Method and control unit for preventing a rollover situation of an articulated vehicle
AssigneeVolvo Construction Equipment AB
InventorRoland Kvist
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of preventing a rollover situation for an articulated vehicle, specifically in relation to the forward vehicle section of the articulated vehicle, is disclosed. A corresponding control unit and a computer program for such an articulated vehicle is also disclosed.
Claims19
A method of preventing rollover of a forward vehicle section of an articulated vehicle, the forward vehicle section provided with a forward frame and a wheel axle supported by the forward frame, the articulated vehicle further comprising:
- a rear vehicle section with a rear frame and at least one wheel axle supported by the rear frame, and
- an articulation joint connecting the forward frame and the rear frame, and adapted to allow the forward frame and the rear frame to pivot in relation to each other with an adjustable level of rotatability,
- wherein the method comprises:
- increasing the adjustable level of rotatability between the forward frame and the rear frame to a level above a rotatability threshold responsive to:
- an intermediate level of rotatability between the forward frame and the rear frame is determined to be below the rotatability threshold, and
- an upcoming rollover situation for the articulated vehicle is indicated.
A control unit configured to prevent rollover of a forward vehicle section of an articulated vehicle, the forward vehicle section provided with a forward frame and a wheel axle supported by the forward frame, the articulated vehicle further comprising:
- a rear vehicle section with a rear frame and at least one wheel axle supported by the rear frame, and
- an articulation joint connecting the forward frame and the rear frame, and adapted to allow the forward frame and the rear frame to pivot in relation to each other with an adjustable level of rotatability,
- wherein the control unit is configured to form a control signal for increasing the level of rotatability between the forward frame and the rear frame to a level above a rotatability threshold responsive to the control unit determining that an intermediate level of rotatability between the forward frame and the rear frame is below the rotatability threshold, and an upcoming rollover situation is indicated.
A vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of axles;
- an inter-axle differential connecting the plurality of axles;
- and
- a control unit,
- wherein the control unit is configured to automatically unlock the inter-axle differential when it is determined that an intermediate level of rotatability between a forward frame and a rear frame of the vehicle is determined to be below the rotatability threshold, and an upcoming rollover situation for the vehicle is indicated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.