Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Global Tech.inc

Other

John Antoni Glab

Ashok E Rodrigues

Peter James Barrette

Syun Kyung Lee

Dana Joseph Katinas

Joseph Jay Torres

John O'Rear

Paul Robert Longworth

Brian Hildreth

Matt Todd

Richard A Martins

A method for controlling operation of a transfer case clutch in a motor vehicle driveline controlled by an engine throttle having a variable position. The transfer case transmits rotating power to a primary power path and to a secondary power path in response to an electric current duty cycle applied to a coil that actuates the clutch. The method includes the steps of determining that a current vehicle speed is less than a reference vehicle speed; determining that the engine throttle position is in a reference throttle position range; determining that a change in vehicle speed is greater than a reference change in vehicle speed; using a current magnitude of torque in the driveline to determine a desired duty cycle for the coil; and applying a duty cycle of the desired magnitude to the coil.

Torque based transfer case control

A four wheel drive powertrain control for an automotive vehicle is disclosed. It includes a torque transfer case that distributes power from an engine-powered transfer case mainshaft to a secondary driving axle through a friction clutch as power is distributed directly from the engine-powered mainshaft to a primary driving axle. The friction clutch capacity is sufficient to mechanically lock the transfer case in a four wheel drive mode. If the clutch torque capacity is exceeded, a control algorithm will strategically ramp down engine torque requests by a powertrain controller to eliminate clutch slip.

Engine torque truncation method for a four-wheel drive vehicle

A four wheel drive assemblyincluding a torque transfer assemblywhich operates under the control of the controllerand which receives and selectively transfers a certain desired amount of torque to a front axlesand to the rear axlesThe amount of transferred torque varies depending upon the occurrence of a sensed slip condition the use of a pre-emptive slip control mode of operation in which the controllerdetermines that it is likely that a slip may occur. Particularly, controlleris allowed to enter the preemptive mode of operation only after an actual slip has occurred and the controllerexits this preemptive mode of operation upon the occurrence of a certain event or condition or upon the passage of a certain amount of time.

Four wheel drive assembly and a method for utilizing the same

A transfer case control system or apparatus is provided for use on a four-wheel drive vehicle of the type having a transfer case , a front driveshaft and a rear driveshaft . Transfer case control system includes a conventional microcontroller or controller having a memory unit and operating under stored program control. Controller is communicatively coupled to sensors , and to transfer case . Controller selectively transmits a torque control or &ldquo;boost torque&rdquo; signal to transfer case , based upon the rate of change of the vehicle's throttle position and the speed of driveshafts

Method and apparatus for controlling a transfer case which reacts to rate of change of throttle position

A four wheel drive vehicle, which has an automatic four wheel drive mode, includes a trailer tow detection strategy. If a trailer tow situation is encountered while in automatic four wheel drive mode, then the duty cycle of a clutch in a transfer case can be adjusted to account for the trailer towed behind the vehicle.

Torque distribution on four wheel drive vehicles

A transfer case control system or apparatus is provided for use on a four-wheel drive vehicle of the type having a transfer case , a front driveshaft and a rear driveshaft . Transfer case control system includes a conventional microcontroller or controller having a memory unit and operating under stored program control. Controller is communicatively coupled to sensors , and to transfer case . Controller selectively transmits a torque control or minimum duty cycle signal to transfer case , which is at least partially based upon the angular position of the vehicle's steering wheel and the speed of driveshafts

Method for controlling a transfer case which reacts to steering wheel angle position

A transfer case control system or apparatus is provided for use on a four-wheel drive vehicle of the type having a transfer case , a front driveshaft and a rear driveshaft . Transfer case control system includes a conventional microcontroller or controller having a memory unit and operating under stored program control. Controller is communicatively coupled to sensors , and to a transfer case . Controller selectively generates a control signal having a proportional term or component and an integral term or component. The control signal is generated to transfer case and controls the amount of torque provided to driveshafts

Method for controlling a transfer case which utilizes a proportional and an integral control component

A system for controlling a transfer case clutch assembly is provided and is deployed within a four-wheel drive vehicle having a front driveshaft , a rear driveshaft , and a transfer case which selectively provides torque to the driveshafts by way of a clutch assembly . System includes a controller which is communicatively coupled to the clutch assembly . Controller receives signals generated by sensors , utilizes the received signals to determine the onset of a slip condition, and based upon this determination, generates a command signal to selectively activate the clutch assembly effective to smoothly release torque from the front driveshaft and/or rear driveshaft

System and method for controlling a transfer case clutch assembly

A transfer case control system or apparatus is provided for use on a four-wheel drive vehicle of the type having a transfer case , a front driveshaft and a rear driveshaft . Transfer case control system includes a conventional microcontroller or controller having a memory unit and operating under stored program control. Controller selectively generates a control signal which controls the amount of torque provided to driveshafts . Controller provides an improved torque adjustment &ldquo;response&rdquo; by automatically adjusting to the condition of the vehicle's tires.

System and method for controlling a transfer case within a vehicle having variations in tire diameter

A four-wheel drive system for a motor vehicle includes a transfer case through which power is continually transmitted to a first drive wheel pair and a clutch that controls a magnitude of torque transmitted to a second drive wheel pair in accordance with an electric current duty cycle applied to the clutch by a control unit that produces an output duty cycle in response to a range selected by the operator, the vehicle speed, and the position of the throttle that controls a power source driveably connected to the input side of the transfer case.

Four wheel drive system having torque distribution control responsive to throttle position, speed and selected range

A method of monitoring the relative effective diameters of the tires and compensating therefor in a vehicle which includes a front driveshaft for transferring motive power to a front set of wheels and a rear driveshaft for transferring motive power to a rear set of wheels, each of the wheels having an effective diameter. Front and rear driveshaft values indicative of the rotational speed of each driveshaft are generated. A difference value indicative of a difference between said front and rear driveshaft values is then generated. A low pass filtered value is generated according to the relationship of Y.sub.1p =(1-.beta.)*U(k)+.beta.*Y.sub.1p (k-1). The low pass filtered value is monitored for a predetermined period of time to determine if one of the wheels has a smaller effective diameter than the other wheels.

Four wheel drive transfer case controller compatible with a spare tire

In a vehicle which includes a front driveshaft for transferring motive power to a front set of wheels and a rear driveshaft for transferring motive power to a rear set of wheels and a clutch to control the amount of torque provided to the driveshafts, a method is provided to control the amount of power delivered to the front and rear driveshafts. The duty cycle of the clutch is monitored and it is determined whether the clutch duty cycle passes a first lower threshold and a second higher threshold, successively, a predetermined number of times within a calibratible time period. A 4 Hi Lock mode is entered if the clutch duty cycle passes the first lower threshold and the second higher threshold, successively, a predetermined number of times within the calibratible period.

Four-wheel drive transfer case controller

A method of controlling the amount of power delivered to the front driveshaft and to the rear driveshaft of a motor vehicle including the steps of generating a front driveshaft value indicative of the rotational speed of said front driveshaft and generating a rear driveshaft value indicative of the rotational speed of said rear driveshaft. A vehicle speed is generated based on the lower of said front driveshaft value and said rear driveshaft value. The amount of power delivered to said front driveshaft and to said rear driveshaft is controlled as a function of said vehicle speed.

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Riverview, MI, United States of America

John Antoni Glab