The Bendix Corporation

Guy T Rini

Ralph W Carp

Leoncio T Ang

Patrick J O'Keefe, Jr

Frank R Schubert

An automatic speed control for a heavy duty vehicle includes a controller which regulates communication between a compressed air source and an air actuated throttle mechanism. The controller generates a control signal which is a function of a speed error signal and the position of the air actuated throttle to regulate the compressed air source. The speed error signal is calculated as the difference between a commanded speed signal and an actual speed signal. To generate the control signal, the error signal and throttle position signal are operated on by different lead-lag transfer functions. These lead-lag terms are thereafter combined with a proportional speed error term to yield the desired control signal. The system further includes a throttle control feature for powering auxiliary equipment when the actual speed signal is zero. Another feature of the control limits the commanded speed signal to a set value when it exceeds a predetermined limit.

Automatic speed control for heavy vehicles

An adaptive braking system for a vehicle having fluid pressure operated brakes includes a skid detecting circuit for generating a skid detecting signal when an incipient skidding condition is detected, a pressure command generator which is responsive to the skid detecting signal for generating a pressure command signal, and a duty cycle translator responsive to the pressure command signal to actuate the brake pressure modulator. The duty cycle translator includes a circuit which generates a signal modeling the actual pressure level in the vehicle brake actuators. Since the modulator is actuated by a solenoid which is powered by the vehicle electrical supply, the opening and closing times of the solenoid will vary as a function of the power output of the vehicle power supply, which can vary over a substantial range depending upon ambient temperature and upon the strength of the vehicle battery. Accordingly, the duty cycle translator includes a circuit which models the opening and closing times of the solenoid actuators and the reaction time of the mechanical valve components to thereby more closely model the actual pressure level in the vehicle brake actuators.

Duty cycle translator with solenoid modeling circuit for adaptive

An adaptive braking system for a vehicle having fluid pressure operated brakes includes a skid detecting circuit for generating a signal when an incipient skidding condition is detected, a pressure command generator which is responsive to the skid detecting signal for generating a pressure command signal proportional to the commanded fluid pressure level in the vehicle's brakes, and a duty cycle translator responsive to the pressure command signal to actuate the brake pressure modulator. The pressure command generator is designed such that the pressure command signal always begins at some predetermined level when adaptive control of the vehicle's brakes is initiated.

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North Ridgeville, OH, United States of America

Guy T Rini