EP0296756B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicular controller with differential wheel speed input
Assignee: Ford-Werke GmbH
•
Filing: 1988-06-15
•
Granted: 1993-11-24
•
Expires: 2008-06-15
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory D. Bober
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:46
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D6/00; B60; B60G; B60G17/00; B60G17/015; B62D6/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A vehicular controller for controlling both an adjustable steering gear and one or more adjustable suspension units, characterised in that the controller includes, first adjustment means (19,20) for controlling at least one operating characteristic of said steering gear, second adjustment means (22) for adjusting damping forces and/or spring forces produced by the or each of said suspension units, sensing means (14) for detecting the rotational velocities of at least two roadwheels (12) of said vehicles, and control means (16) operatively associated with said first and second adjustment means as well as with said sensing means (14), with said control means (16) comprising means for determining the differential rotational velocity between said roadwheels (12) and for controlling said first and second adjustment means when said differential velocity exceeds a threshold value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
23 words
A vehicular controller according to claim 1, wherein said first adjustment means comprises means for adjusting the force produced by said steering gear.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vehicular controller according to claim 1, wherein said first adjustment means comprises means for adjusting the ratio of said steering gear.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A vehicular controller according to claim 1, wherein said first adjustment means comprises means for adjusting the force produced by said steering gear as well as the ratio of said steering gear.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
A vehicular controller according to claim 1, wherein said control means further comprises means for determining the absolute velocity of said vehicle as well as means for controlling said first nd second adjustment means according to said absolute velocity, whereby said steering gear and said suspension units will be controlled not only as a function of said differential rotational velocity, but also as a function of said absolute vehicle velocity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A vehicle controller according to claim 1, wherein said control means further comprises means for determining the position at which said steering gear is operated and for controlling said first and second adjustment means according to said position, whereby said steering gear and said suspension units will be controlled not only as a function of said differential rotational velocity, but also as a function of said position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
A vehicular controller according to claim 1, wherein said control means further comprises means for determining the absolute velocity of said vehicle as well as means for operating said second adjustment means according to said absolute velocity, whereby said suspension units will be controlled not only as a function of said differential rotational velocity, but also as a function of said absolute vehicle velocity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A vehicle controller according to claim 1, wherein said first adjustment means is arranged for augmenting the steering force produced by said steering gear and the augmenting force provided by said adjustable means will be controlled as a function of said differential rotational velocity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
A vehicle controller according to claim 1, wherein said control means further comprises means for determining the rate at which said steering gear is operated and for controlling said first adjustment means according to said rate, whereby the augmenting force provided by said adjustment means will be controlled not only as a function of said differential rotational velocity, but also as a function of said rate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
A vehicle controller according to claim 1, wherein said control means further comprises means for determining the position at which said steering gear is operated and for controlling said first adjustment means according to said position, whereby the augmenting force provided by said first adjustment means will be controlled not only as a function of said differential rotational velocity, but also as a function of said position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
A vehicle controller according to claim 1, wherein said control means further comprises means for determining the absolute velocity of said vehicle and means for operating said first adjustment means according to said absolute velocity, whereby the augmenting force provided by said first adjustment means will be controlled not only as a function of said differential rotational velocity, but also as a function of said absolute vehicle velocity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
A vehicle controller according to claim 11, wherein said control means further comprises means for determining the position at which said steering gear is operated and for controlling said first adjustment means according to said position, whereby the augmenting force provided by said first adjustment means will be controlled not only as a function of said differential rotational velocity, but also as a function of said position and said absolute vehicle velocity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A vehicle controller according to claim 8, wherein said adjustment means includes hydraulic pump means and a hydraulic power device adapted to be connected with said hydraulic pump means so as to supply pressurised hydraulic fluid for augmenting the steering force produced by said steering system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
A vehicle controller according to claim 1, wherein the first adjustment means is arranged for changing the ratio of said steering gear and the ratio of said steering gear will be controlled as a function of said differential rotational velocity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
A vehicle controller according to claim 14, wherein said control means further comprises means for determining the absolute velocity of said vehicle and means for operating said first adjustment means according to said absolute velocity, whereby the ratio of said steering gear will be controlled not only as a function of said differential rotational velocity, but also as a function of said absolute vehicle velocity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
A vehicle controller according to claim 1, wherein the first adjustment means is arranged for changing the ratio of said steering gear and for augmenting the steering force produced by said steering gear and the ratio of said steering gear and said augmenting force will be controlled as a function of said differential rotational velocity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
69 words
A vehicle controller according to claim 16, wherein said control means further comprises means for determining the absolute velocity of said vehicle and means for operating said first adjustment means according to said absolute velocity, whereby the ratio of said steering gear and said augmenting force will be controlled not only as a function of said differential rotational velocity, but also as a function of said absolute vehicle velocity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.