Visteon Global Technolgoies, Inc.

Caterpillar Inc.

Ford Motor Company Limited

Automotive Components Holdings, LLC

Sohel Anwar

Kevin Jerome Pavlov

Xiaohong Nina Duan

Richard George Ingram

Sabri Cetinkunt

Carl Klaes

Dean T Wisniewski

Unnat Pinsopon

Chenyao Chen

Norman Szalony

Joseph Palazzolo

Hyeongcheol Lee

Kent Clark Bates

Clive McKenzie

Gary Monkaba

Todd A Kendall

Hualin Tan

Stephen Shen

Loren C Macklem

Matt Rahaim

W Paul Perkins

A yaw stability system for a vehicle as well as methods for controlling yaw in a vehicle and estimating the retarding torque of an electromagnetic retarder. The yaw stability system includes a yaw rate sensor, a plurality of braking devices, and a control unit. The control unit communicates with the yaw rate sensor and is configured to identify a desired yaw rate, select one or more of the plurality of braking devices based on a yaw condition, and communicate a control command to one or more of the selected braking devices to induce a control yaw moment. The method for controlling yaw includes determining a vehicle yaw rate and desired yaw rate, calculating a yaw rate error, determining a control yaw moment using a sliding mode control law based on a lumped mass vehicle model, selecting one of the braking devices based on a vehicle yaw condition, determining a control command based on the control yaw moment, and communicating the control command to one of the selected braking devices. The method of estimating retarding torque includes modeling the estimated retarding torque based on a quadratic function of a control element velocity and a magnitude of a retarder excitation current as well as estimating coefficient functions of the quadratic relationship from steady state test data performed at various rotor speeds.

Vehicle yaw stability system and method

A hydraulic coupling system includes a pump, a controller, a clutch assembly, and a valve. The clutch assembly includes an actuator and a multi-disk clutch pack coupled to the actuator. Under the direction of the controller, the pump pressurizes a fluid in the actuator to engage the clutch pack and pumps the fluid through the clutch pack to cool the clutch pack. The valve maintains the fluid pumped to the actuator at a higher pressure than the pressure of the fluid pumped through the clutch pack to cool the clutch.

Hydraulic coupling system

A vehicle braking system and method of control is disclosed which includes electromagnetic and friction braking functionality. The electromagnetic braking system includes a generator which supplies power to eddy current devices. Accordingly, the eddy current devices apply a retarding torque on the wheels of the vehicle. In the event the generator produces an amount of power greater than that needed by the electromagnetic braking system, the generator will supply power to a supplemental power source such as a battery.

Method and apparatus for power management of a regenerative braking system

This invention describes a control method for a hydraulic coupling system that includes pressurizing a fluid in an actuator coupled to a multi-disk clutch pack to engage the clutch pack, pumping the fluid through the clutch pack to cool the clutch pack, and controlling one or more valve actuators and one or more pump-motors with a controller. The control method may incorporate pulse width modulation of the actuators, such as the actuators for the pump-motor and valve.

Control of a hydraulic coupling system

A yaw stability control system is based on a linearized vehicle model and a predictive control algorithm. The control algorithm compares the vehicle yaw rate, from, for example, a production grade yaw rate sensor, with a desired yaw rate, which may be computed based on the vehicle speed and the steering wheel angle. If the yaw rate error, defined as the difference between the desired and measured yaw rates, exceeds a certain threshold, a controlling yaw moment is calculated based on the predictive control algorithm. This controlling yaw moment, or yaw torque, command is then translated into one or more actuator commands. For example, the control yaw moment may be produced by braking one or more of the vehicle's wheels.

Control algorithm for a yaw stability management system

A vehicle braking system and method of control is disclosed which includes electromagnetic and friction braking functionality. The electromagnetic braking system includes a generator which supplies power to eddy current devices. Accordingly, the eddy current devices apply a retarding torque on the wheels of the vehicle. In the event the generator is unable to supply a predetermined amount of power to eddy current devices, friction braking is activated thereby enhancing braking performance.

Method and apparatus for power management of a braking system

A control system ( ) for an automotive vehicle includes a wheel speed sensor ( ) generating a rotational speed signal and a controller ( ) coupled to the wheel speed sensor. The controller determines a vehicle speed, calculates wheel slip based upon the vehicle speed and the rotational speed, calculates a predicted future wheel slip based upon the vehicle speed and the rotational speed, estimates a normal force on the wheel, calculates a modified brake torque signal in response to the wheel slip, the predicted future wheel slip and the normal force, and actuates the wheel brake in response to the modified brake torque signal.

Predictive control algorithm for an anti-lock braking system for an automotive vehicle

An actuation system controls the flow of electric power to electromagnetic actuators to control motion or movement of at least two shafts or bodies. The system is preferentially applied to braking systems in automobiles and trucks, and may also be applied to other areas, including clutches and drive systems for other power transmission purposes. The electromagnetic retarders may also be used in combination with friction brake systems. Principal advantages of the combination system are the reliability and simplicity of friction and hydraulic components, and the lower wear and longer life of electromagnetic components.

Hybrid electromagnetic/friction actuation system

A method and system for controlling an eddy current braking system in a motor vehicle is provided. The motor vehicle includes a prime mover linked to the eddy current braking system to provide torque thereto, and the eddy current braking system has a retarder assembly including at least a rotor and a stator. The method includes the steps of detecting a feedback current from the retarder assembly, detecting a rotor speed of the rotor, providing a signal indicative of a desired retarding torque, and determining a command current for the retarder as a function of the feedback current, rotor speed and desired retarding torque using a closed-loop sliding-mode control algorithm. The command current is provided to the retarder to control application of torque to the prime mover.

Closed-loop control algorithm for an eddy current braking system

A method and system for controlling the steady-state speed of a cylinder in an electrohydraulic system having multiple cylinders includes a plurality of levers for controlling each of the cylinders. A controller, in communication with the levers and the hydraulic cylinders, has a limited number of parameters defining at least one desired relationship between steady-state speed and lever position for each of the cylinders stored therein. The controller further determines a current desired relationship for each of the cylinders from the associated at least one desired relationships. Upon detecting movement of the lever, the controller determines a current position of the lever associated with one of the cylinders and then controls the steady-state speed of the associated cylinder based on the limited number of parameters defining the current desired relationship and the position of the lever.

Method and system for controlling steady-state speed of hydraulic cylinders in an electrohydraulic system

A control system implements several methods for automating work functions of a machine. Single activation of an operator switch generates a command to automatically perform a desired work function. A controller determines whether conditions are satisfactory to perform the desired function. When the conditions are satisfactory, the work function is performed automatically without requiring the operator to manipulate levers that are otherwise used to control the work implement of the machine.

Methods for automating work machine functions

An electrohydraulic control device for a drive train of a machine having an engine, a transmission, and a torque converter utilizes sliding mode control and a target speed trajectory to constrain the jerk on the machine during a directional shift. Electrohydraulic valves produce fluid flow to hydraulic service brakes and an impeller clutch in the torque converter to controllably engage and disengage the transmission impeller clutch. A sensor generates a signal representative of the output speed of the transmission. An electronic controller receives the sensed speed signal, determines a desired speed signal according to the target speed trajectory, produces an error speed signal in response to a difference between the sensed and desired speeds, and controllably actuates the electrohydraulic valve to reduced any speed error, thereby changing the direction of motion of the machine under controlled jerk levels felt by the operator.

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Canton, MI, United States of America

Sohel Anwar