EP0492782A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automotive apparatus and method for dynamically determining the centripetal force of a vehicle
Assignee: Ford-Werke GmbH
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Filing: 1991-10-31
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-10-31
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for determining the centripetal force of an automotive vehicle operating on a roadway includes a vehicle speed measuring means (22) and a steering force measuring means (26). Information regarding vehicle speed and steering force are fed into a processor (16) which determines the centripetal force of the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilford T. Yopp
- 👤 Sam M. Mackool
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:41
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60T; B60T8/00; B60T8/17; B60T8/1755; B60T8/17551; B60G; B60G17/00; B60G17/015; B60G17/016; B60G17/0162; B62; B62D; B62D6/00; B62D6/04; B60G2400/00; B60G2400/20; B60G2400/204; B60G2400/40; B60G2400/42; B60G2400/50; B60G2400/60; B60G2400/64; B60G2400/80; B60G2400/82; B60G2400/822; B60G2600/00; B60G2600/02; B60G2600/60; B60G2600/70; B60G2800/00; B60G2800/24; B60G2800/90; B60G2800/92; B60T2260/00; B60T2260/06; B60W; B60W40/00; B60W40/10; B60W40/109
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus for determining the centripetal force of an automotive vehicle operating on a roadway, comprising; vehicle speed measuring means (22) for producing a first signal representing the speed at which said vehicle is being operated; steering force measuring means (26) for producing a second signal representing the steering force required to operate the steering system of said vehicle at said measured vehicle speed; and processor means (16) for determining the centripetal force of said vehicle, said processor means (16) including means for receiving said first and second signals and means for deriving from said signals a third signal representing the magnitude of said centripetal force.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus for determining the centripetal force of an automotive vehicle operating on a roadway, comprising; vehicle speed measuring means (22) for producing a first signal representing the speed at which said vehicle is being operated; steering force measuring means (26) for producing a second signal representing the steering force required to operate the steering system of said vehicle at said measured vehicle speed; and processor means (16) for determining the centripetal force of said vehicle, said processor means (16) including means for receiving said first and second signals and means for deriving from said signals a third signal representing the magnitude of said centripetal force.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said processor means determines the centripetal force of said vehicle by matching measured vehicle speed and steering force with one of a plurality of reference pairs comprising vehicle speed and steering force values, where each of such reference pairs corresponds to a predetermined value of centripetal force.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein said processor means comprises a read-only memory containing said reference pairs and said third signal values.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said processor means determines centripetal force by operating upon said first and second signals with a mathematical function contained in said processor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said vehicle speed measuring means comprises a signal generator driven by a powertrain of said vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus 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
32 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said steering force measuring means comprises a torque sensor for sensing torque applied to a driveshaft of a steering gear for steering said road wheel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further including emergency control means responsive to said third signal for operating an emergency control system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
An apparatus according to Claim 8 wherein said emergency control system comprises means selected from a group consisting of means for regulating the operation of a brake system incorporated in said vehicle, means for warning the driver of said vehicle that centripetal force is greater than said threshold value, means for limiting the maximum speed of the vehicle, means for limiting the maximum forward acceleration of the vehicle, means for operating an adjustable suspension system, and means for controlling the output of a power assist device associated with said steering system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein said means for operating the adjustable suspension system comprises means for controlling damping produced by said adjustable suspension system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein said means for controlling the output of a power assist device associated with said steering system comprises a valve for limiting the magnitude of the assist produced by said power assist device.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for determining the centripetal force exerted on an automotive vehicle and for initiating a control system within said automotive vehicle having roadwheels, comprising the steps of: measuring the speed of said vehicle; measuring the steering force required to turn said roadwheels of said vehicle; entering said vehicle speed and said steering force into a processor means; comparing said measured vehicle speed and said measured steering force with one of a plurality of reference pairs stored in said processor means, each one of said reference pairs comprising vehicle speed and steering force values corresponding to a predetermined centripetal force value; and initiating said control system within said vehicle when said centripetal force value exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for determining the centripetal force exerted on an automotive vehicle and for initiating a control system within said automotive vehicle having roadwheels, comprising the steps of: measuring the speed of said vehicle; measuring the steering force required to turn said roadwheels of said vehicle; entering said vehicle speed and said steering force into a processor means; comparing said measured vehicle speed and said measured steering force with one of a plurality of reference pairs stored in said processor means, each one of said reference pairs comprising vehicle speed and steering force values corresponding to a predetermined centripetal force value; and initiating said control system within said vehicle when said centripetal force value exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to Claim 12, wherein said control system is operative (a) to adjust the spring rate of a suspension unit of said vehicle, (b) to adjust the shock valving of a suspension unit of said vehicle, or (c) to initiate a warning signal within said vehicle.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for controlling a steering assist device of a power steering system of an automotive vehicle having a pair of steerable roadwheels, comprising the steps of: measuring the speed of said vehicle; measuring the steering force required to turn said roadwheels of said vehicle; determining a required steering assist value based upon said measured vehicle speed and said measured steering force; and adjusting said power assist device of said power steering system to meet said required steering assist value.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for controlling a steering assist device of a power steering system of an automotive vehicle having a pair of steerable roadwheels, comprising the steps of: measuring the speed of said vehicle; measuring the steering force required to turn said roadwheels of said vehicle; determining a required steering assist value based upon said measured vehicle speed and said measured steering force; and adjusting said power assist device of said power steering system to meet said required steering assist value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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