Roll stability control using four-wheel drive
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJianbo Lu, Michael Brewer, Keith Mattson, Joseph C. Meyers, Todd Brown
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A control system (18) and method for controlling an automotive vehicle (10) includes a number of sensors that are used to generate a potential rollover signal. In response to the potential rollover, active differentials (112, 114, 116) may be used alone or in addition to braking to prevent the vehicle from rolling over.
Claims35
A method of controlling a vehicle with a 4×4 driving system, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining a potential rollover condition from dynamic conditions sensed onboard said vehicle;
- and
- transferring driving torque both through an electronically-controlled center differential or an electronically-controlled transfer case and to the front wheels of said vehicle so as to prevent rollover of said vehicle.
A method of controlling a vehicle with a 4×4 driving system, said method comprising the steps of:
- generating a rollover signal in response to a potential rollover situation as determined from dynamic conditions sensed onboard said vehicle:
- increasing a torque in front outside wheel of said vehicle through a differential in response to said rollover signal;
- and
- braking a rear outside wheel of said vehicle in response to said rollover signal.
A method of controlling a vehicle having an active differential, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining a rollover condition from dynamic conditions sensed onboard said vehicle;
- in response to said rollover condition, controllingly disengaging an inside wheel of said vehicle from an outside wheel of said vehicle with said active differential;
- and
- thereafter, determining a wheel lift condition of said inside wheel.
A method of controlling a vehicle having a first wheel, a second wheel, and an active differential, said method comprising the steps of:
- during a potential rollover event or stability control event, determining a slip condition of said first wheel of said vehicle;
- controllingly reducing torque to said first wheel in response to said slip condition using said active differential;
- and
- controllingly increasing torque to said second wheel in response to said slip condition using said active differential.
A method of controlling a vehicle having an active differential, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining a rollover condition from dynamic conditions sensed onboard said vehicle;
- in response to said rollover condition, controllingly disengaging a front outside wheel from an inside wheel of said vehicle with said active differential;
- applying a braking torque to said front outside wheel;
- and
- applying a powertrain torque to a rear outside wheel of said vehicle so as to counter a deceleration caused by the braking of said front outside wheel.
A method of controlling a vehicle having an active differential, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining a possible rollover condition from dynamic conditions sensed onboard said vehicle;
- and
- in response to said possible rollover condition, using said active differential to distribute torque between a front wheel, a front left wheel, a rear left wheel, and a rear right wheel of said vehicle so as to help prevent actual rollover.
A roll stability control system for a vehicle having front wheels and rear wheels, said roll stability control system comprising:
- a differential;
- a rollover sensor operable to generate a rollover signal;
- and
- a controller coupled to said rollover sensor and said differential;
- wherein said controller is operable to control said differential so as to limit vehicle powertrain torque applied to said front wheels and thereby prevent rollover of said vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.