Systems and methods for compensation for a dynamic axle load transfer

• US 7,725,251 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2005
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Steimel, Christoph
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu; Yonel
• Application Number:
  US11/568,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20070225896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,845 Days
• Field of Search: 701/124
• US Class Current: 701/124
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/06 Tractor-trailer swaying
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/303 Stability control with active acceleration
• 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 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/22 including control of suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/045 Improving turning performance

Abstract

The present invention proposes an improved method for at least partially compensating for the dynamic transfer of an axle load when part of a motor vehicle load dips over at least one front wheel. A demand for a drive moment is applied and thus a time-limited virtually maximum drive moment is produced for the purposes of compensating for the transfer of the axle load. Moreover, for the first time, the present invention proposes a microprocessor and also a control device for carrying out this method in accordance with the invention. Furthermore, a motor vehicle drive is indicated which is equipped with such a control device or such a microprocessor. Finally, software is designated for carrying out the method. A motor vehicle is presented which is equipped with such a control device or such a microprocessor for the execution of the software for carrying out the method in accordance with the invention.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a motor vehicle, comprising:

detecting a dynamic transfer of an axle load in the motor vehicle; and

compensating for the dynamic transfer of the axle load, the compensating comprising adjusting a drive moment of the motor vehicle without substantially altering the speed of the motor vehicle.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the adjusting of the drive moment comprises increasing the drive moment, and the increasing of the drive moment comprises applying an accelerator stroke.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the dynamic transfer of the axle load is a forwardly directed dynamic transfer of the axle load during a full braking action, and the adjusting of the drive moment comprises applying an accelerator stroke during the full braking action.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the dynamic transfer of the axle load is at least one of diagonally forwardly directed and laterally directed while driving in a curve, and the adjusting of the drive moment comprises applying an accelerator stroke, is applied while driving in the curve.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

acquiring situation-dependent chassis, braking, steering data or a combination thereof related to the prevailing stability of the motor vehicle, wherein the data is transmitted by sensors that sense the current situation of the motor vehicle within the framework of an integrated chassis control system (ICC);

determining one of a critical state of the motor vehicle and a state thereof requiring regulation with the aid of the acquired data;

defining a magnitude of a demanded drive moment that is to be demanded for the purposes of compensating for the axle load distribution;

defining a duration of the demanded drive moment; and

initiating the demanded drive moment using the pre-determined magnitude and duration thereof by the application of a suitable demand.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the dynamic transfer of the axle load is detected during a full braking action implemented with ABS support.

7. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the presence of the full braking action is determined by detection of an ABS flag symbolizing one of the point at which the brakes are applied, a gradient of the pedal, and the pressure of a master brake cylinder.

8. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the presence of the full braking action is determined detection of the brake pedal angular setting corresponding to a completely depressed brake pedal.

9. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein one of the presence of the full braking action and the presence of a critical situation when driving in a curve is determined by evaluating data from an electronic stability program.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the adjusting of the drive moment comprises increasing the drive moment, and during one of applying application of the brakes and the presence of a critical situation when driving in a curve, the increase of the drive moment is initiated by one of means of a kick-down and a pulse of full power having a duration of 250 ms to 750 ms.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the adjusting of the drive moment comprises increasing the drive moment by one of means of a kick-down and a pulse of full power initiated in a time window of −

0.5 seconds to +1.0 seconds after applying the brakes.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the adjusting of the drive moment comprises increasing the drive moment by one of means of a kick-down and a pulse of full power built up in a pulsed manner from a plurality of increases of the drive moment.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the plurality of increases of the drive moment each have a time duration of 50 ms to 150 ms.

14. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein a drive moment of at least 250 Nm is requested by the adjusting of the drive moment by one of means of an accelerator stroke and a pulse of full power.

15. A control system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a microprocessor configured to;

detect a dynamic transfer of an axle in the motor vehicle; and

at least partially compensate for the dynamic transfer of the axle load in the motor vehicle by adjusting a drive moment without substantially altering the speed of the motor vehicle.

16. A control system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a control device configured to;

detect a dynamic transfer of an axle in the motor vehicle; and

at least partially compensate for the dynamic transfer of the axle load in the motor vehicle by one of increasing and reducing a drive moment without substantially altering the speed of the motor vehicle.

17. A motor vehicle drive comprising at least one of a control device and a microprocessor, wherein the at least one of a control device and a microprocessor is configured to:

detect a dynamic transfer of an axle in the motor vehicle; and

at least partially compensate for the dynamic transfer of the axle load in the motor vehicle by increasing or reducing a drive moment without substantially altering the speed of the motor vehicle.

18. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

detecting a dynamic transfer of an axle in a motor vehicle; and

partially compensating for the dynamic transfer of the axle load in the motor vehicle by one of increasing and reducing a drive moment without substantially altering the speed of the motor vehicle.

19. A motor vehicle comprising:

a control device; and

computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the control device, causes the control device to;

detect a dynamic transfer of an axle in the motor vehicle; and

partially compensate for the dynamic transfer of the axle load in the motor vehicle by increasing or reducing a drive moment without substantially altering the speed of the motor vehicle.