Balancing apparatus of vehicle and control method thereof

• US 10,093,364 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2015
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Seo, Wook Hwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nolan, Peter D
• Application Number:
  US14/946,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20170050685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0433 Arrangement under the rear seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0494 with arrangements for sliding
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 37/04 by means of movable masses

Abstract

A balancing apparatus of a vehicle includes: a load sensor installed in a seat of the vehicle to measure a weight of a passenger sitting on the seat; and a balance control apparatus that controls a center of gravity of the vehicle, when the balance control apparatus includes: a battery pack that supplies power to the vehicle, and the battery pack is movably installed on a frame module and moves to control the center of gravity of the vehicle based on a value measured by the load sensor.

Claims

1. A balancing apparatus of a vehicle, comprising:

a load sensor configured to be installed in a seat of the vehicle to measure a weight of a passenger sitting on the seat;

a battery pack configured to supply power to the vehicle;

a plurality of moving frames configured to be fixed with the battery pack;

a plurality of fixed frames configured to be fixed to the vehicle; and

a driver configured to move the moving frames relative to the fixed frames, the driver including a motor configured to generate a torque,

wherein each of the plurality of moving frames is movably installed on each of the plurality of fixed frames, respectively,

wherein the motor is disposed between the plurality of moving frames, and

wherein the motor has both sides provided with rotating shafts to move the moving frames in a same direction, and the rotating shafts are each connected to the moving frames.

2. The balancing apparatus of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the driver further includes:

a bracket configured to be provided with the motor,

wherein the bracket is installed on the plurality of moving frames.

3. The balancing apparatus of a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the motor is directly connected to the plurality of moving frames to deliver the torque generated from a rotor to the moving frame.

4. The balancing apparatus of a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the bracket is provided with a seating part in which the motor is disposed and is provided with a fixed protrusion through which the rotating shaft penetrates.

5. The balancing apparatus of a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the fixed protrusion comprises a plurality of fixed protrusions of different sizes.

6. A control method of a balancing apparatus of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

storing a position of a battery pack supplying power to the vehicle;

measuring a load by a load sensor installed in a seat of the vehicle;

calculating a center of gravity of the vehicle based on a value measured by the load sensor; and

controlling the center of gravity of the vehicle by moving the battery pack depending on the calculated center of gravity of the vehicle on a plurality of moving frames and a plurality of fixed frames,

wherein the plurality of moving frames is configured to be fixed with the battery pack,

wherein the plurality of fixed frames is configured to be fixed to the vehicle,

wherein each of the plurality of moving frames is movably installed on each of the plurality of fixed frames, respectively,

wherein a motor is disposed between the plurality of moving frames, and

wherein the motor has both sides provided with rotating shafts to move the moving frames in a same direction, and the rotating shafts are each connected to the moving frames.

7. The control method according to claim 6, wherein in the step of measuring the load by the load sensor, the vehicle is provided with a plurality of seats and the plurality of seats are provided with load sensors to compare load values measured in the plurality of seats, respectively.

8. The control method according to claim 7, wherein it is determined whether the values measured by the load sensors are equal to or more than a preset value.

9. The control method according to claim 7, wherein the battery pack moves in a direction in which the center of gravity is low by comparing the values measured by the load sensors.

10. The control method according to claim 6, wherein the controlling of the center of gravity of the vehicle includes measuring a load change of the vehicle when a vehicle speed is sensed.