( 1 2 ) United S ta tes Pa tent

S tummer
US 006843351 B2
US 6, 843, 351 B2
J a n. 1 8, 2 005
( 1 0) Pa tent N 0. :
( 45) Da te o f Pa tent:
( 54) S YS TEM FOR BRAKIN G CON TROL IN A
VEHICLE IN CLUDIN G A MULTI
COMBIN ATION VEHICLE
( 7 6) Inv ento r: Ma rk J . S tummer, 1 2 Ca no nb ury
Circ uit, Driv er, N o rth ern Territo ry ( AU) ,
0830
( * ) N o tic e: S ub j ec t to a ny dis c l a imer, th e term o f th is
p a tent is ex tended o r a dj us ted under 35
US C 1 54( b ) b y 0 da y s .
( 2 1 ) Ap p l . N o . : 1 0/ 637 , 9 02
( 2 2 ) Fil ed: Aug . 8, 2 003
( 65) Prio r Pub l ic a tio n Da ta
US 2 004/ 009 01 1 8 A1 Ma y 1 3, 2 004
( 30) Fo reig n Ap p l ic a tio n Prio rity Da ta
N o v . 8, 2 002
( 51 ) Int. Cl ? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F02 D 9 / 06
( 52 ) US . Cl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 88/ 2 7 3; 1 80/ 1 42
( 58) Fiel d o f S ea rc h 1 88/ 2 7 3; 1 2 3/ 32 0,
1 2 3/ 32 3; 7 01 / 54, 9 3, 9 6, 1 1 2 ; 1 80/ 1 41 ,
( WO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCT/ AUO2 / O1 51 4
6, 354, 2 66 B1 * 3/ 2 002 Co rnel l et a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3/ 32 2
6, 536, 408 B1 * 3/ 2 003 Wa rner . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3/ 32 3
6, 652 , 41 4 B1 * 1 1 / 2 003 Ba nks , III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 88/ 2 7 3
FOREIGN PATEN T DOCUMEN TS
DE 1 9 52 49 9 0 A9 2 / 1 9 9 6
DE 1 9 9 01 1 05 A1 A1 7 / 2 000
EP 2 502 5 A2 3/ 1 9 81
EP 87 569 8 B1 7 / 2 002
* c ited b y ex a miner
Prima ry Ex a minerTh o ma s Wil l ia ms
( 7 4) Atto rney , Ag ent, o r FirmFra nc is La WGro up
( 57 ) ABS TRACT
A b ra king s y s tem f o r th e c o ntro l o f v eh ic l e s p eed, th e
v eh ic l e inc l uding a n eng ine h a v ing a ?rs t p l ura l ity o f eng ine
c y l inders , a n el ec tro nic th ro ttl e, el ec tric a l p o Wer s o urc e a nd
eng ine b ra ke a da p ted to p ro v ide eng ine b ra king , c o mp ris ing
a n el ec tro nic c o ntro l unit in c o mmunic a tio n With th e eng ine
el ec tric a l p o Wer s o urc e, eng ine th ro ttl e a nd eng ine b ra ke,
a nd a s p eed s ens o r a da p ted to mea s ure th e s p eed o f th e
v eh ic l e a nd c o mmunic a te th e mea s ured v eh ic l e s p eed to th e
el ec tro nic c o ntro l unit, Wh erein Wh en th e mea s ured v eh ic l e
s p eed is g rea ter th a n a p re- determined v eh ic l e s p eed
th res h o l d, th e el ec tro nic c o ntro l unit dis a b l es th e eng ine
1 4. 2
th ro ttl e a nd a p p l ies th e eng ine b ra ke us ing a s ec o nd p l ura l ity
( 56) Ref erenc es Cited o f th e eng ine c y l inders , th e s ec o nd p l ura l ity o f eng ine
c y l inders b eing l es s th a n th e ?rs t p l ura l ity o f eng ine c y l in
U. S . PATEN T DOCUMEN TS dew
4, 505, 347 A * 3/ 1 9 85 Prec h tel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 80/ 1 42
5, 7 7 2 , 554 A * 6/ 1 9 9 8 Ta b a ta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 7 / 1 09 1 9 Cl a ims , 8 Dra wing S h eets
1 68 1 7 0 1 7 2 1 7 6 1 7 8 1 82
f ( ~44
300\ 306\ 308
WEB 1 t
[ l [ 302
[ 2 000
r1 9 0 r1 84
\ 1 t
304J 2 0Gb F ECM 7 " ECU
_/ ~2 02 1 )
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1 66 2 08
2 /
TCM
f 1 9 88
2 002 A 2 02 a
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1 48
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U. S . Pa tent J a n. 1 8, 2 005 S h eet 1 o f 8 US 6, 843, 351 B2



58
46
Fig 1
42 3
60
2 6
8
38
2
30
U. S . Pa tent J a n. 1 8, 2 005 S h eet 2 o f 8 US 6, 843, 351 B2
U. S . Pa tent J a n. 1 8, 2 005 S h eet 3 o f 8 US 6, 843, 351 B2
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m mt
mm mm? mm mm?
v m o n
US 6, 843, 351 B2
S h eet 4 0f 8
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J a n. 1 8, 2 005
U. S . Pa tent J a n. 1 8, 2 005 S h eet 5 o f 8 US 6, 843, 351 B2
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U. S . Pa tent J a n. 1 8, 2 005 S h eet 6 o f 8 US 6, 843, 351 B2
1 50
1 56
1 58
1 60
US 6, 843, 351 B2
U. S . Pa tent J a n. 1 3, 2 005 S h eet 3 0f 3
1 2 v
T \ 31 4 / 30o
332 / 3. n I o _| j
i 32 0 Y E
T in 3 3 53* : 31 8 n \ 32 2 32 6 5
\ l I304;
K 31 6 T " \ v 31 o '
302 [ 334 32 4
ECM ECM \ \
Truc k ECM Truc k ECM
l L Eng ine Eng ine
1 9 0 1 9 2 Bra ke Lo w Bra ke Med
ECU \
1 9 4
Tra il er ECM Tra il er ECM
Eng ine Eng ine
Bra ke Lo w Bra ke Med
Fig 9
32 8J 330 I
US 6, 843, 351 B2
1
S YS TEM FOR BRAKIN G CON TROL IN A
VEHICLE IN CLUDIN G A MULTI
COMBIN ATION VEHICLE
CROS S REFEREN CE TO RELATED
APPLICATION
Th is a p p l ic a tio n is ?l ed p urs ua nt to 35 U. S . C. 37 1 a s a
United S ta tes N a tio na l Ph a s e Ap p l ic a tio n o f Interna tio na l
Ap p l ic a tio n N o . PCT/ AU02 / 01 51 4, ?l ed N o v . 8, 2 002 .
FIELD OF THE IN VEN TION
Th e p res ent inv entio n is direc ted to a v eh ic l e b ra king
s y s tem, a nd mo re p a rtic ul a rl y , to a s y s tem f o r v el o c ity
dep enda nt c o ntro l l ed b ra king in a v eh ic l e, s uc h a s a rnul ti
c o rnb ina tio n v eh ic l e b eing p a rtic ul a rl y us ef ul in h a ul ing
rnined p a y l o a d f ro rn rnines .
BACKGROUN D OF THE IN VEN TION
Op era to rs o f mines a re c o ns ta ntl y s ea rc h ing f o r Wa y s to
reduc e th e c o s ts a s s o c ia ted With rnined p ro duc ts . One o f th e
mo s t s ig ni?c a nt c o s ts in o p era ting a mine is tra ns p o rting th e
rnined ma teria l f ro m th e o re f a c e to a p ro c es s ing p l a nt. Th is
is ex a c erb a ted Wh en th e rnined p a y l o a d is o f l o Wg ra de, th a t
is , th e des ired minera l o r meta l is o nl y a s ma l l p erc enta g e b y
Weig h t a nd/ o r v o l ume o f th e rnined o re s o th a t s ub s ta ntia l
a mo unts o f o re h a v e to b e h a ndl ed to ex tra c t a s ma l l
p erc enta g e o f des ired rna teria l . Af urth er p ro b l em th a t o c c urs
is Wh ere th e o re h a s to b e h a ndl ed s ev era l times .
Th ere a re s ev era l Wa y s th a t o re c a n b e tra ns p o rted f ro m
th e o re f a c e to th e p ro c es s ing p l a nt, dep ending o n th e ty p e
a nd c o n?g ura tio n o f th e mine.
Underg ro und rnines ty p ic a l l y h a v e a c entra l l if ting o r
Winding s h a f t to b ring th e rnined o re to th e s urf a c e. Th es e
s h a f ts req uire a dedic a ted rec eiv a l p o int. To g et th e o re to
th a t p o int rnines ty p ic a l l y h a v e a dedic a ted ra il s y s tem th a t
is l ev el a nd ro ute s p ec i?c . Underg ro und mine h a ul a g e o r
dump truc ks a re us ed to tra ns p o rt th e o re f ro m v a rio us
rnining l ev el s b o th a b o v e a nd b el o Wth e ra il h a ul a g e l ev el to
th e dedic a ted ra il s y s tem th a t th en tra ns p o rts th e o re to th e
l if ting s h a f t rec eiv a l p o int. Th e truc ks a re a l Wa y s a s ing l e
unit th a t is eith er rig id o r p iv o t s teer. Th is ty p e o f a rra ng e
rnent h a s a numb er o f dis tinc t dis a dv a nta g es .
Th e dump truc ks c a us e a s ig ni?c a nt a mo unt o f h o t a ir p er
to n o f o re h a ul ed to b e ex h a us ted into th e mine. Co l d
v entil a tio n a ir h a s to b e c o ntinua l l y p ump ed into th e mine
v ia v entil a tio n s h a f ts , a nd o ne o f th e ma j o r c o s ts in es ta b
l is h ing underg ro und rnines is th e c o ns truc tio n a nd dril l ing o f
v entil a tio n s h a f ts . Bec a us e o f th e l imita tio n o f c urrentl y
kno Wn dump truc ks , th e time th a t th ey c a n o p era te under
g ro und is l irnited, p a rtic ul a rl y due to ex c es s h ea t th ey
p ro duc e. To reduc e th e h ea t, th e dump truc ks h a v e to mo v e
rel a tiv el y s l o Wl y .
A ra il Wa y s y s tem, es p ec ia l l y o ne underg ro und, is rel a
tiv el y ex p ens iv e to ins ta l l a nd o p era te due to th e c o s t o f
a c q uiring th e l o c o mo tiv e a nd ins ta l l ing th e ?x ed ra il Wa y
s y s tem a nd th e a s s o c ia ted ma intena nc e c o s ts . Furth ermo re
th e underg ro und ra il Wa y s y s tem b eing ro ute- s p ec i?c is no t
?ex ib l e to c h a ng es in ro ute With o ut inc urring th e ex p ens e o f
ins ta l l ing a dditio na l ra il Wa y tra c ks . As ea c h neW rnining
a rea o p ens , it is nec es s a ry to inc ur th e c o s t o f ins ta l l ing neW
tra c k f o r th e ra il Wa y s y s tem, o r us e th e dump truc ks a s
des c rib ed a b o v e Wh o s e ef ?c ienc y dec rea s es With inc rea s ing
dis ta nc es th ey h a v e to tra v el .
Th e c entra l l if ting o r Winding s h a f t is q uite ex p ens iv e, th e
c o s t running into tens o f mil l io ns o f do l l a rs a nd is o f a ?x ed
1 5
2 5
35
45
55
65
2
l o c a tio n. As th e mine ex p a nds th e dis ta nc e f ro m th e o re f a c e
to th e c entra l s h a f t b ec o mes imp o rta nt in th e c o s t o f o p er
a ting th e mine.
In s o me ins ta nc es mines h a v e util iZ ed c o nv ey o r b el ts
ins tea d o f th e ra il Wa y s y s tem a nd/ o r th e l if ting s h a f t. Th e
dif ?c ul ty With c o nv ey o r b el ts is th a t o nc e a g a in th ey a re
ro ute s p ec i?c , a re q uite ex p ens iv e to ins ta l l a nd ma inta in.
Miners a re a l s o c o nc erned th a t th e b el ts ma y c a tc h ?re th a t
Wo ul d s ta rv e th e a rea o f o x y g en.
In s o me ins ta nc es th e dump truc ks ma y b e us ed to
tra ns p o rt th e o re direc tl y a b o v e g ro und. Bec a us e o f th e
l imita tio ns des c rib ed a b o v e, es p ec ia l l y l o W s p eed a nd th e
h ea t th ey p ro duc e a nd With th e inc l ina tio n With in under
g ro und rnines g enera l l y b eing c o ns ta nt, th e dep th o f a mine
th a t c a n b e rea l is tic a l l y a c c es s ed b y th es e dump truc ks is
th eref o re l irnited, ty p ic a l l y to a dep th o f h undreds o f meters .
Wh en th e o re h a s b een tra ns p o rted to th e s urf a c e, o r in th e
c a s e o f a n a b o v e g ro und mine, it is th en nec es s a ry to
tra ns p o rt th e o re to a c entra l p ro c es s ing p l a nt.
One o f th e Wa y s th a t th is ma y b e a c c o mp l is h ed is b y us ing
c o nv entio na l o f f - h ig h wa y dump truc ks th a t c a n eith er b e a
s ing l e rig id, p iv o t s teer unit o r a n a rtic ul a ted v eh ic l e c o n
s is ting o f a v ery s h o rt Wh eel b a s e ea rth rno v ing ty p e o r tra c to r
unit c o up l ed to a s ing l e h a ul ed o r c a rry ing unit a nd v irtua l l y
j o b s p ec i?c . Th es e units a re des ig ned to b e a l ink in th e c h a in
o f th e a c tua l rnining , dig g ing o r p ro duc ing th e/ a ny p ro duc t.
Th eir ma in f unc tio n is to mo v e p ro duc t l itera l l y f ro m th e o re
f a c e to a rec eiv a l p o int th ro ug h th e s h o rtes t p o s s ib l e dis ta nc e
a re no t ro ute- s p ec i?c . Th e s h o rter th e ro ute th e mo re ec o
no rnic a l th ey a re, c o nv ers el y , th eir to nne o f o re tra ns p o rted
p er dis ta nc e c o s ts inc rea s e dra ma tic a l l y o v er l o ng er ro utes .
Th ey a re th eref o re no t s uita b l e f o r h a ul ing o re g rea t
dis ta nc es , th ereb y l imiting th e dis ta nc e th a t o re c a n b e
tra ns p o rted a t a rea s o na b l e c o s t. As s uc h , th es e truc ks a re no t
s uita b l e Wh en th ere ma y b e s a tel l ite mines , th a t is , mines th a t
a re s o me dis ta nc e a wa y f ro m th e p ro c es s ing p l a nt. In
p a rtic ul a r, th es e truc ks h a v e nev er b een des ig ned to b e a
tra ns p o rta tio n s y s tem f o r v a rio us rea s o ns inc l uding th e
f o l l o Wing :
( a ) Th eir a x l e l o a ding s a re ex treme a nd req uire a p p ro p ri
a te ro a ding a nd b ridg ing . Wh eel ed o r a rtic ul a ted dump
truc ks With l a rg e tires c a rry a s ig ni?c a nt l o a ding p er
a x l e, up to 33 to ns p er a x l e.
( b ) Th es e ty p es o f truc ks b eing des ig ned f o r h a ul ing l o a ds
o v er rel a tiv el y s h o rt dis ta nc es a nd ro ug h terra in a re
th eref o re des ig ned With rel a tiv el y l a rg e tires f o r rel a
tiv el y s l o W s p eed o p era tio n a nd a re rel a tiv el y ex p en
s iv e to o p era te a nd ma inta in due to f uel a nd tire c o s ts .
( c ) Th ey p ro duc e to o muc h h ea t in b o th th eir driv e tra ins
a nd tires . Furth ermo re th ey h a v e p o o r p o Wer- to - Weig h t
ra tio s a nd l o Wo p era ting ef ?c ienc ies .
( d) Th eir rna s s req uires a l a rg e c ro s s - s ec tio n b o th in
h eig h t a nd Width .
( e) Th eir dis c h a rg e meth o ds a re eith er: direc t end tip ( no n
c a p tiv e) Wh ere th e c enter o f g ra v ity is a l Wa y s ra is ed, o r
b o tto m dump in th e s ing l e a rtic ul a ted h a ul ing v eh ic l e
th a t keep s th e c enter o f g ra v ity do Wn b ut is dis c h a rg e
c a p tiv e.
An a l terna te Wa y o f tra ns p o rting th e o re to a c entra l
p ro c es s ing p l a nt inc l udes c o nv entio na l ty p e tra ns p o rta tio n
s y s tem s uc h a s c o nv ey o r b el ts a nd ra il s y s tems , b o th ro utes
b eing c a p tiv e. Pro b l ems With th es e h a v e b een dis c us s ed
a b o v e.
Ano th er Wa y o f tra ns p o rting th e o re is us ing h ig h Wa y ty p e
ro a d v eh ic l e c o mb ina tio ns o r rnul ti- c o rnb ina tio n v eh ic l es .
Th es e v eh ic l es a re l imited b y th eir h o rs ep o Wer, tra c tiv e o r
US 6, 843, 351 B2
3
b ra king ef f o rts o r c a p a c ities , ma nuf a c turers ra ting s o f v a ri
o us c o mp o nentry , direc tio na l s ta b il ity b eh a v io r, s Wep t p a th
c h a ra c teris tic s , g ra da b il ity a nd s ta rta b il ity .
As a res ul t, c urrentl y kno wn s y s tems f o r th e ex tra c tio n o f
o re f ro m mines s et l imits o n th e c o mmerc ia l us ef ul nes s o f
mines s imp l y due to th e c o s t o f tra ns p o rting th e o re.
As dis c us s ed a b o v e mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l es , s uc h a s
o v er- th e- ro a d v eh ic l es a re kno Wn a nd inc l ude a truc k
c o up l ed to a p l ura l ity o f tra il ers a nd c o nv erter do l l ies . Until
rec entl y th es e v eh ic l es h a v e inc l uded a s ing l e p o Wer s o urc e,
g enera l l y a dies el eng ine, With th e v eh ic l es b eing l imited to
a p a y l o a d o f s o me 1 7 0 to nnes , a nd a g ra dient no t ex c eeding
5% . Th es e mul tic o mb ina tio n v eh ic l es , c o mmo nl y ref erred
to a s ro a d- tra ins h a v e b een in us e f o r s o me time, p a rtic u
l a rl y in Aus tra l ia , f o r th e p urp o s e o f h a ul ing mined p ro duc ts ,
o r th e c o mmo dities o f o th er indus tries , o v er a b o v eg ro und
ro a dWa y s . Co nv entio na l a b o v eg ro und ro a d- tra ins a re ty p i
c a l l y des ig ned f o r us e a t rel a tiv el y h ig h s p eed a nd o n
rel a tiv el y ?a t g ro und. Th ey a re l imited b y th eir h o rs e p o Wer,
tra c tiv e o r b ra king ef f o rts a nd th eir c a p a c ities th a t a re
de?ned b y ma nuf a c turers ra ting s , direc tio na l s ta b il ity
b eh a v io ur, s Wep t p a th c h a ra c teris tic s , g ra da b il ity a nd s ta rt
a b il ity . Ac c o rding l y th ey h a v e l imited us es f o r o p era tio n in
mines .
Th e l o c a tio n o f th e mec h a nic a l c o up l ing s b etWeen ea c h
a dj a c ent p a ir o f v eh ic l es in a mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e a s
des c rib ed a b o v e is p o s itio ned to ma inta in th e s ide- to - s ide
s Wa y , o r y a W, o f th e l a s t v eh ic l e With in a c c ep ta b l e l imits f o r
a b o v eg ro und, o v er- th e- ro a d a p p l ic a tio ns , b ut is no t c o mp a t
ib l e f o r o p era tio n With in a n underg ro und mine due to th e
rel a tiv el y l o W o p era ting s p eeds a s Wel l a s th e rel a tiv el y
na rro w tunnel s a nd s ma l l ra dius b ends ex p erienc ed in under
g ro und mines .
S p ec ia l l y c o n?g ured mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l es h a v e
b een dev el o p ed rec entl y Wh ic h h a v e a s ig ni?c a ntl y reduc ed
s Wep t p a th Width a s c o mp a red to c o nv entio na l a b o v eg ro und
ro a d- tra ins . Th is ena b l es th es e v eh ic l es to b e us ed to tra ns
p o rt v a rio us p a y l o a ds s uc h a s mined o res , o v er th e ro a dWa y s
ex is ting in a n underg ro und mine. US . Pa t. N o . 6, 062 , 801
is s ued o n Ma y 1 6, 2 000 a nd US . Pa t. N o . 6, 361 , 2 69 is s ued
o n Ma r. 2 6, 2 002 , ea c h ex p res s l y inc o rp o ra ted b y ref erenc e
h erein in its entirety , des c rib e th es e s p ec ia l l y c o n?g ured
mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l es Wh ic h ma y b e us ed in under
g ro und mines . Th e v eh ic l es c a n o p era te in a tunnel s y s tem
With res tric ted h eig h t, Width , s Wep t p a th s a nd direc tio na l
p a th c o mp l y ing With a p redetermined b eh a v io ur p a ttern
o b v ia ting th e need f o r th e ra il o r c o nv ey o r s y s tem.
Ev en a f ter th e a dv ent o f th e f o reg o ing s p ec ia l l y c o n?g
ured mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l es , v a rio us o p era tio na l p ro b
l ems rema ined to b e s o l v ed With reg a rd to th e tra ns p o rt o f
mined o res , in b o th underg ro und a nd a b o v eg ro und a p p l ic a
tio ns . Fo r ins ta nc e, due to th e h ea v y l o a ds o f th e ro a d- tra in
c o mb ina tio n, th e tra c tio n p ro v ided b y th e p o Wered Wh eel s o f
a ro a d- tra in, us ua l l y p ro v ided to tWo rea r a x l es , Wa s ins uf
?c ient to s a tis f a c to ril y neg o tia te th e g ra dients a s s o c ia ted
With th e dec l ines p ro v iding ing res s a nd eg res s to a nd f ro m
s o me underg ro und mines . Al terna tiv el y th es e dec l ines into
underg ro und mines Wo ul d h a v e to b e c o ns truc ted a t a muc h
g entl er s l o p e l ea ding to ex c es s iv el y l o ng tunnel s . In
a dditio n, th e rel a tiv el y l o W s p eed o f th e ro a d tra ins under
g ro und due to th e s iZ e o f th e tunnel s a nd s a f ety c o ns ider
a tio ns res ul t in ro a d- tra ins tra v el l ing underg ro und f o r a
s ig ni?c a nt l eng th o f time, ev en up to a n h o ur in s o me c a s es .
Th is p l a c es s tra in o n th e ro a d- tra in c o o l ing s y s tem th a t is
ty p ic a l l y des ig ned f o r a b o v eg ro und ro a d- tra ins tra v el l ing a t
s ig ni?c a nt s p eeds , g enera l l y a ro und 80 km/ h a nd th e eng ines
a re p ro ne to o v erh ea ting .
1 0
1 5
2 0
2 5
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
4
Al s o , b ef o re th e intro duc tio n o f mul ti- c o mb ina tio n
v eh ic l es inc o rp o ra ting a p o Wer tra il er ( i. e. , o ne h a v ing a
s o urc e o f mo tiv e p o Wer) , Wh ic h a re s ub s eq uentl y dis c us s ed
in deta il , mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l es f o r dedic a ted ro a d
h a ul a g e th eref o r s uc h a s minera l c o nc entra te h a ul a g e o p er
a ted a t a 1 7 0 to nne p a y l o a d, a s no ted p rev io us l y . Ho Wev er,
th ere is a p ra c tic a l l imit to th e p a y l o a d o f th e mul ti
c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e With a s ing l e truc k. S inc e th e c o s t o f
h a ul a g e is determined ma inl y o n Weig h t, if o ne c a n inc rea s e
th e to ta l h a ul a g e th a t c a n b e mo v ed b y a s ing l e v eh ic l e th a t
do es no t req uire a dditio na l o p era to rs , th e c o s t b ene?t is
s ub s ta ntia l es p ec ia l l y . Th is is es p ec ia l l y s o if o re c a n b e
h a ul ed direc tl y f ro m With in a mine to a p ro c es s ing p l a nt
With o ut needing to b e rel o a ded o nto a no th er tra ns p o rt s y s
tem.
In o rder to f urth er imp ro v e mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l es
a nd p ro v ide ev en g rea ter a dv a nta g es to th e o p era to rs us ing
th es e v eh ic l es , mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l es h a v e b een dev el
o p ed Wh ic h util iZ e a truc k a nd a n a dditio na l mo tiv e p o Wer
s o urc e a dv a nta g eo us l y l o c a ted With in th e c h a s s is o f a tra il er
a nd inc l uding a uniq ue c o o l ing s y s tem th a t ena b l es o p era
tio n o f th e mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e a t l o W s p eeds , o n
s teep er g ra dients a nd With a g rea ter p a y l o a d th a n p rev io us l y
kno Wn. Interna tio na l Pa tent Ap p l ic a tio n N o . PCT/ AU01 /
01 1 54, ex p res s l y inc o rp o ra ted b y ref erenc e h erein in its
entirety , dis c l o s es a mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e inc l uding a
p o Wer tra il er h a v ing a n eng ine th a t o v erc o mes th e f o reg o ing
p ro b l ems o f tra c tio n a nd c o o l ing o f s uc h mul ti- c o mb ina tio n
v eh ic l es . Interna tio na l Pa tent Ap p l ic a tio n N o . PCT/ AU01 /
01 568, a l s o ex p res s l y inc o rp o ra ted b y ref erenc e h erein in its
entirety , dis c l o s es v a rio us f ea tures th a t ma y b e inc o rp o ra ted
in th e driv e tra ins o f mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l es o f th is ty p e.
Th es e mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l es h a v ing th e a b il ity to
tra ns v ers e dif f erent mining l ev el s h a v e remo v ed th e need f o r
c o nv entio na l dump truc k h a ul a g e f ro m th e o re f a c e to th e
ra il h ea d, a nd h a v e a l s o ena b l ed th e v eh ic l e to h a ul o re
direc tl y f ro m th e o re f a c e f ro m a ny l ev el underg ro und v ia a n
a c c es s tunnel direc tl y to a p ro c es s ing p l a nt el imina ting th e
need f o r th e l if ting s h a f t. Furth ermo re, th es e ty p es o f mul ti
c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l es c o up l ed With s p ec i?c a l l y c o n?g ured
p o Wer tra il ers , ty p ic a l l y B- do ub l e tra il ers , c a n b e us ed a b o v e
g ro und to tra ns p o rt o re direc tl y to a p ro c es s ing p l a nt el imi
na ting th e need f o r o th er dump truc ks , inc rea s ing th e to ta l
p a y l o a d f ro m s o me 1 7 0 to nnes to 2 7 0 to nnes Wh il s t s ta y ing
With in th e ma nuf a c turers ra ting a nd a t th e s a me time
inc rea s ing th e g enera l b eh a v io r p a ttern c rea ting a s a f er
mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e.
Us e o f a mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e us ing a truc k a nd a
p o Wer tra il er p ro v ides a f urth er s ig ni?c a nt a dv a nta g e o v er
c o nv entio na l s ing l e- eng ine dump truc ks , a s Wel l a s mul ti
c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l es h a v ing o nl y a truc k, in th a t ev en if th e
truc k o r p o Wer tra il er eng ine o r tra ns mis s io n Were to f a il , th e
a l terna tiv e eng ine a nd tra ns mis s io n c a n b e us ed to a t l ea s t
mo v e th e mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e o ut o f th e Wa y o r ev en
b ring it to th e s urf a c e f o r a na l y s is a nd rep a ir. As kno Wn in
th e a rt, in th e ev ent o f eng ine a nd/ o r tra ns mis s io n f a il ure it
is mo re th a n a s imp l e ex erc is e to retriev e a s ing l e- eng ine
dump truc k f ro m th e dep th s o f a n underg ro und mine th a t is
th en b l o c king th e underg ro und ro a d f o r us e b y o th er truc ks .
A s imil a r p ro b l em ma y ex is t With mul ti- c o mb ina tio n
v eh ic l es p o Wered o nl y b y a s ing l e truc k, o r in s o me
ins ta nc es a s ing l e p rime mo v er.
One o f th e p ro b l ems in a mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e
h a v ing tWo eng ines a nd tra ns mis s io ns is c o ntro l l ing th em.
Interna tio na l Pa tent Ap p l ic a tio n N o . PCT/ AU02 / 00667 ,
ex p res s l y inc o rp o ra ted b y ref erenc e h erein in its entirety ,
dis c l o s es a s y s tem f o r th e c o ntro l o f mul tip l e eng ines in a
US 6, 843, 351 B2
5
mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e inc l uding a p o wer tra il er h a v ing
a n eng ine, Wh ic h o v erc o mes th e f o reg o ing p ro b l ems o f
c o ntro l l ing mul tip l e eng ines . Interna tio na l Pa tent Ap p l ic a
tio n N o . PCT/ AU02 / 00668, a l s o ex p res s l y inc o rp o ra ted b y
ref erenc e h erein in its entirety , dis c l o s es a s y s tem f o r th e
c o ntro l o f mul tip l e tra ns mis s io ns in a mul ti- c o mb ina tio n
v eh ic l e inc l uding a p o Wer tra il er h a v ing a n eng ine, Wh ic h
o v erc o mes th e f o reg o ing p ro b l ems o f c o ntro l l ing mul tip l e
tra ns mis s io ns .
A dif ?c ul ty in a l o a d c a rry ing v eh ic l es a nd es p ec ia l l y in
rel a tio n to mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l es a s des c rib ed a b o v e is
th a t th e termina l s p eed o f th e v eh ic l e h a s to b e a c a ref ul l y
c o ntro l l ed p a ra meter es p ec ia l l y Wh en it is c a rry ing a l o a d o r
des c ending into a mine. If th e v eh ic l e is tra v el l ing to o f a s t
do Wn into a mine th e b ra kes o v erh ea t a nd b ec o me inef f ec
tiv e. Th e p ro b l em is ev en g rea ter in th e c a s e Wh ere th ere a re
mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l es a nd Wh ere th e p o Wer tra il er
ef f ec tiv el y keep s p us h ing th e truc k.
Th e driv er o f th e v eh ic l e ma y s el ec t eng ine b ra king , Wh en
b e ex p erienc e th ey th ink th a t th e v eh ic l e is tra v el l ing a t a to o
f a s t v el o c ity . Th is rel ies o n th e o p era ting s kil l o f th e driv er
a nd is a f f ec ted b y driv er f a tig ue a nd c o nc entra tio n. Wh ere
eng ine b ra king is no t a p p l ied in time, th e v eh ic l e c a n run o ut
o f c o ntro l p o tentia l l y da ma g ing th e v eh ic l e, th e mine a nd
th rea ten th e l if e o f p eo p l e in th e v ic inity . In f a c t, runa Wa y
v eh ic l es a re o ne o f th e mo re c o mmo n rea s o ns f o r da ma g e
a nd dis rup tio n in a mine. Th is p ro b l em is ex a c erb a ted b y th e
f a c t th a t in c urrentl y kno Wn eng ine b ra king s y s tems th e
eng ine b ra king Wil l o nl y a p p l y Wh en th e th ro ttl e is no t
eng a g ed. If th e driv er, f o r Wh a tev er rea s o n, is s til l a p p l y ing
a th ro ttl e ev en if th ey s el ec t eng ine b ra king it Wil l no t b e
a c tiv a ted. In th e Wo rs t- c a s e s c ena rio Wh ere th e driv er l o o s es
c o ns c io us nes s a nd is s til l a p p l y ing a th ro ttl e th e v eh ic l e Wil l
no t s to p o r s l o W do Wn o f its o Wn a c c o rd.
Th e p res ent inv entio n s eeks to redres s th e a b o v e
mentio ned p ro b l ems b y p ro v iding f o r a v eh ic l e eng ine
b ra king s y s tem Wh erein th e th ro ttl e is inh ib ited a nd eng ine
b ra king a p p l ied o nc e th e v eh ic l e s p eed rea c h es a p re
determined v el o c ity . Th e p res ent inv entio n f urth er s eeks to
redres s th e a f o rementio ned p ro b l ems b y p ro v iding f o r a
s y s tem f o r th e v el o c ity c o ntro l o f a mul ti- c o mb ina tio n
v eh ic l e Wh ere th e o p era to r c a n s el ec t th e rel a tiv e b ra king
a p p l ied b y th e p o Wer tra il er a nd th e truc k Wh erein th e tra il er
a l Wa y s a p p l ied eng ine b ra king th a t is eq ua l to o r g rea ter th a n
th a t s up p l ied b y th e truc k. Th e p res ent inv entio n s eeks ev en
f urth er to redres s th e a f o rementio ned p ro b l ems b y p ro v iding
f o r a v a ria b l e v el o c ity eng ine b ra king s y s tem Wh erein o nc e
th e s p eed o f th e v eh ic l e f a l l s b el o W th e p re- determined
th res h o l d, th ro ttl e c o ntro l is ena b l ed Wh il s t eng ine b ra king is
turned o f f .
Th e inv ento r is una Wa re o f a ny v eh ic l e inc l uding a
mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e, Wh eth er it is f o r a b o v e g ro und o r
underg ro und us e o f th e ty p e j us t des c rib ed, Wh ic h is c a p a b l e
o f a p p l y ing eng ine b ra king o nl y dep enda nt o n th e s p eed o f
th e v eh ic l e. Th e inv ento r is f urth er una Wa re o f a ny mul ti
c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e Wh ere th e o p era to r c a n s el ec t th e rel a
tiv e eng ine b ra king o f th e truc k a nd p o Wer tra il er.
In v ieW o f th e f o reg o ing dis a dv a nta g es a nd l imita tio ns
a s s o c ia ted With kno Wn l o a d- c a rry ing v eh ic l es , a c o mmerc ia l
need eX is ts f o r a n imp ro v ed l o a d- c a rry ing v eh ic l e a nd
v eh ic l e c o mb ina tio n f o r us e b o th a b o v eg ro und a nd in under
g ro und mines th a t o v erc o mes a t l ea s t s o me o f th e a b o v e
mentio ned p ro b l ems o r p ro v ides th e p ub l ic With a us ef ul
a l terna tiv e.
It is th eref o re a n o b j ec t o f th e p res ent inv entio n to p ro v ide
a b ra king s y s tem f o r a v eh ic l e th a t o v erc o mes th e a b o v e
no ted dra Wb a c ks a nd dis a dv a nta g es a s s o c ia ted With p rio r a rt
v eh ic l e b ra king s y s tems .
1 0
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It is a no th er o b j ec t o f th e p res ent inv entio n to p ro v ide a
b ra king s y s tem f o r v el o c ity dep endent c o ntro l l ed b ra king f o r
a v eh ic l e.
It is a no th er o b j ec t o f th e p res ent inv entio n to p ro v ide a
b ra king s y s tem f o r v el o c ity dep endent c o ntro l l ed b ra king
s y s tem f o r a mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e h a v ing a p o Wered
truc k a nd a p o Wered tra il er.
It is y et a no th er o b j ec t o f th e p res ent inv entio n to p ro v ide
a b ra king s y s tem f o r a v eh ic l e th a t inc l udes a ma nua l
o v erride c o ntro l th a t ena b l es a n o p era to r o f th e v eh ic l e to
a p p l y v a ria b l e eng ine b ra king indep endent o f th e v eh ic l e
s p eed.
S UMMARY OF THE IN VEN TION
In a c c o rda nc e With th e a b o v e o b j ec ts a nd th o s e th a t Wil l
b e mentio ned a nd Wil l b ec o me a p p a rent b el o W, th e s y s tem
f o r b ra king c o ntro l in a v eh ic l e h a v ing a n eng ine With a ?rs t
p l ura l ity o f eng ine c y l inders , a n el ec tro nic th ro ttl e, el ec tric a l
p o Wer s o urc e a nd eng ine b ra ke a da p ted to p ro v ide eng ine
b ra king in a c c o rda nc e With th is inv entio n c o mp ris es a n
eng ine h a v ing a ?rs t p l ura l ity o f eng ine c y l inders , a n el ec
tro nic th ro ttl e, el ec tric a l p o Wer s o urc e a nd eng ine b ra ke
a da p ted to p ro v ide eng ine b ra king , a n el ec tro nic c o ntro l
unit, th a t is in c o mmunic a tio n With th e eng ine el ec tric a l
p o Wer s o urc e, eng ine th ro ttl e a nd eng ine b ra ke, a nd a s p eed
s ens o r a da p ted to mea s ure th e s p eed o f th e v eh ic l e a nd
c o mmunic a te th e mea s ured v eh ic l e s p eed to th e el ec tro nic
c o ntro l unit, Wh erein Wh en th e mea s ured v eh ic l e s p eed is
g rea ter th a n a p re- determined v eh ic l e s p eed th res h o l d, th e
el ec tro nic c o ntro l unit dis a b l es th e eng ine th ro ttl e a nd
a p p l ies th e eng ine b ra ke us ing a s ec o nd p l ura l ity o f th e
eng ine c y l inders , th e s ec o nd p l ura l ity o f eng ine c y l inders
b eing l es s th a n th e ?rs t p l ura l ity o f eng ine c y l inders .
Pref era b l y , Wh en th e mea s ured v eh ic l e s p eed f a l l s to o r
b el o Wth e p re- determined v eh ic l e s p eed, th e el ec tro nic c o n
tro l unit ena b l es th e eng ine th ro ttl e a nd dis eng a g es th e
eng ine b ra ke.
Pref era b l y , th e el ec tro nic c o ntro l unit inc l udes a ma nua l
o v erride c o ntro l h a v ing tWo s el ec tio ns th a t ena b l es a n o p era
to r o f th e v eh ic l e to a p p l y v a ria b l e eng ine b ra king indep en
dent o f th e v eh ic l e s p eed; th e ?rs t s el ec tio n p ro v iding eng ine
b ra king o n o nl y s o me o f th e eng ine c y l inders a nd th e s ec o nd
s el ec tio n p ro v iding eng ine b ra king o n a l l o f th e c y l inders o f
th e eng ine.
In a f urth er emb o diment o f th e inv entio n, th e s y s tem f o r
b ra king c o ntro l in a mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e h a v ing a t
l ea s t tWo eng ines th a t a re c o ntro l l ed b y a s ing l e el ec tro nic
th ro ttl e, ea c h eng ine b eing o p era b l e to ef f ec t eng ine b ra king
a nd h a v ing a ?rs t p l ura l ity o f eng ine c y l inders , a n el ec tric a l
p o Wer s o urc e a nd a n eng ine b ra ke, c o mp ris es a n el ec tro nic
c o ntro l unit, th a t is in c o mmunic a tio n With a t l ea s t o ne o f
s a id eng ines el ec tric a l p o Wer s o urc e, th e el ec tro nic th ro ttl e
a nd th e eng ine b ra ke o f ea c h o f th e eng ines , a nd a s p eed
s ens o r a da p ted to mea s ure th e s p eed o f th e v eh ic l e a nd
c o mmunic a te th e mea s ured v eh ic l e s p eed to th e el ec tro nic
c o ntro l unit, Wh erein Wh en th e mea s ured v eh ic l e s p eed is
g rea ter th a n a p re- determined v eh ic l e s p eed th res h o l d, th e
el ec tro nic c o ntro l unit dis a b l es th e eng ine th ro ttl e a nd
a p p l ies a t l ea s t o ne th e eng ine b ra kes to th e eng ines .
Pref era b l y , th e mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e inc l udes a p o W
ered truc k a nd a p o Wered tra il er, th e eng ine b ra king b eing
a p p l ied b y eng ines o f b o th th e truc k a nd tra il er eng ines .
Pref era b l y , th e el ec tro nic c o ntro l unit s imil a rl y inc l udes a
ma nua l o v erride c o ntro l h a v ing tWo s el ec tio ns th a t ena b l es
a n o p era to r o f th e v eh ic l e to a p p l y eng ine b ra king indep en
dent o f th e v eh ic l e s p eed; in b o th s el ec tio ns eng ine b ra king
US 6, 843, 351 B2
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is p ro v ided us ing a l l o f th e c y l inders o f th e tra il er eng ine,
Wh il s t in th e ?rs t s el ec tio n eng ine b ra king is p ro v ided b y
a l s o us ing s o me o f th e c y l inders o f th e truc k eng ine a nd in
th e s ec o nd s el ec tio n eng ine b ra king is p ro v ided b y a l s o
us ing a l l o f th e c y l inders o f th e truc k eng ine.
Pref era b l y , th e s y s tem a l s o inc l udes a n inc l ina tio n s ens o r
a da p ted to mea s ure th e v eh ic l e f o rWa rd inc l ina tio n a nd
Weig h th e p re- determined s p eed a t Wh ic h eng ine b ra king is
a p p l ied With inc rea s ing v a l ues o f inc l ina tio n.
Pref era b l y , th e s y s tem f urth er inc l udes a l ig h t s ens o r
a da p ted to detec t a mb ient l ig h t a nd Weig h th e p re
determined s p eed a t Wh ic h eng ine b ra king is a p p l ied a s a
f unc tio n o f a mb ient l ig h t c o nditio ns .
Pref era b l y , th e s y s tem f urth er inc l udes a Weig h t s ens o r
a da p ted to determine th e Weig h t o f a t l ea s t th e truc k a nd
Weig h t th e p re- determined s p eed a t Wh ic h eng ine b ra king is
a p p l ied a s a f unc tio n o f Weig h t o f th e truc k.
BRIEF DES CRIPTION OF THE DRAWIN GS
Furth er f ea tures a nd a dv a nta g es Wil l b ec o me a p p a rent
f ro m th e f o l l o Wing a nd mo re p a rtic ul a r des c rip tio n o f th e
p ref erred emb o diments o f th e inv entio n, a s il l us tra ted in th e
a c c o mp a ny ing dra Wing s , a nd in Wh ic h l ike ref erenc ed c h a r
a c ters g enera l l y ref er to th e s a me p a rts o r el ements th ro ug h
o ut th e v ieWs , a nd in Wh ic h :
FIG. 1 is a s ide el ev a tio n p l a ne v ieWo f o ne emb o diment
o f a mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e h a v ing s ev era l v eh ic l e tra il
ers a nd s ev era l p o Wer tra il ers ;
FIG. 2 is a f ro nt p ers p ec tiv e v ieWo f a p o Wer tra il er f o r a
mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e;
FIG. 3 is a rea r p ers p ec tiv e v ieW o f th e p o Wer tra il er
s h o Wn in FIG. 2 ;
FIG. 4 is a rig h t s ide el ev a tio n p l a ne v ieW o f th e p o Wer
tra il er s h o Wn in FIG. 2 ;
FIG. 5 is a l ef t s ide el ev a tio n p l a ne v ieW o f th e p o Wer
tra il er s h o Wn in FIG. 2 ;
FIG. 6 is a s ide el ev a tio n p l a ne v ieWo f a f urth er emb o di
ment o f a mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e;
FIG. 7 is a rea r p ers p ec tiv e v ieWo f a n el ec tro nic th ro ttl e
c o ntro l , a c c o rding to th e inv entio n;
FIG. 8 is a s c h ema tic il l us tra tio n o f o ne emb o diment o f a
s y s tem f o r th e v a ria b l e v el o c ity emerg enc y b ra king o f a
mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e, a c c o rding to th e inv entio n; a nd
FIG. 9 is a s c h ema tic il l us tra tio n o f th e v a ria b l e v el o c ity
emerg enc y b ra king ( VVEB) mo dul e s h o Wn in FIG. 8,
a c c o rding to th e inv entio n.
DES CRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
EMBODIMEN T
It is to b e unders to o d th a t a l th o ug h th e f o l l o Wing des c rip
tio n dis c us s es th e p res ent inv entio n Wh en a p p l ied to a
mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e it eq ua l l y a p p l ies to a s ing l e
c h a s s is v eh ic l e o f th e ty p e th a t ma y c urrentl y b e us ed to
tra ns p o rt l o a ds . It is no t th e intentio n o f th e f o l l o Wing
des c rip tio n to th eref o re l imit th e inv entio n in a ny Wa y to
mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e, a l th o ug h it is to b e unders to o d
th a t it is p a rtic ul a rl y us ef ul in th o s e ty p es o f v eh ic l es .
Turning no Wto th e dra Wing s in deta il th ere is s h o Wn in
FIG. 1 a mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e 1 0 inc l uding a truc k 1 2
mec h a nic a l l y c o up l ed to a p l ura l ity o f tra il ers 1 4. A p o Wer
tra il er 1 6 ex tends f ro m f o rWa rdl y l o c a ted tra il ers 1 4a a nd
1 4b a nd a f urth er tra il er 1 4c is c o up l ed to th e p o Wer tra il er
1 6. A s ec o nd p o Wer tra il er 1 8 is c o up l ed to th e l a s t tra il er
1 4c . It is h o Wev er to b e unders to o d th a t th e mul ti- v eh ic l e
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65
8
c o mb ina tio n ma y b e mo re p o Wer tra il ers a nd l es s no rma l
tra il ers , dep ending o n th e a p p l ic a tio n, th e b ig g es t c h a ng e in
c o n?g ura tio n dep ending o n Wh eth er it is f o r a b o v eg ro und o r
underg ro und us e.
Th e truc k 1 2 inc l udes a c h a s s is o r f ra me 2 0 a nd a rea r a x l e
a s s emb l y 2 2 , Wh ic h is s us p ended f ro m a nd dis p o s ed b el o W
th e c h a s s is 2 0. Fo rWa rd a x l e 2 4 c o mp ris es th e s teering a x l e
o f th e truc k 1 2 . Th e rea r a x l e a s s emb l y 2 2 is s us p ended f ro m
c h a s s is 2 0 v ia s us p ens io n 2 6 a nd inc l udes Wh eel ed a x l es 2 8.
Bo th o f th e Wh eel ed a x l es ma y b e driv ing a x l es , o r a l terna
tiv el y o nl y o ne is a driv ing a x l e. Th e driv ing a x l es ma y b e
a tridem a x l e a s s emb l y in l ieu o f th e ta ndem a x l e a s s emb l y
2 2 a nd p o s s ib l y s us p ended With a mec h a nic a l s us p ens io n.
Th e truc k 1 2 f urth er inc l udes a mo tiv e p o Wer s o urc e 30
a nd a tra ns mis s io n ( no t s h o Wn) f o r tra ns mitting to rq ue f ro m
th e mo tiv e p o Wer s o urc e 30 to th e driv e a x l es 2 8. Ty p ic a l l y
th e mo tiv e p o Wer s o urc e c o mp ris es a dies el eng ine a nd th e
tra ns mis s io n f o r tra ns mitting to rq ue f ro m th e eng ine 30 to
th e driv e a x l es 2 8 inc l udes a g ea r b o x , a driv e s h a f t, a nd a
dif f erentia l ( no t s h o Wn) . Al terna tiv el y , th e mo tiv e p o Wer
s o urc e 30 ma y c o mp ris e o th er ty p es o f interna l c o mb us tio n
eng ines util iZ ing a v a riety o f f uel s .
Th e truc k inc l udes a dra W f ra me 32 a tta c h ed a nd rea r
Wa rdl y ex tending f ro m th e c h a s s is 2 0. A c o up l ing 34 is
a tta c h ed to th e rea r o f th e dra Wf ra me 32 a nd c o nnec ted With
a dra Wb a r 36 o n th e tra il er 1 4a . A b in 38 a c c o mmo da tes
p a y l o a d to b e c a rried b y th e truc k a nd ma y b e a da p ted to b e
s ide tip p ing b y b eing h ing edl y a tta c h ed to th e f ra me 2 0 ( no t
s h o Wn) .
Ea c h o f th e tra il ers 1 4a , 1 4b , a nd 1 4c inc l udes a c o nv erter
do l l y 40 a nd a s emi- tra il er 42 , s a id s emi- tra il er h a v ing a
c h a s s is 44, a f o rWa rd end With a c o up l ing s y s tem 46 th a t
p iv o ta b l y a tta c h es to a b a l l - ra c e turnta b l e 48 o n th e c o n
v erter do l l y . Th is ena b l es th e c o nv erter do l l y to p iv o t
rel a tiv e to th e s emi- tra il er a b o ut a g enera l l y v ertic a l a x is o f
ro ta tio n p a s s ing th ro ug h th e c enter o f th e b a l l - ra c e turnta b l e.
Oth er emb o diments ma y h o Wev er eq ua l l y Wel l b e us ed, s uc h
a s a n o s c il l a ting b a l l - ra c e turnta b l e o r a g rea s e p l a te. Th e
dra Wb a r 36 is h ing edl y c o nnec ted th ro ug h p iv o t 50 to th e
c h a s s is 52 o f th e c o nv erter do l l y 40 a nd a c c o mmo da tes f o r
a ny c h a ng e in th e g ra de o f th e ro a d s urf a c e. As With th e
truc k, th e tra il ers 1 4a , 1 4b , a nd 1 4c , f urth er inc l ude dra W
f ra mes 54 a tta c h ed a nd rea rWa rdl y ex tending f ro m th e
c h a s s is 44. Ac o up l ing 56 is a tta c h ed to th e rea r o f th e tra il er
dra Wf ra mes 54 a nd is c o nnec ted With a dra Wb a r 36 o n th e
nex t tra il er o r p o Wer tra il er. Ab in 58 a c c o mmo da tes p a y l o a d
to b e c a rried b y th e tra il er a nd ma y b e a da p ted to b e
s ide- tip p ing b y b eing h ing edl y a tta c h ed to th e f ra me 52 ( no t
s h o Wn) . Ea c h tra il er inc l udes a rea r a x l e a s s emb l y 60
ty p ic a l l y h a v ing th ree a x l es , th e mec h a nic a l deta il s o f Wh ic h
a re Wel l kno Wn in th e a rt. Ho Wev er in th e underg ro und
a p p l ic a tio n th e c o n?g ura tio n o f th e v eh ic l e is a dua l do l l y
dua l a x l e tra il er.
Po Wer tra il er 1 6 is c o up l ed to tra il er 1 4b us ing c o up l ing
a rra ng ements a s des c rib ed a b o v e. Th e p o Wer tra il er 1 6
inc l udes th e s a me mec h a nic a l f ea tures a s With th e o th er
no n- p o Wered tra il ers 1 4a , 1 4b , a nd 1 4c , s uc h a s s emi- tra il er
42 , With th e a dditio n o f a n eng ine 62 s us p ended g enera l l y
h a l f - Wa y a l o ng c h a s s is 44 a nd a c o o l ing mea ns 64 l o c a ted a t
th e f ro nt o f th e p o Wer tra il er 1 6 p o s itio ned to ta ke into
a c c o unt th e mo v ement nec es s a ry during a turn. Ex tending
th e c h a s s is 66 o f th e p o Wer tra il er do l l y 68 ena b l es th e
a dditio n o f th e c o o l ing mea ns . Al terna tiv el y , a l th o ug h no t
s h o Wn a nd th e p ref erred c o n?g ura tio n, th e c o o l ing mea ns is
a c c o mmo da ted o n th e f ro nt o f th e c h a s s is 7 0 o f th e p o Wer
tra il er b y s h o rtening th e b in 7 2 Wh en c o mp a red With th e b in
US 6, 843, 351 B2
58 o f a no n- p o Wered tra il er. Atra ns mis s io n s y s tem p ro v ides
mo tiv e p o wer to th e rea r a x l e a s s emb l y 7 4 o f th e p o Wer
tra il er 1 6.
Po Wer tra il er 1 8 a l s o inc l udes eng ine 62 mec h a nic a l l y
c o up l ed to th e rea r driv e a x l e a s s emb l y 7 4 b ut inc l udes th e
c o o l ing mea ns 64 l o c a ted a t th e rea r o f th e p o Wer tra il er
th ereb y el imina ting th e req uirement f o r th e ex tra l eng th in
th e c h a s s is o f th e do l l y a s Wa s th e c a s e in p o Wer tra il er 1 6
a nd ins tea d ex tending th e rea r 7 6 o f th e c h a s s is 7 0 to s up p o rt
th e c o o l ing mea ns .
Ref erring to FIGS . 2 5, th ere is il l us tra ted a p o Wer tra il er
s uc h a s p o Wer tra il er 1 8 h a v ing th e c o o l ing mea ns 64 a t th e
rea r end th ereo f b ut h a v ing a do ub l e a x l e rea r a x l e a s s emb l y
7 8. Th e p o Wer tra il er inc l udes s emi- tra il er 42 h a v ing a
c h a s s is 7 0 inc l uding a rea r ex tens io n 7 6. Th e c h a s s is 7 0
inc l udes a p a ir o f l o ng itudina l l y ex tending s ide memb ers 80
a nd a p l ura l ity o f tra ns v ers e c ro s s - memb ers ( no t s h o Wn)
interc o nnec ting a nd a tta c h ed to th e s ide memb ers 80. Th e
rea r a x l e a s s emb l y 7 8 is s us p ended f ro m c h a s s is 7 0 ty p ic a l l y
b y a ir s us p ens io n ( no t s h o Wn) . Al terna tiv el y th e s emi- tra il er
42 ma y inc l ude a c o nv entio na l mec h a nic a l s p ring a s s emb l y .
Th e s ide memb ers 80 s up p o rt o r f o rm p a rt o f th e l o a d
c a rry ing s truc ture s uc h a s b in 66. Th e l o a d c a rry ing s truc ture
ma y b e a s ide tip p ing tra il er, a s to c k c ra te, a f uel ta nk, o r a ny
o th er ty p e o f s truc ture f o r s up p o rting a l o a d. As With th e
truc k a nd no n- p o Wered tra il ers , th e p o Wer tra il er inc l udes a
dra Wf ra me 82 a tta c h ed a nd rea rWa rdl y ex tending f ro m th e
c h a s s is 7 0. A c o up l ing 84 is a tta c h ed to th e rea r o f th e dra W
f ra me 82 a nd c o nnec ted With a dra Wb a r 36 o n th e nex t tra il er
o r p o Wer tra il er a nd ma y b e a da p ted to b e s ide- tip p ing b y
b eing h ing edl y a tta c h ed to th e f ra me 7 0 ( no t s h o Wn) .
Th e rea r a x l e Wh eel a s s emb l y 7 8 inc l udes Wh eel ed a x l es
86. Ex tending a b o v e s a id Wh eel ed a x l es a re memb ers 88 th a t
ma y b e us ed to s up p o rt mudg ua rds a nd th e l ike 9 0. Th e
Wh eel ed a x l es 86 inc l ude a p l ura l ity o f tires 9 2 mo unted
th ereo n f o r s up p o rting th e s emi- tra il er a s it tra v el s o v er a
ro a d s urf a c e.
Mo unted With in c h a s s is 7 0 is a mo tiv e p o Wer s o urc e o r
eng ine 62 s us p ended g enera l l y c entra l l y b etWeen th e s ide
memb ers 80 a nd c entra l l y With in th e c h a s s is 7 0. A tra ns
mis s io n 9 4 p ro v ides driv ing p o Wer f ro m th e eng ine 62 to th e
a x l e a s s emb l y 7 8 Wh ere o ne o r mo re o f th e Wh eel ed a x l es 86
ma y b e driv en. Th e eng ine is ty p ic a l l y a dies el eng ine a nd
ma y b e a dv a nta g eo us l y inc l ude a turb o c h a rg er ( no t s h o Wn) .
To b e a b l e to ?t th e eng ine 62 in b etWeen th e s ide memb ers
80, th e s ep a ra tio n b etWeen th e s ide memb ers 80 is g enera l l y
l a rg er th a n th a t c o nv entio na l l y f o und o n ex is ting s emi
tra il ers . Ho Wev er, th e s ta nda rd Width o f th e Wh eel ed a x l es is
kep t th e s a me to keep th e v eh ic l e ro a dWo rth y . Th is h a s
nec es s ita ted mo unting th e p o Wer tra il er s us p ens io n under
th e s ide memb ers ra th er th a n o n th eir s ide. Th e eng ine 62 is
s up p l ied c o mb us ting a ir th ro ug h a n a ir inl et 9 6. Th e a ir is
th en f ed th ro ug h to th e eng ine v ia a ir p ip e 9 8 a nd th ro ug h
a p p ro p ria te ?l ters . Ex h a us t g a s es a re v ented f ro m th e eng ine
th ro ug h ex h a us t o utl et 1 00.
Th e c o o l ing mea ns 64 inc l udes a ra dia to r 1 02 to a s s is t in
c o o l ing th e eng ine b y us ing a n a p p ro p ria te c o o l ing ?uid o r
c o o l a nt. In th is p a rtic ul a r a dv a nta g eo us emb o diment th e
eng ine c o o l ing mea ns o r th e ra dia to r 1 02 is mo unted a t th e
rea r o f th e p o Wer tra il er o n to p o f f ra me ex tens io n 7 6 th a t
ex tends f urth er rea rWa rdl y f ro m th e c h a s s is 7 0. Ty p ic a l l y ,
th e l eng th o f th e f ra me Wo ul d b e ex tended to a c c o mmo da te
th e ra dia to r p o s itio ned a l o ng th e f ra me. Ho Wev er, th e f ra me
ma y v ery Wel l rema in th e s a me l eng th a s in c o nv entio na l
tra il ers , b ut th e l eng th o f th e b in 66 Wo ul d b e s h o rtened to
p ro v ide s uf ?c ient s p a c e to a c c o mmo da te th e ra dia to r.
1 0
2 5
35
40
45
55
65
1 0
Th e ra dia to r 1 02 inc l udes c o o l a nt c o il s mo unted in a
h o us ing 1 06. An a ir f a n 1 08 is mo unted b eh ind c o il s a nd is
driv en to dra Wa ir th ro ug h th e c o il s . Lo c a ted in f ro nt o f th e
c o il s is a g ril l 1 1 0 to o f f er s o me p ro tec tio n to th e c o il s f ro m
da ma g e b y deb ris . Th e a ir f a n 1 08 ty p ic a l l y inc l udes a
h y dra ul ic mo to r 1 1 2 driv en b y th e s up p l y o f h y dra ul ic ?uid
th ro ug h c o nduits 1 1 4 a nd 1 1 6. Th e a ir f a n 1 08 is a l s o h o us ed
in a p ro tec tiv e g ril l 1 1 8 a nd is s up p o rted in p o s itio n b y
s up p o rt b a rs 1 2 0 ex tending b etWeen th e to p a nd b o tto m o f
th e h o us ing 1 06.
Co o l a nt is s up p l ied to th e ra dia to r th ro ug h inl et p ip e 1 2 2
a nd b a c k to th e eng ine th ro ug h o utl et p ip e 1 2 4. Th e s ig ni?
c a nt dis ta nc e b etWeen th e ra dia to r a nd th e eng ine mea ns th a t
th e l eng th o f p ip es tra ns p o rting th e c o o l a nt is q uite l o ng .
Th is in its el f p ro v ides a n a dv a nta g e in th a t th e v o l ume o f
c o o l a nt f o r th e eng ine s y s tem h a s b een g rea tl y inc rea s ed a s
c o mp a red to c o nv entio na l eng ine des ig ns Wh ere th e ra dia to r
is l o c a ted in f ro nt o f th e eng ine. Th e v o l ume o f th e p ip es
ef f ec tiv el y a c ts a s a l a rg e c o o l a nt s to re.
Lo c a ted a ro und th e eng ine a re v a rio us c o mp a rtments 1 2 6
a nd 1 2 8 th a t h o us e th e nec es s a ry c o ntro l a nd s ens ing eq uip
ment f o r th e eng ine s uc h a s eng ine s ta rting c o ntro l s a nd
dia g no s tic ins truments . Ty p ic a l l y th es e s y s tems inc l ude
c o mmunic a tio n mea ns With th e truc k s o th a t th e driv er is
kep t a dv is ed a s to th e g enera l s ta tus o f th e p o Wer tra il er
eng ine.
Po Wer tra il er f uel ta nks 1 30 a re l o c a ted a b o v e th e rig h t
h a nd s ide o f th e rea r a x l e a s s emb l y 7 8 a nd a c t a s p s eudo
mudg ua rds . S ide- tip p ing h y dra ul ic a rms 1 32 a nd 1 34 a re
p ro v ided a t th e f ro nt a nd rea r o f th e b in res p ec tiv el y Wh il s t
a rms 1 36 a nd 1 38 c o ntro l o p ening th e s ide o f th e b in 66.
Al terna tiv el y , th e f uel ta nks c a n b e o n th e l ef t h a nd s ide o f
th e rea r a x l e, dep ending o n Wh ic h s ide th e tip p ing o c c urs , a s
req uired b y th e end us er o r b y th e l o c a l ro a d rul es .
FIG. 6 il l us tra tes a mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e 1 35
Wh erein ins tea d o f a p o Wer- tra il er a s il l us tra ted ea rl ier, th ere
is a t l ea s t o ne B- do ub l e tra il er 1 37 inc o rp o ra ting a p o Wer
tra il er 1 40 c o up l ed to a tra il er 1 42 . Th e tra il er 1 42 inc l udes
a rea r a x l e a s s emb l y 1 44 th a t a c ts a s a do l l y f o r th e p o Wer
tra il er 1 40. Po Wer tra il er 1 40 inc l udes a tri- a x l e rea r a x l e
a s s emb l y 1 46, th e c o n?g ura tio n o f th e o th er c o mp o nents
b eing s imil a r to th o s e des c rib ed ea rl ier a nd Wel l kno Wn in
th e a rt. Rea r a x l e a s s emb l y 1 44 is a q ua d- a x l e a s s emb l y . It
is h o Wev er to b e unders to o d th a t th e a s s emb l y ma y h a v e l es s
a x l es th a n s h o Wn, s uc h a s a tri- a x l e a s s emb l y . A B- do ub l e
tra il er 1 37 c o n?g ura tio n h a s b een f o und to p ro v ide
imp ro v ed direc tio na l s ta b il ity . In th e c a s e o f a l o ng mul ti
c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e, th is ena b l es th e o p era to r to a s s emb l e a
mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e h a v ing a to ta l c o mb ina tio n
a p p ro a c h ing up to 1 0 tra il ers a nd p o Wer tra il ers .
Th e a b o v e des c rip tio n il l us tra tes a mul ti- c o mb ina tio n
v eh ic l e 1 35 h a v ing mul tip l e p o Wer tra il ers a nd a s ing l e
p rime mo v er o r truc k. We no Wdis c us s th e o p era ting c o ntro l
s y s tems o f s uc h a mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e. Fo r ea s e o f
unders ta nding We Wil l dis c us s a n emb o diment Wh ere th ere is
o nl y o ne truc k a nd o ne p o Wer tra il er. It is h o Wev er to b e
unders to o d th a t th e c o ntro l s y s tem ma y eq ua l l y Wel l a p p l y
to o ne o r mo re p o Wer tra il ers a nd it is no t intended to l imit
th e p res ent a p p l ic a tio n to a mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e h a v
ing o nl y o ne p o Wer tra il er.
Th e th ro ttl e c o ntro l o f th e eng ines o f a truc k a nd th e
p o Wer tra il er dep end o n th e c o n?g ura tio n o f th e tra ns mis
s io n s y s tem o f th e truc k a nd th e tra ns mis s io n s y s tem o f th e
p o Wer tra il er. S inc e a driv er Wo ul d no t b e a b l e to c o ntro l
ma nua l tra ns mis s io n s y s tems o f tWo eng ines , th e tra ns mis
s io n s y s tem o f th e p o Wer tra il er is a n a uto ma tic o ne.
US 6, 843, 351 B2
1 1
Ea c h o f th e eng ines inc l udes eng ine o n- b o a rd c o mp uter
ma na g ement s y s tems , Wh ic h no t o nl y mea s ure a numb er o f
p a ra meters s uc h a s th e to rq ue, f uel inj ec ted, a nd th e eng ine
rp m s ( rev o l utio ns p er minute) b ut a l s o ena b l e a th ro ttl e
inp ut to b e us ed to driv e th e eng ine. Wh il s t its o Wn th ro ttl e
ma y c o ntro l ea c h eng ine s ep a ra tel y th o s e s kil l ed in th e a rt
Wo ul d a p p rec ia te th e dif ?c ul ty o f c o ntro l l ing s uc h a mul ti
c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e Wh ere th ere Were s ep a ra te th ro ttl es a nd
ty p ic a l l y th e p o Wer tra il er eng ine is o p era ted a s s uming a
l o a d a l l th e time, th a t is , a t th e th ro ttl e req uired to ma inta in
th e o p era tio na l s p eed o f a f ul l y l o a ded v eh ic l e. Th is is
undes ira b l e f o r ma ny rea s o ns inc l uding s ta b il ity o f th e
mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e a s Wel l a s f uel c o ns ump tio n.
If th e truc k tra ns mis s io n s y s tem is a ma nua l o ne th en th ere
mus t b e s ep a ra te th ro ttl e c o ntro l s s inc e th e g ea ring o f th e
tra ns mis s io n s y s tems Wo ul d Wo rk a g a ins t ea c h o th er. Ho W
ev er in th e c a s e Wh ere th e eng ine a nd tra ns mis s io n s y s tem
c o n?g ura tio n o f b o th th e truc k a nd th e tra il er a re a uto ma tic ,
it h a s b een dis c o v ered b y th e p res ent a p p l ic a nt th a t s uc h a
c o n?g ura tio n ma y b e c o ntro l l ed b y o ne th ro ttl e unit 1 48
o nl y a s il l us tra ted in FIG. 7 .
Th e th ro ttl e unit, o r el ec tro nic th ro ttl e c o ntro l 1 48
inc l udes a p eda l 1 50 p iv o ted a t 1 52 o n a b a s e 1 54. Ab ia s ing
mea ns 1 56 h a v ing a ro ta ta b l e Wh eel 1 58 is p iv o ta b l y
a tta c h ed to th e p eda l a nd ro ta tes a l o ng a rm 1 60 to p ro v ide
res il ienc e f o r th e p eda l in o p era tio n. Atta c h ed to th e s ide o f
th e p eda l is a h o us ing 1 62 h o us ing a p o tentio meter, a s h a f t
o p era tiv el y c o nnec ting th e p eda l 1 50 a nd th e p o tentio meter
s o th a t a s th e p eda l is dep res s ed th e p o tentio meter is ro ta ted
p ro v iding a v a ria b l e v o l ta g e o utp ut.
Il l us tra ted in FIG. 8 is a s c h ema tic il l us tra tio n o f a
mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e a nd s y s tem, a c c o rding to o ne
emb o diment o f th e p res ent inv entio n, f o r th e v a ria b l e v el o c
ity emerg enc y b ra king c o ntro l o f mul tip l e eng ines o f th e
mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e. Th e th ro ttl e p eda l 1 48 is el ec
tro nic a l l y c o nnec ted th ro ug h c a b l e c l us ter 1 64, a s s h o Wn in
FIG. 7 , to a th ro ttl e c o ntro l mo dul e ( TCM) 1 66 a nd is
ty p ic a l l y p ro v ided p o Wer f ro m a truc k eng ine c o ntro l mo d
ul e ( ECM) 1 9 0. As dis c us s ed a b o v e, s h o ul d th e truc k eng ine
a nd its p o Wer s y s tem f a il f o r Wh a tev er rea s o n, a n a l terna tiv e
s o urc e o f p o Wer needs to b e p ro v ided to th e el ec tro nic
th ro ttl e c o ntro l 1 48 to ena b l e th e o p era to r to p ro v ide a
th ro ttl e inp ut to th e p o Wer tra il er eng ine. Th e TCM 1 66
ena b l es th e o p era to r to s el ec t a nd a l terna te p o Wer s o urc e f o r
th e el ec tro nic th ro ttl e c o ntro l 1 48 s o th a t th e mul ti
c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e c a n s til l b e driv en ev en if o ne o f th e
eng ines Were to f a il . Th is a b il ity a l l o Ws th e mul ti
c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e to b e a t th e v ery l ea s t mo v ed o ut o f th e
Wa y s o th a t o th er v eh ic l es ma y us e a ro a dWa y a nd a t b es t s til l
del iv er a ny l o a d a nd b e driv en to a n a p p ro p ria te a rea f o r
rep a ir.
With ref erenc e to FIG. 8, a ?rs t v eh ic l e, ty p ic a l l y truc k
1 68 inc l udes eng ine 1 7 0 p ro v iding p o Wer th ro ug h tra ns mis
s io n s y s tem 1 7 2 to driv e s h a f t 1 7 4 a nd o nto rea r a X l e
a s s emb l y 1 7 6. Th e truc k 1 68 is mec h a nic a l l y c o up l ed v ia
c o up l ing 1 7 8 to p o Wer tra il er 1 80 h a v ing eng ine 1 82 p ro
v iding p o Wer th ro ug h tra ns mis s io n s y s tem 1 84 to driv e s h a f t
1 86 a nd o nto rea r a X l e a s s emb l y 1 88.
Ea c h o f th e eng ines h a s a n a s s o c ia ted Eng ine Co ntro l
Mo dul e ( ECM) , ECM 1 9 0 c o up l ed to eng ine 1 7 0, a nd ECM
1 9 2 c o up l ed to eng ine 1 82 . S imil a rl y ea c h tra ns mis s io n h a s
a n a s s o c ia ted Eng ine Co ntro l Unit ( ECU) , ECU 1 9 4 c o up l ed
to tra ns mis s io n 1 7 2 , a nd ECU 1 9 6 c o up l ed to tra ns mis s io n
1 84. Th e ECM a nd ECU unit o f ea c h v eh ic l e a re c o nnec ted
to th e v eh ic l es indep endent p o Wer s up p l y .
As dis c us s ed ea rl ier th e el ec tro nic th ro ttl e c o ntro l o r p eda l
1 48 is o p era tiv el y c o nnec ted to th ro ttl e c o ntro l mo dul e
1 0
1 5
2 5
35
40
45
55
65
1 2
( TCM) 1 66 a nd inc l udes a g ro und 1 9 8a , p o Wer 2 00a , a nd
v a ria b l e th ro ttl e o utp ut 2 02 a . Th e TCM is o p era tiv el y
c o up l ed to th e ECM 1 9 0 o f th e truc k a nd ECM 1 9 2 o f th e
p o Wer tra il er. Th e truc k ECM 1 9 0 a s s o c ia ted With truc k 1 68
is c o nnec ted With th e TCM to p ro v ide p o Wer 2 00b , a
c o mmo n g ro und 1 9 8b Wh il s t rec eiv ing th e th ro ttl e p eda l
o utp ut 2 02 b . S imil a rl y th e p o Wer tra il er ECM 1 9 2 a s s o c i
a ted With p o Wer tra il er 1 80 is c o nnec ted With th e TCM to
p ro v ide p o Wer 2 00c , a c o mmo n g ro und 1 9 86 Wh il s t rec eiv
ing th e th ro ttl e p eda l o utp ut 2 02 c .
S y s tems f o r th e c o ntro l o f th e ECM s a nd ECU s o f th e
truc k a nd tra il er Wh ere th ere is a f a il ure in o ne mo dul e o r
unit a re th e s ub j ec t o f th e ea rl ier identi?ed a p p l ic a tio ns a nd
Wil l no t b e dis c us s ed h ere f urth er. Fo r f urth er inf o rma tio n
th e rea der is ref erred to th es e a p p l ic a tio ns .
Th e Va ria b l e Vel o c ity Emerg enc y Bra king mo dul e
( VVEB) 300 is o p era tiv el y c o up l ed th ro ug h c o nnec tio n 302
to th e ECU 1 9 4, th e ECU p ro v iding th e VVEB With th e
v eh ic l e s p eed. Th e VVEB 300 is a l s o o p era tiv el y c o nnec ted
to th e ECM 1 9 0 o f th e truc k th ro ug h c o nnec tio n 304.
Co nnec tio n 306 a l s o p ro v ides inf o rma tio n to th e VVEDB
300 a b o ut th e v eh ic l e c o nditio n th ro ug h s ens o r 308, th is to
b e dis c us s ed l a ter. VVEB 300 is a l s o o p era tiv el y c o nnec ted
to th e TCM 1 66 th ro ug h c o nnec tio n 31 0.
In o p era tio n, th e VVEB 300 is p re- p ro g ra mmed s o th a t
Wh en th e s p eed o f th e v eh ic l e p ro v ided to th e VVEB 300
f ro m th e ECU 1 9 4 rea c h es a p re- determined th res h o l d, th e
VVEB 300 a c ts to inh ib it th e th ro ttl e 1 48 th ereb y c utting o f f
th e f uel s up p l y to th e eng ine 1 7 0. Th e ECM 1 9 4 th en a p p l ies
eng ine b ra king s inc e f uel is no l o ng er p ro v ided to th e eng ine
1 7 0.
Th e o p era tio n o f th e VVEB 300 is indep endent o f th e
o p era to r o r driv er o f th e v eh ic l e. Ev en if th e driv er is
th ro ttl ing th e eng ine 1 7 0, o nc e th e p re- determined s p eed is
rea c h ed th e VVBE 300 Wil l inh ib it th e th ro ttl e 1 48 a nd
ena b l e eng ine b ra king until th e v eh ic l e s p eed f a l l s b el o Wth e
p re- determined s p eed a t Wh ic h p o int th e eng ine b ra king is
de- a c tiv a ted a nd th e th ro ttl e 1 48 is ena b l ed.
In a mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e h a v ing a p o Wer tra il er,
VVEB 300 a l s o p ro v ides a c o ntro l s ig na l 31 2 to th e ECM
1 9 2 o f th e p o Wer tra il er ins truc ting it to a p p l y eng ine b ra king
Wh ic h it is a b l e to do s inc e th ro ttl e 1 48 th a t c o ntro l s b o th th e
truc k eng ine 1 7 0 a nd th e tra il er eng ine 1 82 h a s b een
inh ib ited.
In a p ref erred emb o diment, th e eng ine b ra king p ro v ided
b y th e p o Wer tra il er 1 80 is a t l ea s t eq ua l to a nd ty p ic a l l y
g rea ter th a n th e eng ine b ra king o f th e truc k 1 68. Ty p ic a l
eng ine c o n?g ura tio ns p ro v ide th e o p era to r o f th e eng ine
With c h o ic es a s to th e l ev el o f b ra king a v a il a b l e, th a t b eing
dep endent o n th e numb er o f c y l inders in a n eng ine. Th us in
a s iX c y l inder eng ine th e ma nuf a c turer o f th e eng ine ty p i
c a l l y p ro v ides th e o p era to r With th e a b il ity to c h o o s e b ra king
in mul tip l es o f tWo c y l inders , th a t is , th e eng ine b ra king is
p ro v ided b y 2 , 4 o r 6 c y l inders .
Th e p res ent inv entio n, Wh en a p p l ied to a mul ti
c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e, p ro v ides in a p ref erred emb o diment
f o r th e VVEB 300 o p era tiv el y c o up l ed to th e ECM s 1 9 0
a nd 1 9 2 o f th e truc k a nd th e tra il er eng ines res p ec tiv el y , to
a p p l y eng ine b ra king to a l l c y l inders o f th e tra il er eng ine 1 82
a nd o nl y to s o me c y l inders in th e truc k eng ine 1 7 0. In a s iX
c y l inder eng ine, a l l s iX c y l inders a re us ed f o r th e tra il er
eng ine b ra ke Wh il s t o nl y f o ur c y l inders a re us ed f o r th e truc k
eng ine b ra ke. By s el ec ting th e tra il er eng ine 1 82 to b ra ke a t
a g rea ter l ev el th a n th a t o f th e truc k eng ine 1 7 0, th e s ta b il ity
o f th e mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e under b ra king is o p timis ed.
Ty p ic a l l y th e s p eed a t Wh ic h th e VVEB 300 a c tiv a tes is
s el ec ted dep ending o n th e o p era ting c o nditio ns under Wh ic h
US 6, 843, 351 B2
1 3
th e v eh ic l e is to o p era te. Fo r ex a mp l e, in underg ro und mines
th e ty p ic a l s p eed p res et With th e VVEB 300 is s o me 35
km/ h . Th e p res et s p eed is no t o ne th a t c a n b e a l tered b y th e
driv er b ut req uires th e VVEB 300 to b e re- p ro g ra mmed
th ereb y remo v ing th e o p p o rtunity f o r th e driv er to ta mp er
With it.
Under s o me c irc ums ta nc es it ma y b e des ira b l e to a c h iev e
ma x imum b ra king in s uc h a mul ti c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e. Th e
o p era to r o f th e v eh ic l e c a n s el ec t th is s o th a t b o th th e truc k
eng ine 1 7 0 a nd tra il er eng ine 1 82 p ro v ide ma x imum eng ine
b ra king , o r b ra ke o n a l l th e eng ine c y l inders .
FIG. 9 il l us tra tes in mo re deta il th e eng ine b ra king c irc uit.
El ec tric a l p o Wer is to p ro v ide th e VVEB 300 f ro m s ta nda rd
1 2 Vo l t s up p l y 31 4. Th e truc k ECU 1 9 4 p ro v ides a s ig na l
302 rel a ted to th e s p eed o f th e v eh ic l e to rel a y 31 6 th a t Wh en
energ iZ ed a c tiv a tes s Witc h 31 8 th a t g ro unds th e TCM 1 66
ef f ec tiv el y inh ib iting th e th ro ttl e. Rel a y 31 6 a l s o energ iZ es
rel a y 32 0 th a t a c tiv a tes s Witc h 32 2 eng a g ing th e truc k ECM
eng ine b ra ke medium 32 4 ( i. e. f o ur c y l inders ) a nd eng a g ing
th e tra il er ECM to a p p l y l o Wb ra king 32 8 ( i. e. tWo c y l inders )
a s Wel l a s medium b ra king 330 ( i. e. f o ur c y l inders ) res ul ting
in eng ine b ra king p ro v ided b y a l l o f th e c y l inders o f th e
tra il er eng ine o r ma x imum b ra king .
Th e VVEB a p p l ies eng ine b ra king indep endent o f th e
o p era to r o f th e v eh ic l e. Ho Wev er, th e o p era to r c a n a p p l y
eng ine b ra king us ing ma nua l s Witc h 332 . Th e s Witc h ty p i
c a l l y h a s th ree p o s itio ns . Wh en in p o s itio n 0 , no eng ine
b ra king is a p p l ied. Wh en in p o s itio n I , ma x imum tra il er
eng ine b ra king a nd medium truc k eng ine b ra king is a p p l ied,
a nd Wh en in th e II p o s itio n b o th eng ines h a v e ma x imum
b ra king o n. Ma x imum b ra king in th e truc k eng ine is
a c h iev ed b y eng a g ing th e a dditio na l tWo c y l inders 334, f o ur
o f th e c y l inders ( in a s ix c y l inder eng ine) a l rea dy eng a g ed
Wh en s el ec ting s Witc h 332 to I . Th is eng ine b ra king is
th eref o re indep endent o f th e v eh ic l e s p eed a nd ma y b e
s el ec ted b y th e driv er Wh o ma y a t times req uire th e v eh ic l e
to s l o Wdo Wn under c o ntro l l ed b ra king . Th o s e s kil l ed in th e
a rt Wil l a p p rec ia te th a t ev en if th e VVEB h a s a p p l ied eng ine
b ra king th e driv er c a n inc rea s e it ma nua l l y b y eng a g ing f ul l
eng ine b ra king in th e truc k.
If th e s el ec to r s Witc h 332 is o n 0 a nd th e v eh ic l e
ex c eeds th e s p eed s et f o r eng a g ement o f th e VVEB eng ine
b ra king is a p p l ied until th e v eh ic l e s p eed f a l l s b el o Wth e s et
s p eed. Onc e th e s p eed o f th e v eh ic l e h a s dro p p ed b el o Wth is
s et s p eed th e eng ine b ra king is turned o f f a nd th e th ro ttl e is
o nc e a g a in ena b l ed.
It is to b e unders to o d th a t in a p ref erred emb o diment
v a rio us s a f ety f ea tures ma y f urth er b e inc o rp o ra ted into th e
p res ent inv entio n. Fo r ex a mp l e, th e VVEB ma y o nl y b e
ena b l ed Wh en c erta in c o nditio ns a re met, th o s e c o nditio ns
ty p ic a l l y o nes Wh ere ex c es s s p eed is c l ea rl y undes ira b l e.
S uc h c o nditio ns ma y b e p ro v ided b y s ens o r 308 o n th e truc k
th a t ma y mea s ure, f o r ex a mp l e, th e v eh ic l e Weig h t, time o f
da y , th e v eh ic l e inc l ine a nd th e rel a tiv e o rienta tio n o f th e
tra il er to th e truc k. In f a c t mul tip l e s ens o rs o n th e truc k ma y
b e a c tiv el y c o nnec ted to th e VVEB s o th a t ea c h s ens o r
s ep a ra tel y c o ntro l s th e s p eed a t Wh ic h th e VVEB eng a g es
eng ine b ra king . Fo r ex a mp l e, if th e v eh ic l e is no t tra v el l ing
o n a n inc l ine, it is da y time, a nd th e v eh ic l e is no t l o a ded,
th e VVEB ma y b e p re- s et to o p era te th e eng ine b ra king a t
50 km/ h s inc e th is o p era ting c o n?g ura tio n Wo ul d imp l y th e
v eh ic l e tra v el l ing a b o v eg ro und unl o a ded. If h o Wev er, th e
v eh ic l e Wa s mo v ing do Wn a n inc l ine, it ma y b e p ref erred
th a t th e eng ine b ra king is a p p l ied if th e s p eed is g rea ter th a n
35 km/ h . If th e v eh ic l e is a l s o l o a ded th en th e p ref erred
s p eed a t Wh ic h th e VVEB a c ts ma y ev en b e 30 km/ h .
1 0
2 5
35
40
45
55
65
1 4
S imil a rl y , if th e v eh ic l e is turning , a s mea s ured b y th e
rel a tiv e l o ng itudina l o rienta tio n b etWeen th e truc k a nd th e
tra il er, th e g rea ter th e turn th e s ma l l er th e th res h o l d s p eed a t
Wh ic h eng ine b ra king is a p p l ied.
Th o s e s kil l ed in th e a rt Wil l a p p rec ia te th a t th e p res ent
inv entio n c o mp l ements a nd f urth er enh a nc es th e mul ti
c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l es Wh o s e deta il s Were des c rib ed in th e
United S ta tes a nd Interna tio na l Ap p l ic a tio ns dis c us s ed ea r
l ier a nd th a t p ro v ide s ig ni?c a nt a dv a nta g es a nd c o s t s a v ing s
Wh en h a ul ing o re.
In s umma ry , a ty p ic a l eng ine th a t p ro duc es 600 h o rs e
p o Wer a s a n o utp ut p o Wer is a l s o eq ua l to o r up to eq uiv a l ent
to 600 h o rs ep o Wer reta rda tio n. Th is is s imp l y mo re th a n
ta king th e f o o t o f th e th ro ttl e f o r th e eng ine ef f ec tiv el y turns
into a c o mp res s o r. By ens uring th a t th e tra il er eng ine b ra kes
us ing mo re c y l inders , a s s uming th e eng ines a re eq ua l , th e
tra il er a c ts a s a n a nc h o r p ro v iding s ta b il ity to s uc h a mul ti
c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e.
Ty p ic a l l y th ere a re th ree s ta g es o f b ra king in a 6- c y l inder
eng ine, ea c h b ra king b eing a mul tip l e o f tWo c y l inders . In
th is emb o diment, Wh en a n o v er- s p eed is detec ted th e truc k
eng ine b ra kes us ing 4 c y l inders Wh il s t th e tra il er eng ine
b ra kes us ing a l l 6 c y l inders . By b ra king h a rder With th e
tra il er j a c k, kni?ng is a v o ided a nd th e mul ti- c o mb ina tio n
v eh ic l e p ul l s up s tra ig h t. At th e s a me time th a t th e eng ine
b ra king is a p p l ied th e th ro ttl e is inh ib ited.
Th e s p eed a t Wh ic h eng ine b ra king is a p p l ied c a n dep end
o n ma ny c o nditio ns th a t c a n b e p re- s et into th e c o ntro l unit
inc l uding th e v eh ic l e inc l ina tio n ( us ing a merc ury s Witc h ) ,
Weig h t ( b y s ing l o a d c el l s in th e a ir s us p ens io n) , s p eed ( b y
us ing a n o utp ut f o rm th e tra ns mis s io n) , time o f da y ( us ing
a c l o c k o r a p h o to s ens o r Wh en Wo rking a b o v e g ro und) .
Furth ermo re a c a l ib ra ted a l titude meter c a n b e us ed to
determine Wh en th e v eh ic l e is a b o v e o r b el o Wg ro und, s inc e
th e underg ro und s p eed needs to b e kep t b el o Wa ma x imum.
Furth er a dv a nta g es a nd imp ro v ements ma y v ery Wel l b e
ma de to th e p res ent inv entio n With o ut dev ia ting f ro m its
s c o p e. Al th o ug h th e inv entio n h a s b een s h o Wn a nd des c rib ed
in Wh a t is c o nc eiv ed to b e th e mo s t p ra c tic a l a nd p ref erred
emb o diment, it is rec o g niZ ed th a t dep a rtures ma y b e ma de
th eref ro m With in th e s c o p e a nd s p irit o f th e inv entio n, Wh ic h
is no t to b e l imited to th e deta il s dis c l o s ed h erein b ut is to
b e a c c o rded th e f ul l s c o p e o f th e c l a ims s o a s to emb ra c e a ny
a nd a l l eq uiv a l ent dev ic es a nd a p p a ra tus .
Wh a t is c l a imed is :
1 . A b ra king s y s tem f o r th e c o ntro l o f v eh ic l e s p eed, th e
v eh ic l e inc l uding a n eng ine h a v ing a ?rs t p l ura l ity o f eng ine
c y l inders , a n el ec tro nic th ro ttl e, el ec tric a l p o Wer s o urc e a nd
eng ine b ra ke a da p ted to p ro v ide eng ine b ra king , th e s y s tem
c o mp ris ing :
a n el ec tro nic c o ntro l unit, s a id el ec tro nic c o ntro l unit
b eing in c o mmunic a tio n With s a id eng ine el ec tric a l
p o Wer s o urc e, eng ine th ro ttl e a nd eng ine b ra ke; a nd
a s p eed s ens o r a da p ted to mea s ure th e s p eed o f s a id
v eh ic l e a nd c o mmunic a te s a id mea s ured v eh ic l e s p eed
to s a id el ec tro nic c o ntro l unit,
Wh erein Wh en s a id mea s ured v eh ic l e s p eed is g rea ter th a n
a p re- determined v eh ic l e s p eed th res h o l d, s a id el ec
tro nic c o ntro l unit dis a b l es s a id eng ine th ro ttl e a nd
a p p l ies s a id eng ine b ra ke us ing a s ec o nd p l ura l ity o f
s a id eng ine c y l inders , s a id s ec o nd p l ura l ity o f eng ine
c y l inders b eing l es s th a n s a id ?rs t p l ura l ity o f eng ine
c y l inders , a nd
Wh erein Wh en s a id mea s ured v eh ic l e s p eed eq ua l s s a id
p re- determined v eh ic l e s p eed, s a id el ec tro nic c o ntro l
unit ena b l es s a id eng ine th ro ttl e a nd dis eng a g es s a id
eng ine b ra ke.
US 6, 843, 351 B2
1 5
2 . Th e b ra king s y s tem o f c l a im 1 , wh erein Wh en s a id
mea s ured v eh ic l e s p eed is l es s th a n s a id p re- determined
v eh ic l e s p eed, s a id el ec tro nic c o ntro l unit ena b l es s a id
eng ine th ro ttl e a nd dis eng a g es s a id eng ine b ra ke.
3. Th e b ra king s y s tem o f c l a im 1 , Wh erein s a id el ec tro nic
c o ntro l unit inc l udes a ma nua l o v erride c o ntro l , s a id ma nua l
o v erride c o ntro l b eing a da p ted to ena b l e a n o p era to r o f s a id
v eh ic l e to a p p l y v a ria b l e eng ine b ra king indep endent o f th e
v eh ic l e s p eed.
4. Th e b ra king s y s tem o f c l a im 3, Wh erein s a id ma nua l
o v erride h a s a t l ea s t ?rs t a nd s ec o nd s el ec tio ns .
5. Th e b ra king s y s tem o f c l a im 4, Wh erein s a id ?rs t
s el ec tio n p ro v ides eng ine b ra king us ing a th ird p l ura l ity o f
eng ine c y l inders , s a id th ird p l ura l ity o f eng ine c y l inders
b eing l es s th a n s a id ?rs t p l ura l ity o f eng ine c y l inders .
6. Th e b ra king s y s tem o f c l a im 4, Wh erein s a id s ec o nd
s el ec tio n p ro v ides eng ine b ra king us ing s a id ?rs t p l ura l ity o f
eng ine c y l inders .
7 . Ab ra king s y s tem f o r th e c o ntro l o f v eh ic l e s p eed in a
mul ti- c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e h a v ing a t l ea s t tWo eng ines th a t
a re c o ntro l l ed b y a s ing l e el ec tro nic th ro ttl e, ea c h eng ine
b eing o p era b l e to ef f ec t eng ine b ra king a nd h a v ing a ?rs t
p l ura l ity o f eng ine c y l inders , a n el ec tric a l p o Wer s o urc e a nd
a n eng ine b ra ke, th e s y s tem c o mp ris ing :
a n el ec tro nic c o ntro l unit, s a id el ec tro nic c o ntro l unit
b eing in c o mmunic a tio n With a t l ea s t o ne o f s a id
eng ines el ec tric a l p o Wer s o urc e, s a id el ec tro nic
th ro ttl e a nd s a id eng ine b ra ke o f ea c h o f s a id eng ines ;
a nd
a s p eed s ens o r a da p ted to mea s ure th e s p eed o f s a id
v eh ic l e a nd c o mmunic a te s a id mea s ured v eh ic l e s p eed
to s a id el ec tro nic c o ntro l unit,
Wh erein Wh en s a id mea s ured v eh ic l e s p eed is g rea ter th a n
a p re- determined v eh ic l e s p eed th res h o l d, s a id el ec
tro nic c o ntro l unit dis a b l es s a id eng ine th ro ttl e a nd
a p p l ies a t l ea s t o ne o f s a id eng ine b ra kes o f s a id
eng ines .
8. Th e b ra king s y s tem o f c l a im 7 , Wh erein s a id mul ti
c o mb ina tio n v eh ic l e inc l udes a p o Wered truc k a nd p o Wered
tra il er, s a id p o Wered truc k inc l uding a ?rs t eng ine a nd s a id
p o Wered tra il er inc l uding a s ec o nd eng ine, s a id ?rs t a nd
s ec o nd eng ines h a v ing a ?rs t p l ura l ity o f eng ines c y l inders .
9 . Th e b ra king s y s tem o f c l a im 8, Wh erein s a id eng ine
b ra king is p ro v ided b y s a id ?rs t eng ine o f s a id p o Wered
truc k a nd s a id s ec o nd eng ine o f s a id p o Wered tra il er.
1 0
1 5
2 5
35
40
1 6
1 0. Th e b ra king s y s tem o f c l a im 9 , Wh erein s a id eng ine
b ra king is p ro v ided b y us ing s a id ?rs t p l ura l ity o f eng ine
c y l inders o f s a id s ec o nd eng ine a nd a s ec o nd p l ura l ity o f
eng ine c y l inders o f s a id ?rs t eng ine, s a id s ec o nd p l ura l ity o f
eng ine c y l inders b eing l es s th a n s a id ?rs t p l ura l ity o f eng ine
c y l inders .
1 1 . Th e b ra king s y s tem o f c l a im 9 , Wh erein s a id el ec tro nic
c o ntro l unit inc l udes a ma nua l o v erride c o ntro l , s a id ma nua l
o v erride c o ntro l b eing a da p ted to ena b l e a n o p era to r o f s a id
v eh ic l e to a p p l y s a id eng ine b ra king indep endent o f th e
v eh ic l e s p eed.
1 2 . Th e b ra king s y s tem o f c l a im 1 1 , Wh erein s a id ma nua l
o v erride c o ntro l h a s ?rs t a nd s ec o nd s el ec tio ns .
1 3. Th e b ra king s y s tem o f c l a im 1 2 , Wh erein c o mb ined
s a id ?rs t a nd s ec o nd s el ec tio ns p ro v ides s a id eng ine b ra king
b y us ing s a id ?rs t p l ura l ity o f eng ine c y l inders o f s a id
s ec o nd eng ine.
1 4. Th e b ra king s y s tem o f c l a im 1 2 , Wh erein s a id ?rs t
s el ec tio n p ro v ides s a id eng ine b ra king us ing a th ird p l ura l ity
o f eng ine c y l inders o f s a id ?rs t eng ine, s a id th ird p l ura l ity o f
eng ine c y l inders b eing l es s th a n s a id ?rs t p l ura l ity o f eng ine
c y l inders .
1 5. Th e b ra king s y s tem o f c l a im 1 2 , Wh erein s a id s ec o nd
s el ec tio n p ro v ides s a id eng ine b ra king us ing s a id ?rs t p l u
ra l ity o f eng ine c y l inders o f s a id ?rs t eng ine.
1 6. Th e b ra king s y s tem o f c l a im 7 , f urth er inc l uding a n
inc l ina tio n s ens o r a da p ted to mea s ure th e v eh ic l e f o rWa rd
inc l ina tio n a nd Weig h th e p re- determined s p eed a t Wh ic h
s a id eng ine b ra king is a p p l ied With inc rea s ing v a l ues o f
inc l ina tio n.
1 7 . Th e b ra king s y s tem o f c l a im 7 , f urth er inc l uding a
l ig h t s ens o r a da p ted to detec t a mb ient l ig h t a nd Weig h th e
p re- determined s p eed a t Wh ic h s a id eng ine b ra king is
a p p l ied a s a f unc tio n o f a mb ient l ig h t c o nditio ns .
1 8. Th e b ra king s y s tem o f c l a im 7 , f urth er inc l uding a
Weig h t s ens o r a da p ted to determine th e to ta l Weig h t o f a t
l ea s t s a id p o Wered truc k a nd Weig h th e p re- determined
s p eed a t Wh ic h s a id eng ine b ra king is a p p l ied a s a f unc tio n
o f s a id Weig h t o f s a id truc k.
1 9 . Th e b ra king s y s tem o f c l a im 7 , Wh erein s a id p re
determined s p eed is s et a t 35 km/ h .
* * * * *
UN ITED S TATES PATEN T AN D TRADEMARK OFFICE
CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
PATEN T N O. : 6, 843, 351 B2 Pa g e 1 o f 1
APPLICATION N O. : 1 0/ 637 9 02
DATED : J a nua ry 1 8, 2 005
IN VEN TOR( S ) : Ma rk J . S l urnrno r
It is c ertif ied th a t erro r a p p ea rs in th e a b o v e- identi?ed p a tent a nd th a t s a id Letters Pa tent is
h ereb y c o rrec ted a s s h o wn b el o w:
Pl ea s e ins ert a s s ig nee item [ 7 3] , J a mes W. Co o p er o n th e titl e p a g e.
S ig ned a nd S ea l ed th is
Th irtieth Da y o f J a nua ry , 2 007
a Wa tt
J ON W. DUDAS
Direc to r o f th e United S ta tes Pa tent a nd Tra dema rk O?ic e