Method and apparatus for vehicle rollover prediction and prevention
First Claim
1. A vehicle rollover prediction and prevention system for a vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of wheel velocity sensors for producing wheel velocity signals;
an engine revolution sensor for producing an engine revolution signal;
an engine load sensor for producing an engine load signal;
a rollover prevention device; and
an electronic control unit for receiving signals from the wheel velocity sensors, engine revolution sensor, and engine load sensors and for calculating lateral acceleration, wheel slip difference, and drive torque;
wherein the electronic control unit defines at least one lateral acceleration limit based on the calculated lateral acceleration, wheel slip difference and drive torque and activates the rollover prevention device when the lateral acceleration exceeds the lateral acceleration limit.
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Abstract
A rollover prevention device and method detects an impending rollover situation for a vehicle (10) having a high center of gravity (cg). The system alerts the operator to potentially dangerous driving conditions and/or automatically slows the velocity of the vehicle (10) to prevent rollover. An electronic control unit for receives output signals from wheel velocity, engine revolution, and engine load sensors and then calculates lateral acceleration, wheel slip difference, and drive torque from the signals. A lateral acceleration limit is defined by plotting lateral acceleration, wheel slip difference and drive torque as a three dimensional surface.
57 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A vehicle rollover prediction and prevention system for a vehicle comprising:
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a plurality of wheel velocity sensors for producing wheel velocity signals;
an engine revolution sensor for producing an engine revolution signal;
an engine load sensor for producing an engine load signal;
a rollover prevention device; and
an electronic control unit for receiving signals from the wheel velocity sensors, engine revolution sensor, and engine load sensors and for calculating lateral acceleration, wheel slip difference, and drive torque;
wherein the electronic control unit defines at least one lateral acceleration limit based on the calculated lateral acceleration, wheel slip difference and drive torque and activates the rollover prevention device when the lateral acceleration exceeds the lateral acceleration limit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for vehicle rollover prediction and prevention comprising:
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receiving output signals from a plurality of wheel velocity sensors, an engine revolution sensor, and an engine load sensor;
calculating lateral acceleration, wheel slip difference, and drive torque from the output signals of the wheel velocity sensors, engine revolution sensor, and engine load sensor;
plotting lateral acceleration, wheel slip difference, and drive torque as a three dimensional surface;
defining a lateral acceleration limit by extrapolation of the three dimensional surface; and
activating the rollover prevention device when the calculated lateral acceleration exceeds the lateral acceleration limit. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device for vehicle rollover prediction and prevention comprising:
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means for receiving output signals from a plurality of wheel velocity sensors, an engine revolution sensor, and an engine load sensor;
means for calculating lateral acceleration, wheel slip difference, and drive torque from the output signals of the wheel velocity sensors, engine revolution sensor, and engine load sensor;
means for plotting lateral acceleration, wheel slip difference, and drive torque as a three dimensional surface;
means for defining a lateral acceleration limit by extrapolation of the three dimensional surface; and
means for activating the rollover prevention device when the calculated lateral acceleration exceeds the lateral acceleration limit.
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Specification