Stability control system
First Claim
1. A drive and control system for use on a vehicle having a prime mover, a pair of driven wheels, and a pair of drive motors, each drive motor being engaged to and independently driving one of the pair of driven wheels to provide zero turn capability to the vehicle, the drive and control system comprising:
- an operator mechanism configured to generate a drive signal and a steering signal, wherein;
the drive signal corresponds to a neutral drive position of the operator mechanism or to one of a plurality of non-neutral drive positions of the operator mechanism; and
the steering signal corresponds to a neutral steering position of the operator mechanism or to one of a plurality of non-neutral steering positions of the operator mechanism;
a plurality of sensors disposed on the vehicle and capable of generating sensor signals corresponding to sensed roll parameters, sensed pitch parameters and sensed yaw parameters; and
a stability control module comprising a processor connected to the operator mechanism for receiving the drive signal and the steering signal, the stability control module being connected to and capable of providing output signals to the pair of drive motors;
wherein the processor is configured to;
(a) load an initial roll parameter, an initial pitch parameter, and an initial yaw parameter;
(b) if the drive signal corresponds to one of the non-neutral drive positions, and if the steering signal corresponds to the neutral steering position, activate a steering correction feature;
(c) if the drive signal corresponds to one of the non-neutral drive positions, perform a roll comparison by comparing at least one of the sensed roll parameters to the initial roll parameter and, in response to a first outcome of the roll comparison, limit power supplied to the pair of drive motors, enforce a first predetermined maximum vehicle speed, or provide an audible or visual warning; and
(d) if the drive signal corresponds to one of the non-neutral drive positions, perform a pitch comparison by comparing at least one of the sensed pitch parameters to the initial pitch parameter and, in response to a first outcome of the pitch comparison, limit power supplied to the pair of drive motors, enforce a second predetermined maximum vehicle speed or provide an audible or visual warning.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A drive and control system is disclosed for use on a zero turn vehicle having a pair of drive motors, an operator drive input capable of providing a drive signal corresponding to a desired drive status by an operator and an operator steering input capable of providing a steering signal corresponding to a desired steering of the vehicle. Sensors on the vehicle generate signals corresponding to roll, pitch and yaw. A stability control module includes a processor receiving the steering and drive inputs and provides output signals to the drive motors. Upon initialization of the vehicle, the processor determines initial orientation parameters from the sensors and determines if the input and steering are in neutral. When the drive input is not in neutral, and the steering is in neutral, the processor determines desired pitch, yaw and roll parameters. The processor receives additional sensor signals during operation to monitor pitch and roll of the vehicle and if a measured parameter exceeds the desired parameter, the processor will vary the output signals to the drive motors to provide a heading correction to the vehicle.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A drive and control system for use on a vehicle having a prime mover, a pair of driven wheels, and a pair of drive motors, each drive motor being engaged to and independently driving one of the pair of driven wheels to provide zero turn capability to the vehicle, the drive and control system comprising:
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an operator mechanism configured to generate a drive signal and a steering signal, wherein; the drive signal corresponds to a neutral drive position of the operator mechanism or to one of a plurality of non-neutral drive positions of the operator mechanism; and the steering signal corresponds to a neutral steering position of the operator mechanism or to one of a plurality of non-neutral steering positions of the operator mechanism; a plurality of sensors disposed on the vehicle and capable of generating sensor signals corresponding to sensed roll parameters, sensed pitch parameters and sensed yaw parameters; and a stability control module comprising a processor connected to the operator mechanism for receiving the drive signal and the steering signal, the stability control module being connected to and capable of providing output signals to the pair of drive motors; wherein the processor is configured to; (a) load an initial roll parameter, an initial pitch parameter, and an initial yaw parameter; (b) if the drive signal corresponds to one of the non-neutral drive positions, and if the steering signal corresponds to the neutral steering position, activate a steering correction feature; (c) if the drive signal corresponds to one of the non-neutral drive positions, perform a roll comparison by comparing at least one of the sensed roll parameters to the initial roll parameter and, in response to a first outcome of the roll comparison, limit power supplied to the pair of drive motors, enforce a first predetermined maximum vehicle speed, or provide an audible or visual warning; and (d) if the drive signal corresponds to one of the non-neutral drive positions, perform a pitch comparison by comparing at least one of the sensed pitch parameters to the initial pitch parameter and, in response to a first outcome of the pitch comparison, limit power supplied to the pair of drive motors, enforce a second predetermined maximum vehicle speed or provide an audible or visual warning. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A drive and control system for use on a vehicle having one or more driven wheels, the drive and control system comprising:
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a plurality of operator inputs, comprising; an operator drive input having a neutral drive position and a plurality of non-neutral drive positions; and an operator steering input having a neutral steering position and a plurality of non-neutral steering positions; at least one drive motor engaged to and driving at least one driven wheel; a plurality of sensors disposed on the vehicle and capable of generating sensor signals corresponding to sensed roll parameters, sensed pitch parameters, and sensed yaw parameters; a stability control module comprising a processor connected to the plurality of operator inputs, the stability control module being connected to and capable of providing output signals to the at least one drive motor; wherein the processor is configured to; (a) determine whether the operator drive input is in one of the non-neutral drive positions; (b) determine whether the operator steering input is in the neutral steering position; (c) if the operator drive input is in one of the non-neutral drive positions, and if the operator steering input is in the neutral steering position, activate a steering correction feature; (d) if the operator drive input is in one of the non-neutral drive positions, perform a roll comparison by comparing at least one of the sensed roll parameters to an initial roll parameter and, in response to a first outcome of the roll comparison, limit power supplied to the at least one drive motor, enforce a first predetermined maximum vehicle speed or provide an audible or visual warning; and (e) if the operator drive input is in one of the non-neutral drive positions, provide a pitch comparison by comparing at least one of the sensed pitch parameters to an initial pitch parameter and, in response to a first outcome of the pitch comparison, limit power supplied to the at least one drive motor, enforce a second predetermined maximum vehicle speed or provide an audible or visual warning.
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22. A method of operating a vehicle, the vehicle comprising:
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a pair of driven wheels, and a drive and control system comprising; a plurality of operator inputs, comprising an operator drive input having a neutral drive position and a plurality of non-neutral drive positions and an operator steering input having a neutral steering position and a plurality of non-neutral steering positions; a pair of drive motors, each drive motor being engaged to and driving at least one of the pair of driven wheels; a plurality of sensors disposed on the vehicle and capable of generating sensor signals corresponding to sensed roll parameters, sensed pitch parameters, and sensed yaw parameters; and a stability control module comprising a processor connected to the plurality of operator inputs, the stability control module being connected to and capable of providing output signals to the pair of drive motors; the method comprising, via the processor; (a) determining whether the operator drive input is in one of the non-neutral drive positions; (b) determining whether the operator steering input is in the neutral steering position; (c) if the operator steering input is in the neutral steering position, activating a steering correction feature; (d) if the operator drive input is in one of the non-neutral drive positions, providing a roll comparison by comparing at least one of the sensed roll parameters to an initial roll parameter and, in response to a first outcome of the roll comparison, limiting power supplied to the drive motors or enforcing a first predetermined maximum vehicle speed or providing an audible or visual warning; and (e) if the operator drive input is in one of the non-neutral drive positions, providing a pitch comparison by comparing at least one of the sensed pitch parameters to an initial pitch parameter and, in response to a first outcome of the pitch comparison, limiting power supplied to the drive motors or enforcing a second predetermined maximum vehicle speed or providing an audible or visual warning. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification