Method and an apparatus for braking a vehicle

• US 6,719,379 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Crombrez, Dale Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burch, Melody M.
• Application Number:
  US10/064,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20030234577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 303/3, 303/15, 303/20, 303/113.1, 303/152, 303/155, 303/DIG.1, 303/DIG.2, 180/65.1, 180/165, 701/71, 701/70
• US Class Current: 303/152
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/425 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/26 by pedal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/12 for vehicles propelled by dc motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/26 Controlling the braking effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/10 by utilising wheel movement for accumulating energy, e.g. driving air compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/586 the retarders being of the electric type
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/604 Merging friction therewith; Adjusting their repartition
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/608 Electronic brake distribution (EBV/EBD) features related thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/17616 Microprocessor-based systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1766 Proportioning of brake forces according to vehicle axle loads, e.g. front to rear of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/403 between front and rear axle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 : Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/947 : Characterized by control of braking, e.g. blending of regeneration, friction braking

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for allowing a vehicle to be braked in both a regenerative and a distributive type or frictional manner, thereby reducing the amount of energy which is dissipated as the vehicle is braked.

Claims

1. A method for operating a vehicle of the type having a first pair of wheels which are operatively disposed upon a first axle, a second pair of wheels which are disposed upon a second axle, a motor which is coupled to said first axle and to a battery, said motor and battery cooperatively and selectively providing a certain amount of regenerative braking, said method comprising the steps of:

creating a plurality of relationships, each of said plurality of relationships having a respective first value which is representative of a unique amount of braking of said first axle and a respective second value which is representative of a unique amount of braking of said second axle;

generating a brake request signal which represents a certain amount of desired vehicular braking;

using said brake request signal to select one of said plurality of relationships;

comparing said first value of said selected one of said plurality of relationships with said certain amount of regenerative braking;

causing a first amount of braking, comprising a value equal to the difference between said first value and said certain amount of regenerative braking, to be applied to said first axle and a second amount of braking, comprising said second value, to be applied to said second axle when said first value is larger than said certain amount of regenerative braking and causing a third amount of braking, comprising a null amount, to be applied to said first axle and a fourth amount of braking, comprising the difference between said certain amount of desired vehicular braking and said certain amount of regenerative braking, to be applied to said second axle when said first value is smaller than said certain amount of regenerative braking.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first, second, and fourth amounts of braking are achieved by the use of frictional distributive braking.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of comparing said certain amount of desired vehicular braking and said certain amount of regenerative braking;

and causing all of said certain amount of desired vehicular braking to be achieved only by regenerative braking if said certain amount of regenerative braking is greater than said certain amount of desired vehicular braking.