Adaptive anti-lock brake control system

Abstract

An anti-lock brake control system especially suited to heavy duty trucks with air brakes senses the wheel speeds on a given axle and cyclically releases and applies the brakes on that axle as required to avoid undesirable wheel slip during braking. In one control channel, a deceleration switch responsive to a wheel speed signal produces a brake release signal when wheel deceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold. A second parallel channel, also responsive to wheel speed, derives a velocity error signal representing the difference between wheel speed and an estimated vehicle speed and produces a release signal when the velocity error exceeds a value which varies as a function of wheel speed. The velocity error is determined by comparing the wheel deceleration with a vehicle deceleration and integrating the difference. The estimated vehicle deceleration is determined in large part by a wheel acceleration sensing circuit to determine the rate of wheel spinup during brake release. The second channel also includes an acceleration switch connected to the release integrator to quickly remove the velocity error signal when a predetermined wheel acceleration occurs to effect brake reapplication. A self-check circuit includes a timer producing an output signal which increases with time and a synchronous reapply circuit connected to the second channel to effect brake reapplication when a preset time has expired. The timer is operative when a self-check accelerometer indicates that the wheels are near synchronous speed and when a self-check logic circuit indicates that the control circuit calls for a brake release. A comparator and latch circuit responsive to the timer output signal is actuated when a second larger preset time has expired and is effective to illuminate a warning lamp and to disable the control circuit.