Method for enhancing stability of prime mover having an auxiliary vehicle

• US 20070256878A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tandy Engineering & Associates, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tandy Engineering & Associates, Inc.
• Inventors: Tandy, Donald
• Granted Patent: US 7,734,405 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/282
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/06 Tractor-trailer swaying
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/20 specially for trailers, e.g. in case of uncoupling of or overrunning by trailer inertia-actuated overrun brakes B60T13/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1708 for lorries or tractor-trailer combinations
• 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: B60T 8/241 Lateral vehicle inclination
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/245 Longitudinal vehicle inclination
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/246 Change of direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/248 Trailer sway, e.g. for preventing jackknifing
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/14 Tractor-trailers, i.e. combinations of a towing vehicle and one or more towed vehicles, e.g. caravans; Road trains
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/02 Control of vehicle driving stability
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 13/00 Steering specially adapted for trailers combined traction and steering hitches B60D
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/003 in order to control vehicle yaw movement, i.e. around a vertical axis B62D6/007 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for providing enhanced stability, control and management for a prime mover connected to an auxiliary vehicle is disclosed. An auxiliary vehicle is connected to a prime mover with an auxiliary stability enhancing system and an electronic stability enhancing system, including at least one processor with a memory having computer instructions stored thereon. The processor communicates with a plurality of sensors to detect force values and motions values, and communicates with database storage containing specifications and characteristics representing the prime mover and auxiliary vehicle to compare the force and motion values with the specifications to determine if any values exceed known preset threshold values for the prime mover and auxiliary vehicle. A calculated response, and a location for applying the response, is determined by using a computer model of the prime mover and auxiliary vehicle to reduce the detected force or motion value that exceeds the preset threshold value.

Claims

1. A method for stabilizing a prime mover connected to an auxiliary vehicle, wherein the method comprises:

a. connecting an auxiliary vehicle to a prime mover with an auxiliary stability enhancing system and an electronic stability enhancing system, wherein the electronic stability enhancing system comprises a processor with a memory, wherein the processor is in communication with a plurality of sensors and a database storage, wherein the database storage contains specifications representing the prime mover and specifications representing the auxiliary vehicle;

b. detecting at least one force value, at least one motion value, and combinations thereof, for the prime mover connected to the auxiliary vehicle, using the plurality of sensors;

c. comparing the detected force value, the detected motion value, and combinations thereof with the specifications representing the prime mover and the specifications representing the auxiliary vehicle to determine if the detected force value or the detected motion value for the prime mover and the auxiliary vehicle exceeds a preset threshold value for the prime mover connected to the auxiliary vehicle; and

d. selectively applying braking to at least one wheel of the prime mover to reduce the detected force value or the detected motion value that exceeds the preset threshold value for the prime mover connected to the auxiliary vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of verifying that the plurality of sensors are operational after completing the step of connecting the auxiliary vehicle to the prime mover.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of applying braking to at least one wheel of the auxiliary vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of calculating an adjustment value for the prime mover connected to the auxiliary vehicle to adjust the detected at least one force value, the detected at least one motion value, and combinations thereof, wherein the adjustment value comprises a member selected from the group consisting of:

a braking force value, a lateral force value, a translational motion value, an angular motion value, a coupling force value, a steering input value, a steering torque value, a steering rate value, a vehicle speed value, a wheel speed value, a wheel angle value, a braking pressure value, a throttle position value, a brake pedal position value, and combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of further adjusting the selective braking motion if the reduced force, motion, and combinations thereof, of the prime mover connected to the auxiliary vehicle causes excessive yaw, pitch, roll, sway, sliding, jackknifing, and combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of using the specifications representing the prime mover and the specifications representing the auxiliary vehicle to reduce yaw, pitch, and roll of the prime mover connected to the auxiliary vehicle when at least one characteristic exceeds a preset limit.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of detecting a member selected from the group consisting of:

a completed electrical circuit, other integrated circuit systems, and combinations thereof between the prime mover connected to the auxiliary vehicle using a device in communication with one of the plurality of sensors on the prime mover.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of communicating directly with the processor located on the prime mover by using a wireless sensor.