METHOD AND APPARATUS TO ENHANCE BRAKE-STEER OF A VEHICLE USING A CONTROLLABLE SUSPENSION COMPONENT

• US 20050206234A1
• Filed: 03/18/2004
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Offerle, Timothy G., Tseng, Hongtei E., Brown, Gregory P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,401,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 303/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0162 mainly during a motion involving steering operation, e.g. cornering, overtaking B60G17/0164 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/42 Steering torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/24 Steering, cornering
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/915 Suspension load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/922 EBV - Electronic brake force distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/97 Engine Management System [EMS]
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/10 Automatic or semi-automatic parking aid systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/06 Tractor-trailer swaying
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1755 Brake regulation specially adapted to control the stability of the vehicle, e.g. taking into account yaw rate or transverse acceleration in a curve road vehicle drive control systems for control of driving stability otherwise than by controlling a particular sub-unit B60W30/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/22 including control of suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/202 Steering torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/045 Improving turning performance

Abstract

A system and method of controlling an automotive vehicle having a controllable suspension component includes applying brake-steer to at least one wheel, generating a suspension control signal in response to the brake-steer signal, and allowing at least one wheel coupled to the suspension component to articulate to reduce the turning radius of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an automotive vehicle having a controllable suspension component, said vehicle having a first turning radius comprising:

applying brake-steer to at least one wheel to provide a second turning radius less than the first turning radius;

generating a suspension control signal in response to applying brake-steer; and

articulating at least one wheel coupled to the controllable suspension component to provide a third turning radius of the vehicle less than the second turning radius.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein applying brake-steer comprises applying at least one brake at a first wheel.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein applying brake-steer comprises applying an increased drive torque to a second wheel relative to a first wheel.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 applying brake-steer comprises increasing the normal load on a rear wheel.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 applying brake-steer comprises increasing the normal load on a front wheel.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising detecting a parking mode and generating the brake-steer signal in response to a parking mode.

7. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein detecting a parking mode comprises detecting a parking mode in response to a vehicle speed.

8. A method as recited In claim 6 wherein detecting a parking mode comprises detecting a parking mode in response to a steering wheel angle.

9. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein detecting a parking mode comprises detecting a parking mode in response to a map correlating vehicle speed and a steering wheel rate to a parking/non-parking condition.

10. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein detecting a parking mode comprises detecting a parking mode in response to a driver-actuated switch.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein articulating one wheel comprises articulating two wheels.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the two wheels are coupled to a solid axle.

13. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein articulating at least one wheel coupled to the suspension comprises articulating using a Hotchkiss suspension.

14. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein articulating at least one wheel coupled to the suspension comprises articulating using an electrically controllable bushing.

15. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein articulating at least one wheel coupled to the suspension comprises a solenoid actuated suspension component.

16. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein articulating at least one wheel coupled to the suspension comprises a looking mechanism with a compliant rear suspension mount.

17. A vehicle having a turning radius comprising:

a suspension comprising a controllable suspension component; and

a controller coupled to the controllable component, said controller programmed to determine a brake-steer condition and generate a suspension control signal in response to the brake-steer condition,

said controllable suspension component actuating in response to the control signal and reducing the turning radius of the vehicle in response to the suspension control signal.

18. A vehicle as recited in claim 17 wherein said controller is programmed to determine a brake-steer condition in response to a parking mode.

19. A vehicle as recited in claim 17 wherein said controller determines a parking mode in response to a vehicle speed.

20. A vehicle as recited in claim 17 wherein said controller determines a parking mode in response a steering wheel angle.

21. A vehicle as recited in claim 17 wherein said controller determines a parking mode in response to a vehicle speed and a steering angle.

22. A vehicle as recited in claim 17 wherein said controller determines a parking mode in response to a driver-actuated switch.

23. A vehicle as recited in claim 17 wherein said controller in said parking mode controls a first positive torque to a first driven wheel and simultaneously controls a second positive torque greater than the first positive torque to a second wheel so that the turning radius of the vehicle is reduced.

24. A vehicle as recited in claim 17 wherein said suspension comprises a Hotchkiss suspension.

25. A vehicle as recited in claim 17 wherein said suspension component comprises an electrically controllable bushing.

26. A vehicle as recited in claim 17 wherein said suspension component comprises a toe link coupled to the electrically controllable bushing.

27. A vehicle as recited in claim 17 wherein said suspension component comprises a solenoid actuated suspension component.

28. A vehicle as recited in claim 17 wherein said suspension component comprises a locking mechanism with a compliant rear suspension mount.

29. A vehicle as recited in claim 17 wherein said electrically controllable suspension component reducing the turning radius of the vehicle by articulating at least one wheel.

30. A vehicle as recited in claim 17 wherein said electrically controllable suspension component reduces the turning radius of the vehicle by articulating at two wheels on an axle.