Braking system and method for a vehicle

US10029664B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Jeffrey John Wolff · Erie, US
• Henry Todd Young · North East, US
• Timothy W. Brown · Newport Beach, US
• Carlos Vallejo · Erie, US
• Sean Patrick Cillessen · Lawrence Park, US
• Kenneth Paul Nedley · Lawrence Park, US
• Larry Bench · Casper, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 4, 2015
• Grant date: Jul 24, 2018
• Expiry date: Feb 24, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60T13/588
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A control system for a vehicle includes an electric drive system associated with a first set of wheels (e.g., rear wheels) of a vehicle and a drive system control unit configured to control the electric drive system to selectively provide electric motive power to the first set of wheels to propel the vehicle and electric retarding to slow the vehicle. The system further includes a friction brake system having a first friction brake unit associated with the first set of wheels and a second friction brake unit associated with a second set of wheels (e.g., front wheels) of the vehicle. The drive system control unit is further configured, in at least one mode of operation, to independently control the first and second friction brake units to concurrently apply different levels of friction braking to the first and second sets of wheels, to reduce wear unevenness.