Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Other

Jeffrey Heinrichs

Robert J Disser

Patrick Allen Mescher

Scott Alan Millsap

Brian Thomas Murray

Michael D Byers

Joseph Gerard D'Ambrosio

Jeff Allan Foust

Omar Rocha

Keith B Fong

Javier Gomez

Veronica Morales

Christian Ebner

Sanket S Amberkar

Robert Allan Perisho, Jr

Hendrikus T Smakman

Detlef Krukenkamp

Kai-Uwe Balszuweit

Slawomir Bakaus

Markus Krug

J&uuml;rgen Guldner

Schedl Anton

Michael Gr&auml;f

In an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for steering a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus includes a back-drivable steer-by-wire system including a road wheel actuator assembly coupled to a wheel of the vehicle. The road wheel actuator assembly defines a steering axis and the steering axis is off-set from a longitudinal axis of the wheel by a positive scrub radius. In an embodiment for a method in accordance with the present invention, a method to steer a vehicle after failure of a road wheel actuator assembly in a back-drivable steer-by-wire steering system is disclosed. The method includes the acts of applying a braking force to the wheel and generating a torque on the road wheel actuator assembly by the applied braking force acting through a positive scrub radius.

Back-drivable steer-by-wire system with positive scrub radius

A uniformly preset spring force pre-load among a number of identical solenoid actuated valve assemblies ( ) by uniquely adjusting the spring pocket length (L) of each respective plunger ( ) to accommodate a respective spring ( ) which is uniquely mated thereto. This adjustment is accomplished using a two-component plunger ( ) consisting of a plunger body ( ) having a central bore ( ) and a rod ( ) slidably located within the central bore. The rod ( ) is press-fit into the central bore ( ), and the spring pocket includes a portion of the central bore unoccupied by the rod. By pressing the rod ( ) a selected distance into the central bore ( ), a precisely set spring pocket is obtained which is uniquely correct for a selected spring ( ), in that the selected spring is compressed to a precisely preset spring force pre-load. The adjusted plunger ( ) and spring ( ) are uniquely assigned to each other to collectively form a customized plunger assembly ( ) having a preset spring force pre-load, whereupon a valve assembly ( ) is manufacturable therewith having the precisely preset spring force pre-load. In carrying-out the adjustment of the plunger ( ) with respect to a specific spring ( ), the rod is pressed into the bore by a controllable source of force, such as for example provided by a stepper motor ( ), and the spring force pre-load is monitored by a load cell ( ) to ascertain when the desired spring force pre-load is achieved. Monitoring and force control is preferably automatic via a micro-controller ( ), but may be manual.

Plunger assembly having a preset spring force pre-load

A safety redundant drive by wire system includes a plurality of first control members to which control signals may be communicated and a plurality of device controllers adapted to deliver control signals to a respective first control member. Each device controller includes a first microprocessor for communicating control signals to the first control member and all other device controllers. Each device controller further includes a second microprocessor for redundantly communicating control signals to all other device controllers and for communicating with the first microprocessor. The system includes a dual redundant communication channel system having a first communication channel controlled by the first microprocessor of each device controller and a second communication channel controlled by the second microprocessor of each device controller.

Electric caliper hardware topologies for a safety system

A control-by-wire control system comprising a plurality of control device(s), each control device is responsive to, and configured to receive a control signal. Also included in the control-by-wire control system is a plurality of sensors wherein certain sensors are coupled to particular control devices. The sensors, each sense a parameter of the system and generate various sensor signals in response. A plurality of control modules is also included in control-by-wire control system. Each control module is interfaced to at least one of the control devices and is adapted to receive at least one or more sensor signals. The control modules also generate control signals for communication to the control devices. A communication interface of at least two communication networks provides communications among various control modules.

Multi-module control-by-wire architecture

Growing community of inventors

Dayton, OH, United States of America

Jeffrey Heinrichs