Combined power limiting and power distributing traction control system for improving vehicle performance in turns
AssigneeZexel Torsen Inc.
InventorsThomas B. Ryan, Robert K. Holzwarth, Kenneth A. May
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A traction control system combines a power limiting system having multiple operating modes with a power distributing system that resists differentiation between drive wheels. Sensors monitor vehicle turning, differentiation between the drive wheels, and wheel slipping of at least one drive wheel. The operating mode of the power limiting system is changed to reflect additional traction information available from monitoring the state of differentiation through turns.
Claims39
A traction control system for improving vehicle performance in turns comprising:
- a power limiting system that regulates drive power to a pair of drive wheels and having a plurality of operating modes for responding to changing vehicle operating conditions;
- a power distributing system that divides the drive power between the drive wheels and resists relative rotation between the drive wheels for unevenly dividing drive torque between the drive wheels;
- sensors for detecting states of (a) vehicle turning, (b) relative rotation between the drive wheels, and (c) wheel slipping of at least one drive wheel;
- and
- a logic system responsive to a combination of a detection of vehicle turning and a lack of detection of wheel slipping by altering an operating mode of said power limiting system in accordance with a detected state of relative rotation between the drive wheels.
An integrated traction control system for a vehicle comprising:
- an engine control system for limiting drive power from an engine;
- a differential that divides drive torque unevenly between a pair of drive wheels in response to relative rotation between the drive wheels;
- sensors for detecting states of (a) vehicle turning, (b) relative rotation between the drive wheels, and (c) wheel slipping of at least one drive wheel;
- a first logic circuit that responds to a detection of wheel slipping by outputting a control signal to the engine control system for limiting drive power from the engine;
- and a second logic circuit that responds to a detection of vehicle turning and a state of relative rotation between the drive wheels by modifying the control signal between different states of relative rotation.
A method of improving performance of traction control systems in turns comprising the steps of:
- delivering drive power to a power distributing system that divides the drive power between the drive wheels and resists relative rotation between the drive wheels for unevenly dividing drive torque between the drive wheels;
- detecting states of (a) vehicle turning, (b) relative rotation between the drive wheels, and (c) wheel slipping of at least one drive wheel;
- producing a control signal indicating a detected state of relative rotation between drive wheels in response to a combination of a detection of vehicle turning and a lack of detection of wheel slipping;
- and
- changing operating modes of a power limiting system that regulates drive power to the power distributing system in response to a change in the detected state of relative rotation indicated by the control signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.