Electric vehicle four-wheel drive shifting control
AssigneeWarn Automotive, LLC
InventorsBryan M. Averill, Adrian Simula
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In general, this disclosure relates to a system and method of control for driveline actuators (DLAs) in the powertrain of an electric vehicle to perform shifting between two-wheel drive (2WD) and four-wheel drive (4WD) configurations. Sequential and overlapping shift process is used. The first disconnect is instructed by a vehicle control system to begin its shift, which takes approximately 100 milliseconds to complete. A short period of time after the first disconnect is instructed to begin its shift, but before it has completed the shift, the second disconnect is instructed to begin.
Claims20
An electric vehicle shifting control method comprising:
- receiving an input instructing the electric vehicle to shift from a two-wheel drive configuration to a four-wheel drive configuration;
- responsive to the input, controlling a first drive-line actuator (DLA) to initiate a first process for connecting a first wheel of the electric vehicle to a drive axle of the electric vehicle;
- waiting for a time period of 10 ms to 250 ms from initiating the first process to elapse;
- and
- controlling a second DLA to initiate a second process for connecting a second wheel of the electric vehicle to the drive axle.
An electric vehicle comprising:
- a first drive-line actuator (DLA) positioned on a first shaft between a center of the first shaft and a first wheel, the first DLA operable to couple and uncouple the first wheel to and from the first shaft;
- a second DLA positioned on a second shaft between the center of the second shaft and a second wheel, the second DLA operable to couple and uncouple the second wheel to and from the second shaft;
- and
- a controller configured to actuate each of the first DLA and second DLA responsive to an input to shift from a two-wheel drive configuration to a four-wheel drive configuration by:
- controlling the first DLA to initiate a first process for connecting the first wheel to the shaft;
- and
- waiting for a time period of 10 ms to 250 ms from initiating the first process to elapse;
- and
- controlling the second DLA to initiate a second process for connecting the second wheel of the electric vehicle to the shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.