System and methods for preventing wheel hop during a burnout event in a motor vehicle

• US 9,855,813 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2014
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Mohamed, Ahmed
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH-STEWART, DEMETRA R
• Application Number:
  US14/560,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20160159187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0164 mainly during accelerating or braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/08 Characteristics of fluid dampers adjusting fluid dampers in general F16F9/44 - F16F9/53
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/204 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/208 of wheel rotation
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/70 Temperature of vehicle part or in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/90 Other conditions or factors
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/10 Damping action or damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/21 Traction, slip, skid or slide control
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/16 responsive to, or preventing, skidding of wheels brake control systems for vehicle drive stability B60T8/1755; arrangements responsive to a speed condition for adjusting wheel braking force B60T8/32; control of vehicle driving stability otherwise than by controlling the propulsion unit only B60W30/02; preventing wheel slippage by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/00
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods for stabilizing a vehicle during a traction control event are disclosed. Signals indicative of wheel speed and velocity of the vehicle may be received at a controller of the vehicle and compared to determine wheel slip. Based on the wheel slip, the controller determines whether a burnout condition exists. A damping force of at least one damper associated with a suspension of the vehicle may be adjusted when a burnout condition is detected.

Claims

1. A method for stabilizing a vehicle during a traction control event, the method comprising:

receiving signals indicative of wheel speed and vehicle velocity at a controller of the vehicle;

determining a wheel slip of the vehicle based on a comparison of the wheel speed to the vehicle velocity;

determining, based on the wheel slip, whether a burnout condition exists;

incrementing a counter when a burnout condition exists; and

adjusting a damping force of at least one damper associated with a suspension of the vehicle when the burnout condition exists and the counter exceeds a threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a signal from an axle torque sensor, wherein the controller calculates a twist angle of the axle based on the received axle torque signal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the signal indicative of wheel speed is received from a rear sensor of a rear wheel tire assembly of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a calibration threshold value,

wherein adjusting the damping force of the at least one damper associated with the suspension of the vehicle includes adjusting the damping force when the wheel speed equals or exceeds the calibration threshold value.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a condition of high rear wheel slip and high axle torque based on the compared wheel speed and velocity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold is an accumulator threshold, and further comprising:

determining the accumulator threshold; and

running the counter at a subsystem loop rate that increments a burnout accumulator per step when the burnout condition exists,

wherein adjusting the damping force of the at least one damper associated with the suspension of the vehicle further includes adjusting the damping force when the burnout accumulator exceeds the accumulator threshold.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising increasing or decreasing the step by an increment of one during each cycle.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising clearing the counter when the burnout accumulator exceeds the accumulator threshold.

9. A system for stabilizing a vehicle during a traction control event, the system comprising:

a controller configured to;

receive signals indicative of wheel speed and vehicle velocity;

determine a wheel slip of the vehicle based on a comparison of the wheel speed to the vehicle velocity;

determine, based on the wheel slip, whether a burnout condition exists;

increment a counter when a burnout condition exists; and

adjust a damping force of at least one damper associated with a suspension of the vehicle when the burnout condition exists and the counter exceeds a threshold.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a signal from an axle torque sensor, wherein a twist angle of the axle is calculated based on the received axle torque signal.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the signal indicative of wheel speed is received from a rear sensor of a rear wheel tire assembly of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the threshold is a calibration threshold, and where the controller is configured to:

determine a calibration threshold value,

wherein the damping force of the at least one suspension damper of the vehicle is adjusted when the wheel speed equals or exceeds the calibration threshold value.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising identifying a condition of high rear wheel slip and high axle torque based on the compared wheel speed and vehicle velocity.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the threshold is an accumulator threshold and the controller is further configured to:

determine the accumulator threshold; and

run the counter at a subsystem loop rate that increments a burnout accumulator per step when the burnout condition exists,

wherein adjusting the damping force of the at least one damper associated with the suspension of the vehicle further includes adjusting the damping force when the burnout accumulator exceeds the accumulator threshold.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising increasing or decreasing the step by an increment of one during each cycle.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising clearing the counter when the burnout accumulator exceeds the accumulator threshold.

17. A vehicle, comprising:

at least one wheel;

a wheel speed sensor and a vehicle velocity sensor;

at least one damper operatively associated with a suspension system of the vehicle; and

a controller, the controller being configured to;

receive signals indicative of sensed wheel speed and vehicle velocity;

based on the received signals, determine whether a burnout condition exists;

run a counter until a count of the counter exceeds a calibratable threshold when a burnout condition exists; and

adjust a damping force of the at least one damper when the burnout condition exists and the counts of the counter exceed the calibratable threshold.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to:

run the counter at a subsystem loop rate that increments the count per step until the counts exceed an accumulator threshold value,

wherein the accumulator threshold value is a calibratable threshold,

wherein adjusting the damping force of the at least one damper further includes adjusting the damping force when the counts exceed the accumulator threshold value.

19. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein a value of the calibratable threshold is calibratable based on a vehicle operator'"'"'s desired speed in detecting the burnout condition or exiting a burnout event.

20. A method for stabilizing a vehicle, comprising:

determining a wheel slip of the vehicle;

determining, based on the wheel slip, whether a burnout condition exists; and

when a burnout condition exists;

incrementing a counter, and

adjusting a damping force of a damper associated with a suspension of the vehicle when the counter exceeds a threshold.