Electronic brake control system

Claim 2

A control system for operating electropneumatic braking apparatus on a vehicle comprising: a. actuator means for producing a signal polarized and proportional to a desired braking effort from a full release mode to a maximum; b. sensor means comprising actual brake control pressure and reference pressure transducers responsive to respectively different pneumatic parameters of the braking apparatus for producing associated signals representative of actual and reference brake pressure signals; c. summing means responsive to the sensor means and the actuator means for producing outputs effective to operate the braking apparatus selectively to release, apply and lap modes in accordance with differences in magnitude and polarity of said actuator and sensor means signals.

Claim 3

The control system of claim 1 wherein said actuator means comprises: a manually operable potentiometer for producing signals of varying magnitude indicative of a desired braking and release effort and a switch means for respectively changing the polarity of the actuator output in accordance with whether a release or braking effort is called for.

Claim 4

The control system of claim 2 wherein said summing means comprises: a. a differential amplifier governed by the sensor means for producing signals of a first or second character in accordance with whether the actual signal is respectively greater or less than the reference by a selected difference in said signals, indicative of release and apply modes; and the lap mode if within said selected difference; b. summing amplifier means responsive to the outputs of the actuator means and differential amplifier for producing a signal proportional to a desired braking effort; c. output means responsive to the switch means and the summing amplifier for producing the lap, apply and release mode signals in accordance with the polarity of the switch means and the character of the desired braking effort signal.

Claim 5

A control system for operating electropneumatic braking apparatus on a vehicle comprising: a. actuator means for producing a signal polarized and proportional to a desired braking effort from a full release mode to a maximum; b. sensor means responsive to pneumatic parameters of the braking apparatus for producing associated signals representative of actual and reference brake pressure signals; c. said sensor means including a first and a second pressure sensitive transducer means, said first pressure sensitive transducer means responsive to normally regulated pneumatic inputs to the braking system for producing the reference brake pressure signal, and said second pressure sensitive transducer means responsive to actual pneumatic pressure exerted in the braking system for producing the actual brake pressure signal; d. summing means responsive to said first and second pressure sensitive transducer means and the actuator means for producing outputs effective to operate the braking apparatus to release, apply and lap modes in accordance with selected differences in magnitude and polarity of signals from said actuator and said first and second pressure sensitive transducer means.

Claim 6

A control system for operating electropneumatic braking apparatus on a vehicle comprising: a. actuator means for producing a signal polarized and proportional to a desired braking effort from a full release mode to a maximum; b. sensor means responsive to pneumatic parameters of the braking apparatus for producing associated signals representative of actual and reference brake pressure signals; c. said sensor means including a first and a second pressure sensitive transducer means, said first pressure sensitive transducer means responsive to normally regulated pneumatic inputs to the braking system for producing the reference brake pressure signal, and said second pressure sensitive transducer means responsive to actual pneumatic pressure exerted in the braking system for producing the actual brake pressure signal; d. summing means responsive to said first and second pressure sensitive transducer means and the actuator means for producing outputs effective to operate the braking apparatus to release, apply and lap modes in accordance with selected differences in magnitude and polarity of signals from said actuator and said first and second pressure sensitive transducer means.

Claim 7

The control system of claim 4 wherein said summing means comprises: a. a differential amplifier governed by the sensor means for producing signals of a first or second character in accordance with whether the signal of said second pressure sensitive transducer means is respectively greater or less than the signal of said first pressure sensitive transducer means by a selected difference in said signals, indicative of release and apply modes; and the lap mode if within said selected difference; b. summing amplifier means responsive to the outputs of the actuator means and differential amplifier for producing a signal proportional to a desired braking effort; c. output means responsive to the sensor means and the summing amplifier for producing the lap, apply and release mode signals in accordance with the polarity of the switch means and the character of the desired braking effort signal.