US 12,071,119 B2
Emergency vehicle braking using closed-loop pulsing
Russell William King, Evans, GA (US); and Kevin Douglas Grove, McCormick, SC (US)
Assigned to Textron Innovations Inc., Providence, RI (US)
Filed by Textron Innovations Inc., Providence, RI (US)
Filed on Feb. 24, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/183,779.
Prior Publication US 2022/0266806 A1, Aug. 25, 2022
Int. Cl. B60L 50/60 (2019.01); B60T 8/171 (2006.01); B60T 8/172 (2006.01); B60T 8/96 (2006.01); B60T 13/74 (2006.01); B60T 17/22 (2006.01); F16D 121/22 (2012.01)
CPC B60T 8/96 (2013.01) [B60L 50/60 (2019.02); B60T 8/171 (2013.01); B60T 8/172 (2013.01); B60T 13/743 (2013.01); B60T 17/221 (2013.01); B60L 2240/12 (2013.01); B60T 2250/04 (2013.01); F16D 2121/22 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of controlling an electric brake of a vehicle,
the method comprising:
continuously providing power to the electric brake of the vehicle to continuously disengage the electric brake and allow the vehicle to move;
while power is continuously provided to the electric brake and the vehicle is moving, sensing a fault condition; and
in response to sensing the fault condition, providing electric pulses to the electric brake in place of continuously providing power to the electric brake, the electric pulses having varying pulse timing that controls braking of the vehicle;
wherein the electric brake includes (i) a set of springs that are configured to bias the electric brake into an engaged state that provides braking resistance to the vehicle, and (ii) a set of electromagnets configured to urge the electric brake from the engaged state to a released state that removes the braking resistance; and
wherein continuously providing power to the electric brake includes:
outputting a steady power signal from a power source to the set of electromagnets to urge the electric brake from the engaged state to the released state.