Control of a limited slip differential based on an accelerator control position

A method of controlling a limited slip differential (LSD) of a vehicle, the vehicle having an engine, an accelerator control, the LSD, and left and right driven wheels operably connected to the LSD, the method comprising:

• determining an accelerator control position;
• determining a speed of the vehicle;
• in response to the accelerator control position meeting or exceeding a predetermined position threshold when, concurrently, the speed of the vehicle is less than a predetermined speed threshold, selectively applying a high load to the LSD by compressing a clutch of the LSD to:
• reduce a rotational speed difference between the left driven wheel and a ring gear of the LSD,
• reduce a rotational speed difference between the right driven wheel and the ring gear of the LSD, and
• reduce a rotational speed difference between the left and right driven wheels;
• and
• releasing the high load when the speed of the vehicle meets or exceeds the predetermined speed threshold.

A method of controlling a limited slip differential (LSD) of a vehicle, the vehicle having an engine, an accelerator control, the LSD, and left and right driven wheels operably connected to the LSD, the method comprising:

• determining an accelerator control position;
• determining a speed of the vehicle;
• in response to the accelerator control position meeting or exceeding a predetermined position threshold when, concurrently, the speed of the vehicle is less than a predetermined speed threshold, selectively applying a high load to the LSD by compressing a clutch of the LSD to:
• reduce a rotational speed difference between the left driven wheel and a ring gear of the LSD,
• reduce a rotational speed difference between the right driven wheel and the ring gear of the LSD, and
• reduce a rotational speed difference between the left and right driven wheels;
• and
• applying a stabilization load to the LSD when the speed of the vehicle meets or exceeds the predetermined speed threshold, the stabilization load being less than the high load.

A differential assembly for use in a vehicle having an engine, an accelerator control, and left and right driven wheels, the differential assembly comprising:

• a limited slip differential (LSD) operatively connectable to a driveshaft and to the left and right driven wheels, the LSD comprising a compressible clutch, the LSD being adapted for transferring torque from the driveshaft to the left and right driven wheels;
• an accelerator control sensor;
• a sensor of a speed of the vehicle;
• a control unit operatively connected to the LSD and to the accelerator control sensor, comprising:
• an input port adapted for receiving measurements from the accelerator control sensor and from the sensor of the speed of the vehicle;
• an output port adapted for forwarding control commands to the LSD,
• a memory storing configuration information for controlling the LSD, the configuration information comprising a predetermined position threshold, a predetermined speed threshold, and a trail active mapping table, and
• a processor operatively connected to the memory, to the input port and to the output port, the processor being adapted for:
• in response to an accelerator control position indicated by the accelerator control sensor meeting or exceeding the predetermined position threshold when, concurrently, the speed of the vehicle is less than the predetermined speed threshold, causing the output port to forward the control commands for controlling a selective application of a high load to the LSD by compressing the compressible clutch of the LSD to:
• reduce a rotational speed difference between the left driven wheel and a ring gear of the LSD,
• reduce a rotational speed difference between the right driven wheel and the ring gear of the LSD, and
• reduce a rotational speed difference between the left and right driven wheels;
• and
• causing the output port to forward the control commands for controlling a selective application of a stabilization load to the LSD when the speed of the vehicle is greater than the predetermined speed threshold, the stabilization load being less than the high load.

A differential assembly for use in a vehicle having an engine, an accelerator control, and left and right driven wheels, the differential assembly comprising:

• a limited slip differential (LSD) operatively connectable to a driveshaft and to the left and right driven wheels, the LSD comprising a compressible clutch, the LSD being adapted for transferring torque from the driveshaft to the left and right driven wheels;
• an accelerator control sensor;
• a sensor of a speed of the vehicle comprising wheel speed sensors operatively connected to the left and right wheels, the wheel speed sensors determining rotational speeds of the left and right wheels;
• and
• a control unit operatively connected to the LSD and to the accelerator control sensor, comprising:
• an input port adapted for receiving measurements from the accelerator control sensor and from the sensor of the speed of the vehicle;
• an output port adapted for forwarding control commands to the LSD, and
• a processor operatively connected to the input port and to the output port, the processor being adapted for:
• determining the speed of the vehicle based on an average of the rotational speeds of the left and right wheels and based on a dimension of the left and right wheels;
• in response to an accelerator control position indicated by the accelerator control sensor meeting or exceeding a predetermined position threshold when, concurrently, the speed of the vehicle is less than the predetermined speed threshold, causing the output port to forward the control commands for controlling a selective application of a high load to the LSD by compressing the compressible clutch of the LSD to:
• reduce a rotational speed difference between the left driven wheel and a ring gear of the LSD,
• reduce a rotational speed difference between the right driven wheel and the ring gear of the LSD, and
• reduce a rotational speed difference between the left and right driven wheels.

A method of controlling a limited slip differential (LSD) of a vehicle, the vehicle having an engine, an accelerator control, the LSD, and left and right driven wheels operably connected to the LSD, the method comprising:

• determining an accelerator control position;
• determining a speed of the vehicle;
• determining an engine output torque;
• applying the engine output torque and the speed of the vehicle to a trail active mapping table to read a value of a partial load for application to the LSD;
• while the accelerator control position is less than a predetermined position threshold, applying the partial load to the LSD;
• and
• selectively applying a high load to the LSD when, concurrently, the accelerator control position meets or exceeds the predetermined position threshold and the speed of the vehicle is less than a predetermined speed threshold.

A method of controlling a limited slip differential (LSD) of a vehicle, the vehicle having an engine, an accelerator control, the LSD, and left and right driven wheels operably connected to the LSD, the method comprising:

• determining an accelerator control position;
• determining a speed of the vehicle;
• selectively applying a high load to the LSD when, concurrently, the accelerator control position meets or exceeds a predetermined position threshold and the speed of the vehicle is less than a predetermined speed threshold;
• and
• applying a stabilization load to the LSD when the speed of the vehicle meets or exceeds the predetermined speed threshold, the stabilization load being less than the high load.