Steering failure brake system reaction

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10940837-B2
Application number	US-201815911452-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2018
Priority date	Mar 5, 2018
Publication date	Mar 9, 2021
Grant date	Mar 9, 2021

Abstract

When a vehicle experiences an instability event, an instability event trigger (e.g., a failed modulator, unexpected yaw or lateral acceleration, unexpected steering wheel position change, etc.) is monitored and the magnitude thereof is compared to a corresponding predetermined threshold above which corrective action is initiated. Depending on the magnitude and type of instability trigger, one or more wheel ends are identified as candidates for brake activation. Braking force at the identified wheel ends is gradually increased until the vehicle becomes stable or comes to a stop.

First claim

Having thus described the preferred embodiments, the invention is now claimed to be:

1. A system that facilitates maintaining lateral control of a vehicle, comprising:
a sensor that monitors at least one parameter of the vehicle;
a plurality of wheel ends each comprising a brake component; and
a processor with control logic, the control logic being configured to:
receive from the sensor information related to a current parameter value;
receive from a steering wheel sensor information indicative of a failed modulator valve;
compare the current parameter value to a predetermined parameter threshold value;
determine that the current parameter value exceeds the predetermined parameter threshold value;
identify at least one wheel end that is affected by the failed modulator valve; and
transmit a control signal that causes one or more brake components that are not associated with the identified at least one wheel end that is affected to begin to increase braking force only at one or more respective unaffected wheel ends to maintain stability.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the control logic is further configured to:
receive updated parameter values as the one or more brake components are increasing braking force and,
if an updated parameter value remains above the a predetermined parameter threshold value as the one or more brake components increase braking force, place one or more brake components associated with wheel ends on a steering axle in a locked state.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter is vehicle yaw and the predetermined parameter threshold value is a predetermined yaw threshold value.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined parameter threshold is exceeded when a steering system fault condition exists.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter is lateral acceleration, and wherein the predetermined parameter threshold value is a predetermined lateral acceleration threshold value.

6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the predetermined lateral acceleration threshold value is approximately 0.3G.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is one of an accelerometer and a yaw rate sensor, and wherein the predetermined parameter threshold respectively is one of a lateral acceleration threshold an a yaw threshold.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter is a condition of a brake modulator valve, and wherein the predetermined parameter threshold is exceeded when a brake modulator valve fault condition exists.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more brake components are on a steering axle of the vehicle.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the control logic is further configured to determine that the at least one affected wheel end is on a steering axle, and to brake an opposite steering axle wheel end first, followed by braking a drive axle.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the control logic is further configured to determine that the at least one affected wheel end is on a first side of a drive axle, and to brake one of an opposite wheel end on the drive axle or an opposite wheel end on a steering axle.

12. A method for maintaining lateral control of a vehicle, comprising:
monitoring at least one parameter of the vehicle having a plurality of wheel ends each comprising a brake component;
receiving information related to a current parameter value for a monitored vehicle parameter;
receiving from a steering wheel sensor information indicative of a failed modulator valve;
comparing the current parameter value to a predetermined parameter threshold value;
determining that the current parameter value exceeds the predetermined parameter threshold value;
identifying at least one wheel end that is affected by the faded modulator valve; and
transmitting a control signal that causes one or more brake components not associated with the identified at least one wheel end that is affected to begin increasing braking force only at one or more respective unaffected wheel ends in order to maintain stability.

13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
receiving updated parameter values as the one or more brake components are increasing brake force; and,
if an updated parameter value remains above the predetermined parameter threshold value as the one or more brake components are increasing brake force, placing one or more brake components on a steering axle in a locked state.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one parameter is vehicle yaw and the predetermined threshold value is a predetermined parameter yaw threshold value.

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the predetermined parameter threshold is exceeded when a steering system fault condition exists.

16. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one parameter is lateral acceleration, and wherein the predetermined parameter threshold value is a predetermined lateral acceleration threshold value.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the predetermined lateral acceleration threshold value is approximately 0.3G.

18. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one parameter is a condition of a brake modulator valve, and wherein the predetermined parameter threshold is exceeded when a brake modulator valve fault condition exists.

19. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the one or more brake components are on a steering axle of the vehicle.

20. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising determining that the at least one affected wheel end is on a steering axle, and braking an opposite steering axle wheel end first, followed by braking a drive axle.

21. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising determining that the at least one affected wheel end is on a first side of a drive axle, and braking one of an opposite wheel end on the drive axle or an opposite wheel end on a steering axle.

22. A processor that facilitates maintaining lateral control of a vehicle, the processor being configured to:
monitor at least one parameter of the vehicle having a plurality of wheel ends each comprising a brake component;
receive information related to a current parameter value for a monitored vehicle parameter;
receive from a steering wheel sensor information indicative of a failed modulator valve;
compare the current parameter value to a predetermined parameter threshold value;
determine that the current parameter value exceeds the predetermined parameter threshold value;
identify at least one wheel end that is affected by the failed modulator valve; and
transmit a control signal that causes one or more brake components not associated with the at least one affected wheel end to begin increasing braking force only at one or more respective unaffected wheel ends to maintain stability.

23. The processor according to claim 22 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive updated parameter values as the one or more brake components are increasing braking force; and,
if an updated parameter value remains above the predetermined parameter value as the one or more brake components are increasing braking force, place one or more brake components associated with one or more wheel ends on a steering axel in the locked state.

24. The processor according to claim 22 , wherein th

Assignees

• Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems Llc

Inventors

• Miller Jr Thomas S

Classifications

• B60T8/885 Primary

  using electrical circuitry · CPC title

• B60T2260/024

  Yawing moment compensation during mu-split braking · CPC title

• B60T2270/402

  Back-up · CPC title

• G05D1/0891

  specially adapted for land vehicles · CPC title

• B60T8/1764

  Regulation during travel on surface with different coefficients of friction, e.g. between left and right sides, mu-split {or between front and rear} · CPC title