Abstract: A service brake device of a vehicle, including at least one ABS pressure control valve which is controlled for slip-regulated braking by an electronic control unit, has at least one inlet valve and one outlet valve and is arranged upstream of a pressure medium actuated brake cylinder, a pressure medium line which supplies the ABS pressure control valve with pressure medium and into which a pressure controlled by a valve device arranged upstream of the ABS pressure control valve is feedable, wherein the valve device feeds a pressure derived from a reservoir pressure of a pressure medium reservoir into the pressure medium line as a function of an activation by the electronic control unit.

Abstract: A braking system is provided for a commercial vehicle that can be pneumatically coupled to a trailer. The system includes at least one electronic control unit, and a valve device that can be electrically connected by the at least one electronic control unit. The at least one valve device builds up pressure for the trailer braking system when connected, causing the trailer to brake. A throttle is arranged in a trailer control line. The throttle limits a pressure drop at the control inlet of a relay valve in the event of a leakage downstream of the throttle. A method for controlling a brake system is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preventing parking brake-caused disabling of a vehicle is provided. In at least one of the vehicle's parking brake release actuators' supply lines there is provided a flow arrangement which allows parking brake release fluid to flow to and from the release actuator when its supply line is undamaged, and restricts flow from the release pressure source when the line between the flow arrangement and the actuator is damaged. The flow arrangement may be a pilot-operated, non-graduated control valve, a combination of a pressure protection valve and a check valve arranged in parallel, a velocity-sensing check valve, or any other device or combination of devices which provide the damaged line shutoff or metering functionality. Such an arrangement prevents automatic application of the parking brake by releasing pressure from all of the vehicle's parking brake actuators, thereby precluding automatic vehicle immobilization following damage at one wheel end.

Abstract: A pneumatic vehicle brake system includes first and second groups of wheel brakes belonging, respectively, to first and second brake circuits having first and second compressed air storage tanks for providing first and second stored pressures. At least one first circuit brake cylinder is a combined spring-store/diaphragm cylinder with a spring store part for providing a parking brake and a diaphragm part for providing a service brake. If the first circuit fails, the spring store part is deaerated to engage the parking brake. A pressure sensor for measuring the first stored pressure is connected to a control unit that controls a modulator for aerating and deaerating the spring store part. The control unit generates a signal for an electrically actuatable modulator solenoid valve if the value measured by the sensor falls below a minimum value, such that the spring store part can be aerated and deaerated via the valve.

Abstract: An electropneumatic control arrangement for an automatic vehicle level control system, particularly of a commercial vehicle, includes at least; a solenoid valve unit having at least two electropneumatic solenoid valves, a compressed air inlet for infeeding compressed air, at least one compressed air connection for at least one air bellows and electrical control inputs, and an electronic control unit for actuating the solenoid valve unit. The electronic control unit comprises control outputs for electrically connecting to the control inputs of the solenoid valve unit. A plug connector is configured on the housing of the solenoid valve unit, in which the electrical control inputs are disposed, and a plug connector is provided on the housing of the electronic control unit, in which the control outputs are disposed. The plug connectors are mechanically plugged into each other.

Abstract: A braking system for vehicles, including at least one first brake circuit, and at least one second brake circuit, in which the at least one first brake circuit and the at least one second brake circuit each have an electrical control circuit, which respectively has an electronic control unit and its own power supply device, and brake actuating devices which are activatable by the electronic control units, at least one of the brake actuating devices being activatable by more than one of the electronic control units, in which the brake circuits are electrically activatable via a foot brake valve, and the foot brake valve has two electrical braking transmitter devices which are each connected to the electronic control units so that they are DC-isolated.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for refilling vehicle operational brake circuits after a large consumption of compressed air. The operational brake circuits are compressed air consumer circuits of a consumer part of a vehicle compressed air system. The operational brake circuits also include at least one additional compressed air consumer circuit provided with a compressed air reservoir. The actual pressure values in the operational brake circuits and in the additional compressed air consumer circuit are continuously determined and compared against a lower threshold value. If the values are below the threshold value, the identified operational brake circuits are blocked as defective and communication is established between the additional compressed air consumer circuits and the intact operational brake circuits in order to refill the operational brake circuits from the compressed air reservoirs of the additional compressed air consumer circuits.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a brake device of a motor vehicle, comprising a service brake (16) and a parking brake (14). Upon activation of a rolling brake function (S1), and achieving a full stop of the vehicle, monitoring (S2) of an actuating element occurs with regard as to whether a driver has contact with an actuating element. In order to improve the safety of the rolling brake function, the invention provides that, if the monitoring (S2) finds that the driver has no contact with the actuating element, the parking brake (14) is applied (S3), or a braking pressure (14) is controlled using the service brake (16), the braking pressure corresponding to the maximum braking pressure (S10) that can be generated by the parking brake (14), by means of an electric or electronic brake device (26) for controlling the service brake (16) and the parking brake (14).

Abstract: A pneumatic brake system for a heavy duty vehicle is provided. The heavy duty vehicle has at least one source of pressurized air for pressurizing the brake system, at least one spring brake chamber including a spring brake assembly, and at least one service brake chamber including a service brake assembly. The brake system includes a first control valve, a second control valve and a work brake system. The first control valve is in communication with the source of pressurized air. The first control valve delivers pressurized air to the spring brake chamber and exhausts pressurized air to atmosphere to activate the spring brake assembly when brake system pressure is reduced to a predetermined low trip brake system pressure. The second control valve is in communication with the source of pressurized air and selectively delivers pressurized air to the service brake chamber for application of the service brake assembly.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for activation of an emergency brake function (8; 8?) within a vehicle (1) when a first brake circuit and a second brake circuit are out of order. A first sensor (20; 20?) is included for detecting whether the pressure (p1) in the first brake circuit falls below a first limit value (p1G). A second sensor is included (21; 21?) for detecting whether the pressure (p2) in the second brake circuit falls below a second limit value (p2G). A valve arrangement is provided (16; 24, 25, 26) for activating the emergency brake function if the pressure (p1) in the first brake circuit falls below the first limit value (p1G) at the same time as the pressure (p2) in the second brake circuit falls below the second limit value (p2G).

Abstract: A brake notification device for notifying an individual whether the brake system is active or inactive includes a housing including a flexible conduit having opposed end portions removably connected thereto and to a pneumatically controlled valve of the vehicle brake system. Such a housing selectively receives air under first and second pressure levels for selectively adapting between active and inactive modes respectively. The conduit has a sufficient length for extending between front and rear portions of the vehicle and the housing is adjustably mountable adjacent to a rear portion of the vehicle, and preferably inside the vehicle, at a selected height so a forklift operator can readily identify whether the vehicle brake system is active or inactive.

Abstract: An electronic brake system for a tractor-trailer vehicle includes a front electronic brake system for braking a front axle assembly and a rear electronic brake system for braking a rear axle assembly. During normal vehicle operation, front and rear air reservoirs supply air to actuate front and rear brake actuators, respectively. In response to a failure of the front electronic brake system, an electronic control unit automatically activates a trailer control valve to supply air to actuate the front brake actuator in addition to actuating the rear brake actuator from the rear air reservoir. The trailer control valve receives air supply from an independent reservoir.

Abstract: The invention relates to a braking system for a vehicle, comprising an electronic service braking system having at least one braking cylinder and a pressure control module which is associated with the braking cylinder, said pressure control module comprising a control chamber and a working chamber. The invention is characterized in that the working chamber is connected to an air supply by means of a supply line; the control chamber is connected to the air supply by means of a connecting line and an inlet valve; the control chamber is connected to the atmosphere by means of an outlet valve; the control chamber is also connected to a back-up braking system by means of a back-up line and a back-up valve; and a control system is provided for controlling at least the inlet valve and the back-up valve.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a brake assembly for a vehicle having an air spring wherein a brake signal operates a brake cylinder of the vehicle. A proportioning valve, having its load responsive element disabled and being responsive to the brake signal, provides a proportioned brake signal to the brake cylinder. A switch, responsive to an air spring pressure signal selectively connects the brake signal to the brake cylinder. The present invention further relates to a method for retrofitting a brake system by disabling the load sensing element of a proportioning valve and inserting a switch in parallel with the proportioning valve.

Abstract: A method of and a system for minimizing undesirable brake release in the brake system of a train having a pneumatic brake on each car connected to a brake pipe which is controlled by a brake pipe controller. The method includes determining the status of the brake system throughout the train and determining a minimal brake pipe reduction for the brake pipe controller, using the status of the brake system. The determined minimal brake pipe reduction is displayed by itself or in combination with the brake pipe reduction produced by the brake pipe controller.