Method and system for extending the mobility of a vehicle

• US 7,546,763 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Original Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Inventors: Begou, Pierre-Alain, Schoenhenz, Jean-Claude, Roos, Gijsbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen; Andre J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENKINS, JERMAINE L
• Application Number:
  US11/138,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20050248107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 73146-1468, 340442-447
• US Class Current: 73/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0185 for failure detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/113 Tyre related sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/8102 diagonally arranged
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/52 in tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/32 of only one vehicle part or side
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/044 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/08 Failure or malfunction detecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/182 Traction
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/214 by varying the load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/80 Detection or control after a system or component failure

Abstract

The mobility of a vehicle having first and second pairs of diagonally opposite wheels is extended when the pressure on a given wheel is abnormally low. A load on the first pair of wheels defines a first load diagonal, and a load on the second pair of wheels defines a second load diagonal. A disequilibrium between the first and second load diagonals is induced by actuation of a level corrector comprised of at least two actuators each acting on a respective side of the vehicle, for reducing a load borne by said given wheel and thereby extending the mobility thereof.

Claims

1. Method for extending the mobility of a four-wheel vehicle comprising acting on a load distribution among the four wheels by actuation of a level corrector comprised of at least two actuators each acting on a respective side of the vehicle for reducing a load borne by a given wheel of the vehicle when the pressure in the tire of the given wheel is abnormally low.

2. System for implementing the method according to claim 1, comprising means for detecting an abnormally low pressure in a tire and means for actuating the level corrector.

3. System according to claim 2, also comprising means for alerting a driver of the vehicle.

4. Method according to claim 1 wherein the load reduction on the given wheel comprises a reduction of a mean static load on the given wheel by at least 10%.

5. Method according to claim 1 wherein the load reduction on the given wheel comprises a reduction of a mean static load on the given wheel by at least 30%.

6. Method according to claim 1 wherein the actuators comprise pneumatic actuators.

7. Method for extending the mobility of a vehicle having first and second pairs of diagonally opposite wheels;

a load on the first pair of wheels defining a first load diagonal, and a load on the second pair of wheels defining a second load diagonal, wherein a tire on a given wheel has an abnormally low pressure, the method comprising inducing a disequilibrium between the first and second load diagonals by actuation of a level corrector comprised of at least two actuators each acting on a respective side of the vehicle, for reducing a load borne by said given wheel.

8. Method according to claim 7 wherein the load reduction on the given wheel comprises a reduction of a mean static load on the given wheel by at least 10%.

9. Method according to claim 7 wherein the load reduction the given wheel comprises a reduction of a mean static load on the given wheel by at least 30%.

10. Method according to claim 7 wherein the actuators comprise pneumatic actuators.

11. A system for implementing the method according to claim 7 including means for detecting the abnormally low pressure in the tire of a given wheel, and means for initiating the actuation of the level corrector.

12. System according to claim 7 further including means for alerting a driver of the vehicle.