EP0323066B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Automotive system for dynamically determining road adhesion
Assignee: Ford-Werke GmbH
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Filing: 1988-12-12
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Granted: 1993-02-24
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Expires: 2008-12-12
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 W. Trent Yopp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 01:42
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60W; B60W40/00; B60W40/10; B60W40/101; B60K; B60K31/00; B60K31/0066; B60K31/0075; B60T; B60T8/00; B60T8/17; B60T8/171; B60T8/172; B60T8/176; B60T8/1763; B60T8/17636; B60W40/02; B60W40/06; B60W40/064; B62; B62D; B62D5/00; B60T2210/00; B60T2210/10; B60T2210/12; B60W50/00; B60W2050/0001; B60W2050/0019; B60W2050/0028; B60W2050/0031; B60W2050/0032; B60W2552/00; B60W2552/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A system for determining the road adhesion of a tire installed on a road wheel of an automotive vehicle operating on a roadway, characterised in that the system comprises; road wheel turn angle measuring means (24) comprising means for producing a first signal representing the turn angle at which the steering system of said vehicle is being operated; vehicle speed measuring means (22) comprising means for producing a second signal representing the speed at which said vehicle is being operated; steering force measuring means (26) comprising means for producing a third signal representing the steering force required to operate the steering system of said vehicle at said measured road wheel turn angle and said measured vehicle speed; and processor means (16) for determining the road adhesion of said tire, with said processor means comprising means for receiving said first, second, and third signals and means for deriving from said signals a fourth signal representing the magnitude of said road adhesion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
A system according to Claim 1 wherein said processor means determines road adhesion by matching measured road wheel turn angle, vehicle speed and steering force with one of a plurality of reference triads comprising road wheel turn angle, vehicle speed and steering force values, where each of such reference triads corresponds to a predetermined value of road adhesion, and by reading a corresponding value for said fourth signal depending upon the results of said matching.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to Claim 2 wherein said processor means comprises a read-only memory containing said reference triads and said fourth signal values.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system according to Claim 1 wherein said road wheel turn angle measuring means comprises an electro-optical angle measuring means operatively connected with a steering system for controlling said road wheel and responsive to movement of a steering handwheel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to Claim 1 wherein said processor means determines road adhesion by operating upon said first, second and third signals with a mathematical function contained in said processor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to Claim 1 wherein said vehicle speed measuring means comprises a signal generator driven by the powertrain of said vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to Claim 1 wherein said steering force measuring means comprises a pressure transducer interposed between a steering gear for steering said road wheel and a hydraulic pump for powering said steering gear.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to Claim 1 wherein said steering force measuring means comprises a torque sensor for sensing the torque applied to the driveshaft of a steering gear for steering said road wheel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
A system according to Claim 1 wherein said fourth signal determining means derive said fourth signal in the event that the magnitude of said road adhesion is less than a threshold value, and said system further comprises emergency control means responsive to said fourth signal for operating an emergency control system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 9 wherein said emergency control system comprises means for regulating the operation of a brake system incorporated in said vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to Claim 9 wherein said emergency control system comprises means for warning the driver of said vehicle that road adhesion is less than such threshold value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to Claim 9 wherein said emergency control system comprises means for limiting the maximum speed of the vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to Claim 9 wherein said emergency control system comprises means for limiting the maximum forward acceleration of the vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to Claim 9 wherein said emergency control system comprises means for operating an adjustable suspension system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to Claim 14 wherein said emergency control system comprises means for controlling the damping produced by said adjustable suspension system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to Claim 9 wherein said emergency control system comprises means for controlling the output of a power assist device associated with said steering system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to Claim 16 wherein said means for controlling the output of a power source associated with said steering system comprises a valve for limiting the magnitude of the assist produced by said power assist device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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