AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE

• US 20110015844A1
• Filed: 07/14/2009
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Perkins, William Paul, Brewer, Michael Edward
• Granted Patent: US 8,670,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/69
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/03 Overturn, rollover
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/17554 specially adapted for enhancing stability around the vehicles longitudinal axle, i.e. roll-over prevention road vehicle drive control systems for roll-over prevention otherwise than by controlling a particular sub-unit B60W30/04

Abstract

An automotive vehicle may include one or more controllers, a braking system and an electric machine. The one or more controllers may be configured to determine whether the vehicle is about to roll over. The braking system may be configured to apply a braking torque for a time period, under the command of the one or more controllers, to a front traction wheel to cause the front traction wheel to skid or slide relative to a road if the vehicle is about to roll over. The electric machine may be configured to generate a propulsion torque, under the command of the one or more controllers, during the time period.

Claims

1. An automotive vehicle having a front and rear traction wheel, the vehicle comprising:

one or more controllers configured to determine whether the vehicle is about to roll over;

a braking system configured to apply a braking torque for a time period, under the command of the one or more controllers, to the front traction wheel to cause the front traction wheel to skid or slide relative to a road if the vehicle is about to roll over;

an electric machine configured to generate a propulsion torque, under the command of the one or more controllers, during the time period; and

a mechanical linkage from the electric machine to the rear traction wheel, the linkage configured to transmit and apply the propulsion torque from the electric machine to the rear traction wheel before the end of the time period.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the electric machine is further configured to stop generating the propulsion torque, under the command of the one or more controllers, before the end of the time period.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein the linkage is further configured to stop applying the propulsion torque (i) after the electric machine stops generating the propulsion torque and (ii) before the end of the time period.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising an internal combustion engine and driveline configured to produce and deliver torque to at least one of the front and rear traction wheels, wherein the time period is less than a response time of the engine and driveline for a given amount of torque.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the time period is less than 1000 milliseconds.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the time period is less than 100 milliseconds.

7. An automotive vehicle having a front and rear traction wheel, the vehicle comprising:

one or more controllers configured to determine whether the vehicle is about to roll over;

a braking system configured to apply a braking torque, under the command of the one or more controllers, to the front traction wheel to cause the front traction wheel to skid or slide relative to a road if the vehicle is about to roll over; and

an electric machine (i) mechanically connected with the rear traction wheel such that a speed ratio of the electric machine to the rear traction wheel is generally fixed and (ii) configured to apply a propulsion torque, under the command of the one or more controllers, to the rear traction wheel to at least one of modify and maintain at least one of a pitch, yaw and roll of the vehicle if the vehicle is about to roll over.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the braking system is further configured to apply the braking torque for a time period and wherein the electric machine is further configured to apply and subsequently remove the propulsion torque during the time period.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the time period is less than 1000 milliseconds.

10. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the time period is less than 100 milliseconds.

11. The vehicle of claim 8 further comprising an internal combustion engine and driveline configured to produce and deliver torque to at least one of the front and rear traction wheels, wherein the time period is less than a response time of the engine and driveline for a given amount of torque.

12. An automotive vehicle having a front and rear traction wheel, the vehicle comprising:

an internal combustion engine and driveline configured to produce and deliver torque to at least one of the front and rear traction wheels;

one or more controllers configured to determine whether the vehicle is about to roll over;

a braking system configured to apply a braking torque for a time period, under the command of the one or more controllers, to the front traction wheel to cause the front traction wheel to skid or slide relative to a road if the vehicle is about to roll over, wherein the time period is less than a response time of the engine and driveline for a given amount of torque;

an electric machine configured to generate a propulsion torque, under the command of the one or more controllers, during the time period; and

a mechanical linkage from the electric machine to the rear traction wheel, the linkage configured to transmit and apply the propulsion torque from the electric machine to the rear traction wheel before the end of the time period.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the electric machine is further configured to generate another propulsion torque prior to the time period, under the command of the one or more controllers, to overcome at least one of lash and compliance in the mechanical linkage.

14. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the time period is less than 1000 milliseconds.

15. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the time period is less than 100 milliseconds.