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US 8,790,217 B1Granted
Vehicles including differential lock controller and methods
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsLee N. Bowers, Rodney M. Frijas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle includes a differential, a lock and a differential lock controller. The lock is associated with the differential and is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The differential lock controller is configured to selectively facilitate movement of the lock between the locked and unlocked positions.
Claims20
A vehicle comprising:
- an engine;
- a pair of wheels;
- a speed sensor configured to detect a wheel speed of at least one of the pair of wheels;
- a differential coupled with the pair of wheels;
- a lock associated with the differential and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position;
- a transmission having an input and an output, the input being coupled with the engine, the output being coupled with the differential, and the transmission being configured to selectively and alternatively operate in a first gear and a second gear, wherein, when the transmission operates in the first gear, the input and the output are coupled together at a first gear ratio and, when the transmission operates in the second gear, the input and the output are coupled together at a second gear ratio;
- a selector switch movable between a lock-initiate position and an unlock-initiate position;
- and
- a differential lock controller coupled with the speed sensor, the lock, the transmission, and the selector switch, wherein, upon movement of the selector switch into the unlock-initiate position, the differential lock controller is configured to facilitate movement of the lock into the unlocked position and wherein, upon movement of the selector switch into the lock-initiate position, the differential lock controller is configured to:
- facilitate movement of the lock into the locked position when both the transmission operates in the first gear and the wheel speed is at or below a first threshold speed;
- inhibit movement of the lock when the wheel speed is above the first threshold speed;
- and
- inhibit movement of the lock when the transmission operates in the second gear.
10 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- an engine comprising a throttle;
- a pair of wheels;
- a speed sensor configured to detect a wheel speed of at least one of the pair of wheels;
- a differential coupled with the pair of wheels;
- a lock associated with the differential and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position;
- a selector switch movable between a lock-initiate position and an unlock-initiate position;
- a differential lock controller coupled with the speed sensor, the lock, and the selector switch, wherein, upon movement of the selector switch into the unlock-initiate position, the differential lock controller is configured to facilitate movement of the lock into the unlocked position and wherein, upon movement of the selector switch into the lock-initiate position, the differential lock controller is configured to:
- inhibit movement of the lock when the wheel speed is above a first threshold speed;
- facilitate returning of the lock to the unlocked position if a position of the throttle exceeds a threshold position during movement of the lock to the locked position;
- and
- facilitate movement of the lock into the locked position when both the position of the throttle is below the threshold position and the wheel speed is at or below the first threshold speed.
8 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a wheel configured to rotate at a wheel speed;
- a differential coupled with the wheel;
- a lock associated with the differential and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position;
- a differential lock controller associated with the lock, wherein during movement of the lock into one of the unlocked position and the locked position, the differential lock controller is configured to facilitate movement of the lock to the locked position and the unlocked position, respectively, in response to the wheel speed.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.