Patent Publication Number: US-2023147482-A1

Title: Filter identification in a system for capturing braking particles

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the U.S. national phase of International Application No. PCT/EP2021/054607 filed Feb. 24, 2021 which designated the U.S. and claims priority to French Patent Application No. 2002024 filed Feb. 28, 2020, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a system for capturing braking particles from a friction brake system, which comprises a vacuum source, a pneumatic circuit that connects the friction brake system to the vacuum source, and a current filter located on the pneumatic circuit and mounted on a support. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Such friction brake systems may equip road or rail vehicles. Such friction brake systems may also equip stationary rotor devices such as wind turbines or industrial machines. 
     In such systems, there is provided a vacuum source (for example a suction turbine driven by a motor) which is connected by a pneumatic circuit to the friction brake system, and a filter for collecting particles emitted by the brake system. This filter is placed upstream of the vacuum source, and prevents the passage of particles through the vacuum source and their release into the atmosphere. However, in certain situations, the current filter (i.e. the filter currently mounted in the system) does not have the same characteristics (for example it is of a different model or brand) as the reference filter, which is the filter appropriate for the capture system. This difference in at least one of the characteristics is detrimental because the current filter may not perform as efficiently as the reference filter. The current filter is then unsuitable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention aims to remedy these disadvantages. 
     The invention aims to provide a system for capturing braking particles which makes it possible to ensure that the current filter is identical to the reference filter. 
     This object is achieved by means of the fact that the capturing system comprises a control unit and an identification device for identifying the filter, which is capable of sending a signal to the control unit, the signal comprising at least one current characteristic of the current filter, the control unit being capable of comparing the at least one current characteristic with at least one reference characteristic of a reference filter and informing a user when the at least one current characteristic and said at least one reference characteristic are dissimilar. 
     By means of these arrangements, the current filter is identified with certainty, and its relevant characteristics are compared with those of a reference filter which is the filter that should be installed in the capturing system. Consequently, when at least one of these characteristics of the filter currently installed in the capturing system is not identical to that of the reference filter, the user is so informed. The user can then act to prevent the vehicle or stationary machine from continuing to operate with an unsuitable filter. This user action is normally the replacement of this unsuitable filter by an appropriate filter identical to the reference filter. 
     For example, the current characteristic of the current filter is unique and the reference characteristic of the reference filter is unique 
     For example, the current filter has a plurality of N characteristics and there is a plurality of N reference characteristics, and the control unit is capable of comparing each of the current characteristics with each of the reference characteristics, two by two, and informing a user when, for at least one integer value of n between 1 and N, the current characteristic and the reference characteristic are dissimilar. 
     Advantageously, a portion of the identification device contains the at least one current characteristic of the current filter, this portion being carried by the current filter. 
     The reliability of the identification of the current filter is thus reinforced. 
     The invention also relates to a method for identifying a filter in a system for capturing braking particles from a friction brake system, this capturing system comprising a vacuum source, a pneumatic circuit that connects the friction brake system to the vacuum source, and a current filter which is located on the pneumatic circuit and which is mounted on a support. 
     According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps:
         (a) A control unit and an identification device for identifying the current filter are provided which are part of the capturing system;   (b) The identification device sends at least one signal to the control unit, this signal comprising at least one current characteristic of the current filter;   (c) The control unit compares the at least one current characteristic with at least one reference characteristic of a reference filter and informs a user when the at least one current characteristic and the at least one reference characteristic are dissimilar.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood and its advantages will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description of some embodiments represented as non-limiting examples. The description refers to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic view of a capturing system according to the invention, 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of a housing carrying a filter, and an embodiment of a detection device for detecting this filter in the capturing system of  FIG.  1   , 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of a housing carrying a filter, and of another embodiment of a detection device for detecting this filter in the capturing system of  FIG.  1   . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG.  1    schematically shows a system for capturing particles  1  according to the invention, these particles being emitted by a friction brake system  10 . 
     This friction brake system  10  comprises a brake pad  11  for braking a vehicle. This pad  11  comprises a backing plate  12  and a lining  13  made of friction material fixed to the backing plate  12 . In  FIG.  1   , the pad  11  is viewed from below, the plate  12  being in the foreground. 
     The pad  11  (first pad) is facing a disc  9  which is driven by the wheel of the vehicle. A second identical pad (not visible) is located on the other side of the disc  9  and opposite the first pad  11  so that these two pads sandwich the disc  9 . The braking of the disc  9  is achieved by friction of the two linings ( 13 ) against the disc  9  when these two pads approach the disc  9 . 
     The capturing system  1  comprises a pneumatic circuit  30  and a vacuum source  20 . The pad  11  and the second pad are connected to the vacuum source  20  via this pneumatic circuit  30 . For example, the vacuum source  20  comprises an electric motor  21  and a suction turbine  22  which is driven by this electric motor  21 . 
     In operation, the vacuum source  20  is capable of suctioning in the particles upon their emission by the linings ( 13 ), through the pneumatic circuit  30 . The direction of circulation of the air and particles is indicated by the arrow F in  FIG.  1   . The capturing system  1  further comprises a filter  40  which is located on the circuit  30 , meaning that the air which circulates within the circuit  30  passes through the filter. This filter  40  is mounted on a support  41 . For example, the support  41  is a housing which houses the filter  40  therein, as shown in the figures. The filter  40  thus separates the housing  41  into an upstream portion and a downstream portion. The air coming from the upstream portion of the circuit  30  enters the housing  41  at the upstream end of the housing  41 , passes through the filter  40 , and exits the housing  41  at the downstream end of the housing  41  to enter the downstream portion of the circuit  30 . The term “current filter” refers to the filter  40  which is actually mounted on the support  41  during operation of the vacuum source  20 . 
     The capturing system  1  further comprises a control unit  60  and a detection device  50  for detecting the filter  40 . The control unit  60  receives signals from the detection device  50  (which comprises an element for generating and sending these signals), and is also capable of controlling the vacuum source  20  and receiving information therefrom. These interactions between the control unit  60 , the detection device  50 , and the vacuum source  20  are represented schematically in  FIG.  1    by solid lines. These interactions may be implemented by electric lines. The operation of this control unit  60  and of this detection device  50  is described below. 
     The control unit  60  and the identification device  50  make it possible to determine whether the current filter  40  is identical to or different from a reference filter  49 . The reference filter  49  is for example the filter which was initially installed in the vehicle or stationary machine. It is then called the initial filter. This reference filter  49  is schematically represented with dotted lines in  FIG.  1   . This filter is thus a filter of a certain type and/or of a certain brand, and has a certain number of characteristics  49 -R. The current filter possesses a certain number of characteristics  40 -A. “Characteristic” is understood to mean for example a characteristic value of a measurement made on this filter. This value may be a geometric dimension of the filter, a density of the filter material, a filtration efficiency of the filter, a measurement of the pressure drop through the filter, an extent of the surface area of the filtration media, the number of overlapping layers of the filter media. This characteristic may also be a shape of the filter. For example, these characteristics are those expected of the filter for proper operation of the capturing system  1 . These characteristics  40 -A and  49 -R are schematically indicated in  FIG.  1    as being integrated (received and/or stored) into the control unit  60 . 
     During operation of the capturing system  1 , the identification device  50  sends at least one signal to the control unit  60 . “At least one signal” is understood to mean the sending of either a continuous signal or a signal at regular intervals or an isolated signal. This signal comprises at least one current characteristic  40 -A of the current filter  40 . The control unit  60  stores in memory at least one reference characteristic  49 -R of a reference filter  49 . If there is only one characteristic  40 -A, the reference characteristic  49 -R is related to characteristic  40 -A such that if the current filter  40  and the reference filter  49  are identical, characteristic  40 -A is substantially equal to reference characteristic  49 -R. “Substantially equal” is understood to mean that the characteristic is within a restricted interval around the reference characteristic. For example, this interval is +/−1%, or +/−2%, or +/−5%, or +/−10% of the value of the reference characteristic. If there is a plurality of N characteristics  40 -A ( 40 -A( 1 ),  40 -A( 2 ) . . .  40 -A(N) with N being an integer), then there is a plurality of N characteristics  49 -R ( 49 -R( 1 ),  49 -R( 2 ), . . .  49 -R(N)), and each of the reference characteristics  49 -R(n), with n being an integer between 1 and N, is related to characteristic  40 -A(n) such that if the current filter  40  and the reference filter  49  are identical, characteristic  40 -A(n) is substantially equal to reference characteristic  49 -R(n). The control unit  60 , upon receiving the signal comprising the current characteristic or characteristics  40 -A, compares this or these characteristics with characteristic or characteristics  49 -R. Thus, if there is a single characteristic  40 -A, the control unit  60  compares characteristics  40 -A and  49 -R. If there is a plurality of N characteristics  40 -A(n), the control unit  60  compares characteristics  40 -A(n) and  49 -R(n) two by two, for each of the integers n between 1 and N. If, at the end of this or these comparisons, at least one of the current characteristics  40 -A and reference characteristics  49 -R are dissimilar (meaning not substantially equal), then the control unit  60  informs the user that the current filter  40  is not a suitable filter (because it is not identical to the reference filter  49 ). 
     This information may be provided by any means, for example by displaying text such as “Inappropriate filter” or a logo or an indicator light on the dashboard of the vehicle, and/or for example by stimulation of the user by vibrations via a vibratory system located in the seat and controlled by the control unit  60 . In addition, this information may be accompanied by a limitation of the speed of the vehicle, using a limiter  70  which is controlled by the control unit  60  ( FIG.  1   ). The generation of particles during braking is consequently reduced, and the release of these harmful particles into the vacuum source  20  is also reduced. 
     An embodiment of the identification device  50  for identifying the filter  40  is described below, with reference to  FIG.  2   . 
     The identification device  50  comprises a contactless detector  52  and an identifier (tag)  42  which is carried by the filter  40 . The contactless detector  52  is capable of detecting the identifier  42  within a certain volume Vo around this detector  54 . This detection is carried out for example with RFID technology. RFID technology groups those technologies where the identifier is powered remotely by the detector. The contactless detector  52  is fixed close to the filter  40 , meaning that the identifier  42  is located within the volume Vo around the contactless detector  54 . The identifier  42  is specific to the current filter  40 , and contains in memory the characteristic or characteristics  40 -A of the current filter  40 . 
     The contactless detector  52  is fixed to the pipe  30  upstream or downstream of the support  41  such that the contactless detector  52  is located at a distance D 1  from the identifier  42  when the support  41  carrying the filter  40  is mounted on the pipe  30 . In this case, the contactless detector  52  sends a signal to the control unit  60 , this signal containing the characteristic or characteristics  40 -A of the current filter  40 . The control unit  60 , upon receiving this signal, compares characteristic or characteristics  40 -A with characteristic or characteristics  49 -R. 
     In another embodiment, illustrated in  FIG.  3   , the contactless detector  52  is fixed on the support  41  (for example it is placed in the housing when the support  41  is a housing), and the identifier  42  is carried by the filter  40 , such that the contactless detector  54  is located at a distance D 2  (less than D 1 ) from the identifier  42  when the filter  40  is mounted on the support  41 . 
     The identification device  50  comprises a portion (for example the identifier  42 ) which contains the characteristics  40 -A of the current filter  40 . When this portion is carried by this filter  40 , the capturing system  1  is capable of determining whether the filter  40  is different from the reference filter  49 , even in the case where the support  41  which is mounted on the pipe  30  is identical to a support carrying the reference filter  49  but in which an unsuitable filter  40  (therefore different from the filter of reference  49 ) is mounted (mistakenly or intentionally) on this support  41 . In the above cases, this portion is the identifier  42 . 
     In the case where it is the support  41  which carries the portion of the identification device  50  which contains the characteristics of the filter intended to be received in this support  41  (i.e. the filter appropriate for this support), and where the filter  40  actually mounted in the support  41  is the filter which is appropriate for this support  41 , the signal which is sent to the control unit  60  contains the correct information about the filter  40  mounted in the support  41 . However, a problem occurs when the filter  40  actually mounted in the support  41  (mistakenly or intentionally) is not the appropriate filter for this support  41 . Indeed, in this case, the filter actually mounted in the support  41  does not have the characteristics of the filter  40  appropriate for this support  41 . The identification device  50  will then send to the control unit  60  a signal which contains the characteristics of the filter  40  appropriate for this support  41 , whereas the filter actually mounted in this support  41  does not have these characteristics. This results in a problem, since the support  41  may be appropriate but the filter  40  actually mounted on the support  41  is unsuitable and the user will not be informed that this filter  40  is unsuitable. This problem is avoided when the portion of the identification device  50  which contains the characteristics  40 -A of the current filter  40  is carried directly by this filter  40 . This constitutes additional security. 
     The invention also relates to a method for identifying a filter  40  in a system  1  for capturing braking particles from a friction brake system  10 . As described above, this capturing system  1  comprises a vacuum source  20 , a pneumatic circuit  30  that connects the friction brake system  10  to the vacuum source  20 , and a current filter  40  which is located on the pneumatic circuit  30  and which is mounted on a support  41 . The method comprises the following steps:
         (a) A control unit  60  and an identification device  50  for identifying the current filter  40  are provided, which are part of the capturing system  1 ;   (b) The identification device  50  sends at least one signal to the control unit  60 , this signal comprising at least one current characteristic  40 -A of the current filter  40 ;   (c) The control unit  60  compares the at least one current characteristic  40 -A with at least one reference characteristic  49 -R of a reference filter  49 , and informs a user when the at least one current characteristic  40 -A and the at least one reference feature  49 -R are dissimilar.