Drivetrain protection and management system

• US 20060036361A1
• Filed: 08/13/2004
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WABCO USA LLC (Wabco Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Meritor WABCO Vehicle Control Systems (Wabco Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Romer, Richard A., Harrison, Robert S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,356,401 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/84
• 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: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/196 acting within the driveline, e.g. retarders
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/263 Slip values between front and rear axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18172 Preventing, or responsive to skidding of wheels

Abstract

A drivetrain protection and management system (DPMS) monitors and determines individual wheel speeds to detect wheel spin and slip conditions on a drive axle. Wheel spin is caused by low surface friction, excessive input torque, lack of inter-axle differential and differential locks, excessive operating temperatures, or poor driving techniques. When wheel spin or slip exceeds a threshold, the DPMS automatically controls input torque to the drive axle by controlling engine or retarder torque. In addition to monitoring wheel speeds, the DPMS monitors other vehicle characteristics such as engine torque/speed, transmission ratio, transmission output speed, vehicle speed, throttle position, for example. The DPMS monitors and stores these vehicle characteristics over time and generates a data output that summarizes a history of vehicle operating conditions. The DPMS can communicate this data output real time during vehicle operation, which can be used by a fleet to maximize vehicle performance.

Claims

1. A method for protecting and managing a drivetrain system comprising:

monitoring a first wheel speed for a first wheel and a second wheel speed for a second wheel wherein the first and second wheels rotate about a first common axis;

monitoring a third wheel speed for a third wheel and a fourth wheel speed for a fourth wheel wherein the third and fourth wheels rotate about a second common axis defined by a drive axle;

determining whether the third wheel is operating in a spin condition, a slip condition, or a no-spin condition based on the first, second, third, and fourth wheel speeds;

determining whether the fourth wheel is operating in a spin condition, a slip condition, or a no-spin condition based on the first, second, third, and fourth wheel speeds;

determining if a spin threshold is exceeded when at least one of the third or fourth wheels is in the spin condition; and

generating a control signal to control wheel speed by controlling input torque into the drive axle when the spin threshold is exceeded.

2. The method according to claim 1 including generating the control signal as an engine control signal to reduce engine torque.

3. The method according to claim 1 including generating the control signal as an engine retarder control signal.

4. The method according to claim 1 including providing a drivetrain control module for generating the control signal wherein the drivetrain control module is separate from an engine control module.

5. The method according to claim 4 including incorporating the drivetrain control module into an anti-lock braking system control module.

6. The method according to claim 1 including communicating a warning to a vehicle operator to indicate that torque is being controlled to protect and manage a drivetrain or that maintenance is required.

7. The method according to claim 1 including detecting wheel spin for an unsensed driven wheel that does not have wheel speed sensors by monitoring engine speed;

monitoring transmission speed;

monitoring driveline speed;

determining whether there is a change in engine speed, driveline speed, or transmission speed;

detecting a wheel spin condition at the unsensed driven wheel when both the third and fourth wheels are in a no-spin condition and there is a change in speed of at least one of the engine, driveline, and transmission speeds;

determining an unsensed wheel spin value when the wheel spin condition is detected for the unsensed driven wheel;

comparing the unsensed wheel spin value to the spin threshold; and

generating the control signal to decrease wheel speed by reducing engine torque when the unsensed wheel spin value exceeds the spin threshold.

8. The method according to claim 1 including monitoring a plurality of vehicle characteristics over time wherein the plurality of vehicle characteristics includes at least the first, second, third, and fourth wheel speeds, storing vehicle characteristic data in memory, and generating a data output summarizing a history of the vehicle characteristics.

9. The method according to claim 8 including communicating the data output to a fleet control center located remotely from a vehicle having the drive axle.

10. The method according to claim 9 including wirelessly communicating the data output to the fleet control center during vehicle operation.

11. The method according to claim 9 wherein monitoring the plurality of vehicle characteristics includes monitoring at least engine speed, engine torque, vehicle speed, transmission ratio, and transmission output speed over time.

12. The method according to claim 8 including monitoring the first, second, third, and fourth wheel speeds with first, second, third, and fourth wheel speed sensors, respectively, from an anti-lock brake system and generating the control signal from an anti-lock brake controller.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein monitoring the plurality of vehicle characteristics includes monitoring engine speed, engine torque, and vehicle speed over time via a datalink that is in communication with the anti-lock brake controller.

14. The method according to claim 13 including determining a duration each time one of the third or fourth wheels is in the spin condition, comparing the duration to a duration time threshold, identifying a spin duration event each time the duration exceeds the duration time threshold, and storing each spin duration event in memory.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein monitoring the plurality of vehicle characteristics includes monitoring an operating ratio for a transmission and transmission output speed over time via the datalink that is in communication with the anti-lock brake controller.

16. The method according to claim 15 including controlling drivetrain torque with a drivetrain retarder via the control signal to reduce input torque to the drive axle when at least one of the third and fourth wheels is in the slip condition.

17. The method according to claim 16 including automatically locking an inter-axle differential or main axle differential when the spin threshold is exceeded and the third and fourth wheel speeds are less than a predetermined inter-axle differential engagement threshold.

18. The method according to claim 17 including automatically unlocking the inter-axle differential or main axle differential when vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined speed threshold.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein monitoring the plurality of vehicle characteristics includes monitoring at least one of axle oil temperature, vehicle mass, road grade, road surface, engine temperature, or tire pressure over time.

20. A drivetrain protection and management system comprising:

a first wheel speed sensor generating a first wheel speed signal for a first wheel;

a second wheel speed sensor generating a second wheel speed signal for a second wheel wherein the first and second wheels rotate about a first common axis;

a third wheel speed sensor generating a third wheel speed signal for a third wheel;

a fourth wheel speed sensor generating a fourth wheel speed signal for a fourth wheel wherein the third and forth wheels rotate about a second common axis defined by a drive axle; and

a drivetrain protection and management control unit for determining whether at least one of the third and fourth wheels is operating in a spin condition, a slip condition, or a no-spin condition based on the first, second, third, and fourth wheel speed signals, determining if a spin threshold is exceeded when at least one of the third or fourth wheels is in the spin condition, and generating a control signal to control wheel speed by controlling input torque into the drive axle when the spin threshold is exceeded.

21. The drivetrain protection and management system according to claim 20 wherein said drivetrain protection and management control unit is incorporated into an anti-lock brake controller.

22. The drivetrain protection and management system according to claim 20 wherein said drivetrain protection and management control unit monitors a plurality of vehicle characteristics over time wherein the plurality of vehicle characteristics includes at least first, second, third, and fourth wheel speeds and wherein the drivetrain protection and management control unit stores vehicle characteristic data in memory and generates a data output summarizing a history of the vehicle characteristics.

23. The drivetrain protection and management system according to claim 22 wherein said drivetrain protection and management control unit communicates the data output via a wireless transmission to a fleet control center located remotely from a vehicle having the drive axle.

24. The drivetrain protection and management system according to claim 22 wherein said drivetrain protection and management control unit generates said control signal as an engine control signal to reduce engine torque.

25. The drivetrain protection and management system according to claim 22 wherein said drivetrain protection and management control unit generates said control signal as an engine retarder control signal.

26. The drivetrain protection and management system according to claim 22 wherein said plurality of vehicle characteristics comprises input data and includes engine speed, engine torque, operating ratio for a transmission, transmission output speed, driveline speed, and vehicle speed and wherein said drivetrain protection and management control unit receives at least a portion of said input data via a datalink that is in communication with said drivetrain protection and management control unit and an engine control unit.

27. The drivetrain protection and management system according to claim 22 wherein said drivetrain protection and management control unit determines a duration each time one of the third or fourth wheels is in said spin condition, compares the duration to a duration time threshold, identifies a spin duration event each time the duration exceeds the duration time threshold, and stores each spin duration event in memory.

28. A method for managing and protecting a drivetrain system for a vehicle comprising:

monitoring a plurality of vehicle characteristics;

identifying an excessive drivetrain operating condition;

automatically reducing drivetrain torque at one drivetrain component once the excessive drivetrain operating condition is identified;

storing the excessive drivetrain operating condition as a significant operational event; and

generating an output including the significant operational event.

29. The method according to claim 28 including monitoring and storing the plurality of vehicle characteristics and significant operational events over time.

30. The method according to claim 29 including automatically transmitting the output to a location remote from the vehicle.

31. The method according to claim 30 wherein the plurality of vehicle characteristics comprises input data from an engine, a transmission, a drive axle, and an anti-lock brake system.