Method to Reduce the Turn Radius of Motor Vehicles Utilizing Automatic Single Side Rear Brake Application
First Claim
1. A method for reducing motor vehicle turning radii, said method comprising the steps of:
- sensing a turn of a motor vehicle;
determining which rear wheel of the motor vehicle is an inside rear wheel of the turn; and
selectively applying a brake of the inside rear wheel in automatic response to said step of sensing to thereby effect a reduction in turning radius of the turn of the motor vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of selective, automatic application of one rear brake of a motor vehicle under appropriate vehicle operating conditions in response to intent of a driver to make a turn, whereby the rotational speed of the selected braked rear wheel is reduced so as to reduce the turn radius of the vehicle. Vehicle sensor outputs and calculated parameters in conjunction with vehicle systems such as, but not limited to, ESC, ABS, and traction control are used to determine if appropriate vehicle operating conditions exist to actuate the present invention. The method of the present invention is implemented via an algorithmic control, preferably within an ESC system.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for reducing motor vehicle turning radii, said method comprising the steps of:
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sensing a turn of a motor vehicle; determining which rear wheel of the motor vehicle is an inside rear wheel of the turn; and selectively applying a brake of the inside rear wheel in automatic response to said step of sensing to thereby effect a reduction in turning radius of the turn of the motor vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for reducing motor vehicle turning radii, comprising the steps of:
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sensing a turn of a motor vehicle; determining which rear wheel of the motor vehicle is an inside rear wheel of the turn; determining wheel slip of the inside rear wheel; and selectively braking the inside rear wheel in automatic response to said step of sensing so that the wheel slip is within a predetermined wheel slip range which thereby effects a reduction in turning radius of the turn of the motor vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification