Patent US4731747A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4941365A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4941365A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Device for determining the mass of a motor vehicle
Assignee: Daimler Benz AG
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Filing: 1989-11-14
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Granted: 1990-07-17
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Expires: 2009-11-14
Abstract
Abstract Device for determining the mass of a motor vehicle by determining the running resistance of the vehicle with the clutch in the drive train disengaged, and by repeatedly determining the torque of the engine and, at the same time, repeatedly measuring the vehicle acceleration with the clutch engaged and by taking into account the ratio of the transmission, an average value of the vehicle mass can be determined with a high degree of accuracy.
Inventors
- 👤 Klaus Reiner
- 👤 Heinz Rieker
- 👤 Josef Stoll
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:22
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60T; B60T8/00; B60T8/18; B60T8/32; B60T8/58; F; F16; F16H; F16H59/00; F16H59/50; F16H59/52; G; G01; G01G; G01G19/00; G01G19/02; G01G19/03; G01G19/035; G01G19/08; G01G19/086; B60T2250/00; B60T2250/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
256 words
Device for determining the mass of a motor vehicle utilizing signal transmitters for vehicle engine torque, signal transmitters for vehicle speed and acceleration, signal transmitters for indicating engagement states of a clutch between the vehicle engine and vehicle drive train and a computer evaluating the signals from these signal transmitters; wherein, during a first operating vehicle phase and with the clutch disengaged, the computer determines a coefficient for the running resistance of the vehicle in accordance with the equation f.sub.E =b.sub.a /g, in which f E =a coefficient dependent on the running resistance b a =the acceleration value of the vehicle with the clutch disengaged g=gravitational acceleration; wherein during a second operating vehicle phase with the clutch engaged, the computer repeatedly determines values for the acceleration of the vehicle; wherein the computer then repeatedly determines a value correlated with the mass of the vehicle by forming a quotient of engine torque, determined repeatedly during the second operating phase, and a quantity dependent on the difference between a vehicle acceleration value and the vehicle coefficient of running resistance; wherein a signal transmitter device reproduces the particular ratio of the transmission; and wherein the computer calculates a value m Ei correlated with the vehicle mass according to ##EQU3## in which b ei =acceleration values of the vehicle with the clutch engaged η=the efficiency of the drive train i G =ratio of the transmission r=dynamic rolling radius of the drive wheels J M =moment of inertia of the engine M Mi =values of the drive torques and engine torques.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
256 words
Device for determining the mass of a motor vehicle utilizing signal transmitters for vehicle engine torque, signal transmitters for vehicle speed and acceleration, signal transmitters for indicating engagement states of a clutch between the vehicle engine and vehicle drive train and a computer evaluating the signals from these signal transmitters; wherein, during a first operating vehicle phase and with the clutch disengaged, the computer determines a coefficient for the running resistance of the vehicle in accordance with the equation f.sub.E =b.sub.a /g, in which f E =a coefficient dependent on the running resistance b a =the acceleration value of the vehicle with the clutch disengaged g=gravitational acceleration; wherein during a second operating vehicle phase with the clutch engaged, the computer repeatedly determines values for the acceleration of the vehicle; wherein the computer then repeatedly determines a value correlated with the mass of the vehicle by forming a quotient of engine torque, determined repeatedly during the second operating phase, and a quantity dependent on the difference between a vehicle acceleration value and the vehicle coefficient of running resistance; wherein a signal transmitter device reproduces the particular ratio of the transmission; and wherein the computer calculates a value m Ei correlated with the vehicle mass according to ##EQU3## in which b ei =acceleration values of the vehicle with the clutch engaged η=the efficiency of the drive train i G =ratio of the transmission r=dynamic rolling radius of the drive wheels J M =moment of inertia of the engine M Mi =values of the drive torques and engine torques.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
Device according to claim 1, wherein a brake-signal transmitter is provided to input into the computer when vehicle brakes are being applied and wherein the computer ignores signals from the other signal transmitters when a signal from the brake-signal transmitter is received.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
Device according to claim 2, wherein the acceleration values b a , b ei are determined by the computer through successive speed measurements and by forming difference quotients from the difference between two speed values measured at different moments and the time interval of the two measurements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
Device according to claim 3, wherein characteristic data of the vehicle engine are stored in the computer and wherein the computer can assign the particular engine torque M Mi in response to a signal representing the amount of fuel fed to the engine and the stored characteristic data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
Device according to claim 3, wherein the computer only considers signals representing the acceleration b a , b ei values below a vehicle limiting speed in order to reduce the influence of the air resistance of the vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
Device according to claim 2, wherein the computer determines the gear ratio of the transmission in response to a signal from a revolution transmitter arranged on an input side of the transmission and a signal from a revolution transmitter arranged on the output side of the transmission.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
Device according to claim 6, wherein characteristic data of the vehicle engine are stored in the computer and wherein the computer can assign the particular engine torque M Mi in response to a signal representing the amount of fuel fed to the engine and the stored characteristic data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
Device according to claim 2, wherein characteristic data of the vehicle engine are stored in the computer and wherein the computer can assign the particular engine torque M Mi in response to a signal representing the amount of fuel fed to the engine and the stored characteristic data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
Device according to claim 1, wherein the acceleration values b a , b ei are determined by the computer through successive speed measurements and by forming difference quotients from the difference between two speed values measured at different moments and the time interval of the two measurements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
Device according to claim 9, wherein the computer determines the gear ratio of the transmission in response to a signal from a revolution transmitter arranged on an input side of the transmission and a signal from a revolution transmitter arranged on the output side of the transmission.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
Device according to claim 10, wherein characteristic data of the vehicle engine are stored in the computer and wherein the computer can assign the particular engine torque M Mi in response to a signal representing the amount of fuel fed to the engine and the stored characteristic data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
Device according to claim 9, wherein characteristic data of the vehicle engine are stored in the computer and wherein the computer can assign the particular engine torque M Mi in response to a signal representing the amount of fuel fed to the engine and the stored characteristic data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
Device according to claim 9, wherein the computer only considers signals representing the acceleration b a , b ei values below a vehicle limiting speed in order to reduce the influence of the air resistance of the vehicle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
Device according to claim 1, wherein the computer determines the gear ratio of the transmission in response to a signal from a revolution transmitter arranged on an input side of the transmission and a signal from a revolution transmitter arranged on the output side of the transmission.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
Device according to claim 14, wherein characteristic data of the vehicle engine are stored in the computer and wherein the computer can assign the particular engine torque M Mi in response to a signal representing the amount of fuel fed to the engine and the stored characteristic data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
Device according to claim 14, wherein the computer only considers signals representing the acceleration b a , b ei values below a vehicle limiting speed in order to reduce the influence of the air resistance of the vehicle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
Device according to claim 1, wherein characteristic data of the vehicle engine are stored in the computer and wherein the computer can assign the particular engine torque M Mi in response to a signal representing the amount of fuel fed to the engine and the stored characteristic data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
Device according to claim 17, wherein the computer additionally takes into account the rate of revolutions of the engine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
Device according to claim 17, wherein the computer only considers signals representing the acceleration b a , b ei values below a vehicle limiting speed in order to reduce the influence of the air resistance of the vehicle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
Device according to claim 1, wherein the computer only considers signals representing the acceleration b a , b ei values below a vehicle limiting speed in order to reduce the influence of the air resistance of the vehicle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-07-16 | 1994-01-15 | 1994-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-07-16 | 1998-01-15 | 1998-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-07-16 | 2002-01-15 | 2002-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |