Vehicle braking system

• US 8,500,220 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2004
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Einig, Frank, Knechtges, Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, XUAN LAN T
• Application Number:
  US10/754,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20040217647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,498 Days
• Field of Search: 303/146, 303/148, 303/179
• US Class Current: 303/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/03 Overturn, rollover
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/17554 specially adapted for enhancing stability around the vehicles longitudinal axle, i.e. roll-over prevention road vehicle drive control systems for roll-over prevention otherwise than by controlling a particular sub-unit B60W30/04

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle braking system having regulating devices determining the transversely dynamic behavior of the vehicle, in order to maintain or restore stable vehicle behavior, by setting the braking torque on individual vehicle wheels independently of the driver. The performance of the braking system is controlled in this manner to help prevent vehicle rollover (overturning laterally) when negotiating curves. This is accomplished by generating a braking torque on the front wheel on the outside of the curve (or increasing a braking torque that is already set).

Claims

1. A vehicle braking system comprising:

regulating devices configured to determine the transverse dynamic behavior of the vehicle with the vehicle braking system configured to maintain or restore stable vehicle behavior by setting braking torque on individual wheels independently of the driver,

the vehicle braking system also configured to generate a braking torque on a front wheel on the outside of a curve, or to increase a braking torque on the front wheel on the outside of the curve that has already been set, to prevent the vehicle from overturning laterally when negotiating curves,

the vehicle braking system further configured to activate a different level of driving dynamic regulation when the regulating devices determine that an undesired under-steering of the vehicle is caused by the braking torque which has been generated, or increased, on the front wheel on the outside of the curve,

the vehicle braking system additionally configured to generate, or increase, the braking torque on the front wheel on the outside of the curve when a parameter indicative of the vehicle transverse acceleration exceeds a transverse acceleration limit that has a variable initial value that is determined as a function of a loading state of the vehicle and that is then increased from said initial value according to a predetermined function during driving operation as long as an amount of slip on wheels on the inside of the curve does not exceed a predefined value, and

the vehicle braking system also being configured to reset the transverse acceleration limit at the start of each driving operation.

2. The vehicle braking system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle braking system is configured to generate or increase the braking torque on the front wheel on the outside of the curve when the amount of slip on only the wheels on the inside of the curve exceeds a predefined value.

3. The vehicle braking system according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle braking system is configured to test a driven wheel on the inside of the curve for whether an amount of slip exceeds a predefined positive slip value.

4. The vehicle braking system according to claim 2, wherein the braking torque on the front wheel on the outside of the curve is a first braking torque, and wherein the vehicle braking system is configured to generate a second braking torque, or to increase a previously set second braking torque on a non-driven wheel on the inside of the curve to test the non-driven wheel on the inside of the curve for whether an amount of slip does not exceed a predefined negative slip value.

5. The vehicle braking system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle braking system is configured to increase the value of the initial transverse acceleration limit during driving operation as long as the amount of slip on wheels on the inside of the curve does not exceed a predefined value.

6. The vehicle braking system according to claim 5, wherein the predefined value for the amount of slip on the wheels of the inside of the curve does not exceed 10%.