# US 7,613,559 B2 · Method for automatically actuating longitudinal blocks in four wheel drive vehicles, in particular in working machines and service vehicles

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- Number: US 7,613,559 B2
- Document ID: US7613559B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/632,266
- Filed: 2005-06-16
- Published: 2007-10-04
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2004-07-30
- Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
- Inventors: Hugo Burkhart; Bernd Aumann
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7613559B2

## CPC

- B60K 17/3462: {with means for changing distribution of torque between front and rear wheels}
- B60W 2510/105: Output torque
- B60W 2520/10: Longitudinal speed
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT

## Abstract

A method for automatically actuating longitudinal blocks in four-wheel vehicles, particularly in working machines and service vehicles. The longitudinal blocks are always open when driving situations occur in which the blocking effect is absolutely unnecessary. The longitudinal blocks are closed in all other situations.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for controlling a central differential distributing the torque from an engine and transmission to front and rear wheels sets of a four wheel drive vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
determining only a vehicle speed and the transmission output torque wherein
the transmission output torque is determined from only a current transmission gear ratio and a rotational speed differential across a hydraulic converter connected between the engine and the transmission, and
when the vehicle speed is above a first speed threshold value and the transmission output torque is below a first torque threshold value,
disengaging a longitudinal block, thereby allowing the transmission output torque to be differentially distributed between the front and the rear wheel sets, and
when at least one of when the vehicle speed is below a second speed threshold value and the transmission output torque is above a second torque threshold value,
engaging the longitudinal block, thereby allowing the front and the rear wheel sets to be directly driven by the transmission output torque.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1,
wherein the longitudinal blocks is engaged when the vehicle speed falls below a preset threshold value v—1 and the transmission output torque exceeds a preset threshold value T_Ab1, and the engaged longitudinal block is disengaged when the vehicle speed exceeds another preset threshold value v—2 or the transmission output torque falls below another threshold value T_Ab2, the threshold value v—2 is higher than the threshold value v—1 and the threshold value T_Ab2 is lower than the threshold value T_A1.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of permitting adjustment of the threshold value T_Ab1 by a driver of the four-wheel drive vehicle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of changing the threshold value T_Ab2 as a result of a change of the value of the threshold T_Ab1 which occurs via an algorithm or a characteristic line stored In a control.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of using a potentiometer to adjust the threshold value T_Ab1, and the following functionalities being implemented according to a plotted curve of the potentiometer
end stop 1: the longitudinal block is never engaged;
end stop 2: the longitudinal block is manually engaged; and
in an area between the end stop 1 and the end stop 2 continuous adjustment of the threshold value T_Ab1.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle is a dumper and the dumper has transverse blocks and the longitudinal block, and the method further comprising the step of manually engaging the transverse blocks.