Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems Limited

Meritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLC

Brian Jeffrey Mueller

Dennis A Kramer

Christopher S Keeney

Dale K Bell

Ronald N Brissette

Jack R McKenzie

Reno V Ramsey

George Chene

Wayne Shintaku

Gerald D Lawruk

Lee A French

Jack R Worrall

A system for setting vehicle operator preferences is provided. The system includes a vehicle control module for controlling a vehicle component such as an HVAC unit. A data link is connected to the vehicle control module and may be an infrared signal receiver, a radio frequency signal receiver, a vehicle communications bus, or any other suitable data link. A portable handheld computing device includes a program having vehicle preferences stored in a memory. Preferably, the vehicle preferences may be input by the operator into the portable handheld computing device. The portable handheld computing device may be a Handspring&reg; device, a Palmpilot&reg; device, or any other suitable portable computing device. The portable handheld computing device sends the vehicle preferences to the vehicle control module through the data link to control the vehicle component. The vehicle preferences are sent by IR, RF, or any other suitable means. The system may be used to control an HVA system, for example. The portable handheld computing device may include a temperature sensor received in an expansion port for sensing the temperature in the area of the portable handheld computing device. The portable handheld computing device may be taken to a sleeping area of a vehicle cab to control the temperature locally when the operator is sleeping.

Individualized vehicle settings

A method and system is provided for inspecting and maintaining a vehicle. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of capturing vehicle data including the steps of servicing a vehicle at a location corresponding to service data. Service data is input into a portable handheld computing device and transferred from the portable handheld computing device to a vehicle onboard computer. Vehicle warranty data is provided on the vehicle onboard computer. The service data and the vehicle warranty data are retrieved from the vehicle onboard computer. In another embodiment of the present invention, a method of inspecting a vehicle includes communicating with the vehicle systems using a portable handheld computing device to automatically inspect the vehicle systems. Prompts are displayed on the portable handheld computing device to guide a vehicle inspector to inspect additional vehicle systems. A help option is displayed on the portable handheld computing device associated with one of the additional vehicle systems. Selecting the help option displays instructions related to the vehicle system, such as how to inspect the system and how to fix the system if any problems are encountered.

Vehicle inspection and maintenance system

The present invention provides a system for automatically shutting down a vehicle. The system includes a vehicle system for performing a vehicle function such as brakes for performing braking of the vehicle. A vehicle control system controls the vehicle system by controlling valve switches or actuators to manipulate the vehicle system. A portable handheld computing device includes a program defining a vehicle shutdown sequence. Preferably, the portable handheld computing device is what is known as a personal digital assistant (PDA), such as a Handspring&reg; or Palmpilot&reg;. A cradle removably receives the portable handheld computing device to connect the portable handheld computing device with the vehicle control system, such as through the vehicle databus. A switch enables the portable handheld computing device to command the vehicle control system to perform the vehicle shutdown sequence. The switch may be an ignition switch, a dedicated vehicle shutdown sequence switch, or an icon on a PDA display touch screen. Once the switch has been actuated, the program residing on the portable handheld computing device commands the vehicle control systems to perform the vehicle shutdown sequence. For example, the vehicle shutdown sequence may command the pneumatic power control system to purge a wet tank to remove the water from the wet tank to prevent it from rusting.

Automated vehicle shutdown sequence

A refrigerant fluid is placed within a driveline component, and in particular an axle housing. This refrigerant fluid is received within a sealed reservoir such that it is sealed from the typical lubricant in the driveline component. The lubricant heats the refrigerant through a housing such that the refrigerant vaporizes within the driveline component housing, thus cooling the lubricant. The vaporized refrigerant travels to a cooling chamber mounted remotely from the reservoir. The cooled refrigerant is cooled to a liquid state, and then returned to the reservoir. Preferably the cooling chamber is positioned on the vehicle frame vertically above the driveline component.

Refrigeration utilized to cool driveline lubricants

A distributed propulsion system is provided for a multi-unit articulated road train. The distributed propulsion system includes a tractor having a first propulsion system for propelling the tractor. A trailer is secured to the tractor at an articulated joint, such as a fifth wheel or draw bar connection. The tractor has a second propulsion system for substantially propelling the trailer. A load sensor for detecting a load between the tractor and the trailer, preferably the tensile load, is associated with the articulated joint. The load sensor produces a load signal. An input device produces a request signal for actuating the second propulsion system. An electronic control mechanism is electrically connected to the input device and the load sensor for coordinating the various sensors and inputs. The control mechanism commands the second propulsion system in response to the load signal and the request signal such that the trailer is propelled in a controlled manner relative to the tractor.

Multi-unit articulated road train propulsion system

A vehicle data storage system is provided which includes a plurality of sensors for sensing vehicle operating conditions, such as engine temperature. A control module receives the vehicle operating conditions and translates the vehicle operating conditions into vehicle information. A portable hand held computing device, such as a Handspring&reg; or Palmpilot&reg;, has a data storage device or memory that receives the vehicle information. The data storage device is limited by a particular memory capacity. A secondary storage device receives the vehicle information from the data storage device from the portable hand held computing device when the memory capacity reaches a desired memory capacity level, such as when there is only 10% of the memory left in the data storage device. Additionally, one of the vehicle operating conditions in one of the subsystem control modules may comprise a triggering event. The triggering event may be detecting a high engine temperature in an engine temperature sensor. The subsystem control module then produces a request signal for event data in response to the triggering event. A memory buffer stores the vehicle information from all of the subsystem control modules. The event data is defined by a first predetermined time before the triggering event to a second predetermined time after the triggering event so that the data surrounding the triggering event resides in the memory buffer. The data in the memory buffer is written over by new data unless a request signal is received. A secondary storage device receives the event data in response to the request signal.

Vehicle systems data storage

A method and system for optimizing performance of vehicle control systems based on the dynamics of the specific vehicle include a sensor for sensing a predetermined parameter associated with any one of the vehicle control systems during a predetermined trigger event. A control logic determines a critical vibration mode characteristic for the vehicle control system based on the sensed parameter and operates the vehicle control system based on the determined critical vibration mode characteristic.

Method and system for optimizing operation of vehicle control systems based on the dynamics of the vehicle

An device for controlling a level of lubricant in a gear housing of an automotive vehicle that has a sealed interior portion containing lubricant. A gear is rotatably mounted in the housing and rotates through the lubricant. The housing includes at least one wall secured to a bottom portion of the sealed interior portion. The wall defines a first and second space wherein the gear rotates in the first space and displaces the lubricant over the wall into the second space as the gear rotates at high speeds. The wall has an opening of a predetermined size that allows the lubricant to flow back into the first space at a rate greater than the displacement rate at low speeds and less than the displacement rate at high speeds. The gear and housing may be an axle housing, a transmission or other gears and housings.

Device for controlling level of gear lubricant as a function of speed

Systems are provided which retard rotation of a driveline at times associated with an engine firing pulse from an engine driving the driveline to reduce torque peaks. In one system, a control monitors rotation of a drive shaft, to provide an indication of when an engine firing pulse should occur. The control selectively closes a switch to power a coil such that the coil retards rotation of the driveline, and generates electricity for use elsewhere. In a second embodiment, circumferentially spaced magnets are mounted on a driveline and move past a coil at a selected circumferential location. The coil resists the rotation of the shaft, retarding torque peaks. The embodiments thus reduce or eliminate imbalances in rotation of the shaft due to engine firing pulses.

Electrical engine firing pulse converter

An improved method of removing heat from a lubricant in an axle housing includes the use of a deflector in the axle housing. The deflector is positioned on a cover secured to the housing bowl. Lubricant is thrown against the deflector by a ring gear in the bowl. The lubricant is directed by the deflector outwardly to the axle ends of the axle assembly. In this way, the lubricant is exposed to a greater surface area, and the cooling efficiency of this system is greatly improved.

Axle housing bowl lubricant temperature reduction system

An isolator to prevent transmitted vibrations includes a ring which fits within a shaft opening of a housing. A bearing is received within the isolator and a shaft is received within the bearing. The vibrations are decoupled from a vibration transmission path by the different material of the isolator. The isolator is preferably manufactured of a rigid laminate material dissimilar to the housing material. Another embodiment of the present invention integrates the isolator directly into the bearing assembly. By manufacturing the outer member of the bearing assembly of the laminated material, the outer member similarly breaks the transmission path of vibrations without the need of the additional member. Noise is thereby substantially prevented from reaching, and from being amplified by, the housing. This greatly reduces the resulting noise and vibration.

Growing community of inventors

Lake Orion, MI, United States of America

Brian Jeffrey Mueller