Description:FORM 2
The Patent Act 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patent Rules, 2005

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)

TITLE OF THE INVENTION
“Front Parking Brake System for Commercial Vehicles”

VE Commercial Vehicle Ltd.
of VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd, 102, Industrial Area
No. 1 Pithampur-454775, Dist. Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, India

The following specification particularly describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
Field of Invention
[001] The invention relates to front parking brakes for commercial vehicles. It more particularly relates to pneumatic braking systems with electrical elements for controlling the operation of the pneumatic braking systems.
Background of the Invention
[002] When it comes to ensuring the safety of vehicles, the braking system plays a crucial role. In a typical commercial vehicle, the braking system consists of Brake Chambers for the front brake system and SBA (Spring Brake Actuators) for the rear brake and parking brake system. However, in such a commercial vehicle, the front wheel's parking brake is not equipped with a Brake Chamber, and hence, it does not provide sufficient parking brake efficiency. This results in low efficiency for the parking system despite its high service brake capability.
[003] The lack of a brake chamber at the front wheel's parking brake system, therefore, reduces the efficiency of the parking brake application. This causes the vehicle to be inadequately secured when parked on an incline or decline gradient, leading to potential safety hazards. The low-gradient holding capacity of the parking brake system can also affect the vehicle's overall performance, especially in situations that require the vehicle to hold still at a high gradient of ~ 17-18˚ or more. The net result of all this is that the commercial vehicle cannot be safely parked on slopes with a high gradient, its stability is reduced on steep slopes, the vehicle operator is also compelled to use the transmission's parking pawl thereby imposing great strain on the vehicle transmission, and this also negatively affects the vehicle's capability to brake on slippery surfaces and during emergencies. Therefore, the current invention aims to provide a front parking brake system for commercial vehicles that is very efficient and highly effective in holding the commercial vehicle still on slopes of high gradients.
[004] It is another objective of the present invention to provide a front parking brake system for commercial vehicles that eliminates the need to utilise the transmission's parking pawl, thereby reducing the strain experienced by the transmission’s components when the vehicle is parked on slopes of high gradients.
[005] It is still another objective of the present invention to provide a front parking brake system for commercial vehicles that is capable of providing adequate braking on slippery surfaces and also during emergencies.
Summary of the Invention
[006] The invention achieving the stated objectives, i.e., the front parking brake system for commercial vehicles, comprises of, an LV (low voltage) battery, an electric switch, braking chambers, solenoid-controlled valves, a brake pedal, modulators, and a pneumatic signal modulator. In the front parking brake system for commercial vehicles, the LV (Low Voltage) Battery, positioned on the vehicle’s left-hand side behind the front tyre, is electrically linked to the electric switch. The electric switch, located and fixed on the commercial vehicle’s dashboard, has an output point that is electrically connected to both electrical connection ports of the solenoids of the solenoid-controlled valves. The input ports of the brake chambers are pneumatically connected to the output ports of the solenoid-controlled valves. The brake pedal is pneumatically connected to the input port of the pneumatic signal modulator through its service line. The output ports of the pneumatic signal modulator are pneumatically connected to the input ports of the modulators. The output ports of both the modulators (Left-hand side and right-hand side) are pneumatically connected with the respective input ports of the solenoids of the solenoid-controlled valves.
Brief Description of Drawings
[007] The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings that indicate its various parts and the method of operation of the system. The description of the present invention would, therefore, be better understood with reference to accompanying diagrams, wherein
[008] Figure 1 discloses the system block diagram of the invention in accordance with its preferred embodiment.
Detailed Description of the Invention
[001] Referring to figures 1 and 2, a Front Parking Brake System for Commercial Vehicles (100) in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the proposed invention comprises of an LV battery (1), an electric switch (2), a braking chamber (3), a solenoid-controlled valve (4), a brake pedal (5), a modulator (6), and a pneumatic signal modulator (7).
[002] The LV (Low Voltage) Battery (1), positioned on the vehicle’s left-hand side behind the front tyre, is electrically linked to the electric switch (2). The LV battery ensures that all electrical components of the disclosed system operate reliably, contributing to the overall functionality and safety of the vehicle. The electric switch (2), located and fixed on the commercial vehicle’s dashboard, has an output point that is electrically connected to both electrical connection ports of the solenoids of the solenoid-controlled valves (4). The electrical switch (2) controls the flow of current to the solenoid-controlled valve (4). The electrical switch (2) therefore provides the driver or the vehicle operator the capacity to manually influence the operation of the solenoid-controlled valve (4).
[003] The input ports of the brake chambers (3) are pneumatically connected to the output ports of the solenoid-controlled valves (4). The brake chambers (3) are located near the front wheels (Left-hand and right-hand side) on the front axle at a position in physical proximity of the brakes provided on the left and right front wheels of the vehicle. The brake chambers (3) convert the air pressure supplied to the braking system into mechanical force to apply the brakes provided on the commercial vehicle. The solenoid-controlled valve (4) is of the normally closed type. The solenoid-controlled valve (4), so provided in the disclosed invention, is an electromechanical device that uses the power input signal to regulate fluid flow.
[004] The brake pedal (5) is pneumatically connected to the input port of the pneumatic signal modulator (7) through the brake pedal (5)’s service line. The brake pedal (5) has an input port that that receives pressurized air through a pneumatic input connection from the APU (air processing unit) of the pneumatic braking system of the vehicle. The brake pedal (5)’s primary function is to allow the driver to apply braking force to slow down or stop the vehicle. In the disclosed invention, the operation of the brake pedal (5), which is mounted in the foot space of the driver working area, operates a valve that supplies air under pressure to its linked sub-component as an input. In figure 1, the dotted lines with arrows indicate that both the brake pedal (5) and the pneumatic signal modulator (7) receive pressurised air input from the braking system of the vehicle.
[005] The output ports of the pneumatic signal modulator (7) are pneumatically connected to the input ports of the modulators (6). The modulator (6) controls how much air pressure the braking chambers (3) receive. The modulator (6) modifies the amount of pressure exerted on the wheels by the brakes that have been provided on the vehicle, by controlling air pressure received by the brake chambers (3) when the solenoid-controlled valves (4) are operated. The output ports of both the modulators (6) (Left-hand side and right-hand side) are pneumatically connected with the respective input ports of the solenoids of the solenoid-controlled valves (4) (left and right hand side).
[006] The pneumatic signal modulator (7) has an input port that receives pressurized air through a pneumatic input connection from the APU (air processing unit) of the pneumatic braking system of the vehicle. The pneumatic signal modulator (7) functions to control and regulate the air pressure used in the braking system to ensure effective and reliable braking performance.
[007] To apply the parking brake by causing operation of the front parking brake system for commercial vehicles (100), the service brakes are engaged by operating the brake pedal (5) (In figure 1, the dotted line with an arrow indicate that both the brake pedal (5) and the pneumatic signal modulator (7) receive pressurised air input from the braking system of the vehicle). This causes air under pressure to flow via the established pneumatic path (refer to Fig. 1) to the brake chambers (3). The electrical switch (2) is then deactivated to cause the solenoid-controlled valves (4) to reattain their normally closed state. The air pressure is therefore retained in the brake chambers (3) allowing the parking brake to remain applied (engaged).
[008] The precise process of releasing (disengaging) the parking brake proceeds as follows, the brake pedal (5) is firstly operated to engage the service brake. This operation is facilitated by the pneumatic connection of the brake pedal (5) with the pneumatic signal modulator (7). While maintaining the pressure on the brake pedal (5) the driver or the vehicle operator must then proceed to activate the solenoid valves (4) again by operating the electrical switch (2). This operation would cause the solenoid-controlled valves (4) to open. These operations thereby allow air under pressure to flow out of the brake chambers (3). The service brakes are then released by releasing the brake pedal (5). Once the normally closed solenoid-controlled valves (4) reattain their normally closed state upon deactivation of the electrical switch (2), the brake chambers (3) air pressure state is maintained. This keeps the parking brakes in their disengaged condition.
[009] The Front Parking Brake System for Commercial Vehicles (100), so disclosed, achieves all the stated objectives.
[0010] Technical advantages offered by the invention i.e., the Front Parking Brake System for Commercial Vehicles (100), are-
- It provides enhanced safety by improving the performance of the front parking brakes at a high gradient, thereby helping in preventing the vehicle from rolling away when parked.
- It improves stability by providing a robust front parking brake that ensures the vehicle remains securely anchored and stable when parked on steep slopes.
- It enhances the gradability of the front parking brake, thereby improving the ease of parking for commercial vehicles on steep inclines and reducing the chances of vehicle rolling away when parked on steep slopes.
- It reduces the wear and tear experienced by transmission and its related components, especially the transmission’s parking pawl when the commercial vehicle is parked on steep slopes.
- It provides improved braking performance on slippery surfaces and also during emergencies. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the present invention has been herein described in terms of its preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize that the preferred embodiment herein disclosed, can be practiced with modifications within the scope of the invention herein described.
[0011] It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the present invention has been herein described in terms of its preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize that the preferred embodiment herein disclosed, can be practiced with modifications within the scope of the invention herein described.
, Claims:We Claim,
1. A Front Parking Brake System for Commercial Vehicles (100) comprising,
• an LV (low voltage) battery (1),
• an electric switch (2),
• braking chambers (3),
• solenoid-controlled valves (4),
• a brake pedal (5),
• modulators (6), and
• a pneumatic signal modulator (7),
wherein,
- the LV (Low Voltage) Battery (1), positioned on the vehicle’s left-hand side behind the front tyre, is electrically linked to the electric switch (2);
- the electric switch (2), located and fixed on the commercial vehicle’s dashboard, has an output point that is electrically connected to both electrical connection ports of the solenoids of the solenoid-controlled valves (4);
- the input ports of the brake chambers (3) are pneumatically connected to the output ports of the solenoid-controlled valves (4);
- the brake pedal (5) is pneumatically connected to the input port of the pneumatic signal modulator (7) through said brake pedal (5)’s service line;
- the output ports of the pneumatic signal modulator (7) are pneumatically connected to the input ports of the modulators (6);
- the output ports of both the modulators (6) (Left-hand side and right-hand side) are pneumatically connected with the respective input ports of the solenoids of the solenoid-controlled valves (4).
2. The Front Parking Brake System for Commercial Vehicles (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the solenoid-controlled valve (4) is of the normally closed type.
3. The Front Parking Brake System for Commercial Vehicles (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein
- the pneumatic signal modulator (7) has an input port that receives pressurized air through a pneumatic input connection from the APU (air processing unit) of the pneumatic braking system of the vehicle; and
- the brake pedal (5) has an input port that that receives pressurized air through a pneumatic input connection from the APU (air processing unit) of the pneumatic braking system of the vehicle.
Dated 27th day of January 2025

VIDIT CHOUBEY
(IN P/A 5566)
AGENT FOR THE APPLICANT(S)

To,
The Controller of Patents,
The Patent Office, at Mumbai