Method for Warning the Driver of a Vehicle of a Risk of Overturning and Control Device Therefor

• US 20140214299A1
• Filed: 06/13/2012
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BV (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Wabco GmbH (Wabco Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Risse, Rainer, Stender, Axel
• Granted Patent: US 9,969,370 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/385 Control arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/683 in pneumatic systems or parts thereof in vacuum systems B60T13/72
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/221 Procedure or apparatus for checking or keeping in a correct functioning condition of brake systems hydraulic pressure systems in general F15B19/00, F15B21/04; testing structures or apparatus G01M
• 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 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/243 for roll-over protection

Abstract

In a method for warning a vehicle driver of a risk of the vehicle overturning about its longitudinal axis, a control device detects the current transverse acceleration of the vehicle and emits a warning signal based thereon when a risk of overturning is presented.

The warning signal is dependent upon at least one transverse acceleration value, which is critical for overturning, detected by the control device while the vehicle is being driven, and a measurement of the transverse acceleration of the vehicle at which the vehicle would actually overturn about its longitudinal axis. The transverse acceleration value that is critical for overturning is determined automatically based on the vehicle behavior exhibited during driving on a curve.

Claims

1. A method for warning the driver of a vehicle of a risk of the vehicle overturning about its longitudinal axis, the method comprising:

using a control device detecting a current lateral acceleration of the vehicle, and based on the current lateral acceleration, outputting a warning signal when a risk of the vehicle overturning is presented, the warning signal being dependent on at least one rollover-critical lateral acceleration value automatically determined by the control device based on behavior of the vehicle when the vehicle is traversing a turn, the at least one rollover-critical lateral acceleration value being a measure of the lateral acceleration of the vehicle at which the vehicle would actually overturn about its longitudinal axis.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising adaptively adjusting the at least one rollover-critical lateral acceleration value using the control device starting from an initial value during at least one traversal of a turn by the vehicle by analyzing at least one other input variable detected by the control device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising increasing the rollover-critical lateral acceleration value during the at least one traversal of a turn by the vehicle.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, during traversal of a turn by the vehicle, using the control device to effect a test braking on at least one wheel of the vehicle on the inside of the turn by subjecting the at least one wheel on the inside of the turn to a low brake force relative to a maximum possible brake force, and adaptively adjusting the rollover-critical lateral acceleration value based on wheel revolution rate behavior of at least one of the at least one wheel subjected to test braking.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising increasing the rollover-critical lateral acceleration value by a step value when test braking does not cause a characteristic reduction in speed of rotation of the at least one wheel subjected to test braking.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the warning signal is at least one of a visual and audible signal.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising displaying the current lateral acceleration of the vehicle in relation to the rollover-critical lateral acceleration value.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the current lateral acceleration of the vehicle is displayed in relation to the rollover-critical lateral acceleration value in the form of an artificial horizon.

9. A control device configured to effect the method as claimed in claim 1.