Braking method for a vehicle

• US 7,416,071 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2004
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Schiele, Peter, Popp, Christian, Steinhauser, Klaus, Allgaier, Bernd, Gierer, Georg, Schwemer, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Lorence; Richard M
• Application Number:
  US10/559,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20060113158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,564 Days
• Field of Search: 192/219.4, 192/220
• US Class Current: 192/220
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/404 Brake-by-wire or X-by-wire failsafe
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/885 using electrical circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18109 Braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1819 Propulsion control with control means using analogue circuits, relays or mechanical links
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/725 Sensing or calculating temperature of friction devices, e.g. clutches to prevent overheating of friction linings
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/122 Avoiding failures by using redundant parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/213 for emergency braking, e.g. for increasing brake power in emergency situations
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/54 dependent on signals from the brakes, e.g. parking brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0059 Braking of gear output shaft using simultaneous engagement of friction devices applied for different gear ratios

Abstract

A braking method for a vehicle is proposed as a safety measure and replacement function if the brake system fails, in particular the X-by-wire brake system of a motor vehicle, in which the vehicle is braked with the help of the transmission by a defined engagement of frictional shift elements until the vehicle comes to rest, such that the combination of frictional shift elements actuated when the vehicle'"'"'s working brake system fails does not correspond to the shift logic of a gear during normal driving operation of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A braking method for a vehicle, for use as a safety measure and replacement function in the event that a working brake system of the vehicle fails,

in which the vehicle is braked by a transmission via engagement of frictional shift elements until the vehicle is substantially at rest, and a combination of frictional shift elements engaged when the working brake system of the vehicle fails does not correspond to a shift logic of a gear during normal driving operation of the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of;

engaging at least one additional frictional shift element of the transmission, starting from a gear engaged at a time when the vehicle'"'"'s working brake system fails in such manner that drive wheels of the vehicle undergo one of a maximum or a specified braking, but such that the vehicle'"'"'s drive wheels are not locked while an actual speed of the vehicle is greater than a defined value,

setting one of a shifting pressure or a torque of an additionally engaged first frictional shift element compared with the normal shift logic, with the set shifting pressure or torque being determined as a function of one or more of a brake pedal actuation force, a distance to another vehicle and an actual speed of the vehicle.

2. The braking method for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising the step of, as soon as the failure of the vehicle'"'"'s working brake system is recognized, automatically braking the vehicle by the transmission.

3. The braking method for a vehicle according to claim 1 further comprising the step of, if the vehicle'"'"'s working brake system fails, automatically braking the vehicle by the transmission upon actuation of a vehicle brake pedal.

4. The braking method for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising the step of engaging, as a function of an actual speed of the vehicle, a respective shift element combination whereby optimum or maximum vehicle braking is achieved with a least possible stress on the transmission or frictional shift elements of the transmission.

5. The braking method for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising the step of, when a limiting thermal load of an additionally engaged first frictional shift element, compared with normal shift logic, is reached, engaging a second additional frictional shift element of the transmission to assist with braking of the vehicle.

6. The braking method for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising the step of shifting to a higher or lower gear with a different combination of frictional shift elements when a limiting thermal load of an additionally engaged first frictional shift element, compared with normal shift logic, is reached.

7. The braking method for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the transmission further includes a separate frictional shift element acting on a drive output of the transmission and the method further comprising the step of additionally braking the vehicle by actuating at least one of another additional frictional shift element in the transmission or the separate frictional shift element acting on a drive output of the transmission.

8. The braking method for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising the step of, once the vehicle is substantially at rest, automatically engaging one or more of a parking lock of the transmission and a parking brake of the vehicle.

9. A braking method for a vehicle having one of a change-under-load transmission, a continuously variable transmission, an automated shift transmission or a dual clutch transmission, in the event that a working brake system of the vehicle fails,

in which the vehicle is braked by a transmission by engagement of frictional shift elements until the vehicle is substantially at rest, and a combination of frictional shift elements engaged when the working brake system of the vehicle fails does not correspond to a shift logic of a gear during normal driving operation of the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of;

starting from a gear engaged at a time when the vehicle'"'"'s working brake system fails, engaging at least one additional frictional shift element of the transmission in such manner that drive wheels of the vehicle undergo one of a maximum or a specified braking, but such that the vehicle'"'"'s drive wheels are not locked while an actual speed of the vehicle is greater than a defined value,

setting one of a shifting pressure or a torque for an additional engaged first frictional shift element, compared with the normal shift logic, with the set shifting pressure or torque being determined as a function of one or more of a brake pedal actuation force, a distance to another vehicle and an actual speed of the vehicle.

10. A braking method for a vehicle, for use as a safety measure and replacement function in an event that a brake system of the vehicle fails, the vehicle is braked by a transmission by engagement of frictional shift elements until the vehicle is substantially at rest, and a combination of frictional shift elements engaged when the working brake system of the vehicle fails does not correspond to a shift logic of a gear during normal driving operation of the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

engaging at least one additional frictional shift element of the transmission, starting from a gear engaged at a time when the vehicle'"'"'s working brake system fails, in such manner that drive wheels of the vehicle undergo one of a maximum or a specified braking, but such that the vehicle'"'"'s drive wheels are not locked while an actual speed of the vehicle is greater than a defined value,

setting one of a shifting pressure or a torque for an additionally engaged first frictional shift element, compared with the normal shift logic, with the set shifting pressure or toque being determined as a function of one or more of a brake pedal actuation force, a distance to another vehicle and an actual speed of the vehicle.