VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

• US 20150239470A1
• Filed: 02/27/2014
• Published: 08/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Rindfleisch, David F., Stander, Francois, Corbett, Douglas T., Shuler, Jeremy B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,573,583 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/196 acting within the driveline, e.g. retarders
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/103 Accelerator thresholds, e.g. kickdown
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0627 Fuel flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/146 Speed limiting
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18109 Braking

Abstract

A method for controlling vehicle speed comprises sensing a position of an operator input, engaging a retarder upon the position falling below a first threshold, modifying a retarding force exerted by the retarder based on the position while the retarder is engaged and the position is below a second threshold, and disengaging the retarder upon the position rising above the second threshold.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the speed of a vehicle comprising:

sensing a position of an operator input;

engaging a retarder upon the position falling below a first threshold;

modifying a retarding force exerted by the retarder based on the position while the retarder is engaged and the position is below a second threshold; and

disengaging the retarder upon the position rising above the second threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the operator input is a movable pedal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying an output torque of an engine based on the position while the retarder is disengaged.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying a vehicle propel command based on the position while the retarder is disengaged, wherein the vehicle propel command comprises a target vehicle acceleration, vehicle speed, engine speed, engine torque, powertrain torque, or rimpull.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising ceasing fueling of an engine while the retarder is engaged.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising disengaging an engine from at least one wheel supporting the vehicle on a ground surface and idling the engine while the retarder is engaged.

7. A vehicle comprising:

an engine;

a retarder;

an operator input; and

a controller configured to command engagement of the retarder upon a position of the operator input falling below a first threshold, command disengagement of the retarder upon the position rising above a second threshold, and command a modification of a retarding force exerted by the retarder based on the position while the retarder is engaged.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the operator input is a movable pedal.

9. The vehicle of claim 7, further comprising a wheel supporting the vehicle on a ground surface, wherein the controller is further configured to command disengagement of the engine from the wheel and command the engine to an idle while the retarder is engaged.

10. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to command that the fueling of the engine cease while the retarder is engaged.

11. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to control a torque of the engine based on the position while the retarder is disengaged.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to command that the fueling of the engine cease while the retarder is engaged.

13. The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising a wheel supporting the vehicle on a ground surface, wherein the controller is further configured to disengage the engine from the wheel while the retarder is engaged.

14. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the retarder is a hydraulic retarder.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the retarder is included in a multi-speed transmission.

16. A method for controlling the speed of a vehicle comprising:

sensing a vehicle propel command;

entering a first mode upon the vehicle propel command falling below a first threshold;

engaging a retarder while in the first mode;

modifying a retarding force exerted by the retarder based on the vehicle propel command while in the first mode;

entering a second mode upon the vehicle propel command rising above a second threshold; and

disengaging the retarder while in the second mode.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising ceasing the fueling of an engine while in the first mode.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising commanding a target based on the vehicle propel command while in the second mode, wherein the target comprises at least one of a target vehicle acceleration, vehicle speed, engine speed, engine torque, powertrain torque, or rimpull.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising adjusting the target based on the time elapsed since the second mode was last entered.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising adjusting the target based on the vehicle propel command beginning upon entering the second mode and ending upon the vehicle propel command rising above a third threshold.