Apparatus, system and method for magnetorheological clutch diagnostics
First Claim
1. A controller for monitoring and diagnosing the coil temperature of a magnetorheological (MR) clutch connected to a power steering pump of a vehicle, the controller comprising:
- a processing circuit; and
a storage medium, readable by the processing circuit, for storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for;
receiving a plurality of input signals representative of dynamic operating conditions relating to the vehicle;
using the input signals to generate an output signal representative of a temperature of the coil of the MR clutch;
determining from the output signal whether the temperature of the coil exceeds a threshold limit; and
in response to the temperature of the coil exceeding a threshold limit, triggering at least one of a remedial action and a data storage algorithm.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for monitoring and diagnosing the coil temperature of a magnetorheological (MR) clutch connected to a power steering pump of a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus includes a processing circuit, and a storage medium, readable by the processing circuit, for storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for receiving a plurality of input signals representative of dynamic operating conditions relating to the vehicle, using the input signals to generate an output signal representative of a temperature of the coil of the MR clutch, determining from the output signal whether the temperature of the coil exceeds a threshold limit, and in response to the temperature of the coil exceeding a threshold limit, triggering at least one of a remedial action and a data storage algorithm.
14 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A controller for monitoring and diagnosing the coil temperature of a magnetorheological (MR) clutch connected to a power steering pump of a vehicle, the controller comprising:
-
a processing circuit; and a storage medium, readable by the processing circuit, for storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for; receiving a plurality of input signals representative of dynamic operating conditions relating to the vehicle; using the input signals to generate an output signal representative of a temperature of the coil of the MR clutch; determining from the output signal whether the temperature of the coil exceeds a threshold limit; and in response to the temperature of the coil exceeding a threshold limit, triggering at least one of a remedial action and a data storage algorithm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A magnetorheological (MR) power steering pump system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
-
a MR clutch having an excitation coil; a power steering pump in operable communication with the MR clutch; and a controller in operable communication with the MR clutch, the controller comprising; a processing circuit; and a storage medium, readable by the processing circuit, for storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for; receiving a plurality of input signals representative of dynamic operating conditions relating to the vehicle; using the input signals to generate an output signal representative of a temperature of the coil of the MR clutch; determining from the output signal whether the temperature of the coil exceeds a threshold limit; and in response to the temperature of the coil exceeding a threshold limit, triggering a remedial action, a data storage algorithm, or both. - View Dependent Claims (8)
-
-
9. A method for monitoring and diagnosing the coil temperature of a magnetorheological (MR) clutch connected to a power steering pump of a vehicle, the method comprising:
-
receiving a plurality of input signals representative of dynamic operating conditions relating to the vehicle; using the input signals to generate an output signal representative of a temperature of the coil of the MR clutch; determining from the output signal whether the temperature of the coil exceeds a threshold limit; and in response to the temperature of the coil exceeding a threshold limit, triggering a remedial action, a data storage algorithm, or both. - View Dependent Claims (10)
-
-
11. A method for calibrating a look-up table used for monitoring and diagnosing the coil temperature of a magnetorheological (MR) clutch connected to a power steering pump of a vehicle, the method comprising:
-
receiving a first signal representative of a supply voltage of the vehicle; receiving a second signal representative of a duty cycle of the MR clutch coil; receiving a third signal representative of a current through the MR clutch coil; receiving a fourth signal representative of a sensed temperature of the MR clutch coil; and populating a multi-dimensional look-up table by relating information associated with the fourth signal to information associated with the first, second and third signals. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
-
Specification