify faults on a real vehicle. Performance comparisons are made between the new modulator and a conventional heavy goods vehicle electro-pneumatic brake system. Closed-loop frequency response tests show that the control bandwidth of brake chamber pressure on a heavy goods vehicle can be increased from 1.5 Hz to 10 Hz using the new hardware.