Method and device for stabilizing a vehicle

• US 20040222027A1
• Filed: 07/24/2003
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Kroehnert, Michael, Leibeling, Frank, Barth, Guenter
• Granted Patent: US 6,904,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/197
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/16 responsive to, or preventing, skidding of wheels brake control systems for vehicle drive stability B60T8/1755; arrangements responsive to a speed condition for adjusting wheel braking force B60T8/32; control of vehicle driving stability otherwise than by controlling the propulsion unit only B60W30/02; preventing wheel slippage by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/175 Brake regulation specially adapted to prevent excessive wheel spin during vehicle acceleration, e.g. for traction control safety devices for propulsion unit control responsive to, or preventing, skidding of wheels B60K28/16
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/28 Wheel speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/02 Control of vehicle driving stability
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18172 Preventing, or responsive to skidding of wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1819 Propulsion control with control means using analogue circuits, relays or mechanical links

Abstract

A method and a device for stabilizing a vehicle having at least one wheel tending to spin, are provided. In response to the tendency to spin, a driver-independent braking intervention occurs in the at least one wheel. The engine torque is reduced if the driver-independent braking intervention has not resulted in stabilizing the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for stabilizing a vehicle having an engine and a plurality of wheels, in response to at least one wheel tending to spin, comprising:

activating a driver-independent braking intervention in the at least one wheel tending to spin; and

if the driver-independent braking intervention does not result in stabilization of the vehicle, activating a reduction of the engine torque.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the braking intervention occurs with equal intensity at both wheels of a first driven axle of the vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle is an all-wheel drive vehicle, and wherein during the braking intervention involving the first driven axle, no braking intervention occurs at wheels of a second driven axle.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the engine torque is reduced if the difference between a variable determined from wheel rotational speeds of braked wheels and a setpoint value for the variable exceeds a specified first threshold value that is not equal to zero.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

ending the reduction in engine torque if the difference between the variable determined from the wheel rotational speeds of the braked wheels and a setpoint value for the variable falls below a specified second threshold value that is not equal to zero.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the second threshold value is lower than the first threshold value.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the variable determined from the wheel rotational speeds of the braked wheels is an actual value of a cardan shaft speed, and the setpoint value for the variable is a setpoint cardan shaft speed.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the variable determined from the wheel rotational speeds of the braked wheels is a mean value of wheel speeds of the braked wheels.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein a differential lock function is used in a longitudinal direction.

10. A device for stabilizing a vehicle having an engine and a plurality of wheels, in response to at least one wheel tending to spin, comprising:

a reducing means for reducing the engine torque; and

a braking means for carrying out a driver-independent braking intervention;

wherein the driver-independent braking intervention occurs in the at least one wheel tending to spin, and wherein the engine torque is reduced only if the driver-independent braking intervention does not result in stabilization of the vehicle.