Apparatus and method of complementing braking force of commercial vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12559076-B2
Application number	US-202217892402-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2022
Priority date	Sep 1, 2021
Publication date	Feb 24, 2026
Grant date	Feb 24, 2026

Abstract

An embodiment apparatus for complementing a braking force of a vehicle includes a driving unit configured to drive an autonomous drone, a braking complement system connected with the driving unit and configured to complement the braking force, and a controller configured to determine a braking complement condition of the vehicle and to drive the braking complement system based on the braking complement condition. An embodiment braking complement system includes a compressor, wherein the driving unit is configured to apply an electric driving force to the compressor, an air tank in which compressed air discharged from the compressor is stored, and a braking complement unit connected with a discharge end of the air tank.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for complementing a braking force of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a driving unit configured to drive an autonomous drone; a braking complement system connected with the driving unit and configured to complement the braking force, wherein the braking complement system comprises:
a compressor, wherein the driving unit is configured to apply an electric driving force to the compressor;
an air tank in which compressed air discharged from the compressor is stored; and
a braking complement unit connected with a discharge end of the air tank;
a controller configured to determine a braking complement condition of the vehicle and to drive the braking complement system based on the braking complement condition; and a bypass valve disposed at a discharge end of the compressor and configured to be controlled for fluid connection with both a fuel cell system and the braking complement unit at the same time or at different times.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the driving unit comprises:
the fuel cell system configured to provide a driving force to the autonomous drone; a regenerative braking system configured to convert a braking force of the autonomous drone into electric energy; and a high-voltage battery configured to be charged from the fuel cell system or the regenerative braking system.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell system further comprises an exhaust system.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the fuel cell system further comprises: a regulator disposed at a discharge end of the bypass valve;
a cooler connected to a discharge end of the regulator; and a fuel cell stack connected between a discharge end of the cooler and the exhaust system.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the air tank comprises:
a braking air tank connected to a braking unit configured to assist the braking force of the vehicle; and a suspension air tank connected to an air suspension.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the compressed air discharged from the compressor to flow into the suspension air tank and bring a tire into contact with a ground surface in response to the braking complement condition being satisfied.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the compressed air discharged from the compressor to drive the braking unit through the braking air tank in response to the braking complement condition being satisfied.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the braking complement condition comprises downward traveling of the vehicle on a ramp.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the braking complement condition comprises a case in which a live load is greater than a first reference value.

10 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive a pressure of the air tank of the braking complement unit and to drive the compressor through the driving unit in response to the received pressure being smaller than a second reference value.

11 . An apparatus comprising:
a driving unit configured to drive an autonomous drone; a braking system connected with the driving unit and configured to complement a braking force, the braking system comprising:
a compressor configured to discharge compressed air, wherein the driving unit is configured to apply an electric driving force to the compressor;
an air tank configured to store the compressed air; and
a braking complement unit connected with a discharge end of the air tank;
a bypass valve disposed at a discharge end of the compressor; and a controller configured to determine a braking complement condition of a vehicle and to drive the braking system based on the braking complement condition, wherein the driving unit comprises:
a fuel cell system configured to provide a driving force to the autonomous drone,
a regenerative braking system configured to convert a braking force of the autonomous drone into electric energy, and
a high-voltage battery configured to be charged from the fuel cell system or the regenerative braking system, and
wherein the fuel cell system comprises:
an exhaust system,
a regulator disposed at a discharge end of the bypass valve,
a cooler connected to a discharge end of the regulator, and
a fuel cell stack connected between a discharge end of the cooler and the exhaust system.

12 . An apparatus comprising:
a driving unit comprising a fuel cell system and configured to drive an autonomous drone; a braking system connected with the driving unit, the braking system comprising:
a compressor configured to discharge compressed fluid, wherein the driving unit is configured to apply an electric driving force to the compressor; and
a braking unit;
a bypass valve disposed at a discharge end of the compressor, wherein the bypass valve is configured to control a supply of the compressed fluid to the fuel cell system only according to a first configuration, to the braking unit only according to a second configuration and to both the fuel cell system and the braking unit according to a third configuration; and a controller configured to determine a braking complement condition of a vehicle and to drive the braking system based on the braking complement condition.

13 . The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the driving unit further comprises:
a regenerative braking system configured to convert a braking force of the autonomous drone into electric energy, and a high-voltage battery configured to be charged from the fuel cell system or the regenerative braking system, and wherein the fuel cell system is configured to provide a driving force to the autonomous drone.

14 . The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the fuel cell system further comprises an exhaust system.

15 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the fuel cell system further comprises:
a regulator disposed at a discharge end of the bypass valve, a cooler connected to a discharge end of the regulator, and a fuel cell stack connected between a discharge end of the cooler and the exhaust system.

16 . The apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising an air tank connected to the bypass valve, wherein the air tank comprises:
a braking air tank connected to the braking unit configured to assist a braking force of the vehicle, and a suspension air tank connected to an air suspension of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp

Inventors

• Lee Joung-Ho
• Lee Nam Woo
• Kim Gil Ho

Classifications

• B60T13/683

  in pneumatic systems or parts thereof (in vacuum systems B60T13/72) · CPC title

• B60T2270/60

  Regenerative braking · CPC title

• B60T2260/06

  Active Suspension System · CPC title

• B60T13/74

  with electrical assistance or drive · CPC title

• Y02T90/40

  Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells · CPC title