Method of braking force distribution control for a vehicle hydraulic device

• US 6,280,003 B1
• Filed: 12/08/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nisshinbo Industries, Inc. (Kawasaki Heavy Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Nisshinbo Industries, Inc. (Kawasaki Heavy Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Taguchi, Makoto, Oshiro, Hiroshi, Nishizawa, Hiromitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberleitner, R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KRAMER, DEVON C
• Application Number:
  US09/457,614
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 303/9.62, 303/146, 303/147, 303/150, 303/140
• US Class Current: 303/9.62
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1764 Regulation during travel on surface with different coefficients of friction, e.g. between left and right sides, mu-split or between front and rear
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1766 Proportioning of brake forces according to vehicle axle loads, e.g. front to rear of vehicle

Abstract

It is an object of this invention to provide a method for when and on which wheel to initiate braking force distribution. In a brake hydraulic device for a motor vehicle, a rear wheel subject to control is an inner or outer wheel is checked; if the outer wheel is to be controlled, deceleration threshold value is increased according to the lateral acceleration, and if the absolute value of the vehicle deceleration exceeds the deceleration threshold value, the braking distribution control is operated on the rear wheel; and if the inner wheel is to be controlled, deceleration threshold value is decreased according to the lateral acceleration, and if the absolute value of vehicle deceleration exceeds the deceleration threshold value, the braking distribution control is operated on the rear wheel.

Claims

1. A method of determining when and on which rear wheel brakes to activate braking force distribution control in a hydraulic brake system of a vehicle, which system comprises:

a hydraulic unit comprising a wheel speed sensor for detecting wheel speed, a main hydraulic circuit connecting a master cylinder to four wheel cylinders via inlet valves, and an auxiliary hydraulic circuit connecting the wheel cylinders to an auxiliary reservoir via outlet valves;

a means for detecting acceleration of a vehicle movement; and

an electronic control device which controls the hydraulic unit;

wherein the method comprises the steps of;

independently determining the speed of rear wheels of the vehicle;

determining whether to apply braking force distribution control to an inner rear wheel or an outer rear wheel;

if the rear wheel subject to control stands an outer rear wheel, applying braking force distribution control to the outer rear wheel when a deceleration threshold value is increased according to acceleration of a vehicle lateral direction and the absolute value of vehicle deceleration exceeds the deceleration threshold value; and

if the rear wheel subject to control is an inner rear wheel, applying braking force distribution control to the inner rear wheel when a deceleration threshold value is increased according to acceleration of a vehicle lateral direction and the absolute value of vehicle deceleration exceeds the deceleration threshold value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the means for detecting acceleration of movement is a G force sensor.

3. A method of determining when and on which rear wheel brakes to activate braking force distribution control in a hydraulic brake system of a vehicle, which system comprises:

a hydraulic unit comprising a wheel speed sensor for detecting wheel speed, a main hydraulic circuit connecting a master cylinder to four wheel cylinders via inlet valves, and an auxiliary hydraulic circuit connecting the wheel cylinders to an auxiliary reservoir via outlet valves;

a means for detecting acceleration of movement, and

an electronic control device which controls the hydraulic unit;

wherein the method comprises the steps of;

determining wheel speed of at least two rear wheels;

determining whether to apply braking force distribution control to an inner rear wheel or outer rear wheel;

if the rear wheel subject to control is an outer rear wheel, applying braking force distribution control to the outer rear wheel when a deceleration threshold value is increased according to acceleration in a lateral direction, and the absolute value of vehicle deceleration exceeds the deceleration threshold value; and

then a slip threshold value is increased according to a difference between inner wheel speed and outer wheel speed, and the rear wheel slip ratio exceeds the slip threshold value; and

if the rear wheel subject to control is an inner rear wheel, applying braking force distribution control to the outer rear wheel when a deceleration threshold value is decreased according to acceleration in a lateral direction, and the absolute value of vehicle deceleration exceeds the deceleration threshold value; and

then a slip threshold value is decreased according to a difference between inner wheel speed and outer wheel speed, and the rear wheel slip ratio exceeds the slip threshold value.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the means for detecting acceleration of movement is a G force sensor.

5. A method of determining when and on which rear wheel brakes to activate braking force distribution control in a hydraulic brake system of a vehicle, which system comprises:

a hydraulic unit comprising a wheel speed sensor for detecting wheel speed, a main hydraulic circuit connecting a master cylinder to four wheel cylinders via inlet valves, and an auxiliary hydraulic circuit connecting the wheel cylinders to an auxiliary reservoir via outlet valves;

a means for detecting acceleration of movement; and

an electronic control device which controls the hydraulic unit;

wherein the method comprises the steps of;

determining whether to apply braking force distribution control to an inner rear wheel or outer rear wheel;

if the rear wheel subject to control is an outer rear wheel, applying braking force distribution control to the outer rear wheel when an absolute value of front wheel axle deceleration minus an absolute value of outer rear wheel deceleration is smaller than a correction value relative to lateral acceleration; and

if the rear wheel subject to control is an inner rear wheel, applying braking force distribution control to the inner rear wheel when an absolute value of front wheel axle deceleration minus an absolute value of outer rear wheel deceleration is smaller than a correction value relative to lateral acceleration.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the means for detecting acceleration of movement is a G force sensor.

7. A method of determining when and on which rear wheel brakes to activate braking force distribution control in a hydraulic brake system of a vehicle, which system comprises:

a hydraulic unit comprising a wheel speed sensor for detecting wheel speed, a main hydraulic circuit connecting a master cylinder to four wheel cylinders via inlet valves, and an auxiliary hydraulic circuit connecting the wheel cylinders to an auxiliary reservoir via outlet valves;

a means for detecting acceleration of movement; and

an electronic control device which controls the hydraulic unit;

wherein the method comprises the steps of;

determining whether to apply braking force distribution control to an inner rear wheel or outer rear wheel;

if the rear wheel subject to control is an outer rear wheel, applying braking force distribution control to the outer rear wheel when an absolute value of front wheel axle deceleration minus an absolute value of rear wheel deceleration is smaller than a correction value relative to a lateral direction; and

then a slip threshold value is increased according to a difference between inner wheel speed and outer wheel speed, and the rear wheel slip ratio exceeds the slip threshold value, and

if the rear wheel subject to control is an inner rear wheel, applying braking force distribution control to the outer rear wheel when an absolute value of front wheel axle deceleration minus an absolute value of rear wheel deceleration is smaller than a correction value relative to lateral acceleration; and

then a slip threshold value is decreased according to a difference between inner wheel speed and outer wheel speed, and the rear wheel slip ratio exceeds the slip threshold value.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the means for detecting acceleration of movement is a G force sensor.