Method and apparatus for limiting speed of air suspended vehicles

• US 20040024515A1
• Filed: 08/02/2002
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MACK Trucks Incorporated (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: MACK Trucks Incorporated (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Gross, Peter, Troupe, David Keith
• Application Number:
  US10/209,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20040024515A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/93
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/204 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/02 Retarders, delaying means, dead zones, threshold values, cut-off frequency, timer interruption
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/16 Running
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/704 predicting unorthodox driving conditions for safe or optimal driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/97 Engine Management System [EMS]
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/10 responsive to conditions relating to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/04 and means for comparing one electrical quantity, e.g. voltage, pulse, waveform, flux, or the like, with another quantity of a like kind, which comparison means is involved in the development of an electrical signal which is fed into the controlling means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/146 Speed limiting
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/14 Trucks; Load vehicles, Busses
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/145 Haulage vehicles, trailing trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/221 Tractors

Abstract

A vehicle speed reducing system for limiting the speed of a vehicle is provided. The vehicle speed reducing system includes a detector unit for determining a suspension status and a road speed of a vehicle, and outputting a suspension status signal and a vehicle speed signal. A vehicle control device determines whether the vehicle is driven at a non-standard ride height (i.e., air suspended) and exceeds a predetermined maximum speed limit based on the suspension status signal and the vehicle speed signal, respectively. An engine control device limits the speed of the vehicle to a predetermined minimum speed limit if it is determined that the vehicle is driven at the non-standard ride height and exceeds the predetermined maximum speed limit. Since the air suspended vehicle is limited to a minimum speed limit, damage to the vehicle'"'"'s components is prevented.

Claims

1. A vehicle speed reducing system for limiting speed of a vehicle, comprising:

a detector for determining a suspension status and a road speed of said vehicle, and outputting a suspension status signal and a vehicle speed signal;

a vehicle control device for determining whether said vehicle is driven at a non-standard ride height and exceeds a predetermined maximum speed limit based on said suspension status signal and said vehicle speed signal, respectively; and

an engine control device for limiting said speed of said vehicle to a predetermined minimum speed limit if it is determined that said vehicle is driven at said non-standard ride height and exceeds said predetermined maximum speed limit.

2. The vehicle speed reducing system of claim 1, further comprising a warning device.

3. The vehicle speed reducing system of claim 2, wherein said warning device comprises at least one of a buzzer sound, a warning lamp, an audio warning message, and a visual warning message.

4. The vehicle speed reducing system of claim 2, wherein said warning device notifies an operator of said vehicle that said vehicle is being operated at said non-standard ride height.

5. The vehicle speed reducing system of claim 2, wherein said warning device notifies an operator of said vehicle that said vehicle is being limited to said predetermined minimum speed limit.

6. The vehicle speed reducing system of claim 1, wherein said detector unit comprises an air suspension detector and a vehicle road speed detector.

7. The vehicle speed reducing system of claim 6, wherein said air suspension detector is an electronically controlled air dump solenoid valve.

8. The vehicle speed reducing system of claim 1, wherein said predetermined maximum speed limit is approximately 25 miles per hour.

9. The vehicle speed reducing system of claim 6, wherein said vehicle road speed detector is a wheel speed sensor.

10. The vehicle speed reducing system of claim 6, wherein said vehicle road speed detector is a tail shaft speed sensor.

11. The vehicle speed reducing system of claim 2, wherein said vehicle control device comprises:

a microprocessor for storing data used to limit said vehicle to said predetermined minimum speed limit;

an input circuit for communicating said suspension signal and said vehicle speed signal from said detector to said microprocessor through a data and control bus; and

an output circuit for outputting throttle control signals to said engine control device and delivering a warning signal to said warning device.

12. The vehicle speed reducing system of claim 11, wherein said engine control device limits revolutions per minute and power of an engine based on said throttle control signals.

13. The vehicle speed reducing system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle is at least one of a tractor trailer, a load carrying vehicle, a load carrying vehicle incorporating air suspension systems, and a cargo vehicle.

14. The vehicle speed reducing system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle is equipped with an air actuated fifth wheel slide release.

24. The vehicle speed reducing system of claim 1, wherein said predetermined minimum speed limit is in a range from 0 to 25 miles per hour.

15. A vehicle speed reducing system for limiting the speed of a vehicle, comprising:

an engine control device having a plurality of input pins and limiting said speed of said vehicle to a predetermined minimum speed limit.

16. The vehicle speed reducing system of claim 15, wherein a vehicle speed limit is applied when a battery voltage is applied to said one of said input pins.

17. The vehicle speed reducing system of claim 15, further comprising, at said input pins, suspension control data for determining and setting suspension status, and a vehicle speed sensor for determining and setting vehicle speed of said vehicle.

18. The vehicle speed reducing system of claim 17, wherein said vehicle is limited based on said suspension status and said vehicle speed of said vehicle

25. The vehicle speed reducing system of claim 15, wherein said predetermined minimum speed limit is in a range from 0 to 25 miles per hour.

28. The vehicle speed reducing system of claim 15, wherein said engine control device includes an engine (electronic control unit) ECU, a vehicle ECU, an ABS ECU, a transmission ECU, a suspension ECU, or a combination thereof.

19. A method of limiting the speed of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

determining a suspension status of said vehicle;

determining a road speed of said vehicle; and

limiting said speed of said vehicle to a predetermined minimum speed limit if it is determined that said vehicle is driven at a non-standard ride height and exceeds a predetermined maximum speed limit.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein an operator of said vehicle is notified that said vehicle is being operated at said non-standard ride height.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein an operator of said vehicle is notified that said vehicle is being limited to said predetermined minimum speed limit.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said vehicle is at least one of a tractor trailer, a load carrying vehicle, a load carrying vehicle incorporating air suspension systems, and a cargo vehicle.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein said vehicle is equipped with an air actuated fifth wheel slide release.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein said predetermined maximum speed limit is approximately 25 miles per hour.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein said predetermined minimum speed limit is in a range from 0 to 25 miles per hour.