Wheel torque sensor for highly automated driving vehicles
AssigneeRobert Bosch GmbH
InventorsSamuel Steele, Eduardo Herrera Lopez, Kevin M. Danford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for sensing wheel torque of a highly automated driving (HAD) vehicle includes a wheel hub configured to rotate around a rotation axis as the vehicle moves and a brake caliper, including a brake pad, configured to apply a caliper force to the wheel hub. A reaction carriage is interconnected with the brake caliper and is configured to have a reaction force applied to it when the brake caliper applies the caliper force to the wheel hub. The wheel torque sensor includes a hydraulic chamber having a hydraulic fluid and a pressure sensor, interconnected with the hydraulic chamber, that senses pressure applied to the hydraulic fluid in response to the reaction force.
Claims13
A wheel torque sensor system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a wheel hub configured to rotate around a rotation axis as the vehicle moves;
- a brake caliper, including a brake pad, configured to apply a caliper force to the wheel hub;
- a reaction carriage interconnected with the brake caliper and configured to have a reaction force applied thereto when the brake caliper applies the caliper force to the wheel hub;
- a hydraulic chamber including a hydraulic fluid;
- and
- a pressure sensor, configured to be in communication with the hydraulic chamber, that senses pressure applied to the hydraulic fluid in response to the reaction force.
A bidirectional wheel torque sensor for a vehicle, comprising:
- a reaction carriage configured to be interconnected with a brake caliper of a vehicle disc brake;
- a first hydraulic chamber including a hydraulic fluid;
- a first pressure port interconnected with the first hydraulic chamber, the first pressure port configured
- to open when the hydraulic fluid flows in a first direction, and
- to close when the hydraulic fluid flows in a second direction;
- a second hydraulic chamber spaced from the first hydraulic chamber, the second hydraulic chamber having a second pressure port, the second pressure port configured
- to open when the hydraulic fluid flows in the second direction, and
- to close when the hydraulic fluid flows in the first direction;
- a hydraulic bypass passageway configured to be in communication with the first hydraulic chamber and the second hydraulic chamber;
- and
- a pressure sensor, configured to be in communication with the first hydraulic chamber and the second hydraulic chamber, that senses pressure applied to the hydraulic fluid.
A method for sensing the torque of a rotating vehicle wheel hub, comprising:
- affixing a reaction carriage to a brake caliper of the vehicle;
- applying a caliper force to the wheel hub to slow the speed of the vehicle;
- applying a reaction force to the reaction carriage upon the application of the caliper force;
- flowing a hydraulic fluid in a pressure line when the reaction force is applied to the reaction carriage;
- and
- sensing the hydraulic fluid flow as an indicator of wheel torque.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.