The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 12, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 23, 2000
Patrick Kurzeja, White Lake, MI (US);
Ronald N. Brissette, Lake Orion, MI (US);
Jim Hawkins, Madison, AL (US);
Chris Keeney, Troy, MI (US);
Christos Kyrtsos, Southfield, MI (US);
Jack Darrin Oates, Fletcher, NC (US);
Tom Sanko, Troy, MI (US);
Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC, Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
A method for automatically controlling angles in a driveline of a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes an air-wide suspension system, and the driveline includes a drive shaft driven through a universal joint. The universal joint produces a rotational velocity that is detected by a sensor of a control assembly. A controller, also part of the control assembly, converts the rotational velocity into alternating rotational acceleration and deceleration of the drive shaft. Once quantified, the acceleration and deceleration of the drive shaft is compared to determine any changes in rotational acceleration. In response to any changes in rotational acceleration, the air-ride suspension system is adjusted to control the driveline angle at one end of the drive shaft such that the driveline angle at one end is balanced relative to the driveline angle at the other end of the drive shaft, and noise, vibration, fatigue, or failure of the drive shaft is reduced.