System for preventing damage to a vehicle

• US 20080300746A1
• Filed: 06/04/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Sauter, Ingo-Gerd, Dreier, Loren Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 8,392,047 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0234 related to maintenance or repairing of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/0081 Fixing of, or adapting to transmission failure detecting transmission failures F16H2057/018
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/01 Monitoring wear or stress of gearing elements, e.g. for triggering maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0413 Controlled cooling or heating of lubricant; Temperature control therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0449 Sensors or indicators for controlling the fluid level

Abstract

A system for preventing damage to a vehicle, such as a truck, is provided. A sensor may be operable to measure a parameter relating to a component in a vehicle and to provide a parameter signal indicative of the measured parameter. A processor may be in communication with the sensor and operable to receive the parameter signal from the sensor. The processor may be further operable to analyze the parameter signal. The processor may be further operable to initiate a damage prevention process including a reduction of heat generation in the vehicle based on the parameter.

Claims

1. A system for preventing damage to a vehicle comprising:

a first sensor operable to measure a first parameter relating to a transmission component in a vehicle and to provide a first parameter signal indicative of the measured first parameter; and

a processor in communication with the first sensor and operable to receive the first parameter signal from the first sensor,

wherein the processor is further operable to analyze the first parameter signal, and

wherein the processor is further operable to initiate a damage prevention process including a reduction of heat generation in the vehicle based on the first parameter.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a baffle controller in communication with the processor; and

a baffle operatively connected with the baffle controller,

wherein the processor is operable to provide a baffle control signal to the baffle controller, and

wherein the baffle controller is operable to control the baffle to route air flow to a transmission of the vehicle to reduce the heat generation.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a baffle controller in communication with the processor; and

a baffle operatively connected with the baffle controller,

wherein the processor is operable to provide a baffle control signal to the baffle controller, and

wherein the baffle controller is operable to control the baffle to route air flow to a non-transmission assembly of the vehicle to reduce the heat generation.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second sensor in communication with the processor and operable to measure a second parameter relating to a non-transmission assembly component in the vehicle and to provide a second parameter signal indicative of the second parameter,

wherein the processor is further operable to receive the second parameter signal,

wherein the processor is further operable to analyze the second parameter, and

wherein the processor is further operable to initiate a damage prevention process including reducing heat generation in the vehicle based on the second parameter.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the non-transmission assembly component comprises an exhaust pipe, and the second parameter of the non-transmission assembly component comprises-a temperature of the exhaust pipe.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission component comprises oil, and the first parameter of the transmission component comprises at least one of a temperature of the oil and a volume of the oil.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is further operable to correlate at least one of the temperature of the oil and the volume of the oil.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable to determine a time period before damage occurs to the vehicle, and the time period is incorporated with the damage prevention process.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable to initiate a shift to a direct gear as part of the damage prevention process.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable to initiate an increase of a flow rate in a cooler circuit as part of the damage prevention process.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable to initiate a prohibition of exhaust gas regeneration as part of the damage prevention process.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable to initiate a shift to a gear operable to displace less oil as part of the damage prevention process.

13. A system for preventing damage to a vehicle comprising:

a sensor operable to measure an oil parameter and to provide an oil parameter signal indicative of the oil parameter; and

a processor in communication with the sensor that is operable to receive the oil parameter signal,

wherein the processor is further operable to analyze the oil parameter signal, and

wherein the processor is further operable to initiate a damage prevention process in a vehicle based on the oil parameter.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the oil parameter comprises at least one of an oil level of the oil and a volumetric flow rate of the oil.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is further operable to determine a time period before damage occurs to the vehicle based on at least one of the oil level of the oil and the volumetric flow rate of the oil, and the time period is incorporated with the damage prevention process.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further operable to enable a warning indicator configured to warn a driver about the time period.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is further operable to correlate a temperature of the oil and at least one of the oil level of the oil and the volumetric flow rate of the oil.

18. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a flow port controller in communication with the processor;

a variable flow bypass operatively connected with the flow port controller,

wherein the processor is operable to provide a flow port control signal to the flow port controller, and

wherein the flow port controller is operable to select a flow path of oil through the variable flow bypass.

19. The system on claim 18, further comprising:

a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the variable flow bypass; and

an oil sump in fluid communication with the variable flow bypass;

wherein the selected flow path is operable to direct the oil to the oil sump without passing through the heat exchanger.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the variable flow bypass; and

an oil sump in fluid communication with the variable flow bypass;

wherein the selected flow path includes a dual path that is operable to direct a first portion of the oil to the oil sump without passing through the heat exchanger and to direct a second portion of the oil through the heat exchanger.

21. A system for preventing damage to a vehicle comprising:

a sensor operable to measure a vehicle parameter and to provide a vehicle parameter signal indicative of the vehicle parameter;

a processor in communication with the sensor that is operable to receive the vehicle parameter signal; and

a starter interlock signal device in communication with the processor,

wherein the starter interlock signal device is operable to receive a starter interlock control signal from the processor,

wherein the starter interlock signal device is further operable to generate a starter interlock signal,

wherein the processor is further operable to analyze the vehicle parameter signal, and

wherein the processor is further operable to initiate a damage prevention process based on the vehicle parameter.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the vehicle parameter comprises at least one of an oil level of oil and a volumetric flow rate of oil, and wherein the processor is further operable to disable the starter interlock signal when at least one of the oil level of oil and the volumetric flow rate of the oil is below a predetermined threshold as part of the damage prevention process.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the vehicle parameter comprises a temperature of oil, and wherein the processor is further operable to disable the starter interlock signal when the temperature of the oil is above a predetermined threshold as part of the damage prevention process.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the vehicle parameter comprises a temperature of a non-transmission assembly component in the vehicle, and wherein the processor is further operable to disable the starter interlock signal when the temperature of the non-transmission assembly component is above a predetermined threshold as part of the damage prevention process.