Torque vectoring for utility vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021323402-A1
Application number	US-202117232739-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 16, 2021
Priority date	Apr 17, 2020
Publication date	Oct 21, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A utility vehicle is configured for independently controlling torque at each of the ground-engaging members.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A utility vehicle, comprising:
a first front ground-engaging member; a first axle operably coupled to the first front ground-engaging member; a second front ground-engaging member; a second axle operably coupled to the second front ground-engaging member and being axially aligned with the first axle; at least one rear ground-engaging member; a torque altering unit operably coupled to at least one of the first front ground-engaging member, the second front ground-engaging member, or the at least one rear ground-engaging member; and a control system configured to independently control torque output at each of the first front ground-engaging member, the second front ground-engaging member, and the at least one rear ground-engaging member.

2 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a torque output at the first ground-engaging member is different than a torque output at the second ground-engaging member.

3 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a torque output at one of the first or second ground-engaging members is different than a torque output at the at least one rear ground-engaging member.

4 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a second torque altering unit operably coupled to the at least one rear ground-engaging member and defined as one of an open differential, a lockable differential, or an active torque differential.

5 . The utility vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the at least one rear ground-engaging member defines a first rear ground-engaging member operably coupled to a third axle and a second rear ground-engaging member operably coupled to a fourth axle, and the second torque altering unit is defined by at least a third clutch member operably coupled to the third axle and a fourth clutch member operably coupled to the fourth axle.

6 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the torque altering unit is defined by a first electric motor operably coupled to the first axle and a second electric motor operably coupled to the second axle.

7 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the torque altering unit is configured to slow a speed of at least one of the first front ground-engaging member, the second front ground-engaging member, and the at least one rear ground-engaging member relative to the other ground-engaging members.

8 . The utility vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the torque altering unit defines a braking system of the utility vehicle.

9 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the torque altering unit defines a first clutch member operably coupled to the first axle and a second clutch member operably coupled to the second axle.

10 . The utility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the torque altering unit defines at least one of a torque vectoring unit and a torque biasing unit.

11 . A method of controlling torque for an off-road utility vehicle, comprising:
controlling torque to a first ground-engaging member of the utility vehicle; controlling torque to a second ground-engaging member of the utility vehicle simultaneously with and independently of controlling torque to the first ground-engaging member; and controlling torque to a third ground-engaging member of the utility vehicle independently of controlling torque to the first and second ground-engaging members.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first ground-engaging member is a front ground-engaging member of the utility vehicle and the second ground-engaging member is a rear ground-engaging member of the utility vehicle.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first ground-engaging member is one of a first front or rear ground-engaging member of the utility vehicle and the second ground-engaging member is one of a second front or rear ground-engaging member of the utility vehicle.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
providing a first clutch member configured for controlling torque to the first ground-engaging member; providing a second clutch member configured for controlling torque to the second ground-engaging member; and positioning the first and second clutch members in axial alignment.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising providing a third clutch member configured for controlling torque to the third ground-engaging member.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein controlling torque to the first ground-engaging member is based upon the first ground-engaging member traveling over an obstacle.

17 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising detecting a pitch of the vehicle and controlling torque to the first ground-engaging member based upon the detected pitch.

18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising detecting a pitch-over condition of the vehicle and controlling torque to the first ground-engaging member based upon the detected pitch-over condition.

19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
providing torque to the first ground-engaging member with a first electric motor; providing torque to the second ground-engaging member with a second electric motor; and providing torque to the third ground-engaging member with a third electric motor.

20 . A driveline assembly for a utility vehicle, comprising:
a front differential configured to be operably coupled to at least one front ground-engaging member of the utility vehicle; a rear differential configured to be operably coupled to at least one rear ground-engaging member of the utility vehicle; and a control system operably coupled to the front and rear differentials, and the control system is configured to control distribution of torque to each of front and rear ground-engaging members to affect steering of the utility vehicle.

21 . The driveline assembly of claim 20 , wherein the control system is configured to control the distribution of torque in combination with braking of at least one of the at least one front ground-engaging member and the at least one rear ground-engaging member.

22 . The driveline assembly of claim 20 , wherein the control system is configured to control the distribution of torque based upon a steering input provided by a non-power steering assembly.

23 . The driveline assembly of claim 20 , wherein the control system is configured to control the distribution of torque based upon at least one of steering angle data, yaw rate data, and wheel speed data.

24 . The driveline assembly of claim 20 , further comprising a center differential operably coupled to the front and rear differentials.

25 . The driveline assembly of claim 20 , further comprising a prop shaft operably coupled to at least the front differential and a powertrain assembly of the utility vehicle, and the prop shaft defines a single prop shaft based upon a first configuration of the powertrain assembly and a multi-piece prop shaft based upon a second configuration of the powertrain assembly.

26 . A method of controlling torque for an off-road vehicle, comprising:
controlling torque to a first ground-engaging member of the utility vehicle by providing a braking input at the first ground-engaging member; controlling torque to a second ground-engaging member of the utility vehicle simultaneously with and independently of controlling torque to the first ground-engaging member; and controlling torque to a third ground-engaging member of the utility vehicle independently of controlling torque to the first and second ground-engaging member

Assignees

• Polaris Inc

Inventors

• Stock Jacob L
• Scheuerell Alex R
• Graus Jonathon P
• Wozniak Evan R
• Buehler David F
• Zurbruegg Ronald
• Hoffet Markus
• Kelay Yassin M
• Mcardle Patrick J

Classifications

• B60Y2300/82

  Torque vectoring · CPC title

• B60Y2400/804

  Torque vectoring arrangements · CPC title

• B60K2023/085

  automatically actuated · CPC title

• B60K2023/043

  Control means for varying left-right torque distribution, e.g. torque vectoring · CPC title

• B60K23/0808 Primary

  for varying torque distribution between driven axles, e.g. by transfer clutch · CPC title