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US 2013/0085641 A1Published application
Active aerodynamic chassis control
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorMark E. Mares
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The automobile described herein employs an aerodynamic chassis control system to limit and/or control the affect of yaw and roll created by environmental and operating conditions on an automobile with minimal penalty to improve ride comfort and performance of the automobile. The aerodynamic chassis control system employs various movable stabilization elements to control yaw and roll. Moreover, aerodynamic chassis control system constantly monitors environmental and operating conditions of the automobile and adjusts the stabilization elements to provide ride comfort and automobile performance.
Claims24
An automobile having a yaw axis and a roll axis, comprising:
- a chassis;
- a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the chassis;
- an engine mounted to the chassis and configured to engage and drive the wheels;
- a body mounted on the chassis and configured to at least partially enclose the engine;
- a control unit in electronic communication with the engine and configured to manage an operation of the engine;
- a chassis stabilization system including a first moveable aerodynamic element movably installed on the body of the automobile, the first moveable aerodynamic element being configured to cause a first force to be applied to the automobile to control a yaw movement of the automobile about the yaw axis and a second moveable aerodynamic element movably installed on the chassis and configured to cause a second force to be applied to the automobile to control a roll movement of the automobile about the roll axis, the chassis stabilization system in electronic communication with the control unit such that the control unit moves at least one of the first moveable aerodynamic element or the second moveable aerodynamic element in response to an event.
3 more elements
An automobile having a yaw axis and a roll axis, the automobile comprising:
- a chassis having a first side and a second side;
- a body having a rear portion and a front portion, the body of the automobile being mounted on the chassis;
- a plurality of sensors distributed across the automobile and configured to detect environmental and operating events;
- a control unit in electronic communication with the plurality of sensors;
- and
- a chassis stabilization system, including:
- a first fin movably installed on the body of the automobile and configured to cause a first force to be applied to the automobile to control a yaw movement or rotation of the automobile about the yaw axis,
- a second fin movably installed on the chassis and configured to cause a second force to be applied to the automobile to control the yaw movement or rotation of the automobile about the yaw axis,
- a first paddle movably coupled to the first side of the chassis and configured to cause a third force to be applied to the automobile to control a roll movement or rotation of the automobile about the roll axis, and
- a second paddle movably coupled to the second side of the chassis and configured to cause a fourth force to be applied to the automobile to control the roll movement or rotation of the automobile about the roll axis.
7 more elements
A method for stabilizing an automobile which has a yaw axis and a roll axis, the method comprising:
- providing an aerodynamic chassis control system comprising an electronic control unit, a yaw control element and a roll control element;
- actuating the yaw control element in response to a first yaw event being detected by the electronic control unit, wherein the electronic control unit commands the yaw control element to a first yaw position to cause a first force to be applied to the automobile to control for controlling a yaw movement of the automobile about the yaw axis in response to the first yaw event;
- actuating the roll control element in response to a first roll event being detected by the electronic control unit, wherein the electronic control unit commands the roll control element to a first roll position to cause a second force to be applied to the automobile to control for controlling a roll movement of the automobile about the roll axis in response to the first roll event;
- monitoring the response of the automobile to at least one of the first yaw position or the first roll position;
- and
- monitoring the response of the automobile to at least one of environmental conditions or operating conditions.
3 more elements
An automobile having a yaw axis, the automobile comprising:
- a chassis;
- a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the chassis;
- an engine mounted to the chassis and configured to engage and drive the wheels;
- a body mounted on the chassis and configured to at least partially enclose the engine;
- a control unit in electronic communication with the engine and configured to manage an operation of the engine;
- and
- a chassis stabilization system including a first moveable aerodynamic element, the first moveable aerodynamic element being configured to cause a first force to be applied to the automobile to control a yaw movement or rotation of the automobile about the yaw axis,
- wherein the chassis stabilization system is in electronic communication with the control unit such that the control unit moves the first moveable aerodynamic element in response to an event causing a yaw displacement of the automobile about the yaw axis.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.