Vehicle traction control based driveline thermal protection

• US 9,845,091 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2016
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company), Kelsey-Hayes Co. (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company), Kelsey-Hayes Co. (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Greene, James J., Mitchell, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): BUTLER, RODNEY ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US15/148,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20170320487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2260/00 Interaction of vehicle brake system with other systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/172 Determining control parameters used in the regulation, e.g. by calculations involving measured or detected parameters B60T8/17551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/175 Brake regulation specially adapted to prevent excessive wheel spin during vehicle acceleration, e.g. for traction control safety devices for propulsion unit control responsive to, or preventing, skidding of wheels B60K28/16
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/48 connecting the brake actuator to an alternative or additional source of fluid pressure , e.g. traction control systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0291 Clutch temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18172 Preventing, or responsive to skidding of wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1846 Preventing of breakage of drive line components, e.g. parts of the gearing

Abstract

A method and system for controlling temperatures in a driveline assembly of a vehicle are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes determining an operating temperature associated with the driveline assembly of the vehicle, the driveline assembly comprising forward and rear axles and a power transfer device configured to transmit power from a power source of the vehicle to the forward and rear axles. The method further includes computing a gain factor responsive to the operating temperature, adjusting a control parameter value of a traction control system of the vehicle responsive to the gain factor, and generating a control signal from the traction control system responsive to the control parameter value, the control signal configured to adjust at least one of an output torque of the power source and a braking force of a brake of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for controlling temperatures in a driveline assembly of a vehicle, comprising:

a traction control system including a controller configured to;

determine a first operating temperature associated with the driveline assembly of the vehicle, the driveline assembly comprising a forward axle, a rear axle and a power transfer device configured to transmit power from a power source of the vehicle to the forward and rear axles;

compute a first gain factor responsive to the first operating temperature the first gain factor capable of assuming any of at least three different values;

adjust a first control parameter value of the traction control system responsive to the first gain factor; and

,

generate a first control signal from the traction control system responsive to the first control parameter value, the first control signal configured to adjust at least one of an output torque of the power source and a braking force of a brake of the vehicle

wherein the first gain factor comprises a ratio of the first operating temperature relative to a difference between a maximum operating temperature for the driveline assembly of the vehicle and a minimum operating temperature for the driveline assembly of the vehicle.

2. A method for controlling temperatures in a driveline assembly of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

determining, in a controller of a traction control system of the vehicle, a first operating temperature associated with the driveline assembly of the vehicle responsive to an output of at least one sensor, the driveline assembly comprising a forward axle, a rear axle and a power transfer device configured to transmit power from a power source of the vehicle to the forward and rear axles;

computing, in the controller, a first gain factor responsive to the first operating temperature, the first gain factor capable of assuming any of at least three different values;

adjusting a first control parameter value of the traction control system of the vehicle responsive to the first gain factor; and

,

generating a first control signal from the traction control system responsive to the first control parameter value, the first control signal configured to adjust at least one of an output torque of the power source and a braking force of a brake of the vehicle

wherein the first gain factor comprises a ratio of the first operating temperature relative to a difference between a maximum operating temperature for the driveline assembly of the vehicle and a minimum operating temperature for the driveline assembly of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining step includes the sub step of measuring the first operating temperature.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the measuring sub step includes measuring a temperature of a fluid in a differential of one of the forward and rear axles.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the measuring sub step includes measuring a temperature of a fluid in the power transfer device.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining step includes the substeps of:

computing an energy input value indicative of an amount of energy input to the driveline assembly; and

,

obtaining the first operating temperature responsive to the energy input value.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the substep of computing the energy input value includes the substeps of:

determining an output torque of the power transfer device;

determining a difference in speed between input and output speeds of the power transfer device; and

,

calculating the energy input value responsive to the output torque of the power transfer device and the difference in speed.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the substep of computing the energy input value includes the substeps of:

determining an output torque of a clutch in the driveline assembly;

determining a difference in speed between input and output speeds of the clutch; and

,

calculating the energy input value responsive to the output torque of the clutch and the difference in speed.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the computing step includes the substeps of:

comparing the first operating temperature to a predetermined threshold temperature; and

,

calculating the first gain factor when the first operating temperature meets a predetermined condition relative to the predetermined threshold temperature.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the first control parameter value comprises an amount of braking force applied by the brake to a wheel of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the power source comprises an engine and the first control parameter value comprises an amount by which output torque provided by the engine is adjusted when traction control is activated.

13. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of generating a second control signal from the traction control system responsive to the first control parameter, the second control signal configured to adjust the other of the output torque of the power source and the braking force of the brake of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

adjusting a second control parameter value of the traction control system of the vehicle responsive to the first gain factor; and

,

generating a second control signal from the traction control system responsive to the second control parameter value, the second control signal configured to adjust the other of the output torque of the power source and the braking force of the brake of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 2 wherein

the first operating temperature is associated with a first portion of the driveline assembly of the vehicle

and further comprising the steps of:

determining, in the controller, a second operating temperature associated with a second portion of the driveline assembly of the vehicle responsive to an output of at least one other sensor;

computing, in the controller, a second gain factor responsive to the second operating temperature, the second gain factor capable of assuming any of at least three different values; and

,

adjusting the first control parameter value of the traction control system of the vehicle responsive to the first gain factor and the second gain factor.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of determining the first operating temperature includes the sub step of measuring the first operating temperature.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of determining the first operating temperature includes the substeps of:

computing an energy input value indicative of an amount of energy input to the driveline assembly; and

,

obtaining the first operating temperature responsive to the energy input value.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of computing a first gain factor includes the substeps of:

comparing the first operating temperature to a predetermined threshold temperature; and

,

calculating the first gain factor when the first operating temperature meets a predetermined condition relative to the predetermined threshold temperature.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of adjusting a second control parameter value of the traction control system of the vehicle responsive to the first gain factor and the second gain factor.

10. A method for controlling temperatures in a driveline assembly of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

determining, in a controller of a traction control system of the vehicle, a first operating temperature associated with the driveline assembly of the vehicle responsive to an output of at least one sensor, the driveline assembly comprising a forward axle, a rear axle and a power transfer device configured to transmit power from a power source of the vehicle to the forward and rear axles;

computing, in the controller, a first gain factor responsive to the first operating temperature, the first gain factor capable of assuming any of at least three different values;

adjusting a first control parameter value of the traction control system of the vehicle responsive to the first gain factor; and

,

generating a first control signal from the traction control system responsive to the first control parameter value, the first control signal configured to adjust at least one of an output torque of the power source and a braking force of a brake of the vehicle

wherein the first control parameter value comprises a maximum speed differential between first and second wheels of the vehicle at which the first control signal is generated by the traction control system.