Arrangement and methods for avoiding rollovers when braking or accelerating motor vehicles

• US 6,428,118 B1
• Filed: 09/29/1999
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Blosch, Georg
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bottorff, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US09/408,025
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 188/181.A, 188/181.C, 303/142, 303/140, 303/186, 303/192, 303/113.2, 303/182, 303/9.69, 303/9.64, 303/137, 303/191, 303/194, 303/193, 303/198, 303/124.1
• US Class Current: 303/9.64
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/61 Load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/21 Traction, slip, skid or slide control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/22 Braking, stopping
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/92 ABS - Brake Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/93 Skid or slide control [ASR]
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/17554 specially adapted for enhancing stability around the vehicles longitudinal axle, i.e. roll-over prevention road vehicle drive control systems for roll-over prevention otherwise than by controlling a particular sub-unit B60W30/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/3225 Systems specially adapted for single-track vehicles, e.g. motorcycles B60T8/3235 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/58 responsive to speed and another condition or to plural speed conditions

Abstract

An arrangement for avoiding rollovers when accelerating motor vehicles, single-track or double-track vehicles such as motorcycles or passenger cars in particular, with an arrangement for comparing a difference in rotational speed between the speed of at least one front wheel or the front axle and the speed of at least one rear wheel or the rear axle of the motor vehicle with an adjustable rotational speed difference threshold value. Also included is an arrangement for detecting a wheel acceleration for at least one front wheel and for at least one rear wheel and an arrangement for activating the vehicle'"'"'s propulsion system when the rotational speed difference threshold value is reached or exceeded if the wheel acceleration is simultaneously negative for at least one front wheel and positive for at least one rear wheel.

Claims

1. An arrangement for avoiding a rollover when accelerating a motor vehicle corresponding to one of a single-track vehicle such as a motorcycle or a double track vehicle such as a passenger car, comprising:

an arrangement for comparing a difference in rotational speed between a speed of one of at least one front wheel on a front axle or a speed of one of at least one rear wheel on a rear axle of the motor vehicle with an adjustable rotational speed difference threshold value;

an arrangement for detecting a wheel acceleration for the at least one front wheel and for the at least one rear wheel; and

an arrangement for activating a propulsion control system of the motor vehicle when the rotational speed difference threshold value is at least reached if the wheel acceleration is simultaneously negative for the at least one front wheel and positive for the at least one rear wheel.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising:

an arrangement including one of a plurality of sensors or a plurality of switches and being attached to the front axle of the motor vehicle to determine one of a position or a limit position of the front axle of the motor vehicle; and

an arrangement for activating the propulsion control system of the motor vehicle if one of the position or the limit position of the front axle of the motor vehicle corresponding to an impending rollover is detected.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one angular rate sensor for detecting a rotation of the motor vehicle about the rear axle; and

an arrangement for activating the propulsion control system of the motor vehicle if a predetermined angular rate is at least reached.

4. An arrangement for avoiding a rollover when braking a motor vehicle corresponding to one of a single-track vehicle such as a motorcycle or a double-track vehicle such as a passenger car, comprising:

an arrangement including one of a plurality of sensors or a plurality of switches, the arrangement being capable of being attached to one of a rear axle or a rear axle area of the motor vehicle in order to determine one of a position or a limit position of at least one unsprung axle component; and

an arrangement for activating a braking control system if one of the position or the limit position of the at least one unsprung axle component corresponding to an impending rollover of the motor vehicle is detected.

5. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the braking control system corresponds to an ABS system.

6. The arrangement according to claim 4, further comprising:

at least one speed sensor mechanically linked to one of at least one rear wheel attached to the rear axle or the rear axle; and

an arrangement for activating the braking control system if a loss of a frictional connection of the at least one rear wheel with a road surface occurs.

7. The arrangement according to claim 4, further comprising:

an angular rate sensor for detecting a rotational movement of the motor vehicle about a front axle thereof; and

an arrangement for activating the braking control system if one of a predetermined angular rate or a tip rate is at least reached.

8. A method for avoiding a rollover when accelerating a motor vehicle corresponding to one of a single-track vehicle such as a motorcycle or a double-track vehicle such as a passenger car, comprising the steps of:

comparing a rotational speed difference between a speed of one of at least one front wheel on a front axle of the motor vehicle or a speed of one of at least one rear wheel on a rear axle of the motor vehicle with an adjustable rotational speed difference threshold value;

determining a wheel acceleration for the at least one front wheel or for the at least one rear wheel; and

activating a propulsion control system of the motor vehicle if the rotational speed difference threshold value is at least reached and if the wheel acceleration is simultaneously negative for the at least one front wheel and positive for the at least one rear wheel.

9. A method for avoiding a rollover when accelerating a motor vehicle corresponding to one of a single-track vehicle such as a motor cycle or a double-track vehicle such as a passenger car, comprising the steps of:

detecting one of a position or a limit position of a front axle of the motor vehicle via one of a plurality of sensors or a plurality of switches attached to the front axle of the motor vehicle; and

activating a propulsion control system of the motor vehicle when one of the position or the limit position of the front axle of the motor vehicle corresponding to an impending rollover is detected.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein:

the plurality of sensors include level sensors, and

the plurality of switches include limit switches.

11. A method for avoiding a rollover when accelerating a motor vehicle corresponding to one of a single-track vehicle such as a motorcycle and a double-track vehicle such as a passenger car, comprising the steps of:

detecting an angular rate of the motor vehicle about a rear axle thereof via an angular rate sensor;

determining an angle of rotation by integrating the angular rate over time;

comparing the angle of rotation with an associated threshold value; and

activating a propulsion control system of the motor vehicle if a predetermined angular rate is at least reached and if the angle of rotation is greater than the associated threshold value.

12. A method for avoiding a rollover when braking a motor vehicle corresponding to one of a single-track vehicle such as a motorcycle or a double-track vehicle such as a passenger car, comprising the steps of:

detecting one of a position and a limit position of at least one unsprung axle component via a plurality of sensors capable of being attached to one of a rear axle or a rear axle area of the motor vehicle; and

activating a braking control system if one of the position or the limit position of the at least one unsprung axle component corresponding to an impending rollover of the motor vehicle is detected.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the braking control system includes an ABS system.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of:

detecting a speed of at least one rear wheel attached to the rear axle via a rotational speed sensor mechanically linked to one of the at least one rear wheel or the rear axle of the motor vehicle, wherein the braking control system is activated if a loss of a frictional connection of the at least one rear wheel with a road surface is detected.

15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of:

determining a rotational movement of the motor vehicle about a front axle thereof via an angular rate sensor, wherein the braking control system of the motor vehicle is activated if one of a predetermined angular rate or a tip rate is at least reached.