System and method for controlling downhill vehicle operation

Abstract

A system for controlling downhill vehicle operation includes an electronically actuatable engine compression brake unit associated with an internal combustion engine, an electronically controllable turbocharger boost pressure adjustment device, electronically actuatable service brakes and a transmission including a number of automatically selectable gear ratios, wherein each of these components are coupled to a control computer. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the control computer is operable to detect a potential runaway vehicle condition and control any one or combination of engine compression brake activity, turbocharger boost pressure, service brake activity and automatic transmission shifting to thereby provide for a controlled descent down a negative grade and thereby prevent a runaway vehicle condition. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the control computer is operable to determine a target engine or vehicle speed and control engine or vehicle speed to the target speed, regardless of whether a potential runaway vehicle condition exists, using any one or more of the foregoing control techniques.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.