System for preventing damage to a vehicle

• US 8,392,047 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2007
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Dreier, Loren Christopher, Sauter, Ingo-Gerd
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Tuan C.
• Application Number:
  US11/809,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20080300746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,101 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.2, 701/30, 701/29.1, 477/76, 477/77, 477/79, 477/90, 477/98
• US Class Current: 701/29.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0234 related to maintenance or repairing of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/0081 Fixing of, or adapting to transmission failure detecting transmission failures F16H2057/018
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/01 Monitoring wear or stress of gearing elements, e.g. for triggering maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0413 Controlled cooling or heating of lubricant; Temperature control therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0449 Sensors or indicators for controlling the fluid level

Abstract

A system for preventing damage to a vehicle, such as a truck, is provided. A sensor may be operable to measure a parameter relating to a component in a vehicle and to provide a parameter signal indicative of the measured parameter. A processor may be in communication with the sensor and operable to receive the parameter signal from the sensor. The processor may be further operable to analyze the parameter signal. The processor may be further operable to initiate a damage prevention process including a reduction of heat generation in the vehicle based on the parameter.

Claims

1. A system for preventing damage to a vehicle comprising:

a first sensor operable to measure a first parameter relating to a transmission component in a vehicle and to generate a first parameter signal indicative of the measured first parameter; and

a processor in communication with the first sensor and operable to receive the first parameter signal from the first sensor,

wherein the processor is further operable to analyze the first parameter signal, and

wherein the processor is further operable to initiate a damage prevention process that reduces heat generation in the transmission based on the first parameter, wherein initiating a damage prevention process comprises at least one of;

shifting a transmission to a direct gear;

shifting the transmission to a gear that displaces less oil than the gear being used when the first parameter is generated; and

prohibiting exhaust gas regeneration.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second sensor in communication with the processor and operable to measure a second parameter relating to a non-transmission assembly component in the vehicle and to provide a second parameter signal indicative of the second parameter,

wherein the processor is further operable to receive the second parameter signal,

wherein the processor is further operable to analyze the second parameter, and

wherein the processor is further operable to initiate the damage prevention process based on the second parameter.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the non-transmission assembly component comprises an exhaust pipe, and the second parameter of the non-transmission assembly component comprises a temperature of the exhaust pipe.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission component comprises oil, and the first parameter of the transmission component comprises at least one of a temperature of the oil and a volume of the oil.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor is further operable to correlate at least one of the temperature of the oil and the volume of the oil.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable to determine a time period before damage occurs to the vehicle, and the time period is incorporated with the damage prevention process.

7. A system for preventing damage to a vehicle comprising:

a first sensor operable to measure a first parameter relating to a transmission component in a vehicle and to provide a first parameter signal indicative of the measured first parameter; and

a processor in communication with the first sensor and operable to receive the first parameter signal from the first sensor,

wherein the processor is further operable to analyze the first parameter signal and determine a time period before damage occurs to the vehicle, and

wherein the processor is further operable to initiate a damage prevention process including a reduction of heat generation in the vehicle based on the first parameter and the time period by initiating at least one of;

shifting a transmission to a direct gear;

shifting the transmission to a gear that displaces less oil than the gear being used when the first parameter is generated; and

prohibiting exhaust gas regeneration.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

a second sensor in communication with the processor and operable to measure a second parameter relating to a non-transmission assembly component in the vehicle and to provide a second parameter signal indicative of the second parameter,

wherein the processor is further operable to receive the second parameter signal,

wherein the processor is further operable to analyze the second parameter, and

wherein the processor is further operable to initiate a damage prevention process including reducing heat generation in the vehicle based on the second parameter.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the non-transmission assembly component comprises an exhaust pipe, and the second parameter of the non-transmission assembly component comprises a temperature of the exhaust pipe.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the transmission component comprises oil, and the first parameter of the transmission component comprises at least one of a temperature of the oil and a volume of the oil.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further operable to correlate at least one of the temperature of the oil and the volume of the oil.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further operable to initiate a shift to a direct gear as part of the damage prevention process.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further operable to initiate an increase of a flow rate in a cooler circuit as part of the damage prevention process.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further operable to initiate a prohibition of exhaust gas regeneration as part of the damage prevention process.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further operable to initiate a shift to a gear operable to displace less oil as part of the damage prevention process.

16. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further operable to enable a warning indicator configured to warn a driver about the time period.