Electronic stability system on a three-wheeled vehicle
First Claim
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1. A three-wheeled vehicle, comprising:
- a frame having a front portion, a rear portion, and a longitudinal axis;
an engine supported by the frame;
a front suspension connected to the front portion of the frame;
two front wheels supported by the front suspension and laterally spaced from one another, each wheel having a tire mounted thereon that is suitable for road use having a pressure of between 138 kPa and 345 kPa;
a rear suspension connected to the rear portion of the frame;
one rear wheel supported by the rear suspension and operatively connected to the engine, the wheel having a tire mounted thereon that is suitable for road use having a pressure of between 138 kPa and 345 kPa and being centered with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle;
a braking system operatively connected to the wheels, the braking system including a brake and a brake actuator;
a steering assembly supported by the frame and operatively connected to at least one of the front wheels to transmit steering signals from an operator thereto;
a straddle seat supported by the frame; and
an electronic stability control system operatively connected to the braking system to supplement control of the vehicle based on sensed signals representative of operating conditions of the vehicle.
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Abstract
A three-wheeled vehicle having a pair of front wheels and a single rear wheel is provided with an electronic stability system (ESS) to control certain operating parameters of the vehicle based on sensed inputs from the three wheels. Preferably, the three-wheeled vehicle has a straddle type seat, an internal combustion engine, and road tires suitable for conventional road use.
109 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A three-wheeled vehicle, comprising:
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a frame having a front portion, a rear portion, and a longitudinal axis;
an engine supported by the frame;
a front suspension connected to the front portion of the frame;
two front wheels supported by the front suspension and laterally spaced from one another, each wheel having a tire mounted thereon that is suitable for road use having a pressure of between 138 kPa and 345 kPa;
a rear suspension connected to the rear portion of the frame;
one rear wheel supported by the rear suspension and operatively connected to the engine, the wheel having a tire mounted thereon that is suitable for road use having a pressure of between 138 kPa and 345 kPa and being centered with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle;
a braking system operatively connected to the wheels, the braking system including a brake and a brake actuator;
a steering assembly supported by the frame and operatively connected to at least one of the front wheels to transmit steering signals from an operator thereto;
a straddle seat supported by the frame; and
an electronic stability control system operatively connected to the braking system to supplement control of the vehicle based on sensed signals representative of operating conditions of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of controlling yaw stability of a vehicle with a longitudinal axis, a pair of front wheels disposed on either side of the longitudinal axis, a single rear wheel aligned with the longitudinal axis and a braking system associated with the wheels, comprising:
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determining a yaw rate for the vehicle;
determining a lateral acceleration for the vehicle;
determining the vehicle speed; and
actuating the braking system on a maximum of the three wheels in response to at least one of the yaw rate, the lateral acceleration, and the vehicle speed so that a net moment on the vehicle opposes an induced yaw direction of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A three-wheeled vehicle, comprising:
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a frame having a front portion, a rear portion, and a longitudinal axis;
an engine supported by the frame;
a front suspension connected to the front portion of the frame;
two front wheels supported by the frame and laterally spaced from one another, the front wheels having tires suitable for road use having a pressure of between 138 kPa and 345 kPa;
a rear suspension connected to the rear portion of the frame;
one rear wheel supported by the frame and operatively connected to the engine, the rear wheel having a tire suitable for road use having a pressure of between 138 kPa and 345 kPa and being centered with respect to the longitudinal axis;
a braking system operatively connected to the wheels, the braking system including a brake and a brake actuator;
a steering assembly connected to the frame and at least one of the wheels that transmits steering signals thereto;
a straddle seat supported by the frame; and
an electronic stability control system connected to the braking system, wherein the electronic stability control system controls a vehicle operating parameter when steered outside of a predetermined range of variables, wherein the electronic stability system comprises an electronic control unit;
a vehicle speed sensor electronically connected with the electronic control unit;
a vehicle lateral acceleration sensor electronically connected with the electronic control unit; and
a vehicle yaw rate sensor electronically connected with the electronic control unit;
wherein the electronic control unit is operatively connected to the braking system and actuates either the braking system based on input from signals from at least one of the vehicle speed sensor, the vehicle lateral acceleration sensor and the vehicle yaw rate sensor. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A three-wheeled vehicle, comprising:
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a frame having a front portion, a rear portion having a longitudinal axis;
an engine supported by the frame;
a front suspension connected to the front portion of the frame;
first and second front wheels supported by the front suspension and laterally spaced from one another, each wheel having a tire mounted thereon that is suitable for road use having a pressure of between 138 kPa and 345 kPa;
a rear suspension connected to the rear portion of the frame;
one rear wheel supported by the rear suspension and operatively connected to the engine, the wheel having a tire mounted thereon that is suitable for road use having a pressure of between 138 kPa and 345 kPa and being centered with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle;
a braking system operatively connected to the wheels, the braking system including a brake and a brake actuator;
a steering assembly supported by the frame and operatively connected to at least one of the wheels to transmit steering signals from an operator thereto;
a straddle seat supported by the frame; and
an electronic stability control system operatively connected to the braking system to supplement control of the vehicle based on sensed signals representative of operating conditions of the vehicle, wherein the first front wheel establishes a rollover axis with the rear wheel and the second front wheel establishes a second rollover axis with the rear wheel, and wherein, when the electronic stability system activates the braking system device, the braking device causes one of either of the first and second front wheels to brake, a force is established that is perpendicular to one of either the first and second rollover axes.
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20. A three-wheeled vehicle, comprising:
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a frame having a front portion, a rear portion and a longitudinal axis;
an engine supported by the frame;
a front suspension connected to the front portion of the frame;
first and second front wheels supported by the front suspension and laterally spaced from one another, each wheel having a tire mounted thereon that is suitable for road use having a pressure of between 138 kPa and 345 kPa;
a rear suspension connected to the rear portion of the frame;
one rear wheel supported by the rear suspension and operatively connected to the engine, the wheel having a tire mounted thereon that is suitable for road use having a pressure of between 138 kPa and 345 kPa and being centered with respect to the longitudinal axis;
a braking system operatively connected to the wheels, the braking system including a brake and a brake actuator;
a steering assembly supported by the frame and operatively connected to at least one of the wheels to transmit steering signals from an operator thereto;
a straddle seat supported by the frame; and
an electronic stability control system operatively connected to the braking system to supplement control of the vehicle based on a roll rate representative of operating conditions of the vehicle, wherein the roll rate is based on the rotational speed difference between the front wheels. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification