CONTROL STRATEGY FOR OPERATING A LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL

摘要

A drive train having a locking differential and a control unit for controlling operation of the locking differential. The control unit is responsive to selected vehicle characteristics to sua sponte activate or inactivate a locking mechanism of the locking differential to cause the locking differential to operate in a locked manner or an unlocked manner, respectively. A method for operating a locking differential is also provided. The method includes: utilizing only preselected vehicle criteria indicative of the operational state of the vehicle to identify a situation in which a locking mechanism associated with the locking differential is to be energized; and responsively energizing the locking mechanism.

主权项

1. A drive train for a vehicle, the drive train comprising:
a first locking differential having a first locking mechanism; and a control unit for controlling operation of the first locking differential, the control unit being responsive to selected vehicle characteristics to sua sponte activate the first locking mechanism of the first locking differential to cause the first locking differential to operate in a locked manner when the selected vehicle characteristics are within predefined first limits, wherein the predefined first limits includes: (i) throttle position less than or equal to 12% of full throttle, (ii) steering wheel angle less than or equal to 1.57 rad if the vehicle is traveling in a forward direction and less than or equal to 0.78 rad if the vehicle is traveling in a reverse direction, (iii) slip of at least one wheel greater than or equal to 0.35 m/s and less than or equal to 2.00 m/s, (iv) vehicle acceleration greater than or equal to 1.2 m/s2 and less than or equal to 20 m/s2, (v) vehicle speed less than or equal to 8.9 m/s, and (vi) vehicle yaw less than or equal to 0.2 rad/sec,the control unit being further responsive to the selected vehicle characteristics to sua sponte inactivate the first locking mechanism of the first locking differential to cause the first locking differential to operate in an unlocked manner when the selected vehicle characteristics are not within predefined second limits, wherein the predefined second limits includes
(i) throttle position less than or equal to 12% of full throttle, (ii) steering wheel angle less than or equal to 1.57 rad if the vehicle is traveling in a forward direction and less than or equal to 0.78 rad if the vehicle is traveling in a reverse direction, (iii) slip of at least one wheel greater than or equal to 0.35 m/s and less than or equal to 2.00 m/s, (iv) vehicle acceleration greater than or equal to 1.2 m/s2 and less than or equal to 20 m/s2, (v) vehicle speed less than or equal to 8.9 m/s, and (vi) vehicle yaw less than or equal to 0.2 rad/sec.