Vehicle traction control based driveline thermal protection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9845091-B2
Application number	US-201615148424-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 6, 2016
Priority date	May 6, 2016
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

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.

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.

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 temperatur

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc
• Kelsey-Hayes Company

Inventors

• Greene James J
• Mitchell Craig

Classifications

• B60W30/00 Primary

  Purposes of road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit, e.g. of systems using conjoint control of vehicle sub-units · CPC title

• B60W2710/18

  Braking system · CPC title

• B60W2400/00

  Indexing codes relating to detected, measured or calculated conditions or factors · CPC title

• B60W2710/0666

  Engine torque · CPC title

• B60W30/188

  Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power · CPC title