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:
May. 27, 2003
Filed:
Aug. 10, 2000
Syun Kyung Lee, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A method and system for controlling a transfer case of a four-wheel drive vehicle . The vehicle includes 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 to a driver-operated control , and to a transfer case clutch . Controller operates transfer case in several modes including an automatic four-wheel drive mode and a “locked” four-wheel drive high mode. Controller estimates the amount of heat generated by clutch by monitoring the difference in the speed between driveshafts and and by monitoring the position of the vehicle's throttle. Controller automatically shifts from the automatic four-wheel drive mode to the locked four-wheel drive high mode when the estimated amount of heat exceeds a certain threshold level.