Hill Start in a Vehicle
First Claim
1. A method of providing a hill brake in a vehicle comprising:
- applying a braking force required to prevent the vehicle from rolling in a downhill direction after an operator-controlled brake is released;
calculating a rimpull at a drive wheel of the vehicle; and
reducing the braking force as the rimpull increases.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hill brake system in a vehicle uses a controller to determine when a number of conditions, such as being stopped on an incline, are met and then automatically applies a braking force at least equal to a calculated grade load, that is, gravitational force. Using drive train measurements and known drivetrain characteristics, a rimpull force is calculated after release of an operator-controlled brake and the automatically applied braking force is reduced corresponding to the rimpull force generated by the drivetrain. The automatically applied braking force is released when any of several conditions are met including uphill motion of the vehicle or expiration of a timeout timer.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of providing a hill brake in a vehicle comprising:
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applying a braking force required to prevent the vehicle from rolling in a downhill direction after an operator-controlled brake is released; calculating a rimpull at a drive wheel of the vehicle; and reducing the braking force as the rimpull increases. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A controller that provides a hill brake in a vehicle on an incline during acceleration from a stop, the controller comprising:
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a rimpull subsystem that determines force at a drive wheel of the vehicle; a grade load subsystem that determines a downhill force on the vehicle; and a braking subsystem that supplies a braking force sufficient to prevent downhill motion of the vehicle, wherein the braking force decreases corresponding to an increase in force at the drive wheel. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of providing a hill brake in a vehicle comprising:
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determining that the vehicle is on an incline; determining that the vehicle is stopped; determining that the vehicle is configured for uphill propulsion; calculating a grade load on the vehicle; calculating a braking force approximately equal to the grade load; applying the braking force via a braking system in the vehicle; sensing release of a brake pedal; after sensing release of the brake pedal and until a trigger event is reached; calculating a rimpull at a drive wheel of the vehicle; and reducing the braking force corresponding to an increase in rimpull; and upon reaching the trigger event, releasing the braking force. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification