Patent · US Expired

Differential control system for four-wheel drive vehicle

US5178231A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
11References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 18, 1991
Grant dateJan 12, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 18, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60K23/0808
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A four-wheel drive vehicle has a center differential which transmits the output torque of a power plant to both front and rear wheels in such a manner as to permit the front and rear wheels to rotate at different speeds. A differential control system has a differential rotation limit member which acts on the center differential to limit differential rotation of the front and rear wheels to a degree which is determined according to the difference in rotational speed between the front and rear wheels. The degree of limitation on the differential rotation of the wheels is determined according to the difference in rotational speed between the front and rear wheels based on first characteristics when the rotational speed of the front wheels is higher than that of the rear wheels and based on second characteristics when the rotational speed of the rear wheels is higher than that of the front wheels. The first and second characteristics are set separately from each other.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.