Apparatus and method for controlling lift axle of vehicle
View Patent ↗The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for controlling a lift axle of a vehicle. To assist with braking according to an operation of a forward collision avoidance (FCA) system by using the lift axle in an emergency braking situation, the vehicle lift axle control apparatus includes a lift axle actuator that drives the lift axle of the vehicle, an interworking device that interworks with the FCA system, and a controller that controls the lift axle actuator based on information obtained from the FCA system.
1. An apparatus for controlling a lift axle of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a lift axle actuator configured to drive the lift axle of the vehicle;
an interworking device configured to interwork with a forward collision avoidance (FCA) system; and
a controller configured to control the lift axle actuator, based on information obtained from the FCA system, when obtaining time information for informing of a risk of collision of the vehicle, controls the lift axle actuator to lower the lift axle to a preparation position;
wherein the controller, when obtaining time information for informing of braking of the vehicle, controls the lift axle actuator to lower the lift axle to a braking position.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller, when determining that a brake load of the vehicle is insufficient, controls the lift axle actuator to bring wheels of the lift axle into close contact with the ground to a maximum.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a road condition detector configured to detect a speed bump on a road.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the controller controls the lift axle actuator when there is no speed bump on the road.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lift axle actuator includes:
an air tank configured to store compressed air;
a first air bag configured to be inflated by the compressed air to raise the lift axle;
a first valve configured to supply the compressed air into the first air bag or block the supply of the compressed air into the first air bag;
a first sensor configured to measure pressure inside the first air bag;
a second air bag configured to be inflated by the compressed air to lower the lift axle;
a second valve configured to supply the compressed air into the second air bag or block the supply of the compressed air into the second air bag; and
a second sensor configured to measure pressure inside the second air bag.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the controller proportionally controls the pressure inside the first air bag and the pressure inside the second air bag to adjust a position of the lift axle.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first valve additionally performs a function of discharging the air in the first air bag to an outside, and the second valve additionally performs a function of discharging the air in the second air bag to the outside.
8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first valve and the second valve are solenoid valves.
9. A method for controlling a lift axle of a vehicle, the method comprising:
interworking with a forward collision avoidance (FCA) system by an interworking device;
controlling a lift axle actuator by a controller, based on information obtained from the FCA system; and
driving the lift axle of the vehicle by the lift axle actuator;
wherein the controlling of the lift axle actuator includes:
controlling the lift axle actuator to lower the lift axle to a preparation position, when obtaining time information for informing of a risk of collision of the vehicle; and
controlling the lift axle actuator to lower the lift axle to a braking position, when obtaining time information for informing of braking of the vehicle.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the controlling of the lift axle actuator further includes:
controlling the lift axle actuator to bring wheels of the lift axle into close contact with the ground to a maximum, when determining that a brake load of the vehicle is insufficient.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
detecting when a speed bump is on a road by a road condition detector.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the controlling of the lift axle actuator includes:
controlling the lift axle actuator when there is no speed bump on the road.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the lift axle actuator includes:
an air tank configured to store compressed air;
a first air bag configured to be inflated by the compressed air to raise the lift axle;
a first valve configured to supply the compressed air into the first air bag or block the supply of the compressed air into the first air bag;
a first sensor configured to measure pressure inside the first air bag;
a second air bag configured to be inflated by the compressed air to lower the lift axle;
a second valve configured to supply the compressed air into the second air bag or block the supply of the compressed air into the second air bag; and
a second sensor configured to measure pressure inside the second air bag.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the controlling of the lift axle actuator includes:
proportionally controlling the pressure inside the first air bag and the pressure inside the second air bag to adjust a position of the lift axle.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first valve additionally performs a function of discharging the air in the first air bag to an outside, and the second valve additionally performs a function of discharging the air in the second air bag to the outside.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first valve and the second valve are solenoid valves.