Device and method for determining a highest allowed velocity of a vehicle

• US 7,120,532 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2002
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Articulated Haulers AB (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Engström, Thomas, Persson, Per-Åke, Eliasson, Göran
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US10/065,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20030088354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,436 Days
• Field of Search: 701/93, 701/94, 701/95, 701/96, 701/70, 701/78, 701/81, 701/84, 303/100, 303/93, 303/20, 303 94- 97, 303/102, 303/104, 303/113, 303/103, 303/109, 303/110, 303/92, 303/95, 180170-179
• US Class Current: 701/93
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/087 in hydrodynamic, i.e. non-positive displacement, retarders
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 10/02 with hydrodynamic brake
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/585 comprising friction brakes and retarders
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/245 Longitudinal vehicle inclination

Abstract

Method and device for the determining a maximum allowed velocity (V_max) for a vehicle (1) when going downhill (2). The invention includes a detector (11) for detection of current inclination (alpha) of the vehicle (1) in relation to a horizontal plane (3), and means (10) for the determination of a value relating to the maximum allowed velocity (V_max) of the vehicle in dependence of at least the value of the inclination (alpha). The invention also relates to a procedure for the control of the velocity. The invention provides a procedure for velocity control that takes the inclination into account when going downhill.

Claims

1. An arrangement for determining a maximum allowable velocity (V_max) of a vehicle descending downhill, the arrangement comprising:

a vehicle comprising a wheel brake system and a retarder constituting an additional braking function on the vehicle;

a detector that detects when the vehicle is descending downhill; and

a computing means for determining a current braking cability of the retarder and a maximum allowable descending velocity (V_max) of the vehicle that must be maintained in order to enable the retarder to control the descending vehicle, to the exclusion of the wheel brake system, during the detected downhill descent.

2. The arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein the computing means is connected to an indicator device having a capability to indicate a computed value of the maximum allowable velocity to a driver of the vehicle.

3. The arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein the computing means initiates automatic activation of the retarder when the maximum allowable descending velocity (V_max) is detected.

4. The arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein the computing means further senses and considers a detected load weight of the vehicle in the ascertainment of the maximum allowable descending velocity (V_max) of the vehicle.

5. A method for determining a maximum allowable velocity (V_max) of a vehicle descending downhill, the method comprising:

providing a vehicle comprising a wheel brake system and a retarder constituting an additional braking function on the vehicle;

detecting when the vehicle is descending downhill; and

determining a current braking cability of the retarder and a maximum allowable descending velocity (V_max) of the vehicle that must be maintained in order to enable the retarder to control the descending vehicle, to the exclusion of the wheel brake system, during the detected downhill descent.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the computing means is connected to an indicator device having a capability to indicate a computed value (V_max) indicative of a maximum allowable velocity to the driver of the vehicle.

7. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the computing means automatically activates the retarder when a maximum allowable long-term velocity (V_max) is detected.

8. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the computing means further senses and considers a detected load weight of the vehicle in the ascertainment of the maximum allowable long-term velocity (V_max) of the vehicle.