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US 2025/0108807 A1Published application
Systems and methods for downhill speed control of a vehicle
AssigneeCummins Inc.
InventorSteven M. Bellinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle includes a powertrain with a prime mover, a transmission with a number of gears, and foundation brakes. The speed of the vehicle along a downhill route segment is automatically controlled toward a target speed by prioritizing the use of engine braking power and gear downshifting in the transmission over application of the vehicle's foundation brakes.
Claims20
A vehicle, comprising:
- a powertrain including a prime mover and a transmission coupled to the prime mover;
- one or more ground engaging wheels coupled to the transmission that are capable of being driven by the prime mover through the transmission;
- foundation brakes that are actuatable to slow the one or more ground engaging wheels;
- and
- an electronic control system in operative communication with the prime mover, the transmission, and the foundation brakes, the electronic control system comprising a vehicle speed management controller configured to:
- (a) determine a target speed for the vehicle along a downhill route segment,
- (b) in response to a motoring condition of the prime mover and an acceleration of the vehicle being positive along the downhill route segment, apply an engine braking power to slow an acceleration of the vehicle without applying the foundation brakes,
- (c) in response to the acceleration of the vehicle being positive after (b), downshift the transmission to a lower gear to slow the acceleration without applying the foundation brakes, and
- (d) in response to the acceleration of the vehicle being positive after (c), downshift the transmission to a next lower gear to slow the acceleration without applying the foundation brakes.
6 more elements
A method, comprising:
- operating a vehicle including a prime mover in a motoring condition, the vehicle including a transmission coupled to the prime mover, one or more ground engaging wheels coupled to the transmission that are capable of being driven by the prime mover through the transmission, and foundation brakes that are actuatable to slow the one or more ground engaging wheels;
- determining a target speed for the vehicle along a downhill route segment;
- in response to an acceleration of the vehicle being positive while in the motoring condition, applying an engine braking power to slow the acceleration of the vehicle;
- in response to the acceleration of the vehicle being positive after applying the engine braking power, downshifting the transmission to a lower gear;
- and
- in response to the acceleration of the vehicle being positive after downshifting to the lower gear, downshifting the transmission to a next lower gear.
3 more elements
A controller apparatus, the controller apparatus configured to:
- determine a target speed for a vehicle along a downhill route segment;
- in response to an acceleration of the vehicle being positive while in a motoring condition, apply an engine braking power of an engine of the vehicle to slow the acceleration of the vehicle;
- in response to the acceleration of the vehicle being positive after applying the engine braking power, downshift a transmission of the vehicle to a lower gear;
- and
- in response to the acceleration of the vehicle being positive after downshifting to the lower gear, downshifting the transmission to a next lower gear.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.