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:
Jun. 30, 2009
Filed:
Oct. 13, 2006
Joe J. Torres, Dearborn, MI (US);
John O'rear, Whitmore Lake, MI (US);
Peter J. Barrette, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Patrick Meloche, Northville, MI (US);
Dana J. Katinas, Novi, MI (US);
Joe J. Torres, Dearborn, MI (US);
John O'Rear, Whitmore Lake, MI (US);
Peter J. Barrette, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Patrick Meloche, Northville, MI (US);
Dana J. Katinas, Novi, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A motor vehicle driveline that can transmit power in a 4×4 mode includes two front wheels, a rear drive shaft, a differential mechanism for transmitting power to two rear axle shafts connected driveably through the differential to the rear driveshaft, and a clutch for engaging and disengaging a drive connection in the differential mechanism. A method for controlling operation of the clutch includes the steps of operating the driveline in 4×4 mode, determining a current accelerator pedal position, determining whether a current accelerator pedal position is less than a reference position for a predetermined period, determining a current speed of each front wheel of the vehicle, determining whether a current speed difference between the front wheels of the vehicle is less than a reference wheel slip for a first predetermined period, determining during a second predetermined period whether a current time rate of speed change of the rear drive shaft is less than a reference rear wheel slip. The clutch is prevented from being engaged if either the speed difference exceeds the reference speed difference, or the time rate of speed change of the rear drive shaft is greater than a reference rear wheel slip. Otherwise, the clutch is engaged.