Patent classifications
B62D9/002
Motor vehicle with driven wheels on a number of axles and method for controlling same
A motor vehicle is controlled via a method, particularly for steering during a malfunction. Two wheels are arranged on a steerable axle of the motor vehicle and each can be driven by a single-wheel drive. At least one wheel is arranged on a non-steerable axle of the motor vehicle and can be driven by a wheel drive. In the event of a malfunction of one of the single-wheel drives being identified, a drive torque or a braking torque is generated with the functioning single-wheel drive of the wheel arranged on the steerable axle of the motor vehicle to steer the wheels arranged on the steerable axle in a specified direction. A drive torque or a braking torque is generated with the wheel drive of the wheel arranged on the non-steerable axle of the motor vehicle to at least partially bring about a specified longitudinal movement of the motor vehicle.
SAFETY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE LATERAL CONTROL FOR A STEER-BY-WIRE STEERING SYSTEM OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, SAFETY METHOD AND MOTOR VEHICLE
A safety system for vehicle lateral control for a Steer-by-Wire steering system of a motor vehicle with a main operating level for transmitting a steering wheel angle to at least one wheel of the motor vehicle, and with a Safety level for transmitting a steering wheel angle to at least one wheel of the motor vehicle. The safety level may be configured to become active if the main operating level fails. An emergency operating level is provided for vehicle lateral control, the emergency operating level being arranged to become active in the event of a failure of the main operating level and/or safety level.
REAR STEERING ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE
A method for steering a four-wheeled vehicle includes: determining a front wheel steering angle; determining a responsive low-speed steering angle of the two rear wheels, the responsive low-speed steering angle being (i) negative when the front wheel steering angle is positive, and (ii) positive when the front wheel steering angle is negative; determining a responsive high-speed steering angle of the two rear wheels, the responsive high-speed steering angle being (i) non-negative when the front wheel steering angle is positive, and (ii) non-positive when the front wheel steering angle is negative; determining a responsive rear wheel steering angle being a sum of the responsive low-speed and high-speed steering angles; and controlling a steering actuator to steer the two rear wheels in accordance with the responsive rear wheel steering angle.
STEERING SYSTEMS FOR LIFT TRUCKS
A lift truck (10) has a pair of wheel assemblies (21) each of which is rotatable about a pivot point (24) relative to the chassis (12) of the truck through at least 90 degrees between a forward mode and a sideward mode. The wheel (18,20) of each assembly is laterally offset from the assembly's pivot point (24), causing the wheel to describe an arcuate path over the ground as it transitions between the forward and sideward modes. During the transition, an actuator acts on each wheel assembly (21) to pivot the assembly about the pivot point (24), while drive is applied to the wheel to positively drive the wheel along the arcuate patch at a speed that matches the pivotal rotation caused by the actuator. This positive drive imparted to the wheels (18,20) during the transition prevents the truck from rolling if it is located on a slope during the change in orientation of the wheel assemblies (21).
RADIAL DIFFERENTIAL SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM
A radial differential speed control system includes a steering angle sensor for a steerable rear wheel, a pedal sensor for sensing an operator input for a desired ground speed at a reference point adjacent an operator seat, and an electronic controller that uses the desired ground speed to calculate differential speeds of a left front drive wheel and a right front drive wheel to reduce the ground speed of a grass mowing machine when the steering angle sensor indicates the steerable rear wheel is turning.
LATERAL MOTION CONTROL FOR CORNERING AND REGENERATIVE BRAKING ENERGY CAPTURE
A vehicle includes motors each configured to drive a front wheel of the vehicle, an electronic limited slip differential (eLSD) between rear wheels of the vehicle, and a controller to, responsive to vehicle turning and a power of each of the motors being less than a maximum value, alter operation of the motors to increase a difference between the powers. Otherwise, the controller operates the eLSD to bias torque toward one of the rear wheels.
AUTOMATIC TILTING VEHICLE
An automatic tilting vehicle includes a pair of wheels that are non-steering driving wheels, a braking/driving device, a vehicle tilting device, and a control device, and the control unit calculates a target tilt angle of the vehicle for tilting the vehicle turning inward and controls the vehicle tilting device so that a tilt angle of the vehicle becomes the target tilt angle. The control unit calculates target braking/driving forces of the pair of wheels based on a braking/driving operation of a driver, corrects the target braking/driving forces so that a difference between vertical forces acting on the wheels caused by the braking/driving forces of the pair of wheels is reduced, and controls the braking/driving device such that braking/driving forces of the pair of wheels becomes the corrected target braking/driving forces.
ELECTRIC OUTDOOR RIDE-ON POWER EQUIPMENT
Ride-on outdoor power equipment includes one or more batteries, one or more electric traction motors electrically connected to the one or more batteries, one or more user input devices, a plurality of sensors, and a controller in communication with the one or more batteries, the electric traction motors and the one or more user input devices, the controller configured to control the electric traction motors to operate the ride-on outdoor power equipment based on inputs received via the user input devices.
Non-Articulating Commercial Vehicle
A commercial vehicle having various GVWR configurations with a vehicle body with two or more axles, and a cab that does not pivot relative to the vehicle body, and a battery-electric-powered or hydrogen-electric-powered propulsion system. The vehicle has a center of gravity that is substantially lower, and a track width which is substantially narrower, than an articulating tractor-trailer combination with a trailer size comparable to the vehicle body of the present invention, providing substantially increased stability, and with all axles steerable, substantially improving the turning and trailing of the vehicle. Additional attributes are improved safety, increased payload weight and cubic capacity, higher productivity and lower maintenance costs. Many other advantages flow from this vehicle design.
Agricultural working machine
An agricultural working machine has a first axle and a second axle, multiple ground-engaging means disposed at the first and second axles that are at least partially drivable by a drive engine or are steerable using steering-knuckle steering, a steering-angle sensor disposed at a steerable ground-engaging means for detecting a set steering angle (.sub.th) and a steering brake for the selective braking of one or more drivable, ground-engaging means for steering support. A control unit controls and regulates the at least one steering brake based on a steering angle (.sub.th, .sub.tat) or a slip angle () of at least one of the steerable ground-engaging means.