METHOD FOR SECURING A VEHICLE ON A ROLLER DYNAMOMETER

• US 20130345023A1
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Baehrle-Miller, Frank, Blattert, Dieter
• Granted Patent: US 9,725,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/184
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/282 the vehicle wheels cooperating with rotatable rolls
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/0074 Details, e.g. roller construction, vehicle restraining devices

Abstract

A method for securing a vehicle, whose wheels of one axle are on a dynamometer, against being unintentionally pushed out of the dynamometer during an inspection of the parking brake. In order to avoid endangerment of people who are in the surroundings of the vehicle, it is proposed to ascertain with the aid of a sensor system whether the vehicle is located on a dynamometer and, if this has been determined, to automatically generate a braking torque at a wheel brake of at least one wheel, which is located outside the dynamometer, after a control element of the parking brake has been operated.

Claims

1-6. -6. (canceled)

7. A method for securing a vehicle, which has wheels of one axle on a roller dynamometer, against being unintentionally pushed out of the dynamometer during an inspection of the parking brake, the method comprising:

determining, using a sensor system whether the vehicle is located on a roller dynamometer; and

if this has been detected, automatically building up a braking torque at at least one wheel brake of a wheel, which is located outside the roller dynamometer, after a control element of the parking brake has been operated.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the braking torque is built up at at least one wheel brake of a front wheel.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein an actuator of the service brake is activated automatically to increase the braking torque at the at least one wheel brake.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the braking torque is reduced again when a request for releasing the parking brake has been detected.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein it is detected that the vehicle is located on a roller dynamometer when at least one of the following conditions is satisfied:

(i) the wheels of one axle rotate at a certain speed, while the wheels of another axle stand still;

(ii) this state lasts longer than a predefined time period;

(iii) the ignition is on or off; and

(iv) the transmission is in neutral.

12. A control unit, comprising:

a control arrangement for securing a vehicle, which has wheels of one axle on a roller dynamometer, against being unintentionally pushed out of the dynamometer during an inspection of the parking brake, by performing the following;

determining, using a sensor system whether the vehicle is located on a roller dynamometer; and

if this has been detected, automatically building up a braking torque at at least one wheel brake of a wheel, which is located outside the roller dynamometer, after a control element of the parking brake has been operated.