Method of anti-lock brake control for motorcycle vehicle

• US 4,989,922 A
• Filed: 11/20/1989
• Issued: 02/05/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Fischer, Martin, Glasmacher, Klaus, Barr, Stephen P. J., Beuerle, Christoph, Pickenhahn, Josef, Weidele, Alois
• Primary Examiner(s): Butler, Douglas C.
• Application Number:
  US07/439,734
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 303/91-119, 303/DIG. 3, 303/DIG. 4, 303/24.1, 303/22.5, 303/9.62, 188/181 T, 188/181 A, 188/181 C, 188/344, 188/181 R, 188/195, 188/24.11, 180/219
• US Class Current: 303/137
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2210/13 Aquaplaning, hydroplaning
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1706 for single-track vehicles, e.g. motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/3225 Systems specially adapted for single-track vehicles, e.g. motorcycles B60T8/3235 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 303/04 Pressure signal used in electrical speed controlled braking circuit

Abstract

In an anti-lock brake system (ABS) for a motorcycle the driving stabilty is improved by measuring the position of lateral inclination of the motorcycle and adjusting at least one threshold value for the anti-skid control in response to the measurement. In another embodiment the transverse acceleration of the motor cycle is measured and an ABS threshold value adjusted accordingly.

Claims

1. A method of anti-lock brake control in a motorcycle vehicle or the like, said method comprising the steps of

measuring the rotational speed of the wheels of the motorcycle vehicle and determining at least one of the parameters slip and retardation of a braked wheel,

comparing the at least one measured parameter with a given threshold value,

changing a pressure of the brake at the braked wheel in response to said comparison during anti-lock brake control,

determining the position of lateral inclination of the motorcycle vehicle and

changing said threshold value in response to said determined lateral inclination of said motorcycle vehicle.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the position of lateral inclination is measured by at least one distance meter mounted on the motorcycle vehicle.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the position of lateral inclination is determined by measuring and comparing the wheel loads at least one wheel bearing of the motorcycle vehicle to the left and right of the center line of the motorcycle vehicle.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the wheel loads are determined in said motorcycle vehicle which is equipped with pressurized air supported springs in response to pressure measured by pressure sensors.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein load sensors arranged in the wheel bearings serve to measure the wheel loads.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the threshold value is adjusted more sensitively as the lateral inclination of the motorcycle vehicle becomes greater.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lateral inclination of the motorcycle vehicle is determined by measuring the transverse acceleration of the motorcycle vehicle.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the course in time of the position of the handle bar of the motorcycle vehicle is measured and the presence of an inclined position of the motorcycle vehicle is determined in response to the same.