Arrangement for and method of automatically controlling a differential lock in drive axles of a motor vehicle
First Claim
1. An arrangement for automatically controlling a differential lock in drive axles of a motor vehicle, comprising a lock coupling;
- actuator means for actuating said lock coupling;
a plurality of rotary speed sensors each associated with a respective one of the wheels of the vehicle for forming the rotary speed signal;
a control unit for receiving said rotary speed signals and forming a control signal for controlling said actuator means, said control unit including computing means for computing a nominal rotary speed value associated with each of the wheels so that a computed nominal rotary speed value is determined continuously in dependence on a corresponding traveling condition, a first comparing unit for forming a difference rotary speed value from a comparison of a measured rotary speed value with the computed nominal rotary speed value for each of the wheels, and a second unit for forming the control signal so that when the difference rotary speed value associated with at least one of the wheels exceeds a predetermined threshold value said lock coupling is engaged and when the difference rotary speed value is under a predetermined threshold value said lock coupling is disengaged.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
For automatically controlling a differential lock in drive axles of a motor vehicle, an arrangement has a lock coupling, an actuator for actuating the lock coupling, a plurality of rotary speed sensors associated with wheels of the vehicle for forming the rotary speed signal, a control unit for receiving the rotary speed signals and forming a control signal for controlling the actuator means, the control unit including computing means for computing a nominal rotary speed value associated with each of the wheels so that a computed nominal rotary speed value is determined continuously in dependence from a corresponding traveling condition, a first comparing unit for forming a difference rotary speed value from a comparison of a measured rotary speed value with the computed nominal rotary speed value, and a second comparing unit for forming the control signal so that when the difference rotary speed value exceeds a predetermined threshold value the lock coupling is engaged and when the difference rotary speed value is under a predetermined threshold value the lock coupling is disengaged.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An arrangement for automatically controlling a differential lock in drive axles of a motor vehicle, comprising a lock coupling;
- actuator means for actuating said lock coupling;
a plurality of rotary speed sensors each associated with a respective one of the wheels of the vehicle for forming the rotary speed signal;
a control unit for receiving said rotary speed signals and forming a control signal for controlling said actuator means, said control unit including computing means for computing a nominal rotary speed value associated with each of the wheels so that a computed nominal rotary speed value is determined continuously in dependence on a corresponding traveling condition, a first comparing unit for forming a difference rotary speed value from a comparison of a measured rotary speed value with the computed nominal rotary speed value for each of the wheels, and a second unit for forming the control signal so that when the difference rotary speed value associated with at least one of the wheels exceeds a predetermined threshold value said lock coupling is engaged and when the difference rotary speed value is under a predetermined threshold value said lock coupling is disengaged. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- actuator means for actuating said lock coupling;
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10. A method for automatically controlling a differential lock in drive axles of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of measuring at least a rotary speed of drive wheels for forming a corresponding rotary speed value;
- determining a control signal from the rotary speed value;
controlling actuator means by the control signal for acting on a lock coupling;
continuously comparing a measured rotary speed value with a computed nominal rotary speed value;
determining a difference rotary speed value; and
engaging or disengaging the lock coupling in dependence whether the difference rotary speed value is higher or lower than a threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
- determining a control signal from the rotary speed value;
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15. An arrangement for automatically controlling a differential lock in drive axles of a motor vehicle, comprising a lock coupling;
- actuator means for actuating said lock coupling;
a plurality of rotary speed sensors each associated with a respective one of the wheels of the vehicle for forming the rotary speed signal;
a control unit for receiving said rotary speed signals and forming a control signal for controlling said actuator means, said control unit including computing means for computing a nominal rotary speed value associated with each of the wheels so that a computed nominal rotary speed value is determined continuously in dependence on a corresponding traveling condition, a first comparing unit for forming a difference rotary speed value from a comparison of a measured rotary speed value with the computed nominal rotary speed value for each of the wheels, and a second unit for forming the control signal so that when the difference rotary speed value associated with at least one of the wheels exceeds a predetermined threshold value said locking coupling is engaged and when the difference rotary speed value is under a predetermined threshold value said lock coupling is disengaged, said second comparing unit having a hysteresis circuit so that a sufficient distance between an engaging and a disengaging threshold value is provided.
- actuator means for actuating said lock coupling;
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16. An arrangement for automatically controlling a differential lock in drive axles of a motor vehicle, comprising a lock coupling;
- actuator means for actuating said lock coupling;
a plurality of rotary speed sensors each associated with a respective one of the wheels of the vehicle for forming the rotary speed signal;
a control unit for receiving said rotary speed signals and forming a control signal for controlling said actuator means, said control unit including computing means for computing a nominal rotary speed value associated with each of the wheels so that a computed nominal rotary speed value is determined continuously in dependence on a corresponding traveling condition, a first comparing unit for forming a difference rotary speed value from a comparison of a measured rotary speed value with the computed nominal rotary speed value for each of the wheels, and a second unit for forming the control signal so that when the difference rotary speed value associated with at least one of the wheels exceeds a predetermined threshold value said locking coupling is engaged and when the difference rotary speed value is under a predetermined threshold value said lock coupling is disengaged, said first comparing unit having an operational amplifier for forming the difference rotary speed value. - View Dependent Claims (17)
- actuator means for actuating said lock coupling;
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18. An arrangement for automatically controlling a differential lock in drive axles of a motor vehicle with all wheel steering, comprising a lock coupling;
- actuator means for actuating said lock coupling;
a plurality of rotary speed sensors each associated with a respective one of the wheels of the vehicle for forming the rotary speed signal;
a control unit for receiving said rotary speed signals and forming a control signal for controlling said actuator means, said control unit including computing means for computing a nominal rotary speed value associated with each of the wheels so that a computed nominal rotary speed value for each of the wheels is determined continuously in dependence on a corresponding traveling condition, a first comparing unit for forming a difference rotary speed value from a comparison of a measured rotary speed value with the computed nominal rotary speed value and a second unit for forming the control signal so that when the difference rotary speed value associated with at least one of the wheels exceeds a predetermined threshold value said locking coupling is engaged and when the difference rotary speed value is under a predetermined threshold value said lock coupling is disengaged; and
means for forming a reference steering angle from a difference of a steering angle of a front axle and a steering angle of a rear axle, and comparing the reference steering angle with a steering angle nominal value.
- actuator means for actuating said lock coupling;
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19. An arrangement for automatically controlling a differential lock in drive axles of a motor vehicle having a plurality of steerable axles, comprising a lock coupling which is formed as a plate coupling and is turnable on and off during driving;
- actuator means for actuating said lock coupling;
a plurality of rotary speed sensors each associated with a respective one of the wheels of the vehicle for forming the rotary speed signal;
a control unit for receiving said rotary speed signals and forming a control signal for controlling said actuator means, said control unit including computing means for computing a nominal rotary speed value associated with each of the wheels so that a computed nominal rotary speed value is determined continuously in dependence on corresponding traveling condition, a first comparing unit for forming a difference rotary speed value from a comparison of a measured rotary speed vlaue with the computed nominal rotary speed value for each of the wheels, and a second unit for forming the control signal so that when the difference rotary speed value associated with at least one of the wheels exceeds a predetermined thereshold value said lock coupling is engaged and when the difference rotary speed value is under a predetermined threshold value said lock coupling is disengaged.
- actuator means for actuating said lock coupling;
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20. An arrangement for automatically controlling a differential lock in drive axles of a motor vehicle having a plurality of steerable axles, comprising a lock coupling which is formed as a plate coupling and is turnable on and off during driving;
- actuator means for actuating said lock coupling;
a plurality of rotary speed sensors each associated with a respective one of the wheels of the vehicle for forming the rotary speed signal;
a control unit for receiving said rotary speed signals and forming a control signal for controlling said actuator means, said control unit including computing means for computing a nominal rotary speed value associated with each of the wheels so that a computed nominal rotary speed value is determined continuously in dependence on a corresponding traveling condition, a first comparing unit for forming a difference rotary speed value from a comparison of a measured rotary speed value with the computed nominal rotary speed value for each of the wheels, and a second unit for forming the control signal so that when the difference rotary speed value associated with at least one of the wheels exceeds a predetermined threshold value said locking coupling is engaged and when the difference rotary speed value is under a predetermined threshold value said lock coupling is disengaged, said first comparing unit having an operational amplifier for forming the difference rotary speed.
- actuator means for actuating said lock coupling;
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21. An arrangement for automatically controlling a differential lock in drive axles of a motor vehicle having a plurality of steerable axles, comprising a lock coupling which is formed as a plate coupling and is turnable on and off during driving;
- actuator means for actuating said lock coupling;
a plurality of rotary speed sensors each associated with a respective one of the wheels of the vehicle for forming the rotary speed signal;
a control unit for receiving said rotary speed signals and forming a control signal for controlling said actuator means, said control unit including computing means for computing a nominal rotary speed value associated with each of the wheels so that a computed nominal rotary speed value is determined continuously in dependence on a corresponding traveling condition, a first comparing unit for forming a difference rotary speed value from a comparison of a measured rotary speed value with the computed nominal rotary speed value for each of the wheels, and a second unit for forming the control signal so that when the difference rotary speed value associated with at least one of the wheels exceeds a predetermined threshold value said locking coupling is engaged and when the difference rotary speed value is under a predetermined threshold value said lock coupling is disengaged, said second comparing unit having a hysteresis circuit so that a sufficient distance between an engaging and a disengaging threshold value is provided.
- actuator means for actuating said lock coupling;
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22. An arrangement for automatically controlling a differential lock in drive axles of a motor vehicle having a plurality of steerable axles with all wheel steering, comprising a lock coupling which is formed as a plate coupling and is turnable on and off during driving;
- actuator means for actuating said lock coupling;
a plurality of rotary speed sensors each associated with a respective one of the wheels of the vehicle for forming the rotary speed signal;
a control unit for receiving said rotary speed signals and forming a control signal for controlling said actuator means, said control unit including computing means for computing a nominal rotary speed value associated with each of the wheels so that a computed nominal rotary speed value for each of the wheels is determined continuously in dependence on a corresponding traveling condition, a first comparing unit for forming a difference rotary speed value from a comparison of a measured rotary speed value with a computed nominal rotary speed value and a second unit for forming the control signal so that when the difference rotary speed value associated with at least one of the wheels exceeds a predetermined threshold value said locking coupling is engaged and when the difference rotary speed value is under a predetermined threshold value said lock coupling is disengaged; and
means for forming a reference steering angle from a difference of a steering angle of a front axle and a steering angle of a rear axle, and comparing the reference steering angle with a steering angle nominal value.
- actuator means for actuating said lock coupling;
Specification