Method for monitoring the performance of a drive line of a vehicle

• US 6,477,451 B1
• Filed: 11/01/1999
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Kyrtsos, Christos T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US09/431,443
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/69, 701/31, 701/32, 701/33, 180/233, 180/248, 734/57, 734/65, 734/66, 735/93, 736/60, 739/62
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/22 characterised by arrangement, location, or type of main drive shafting, e.g. cardan shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/14 Trucks; Load vehicles, Busses
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/221 Tractors
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/01 Monitoring wear or stress of gearing elements, e.g. for triggering maintenance

Abstract

A method for monitoring the performance of a drive line of a vehicle during driving of the vehicle is disclosed. A sensor is mounted in a non-contacting relationship on a component of the vehicle for detecting acoustic energy present in the drive line of the vehicle. The acoustic energy is compared to either a predetermined operating limit or developed performance tolerances both of which represent limitations to ideal performance of the drive line. In a further embodiment, the method includes detecting a measurable quantity at the drive line, generating successive signals representative of this quantity, and developing a tolerance from the successive signals. A comparison of a subsequent signal to a previous signal is conducted to determine if the subsequent signal is outside the tolerance. Finally, a further embodiment detects frequencies of rotation at the ends of the drive line during operation of the drive line. This embodiment compares the frequencies of rotation to establish a differential that is indicative of the performance of the drive line.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the performance of a drive line of a vehicle during driving of the vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

mounting a sensor on a component of the vehicle other than the drive line, for detecting acoustic energy present in the drive line of the vehicle;

utilizing said sensor for sensing acoustic energy of the drive line during driving of the vehicle and generating a signal indicative of said sensed acoustic energy.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of mounting the sensor is further defined by mounting the sensor on a support structure of the drive line.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of comparing the signal from the sensor to a predetermined operating limit of the acoustic energy representing an acceptable limit of performance of the drive line.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 further comprising the step of providing a scale of the performance of the drive line encompassing the predetermined operating limit.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of generating at least one signal from the sensor is further defined by generating successive signals representing the acoustic energy present in the drive line.

15. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of mounting said sensor includes mounting said sensor on a frame of the vehicle.

16. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of mounting said sensor includes mounting said sensor in an air brake chamber of the vehicle.

6. A method for monitoring the performance of a drive line of a vehicle during driving of the vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

mounting a sensor on a component of the vehicle other than the drive line, for detecting acoustic energy present in the drive line of the vehicle;

sensing acoustic energy of the drive line during driving of the vehicle and generating a successive signals indicative of said sensed acoustic energy and representing the acoustic energy present in the drive line; and

developing a performance of tolerance of the acoustic energy from the successive signals.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 further comprising the step of comparing at least one subsequent signal from the sensor to at least one previous signal from the sensor, and determining if the subsequent signal is outside the developed performance tolerance of the acoustic energy.

8. A method for monitoring the performance of a drive line of a vehicle during driving of the vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a quantity at the drive line of the vehicle;

generating successive signals representing the quantity of the drive line of the vehicle;

developing a tolerance from the successive signals; and

comparing at least one subsequent signal to at least one previous signal and determining if the subsequent signal is outside the developed tolerance for monitoring the performance of the drive line during driving of the vehicle.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8 further comprising the step of indicating a level of the performance of the drive line to an operator of the vehicle.

10. A method as set forth in claim 8 further comprising the step of providing an alarm indicator to the operator of the vehicle when one of the successively compared signals is outside the developed tolerance.

11. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the step of detecting the quantity of the drive line is further defined by detecting acoustic energy.

12. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the step of detecting the quantity of the drive line is further defined by detecting vibration.

13. A drive line-and-sensor assembly for monitoring the performance of a drive line during driving of a vehicle, said assembly comprising:

a sensor mounted on a component of the vehicle other than the drive line, for detecting acoustic energy present in the drive line of the vehicle and sensing said acoustic energy, and for generating a signal representative of the acoustic energy present in the drive line of the vehicle; and

a controller for receiving and comparing the signal representative of the acoustic energy.

17. The drive line-and sensor assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein said component of the vehicle other than the drive line is a frame of the vehicle.

18. The drive line-and sensor assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein said component of the vehicle other than the drive line is in an air brake chamber of the vehicle.

14. A drive line-and-sensor assembly for monitoring the performance of a drive line during driving of a vehicle, said assembly comprising:

a sensor for detecting a quantity at the drive line of the vehicle, and for generating successive signals representing the quantity at the drive line of the vehicle; and

a controller for developing a tolerance from the successive signals, and for comparing at least one subsequent signal to at least one previous signal to determine if the subsequent signal is outside the developed tolerance for monitoring the performance of the drive line during driving of the vehicle.