Apparatus, system and method for braking

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11318846-B2
Application number	US-201716304053-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 2, 2017
Priority date	May 25, 2016
Publication date	May 3, 2022
Grant date	May 3, 2022

Abstract

An eddy current brake for a vehicle, the eddy current brake comprising a rotor, and an electromagnet arranged to receive current from an electromechanical energy generating means during braking of the vehicle and to induce an eddy current within the rotor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle braking system comprising:
an eddy current brake for a vehicle, the eddy current brake comprising:
a rotor; and
an electromagnet arranged to receive current from an electromechanical energy generating means during braking of the vehicle and to induce an eddy current within the rotor;

the vehicle braking system comprising a controller means arranged to:
control an amount of current to be provided to the electromagnet of the eddy current brake from the electromechanical energy generating means;
determine an amount of current generation provided by the electromechanical energy generating means;
determine an amount of current to be provided to an energy storage means from the electromechanical energy generating means in dependence, at least in part, upon the current generation provided by the electromechanical energy generating means;
determine an amount of current to be provided to the electromagnet of the eddy current brake from the electromechanical energy generating means in dependence, at least in part, upon a limit for a rate of current absorption for the energy storage means, wherein the limit for the rate of current absorption for the energy storage means is a maximum rate at which the energy storage means can be charged;
allow the electromechanical energy generating means to provide all of a driver demanded deceleration when the current generation provided by the electromechanical energy generating means is below the limit for the rate of current absorption for the energy storage means; and to
allow provision of current to the electromagnet of the eddy current brake when the current generation provided by the electromechanical energy generating means exceeds the limit for the rate of current absorption for the energy storage means.

2. The vehicle braking system according to claim 1 , wherein the electromechanical energy generating means is an electric motor operating as a generator during braking of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle braking system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller means is an electronic controller.

4. The vehicle braking system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller means is arranged to determine the amount of current to be provided to the electromagnet of the eddy current brake from the electromechanical energy generating means in dependence, at least in part, upon the current generation provided by the electromechanical energy generating means.

5. The vehicle braking system according to claim 1 wherein the energy storage means is a battery.

6. The vehicle braking system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller means is arranged to receive an input from an energy storage state monitor providing an energy storage state value of the energy storage means.

7. The vehicle braking system according to claim 6 , wherein the controller means is arranged to determine the amount of current to be provided to the electromagnet of the eddy current brake from the electromechanical energy generating means in dependence, at least in part, upon the energy storage state value.

8. The vehicle braking system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller means is arranged to receive an input from a brake pedal position sensor providing a brake pedal position value corresponding to the driver demanded deceleration and to determine the amount of current to be provided to the electromagnet of the eddy current brake from the electromechanical energy generating means in dependence, at least in part, upon the brake pedal position value.

9. The vehicle braking system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller means is arranged to receive an input from a speed sensor providing a vehicle speed value, and to determine the amount of current to be provided to the electromagnet of the eddy current brake from the electromechanical energy generating means in dependence, at least in part, upon the vehicle speed value.

10. The vehicle braking system according to claim 1 , comprising the electromechanical energy generating means arranged to provide current to the electromagnet of the eddy current brake.

11. The vehicle braking system according to claim 1 , comprising an energy storage means for receiving current from the electromechanical energy generating means.

12. The vehicle braking system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller means is arranged to determine an amount of braking torque to be provided by a friction brake.

13. The vehicle braking system according to claim 12 , wherein the friction brake is arranged to be actuated during a braking event, prior to the eddy current brake receiving current from the electromechanical energy generating means.

14. The vehicle braking system according to claim 12 , wherein the friction brake is actuated when a vehicle speed is below a threshold speed.

15. The vehicle braking system according to claim 1 , wherein the electromechanical energy generating means is provided on a first vehicle axle and the eddy current brake is provided on a second vehicle axle.

16. The vehicle braking system as claimed in claim 1 implemented in a vehicle.

17. A method for braking a vehicle, comprising:
Controlling an amount of current to be provided to an electromagnet of an eddy current brake from an electromechanical energy generating means during braking of the vehicle;
determining an amount of current generation provided by the electromechanical energy generating means;
determining an amount of current to be provided to an energy storage means from the electromechanical energy generating means in dependence, at least in part, upon the current generation provided by the electromechanical energy generating means;
determining an amount of current to be provided to the electromagnet of the eddy current brake from the electromechanical energy generating means in dependence, at least in part, upon a limit for a rate of current absorption for the energy storage means, wherein the limit for the rate of current absorption for the energy storage means is a maximum rate at which the energy storage means can be charged;
allowing the electromechanical energy generating means to provide all of a driver demanded deceleration when the current generation provided by the electromechanical energy generating means is below the limit for the rate of current absorption for the energy storage means; and
allowing provision of current to the electromagnet of the eddy current brake when the current generation provided by the electromechanical energy generating means exceeds the limit for the rate of current absorption for the energy storage means.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a system to perform, at least:
controlling an amount of current to be provided to an electromagnet of an eddy current brake from an electromechanical energy generating means during braking of a vehicle;
determining an amount of current generation provided by the electromechanical energy generating means;
determining an amount of current to be provided to an energy storage means from the electromechanical energy generating means in dependence, at least in part, upon the current generation provided by the electromechanical energy generating means;
determining an amount of current to be provided to the electromagnet of the eddy current brake from the electromechanical energy generating means in dependence, at least in part, upon a limit for a rate of current absorption for the energy storage

Assignees

• Jaguar Land Rover Ltd

Inventors

• Dunning Emma-Claire

Classifications

• B60L7/10 Primary

  Dynamic electric regenerative braking (B60L7/22 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y02T90/14

  Plug-in electric vehicles · CPC title

• B60L2250/26

  by pedal actuation · CPC title

• B60L2240/549

  Current · CPC title

• B60L2240/12

  Speed · CPC title