US 12,434,708 B2
Powertrain torque control system
Ashok Eugene Rodrigues, Farmington Hills, MI (US); Richard David Bruns, Milford, MI (US); Nicholas Harris, West Bloomfield, MI (US); and Cameron Dillon, New Hudson, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Aug. 28, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/457,077.
Prior Publication US 2025/0074427 A1, Mar. 6, 2025
Int. Cl. B60W 30/188 (2012.01); B60W 10/08 (2006.01); B60W 10/16 (2012.01); F16H 48/20 (2012.01)
CPC B60W 30/188 (2013.01) [B60W 10/08 (2013.01); B60W 10/16 (2013.01); B60W 2510/083 (2013.01); B60W 2510/125 (2013.01); B60W 2510/20 (2013.01); B60W 2510/22 (2013.01); B60W 2710/083 (2013.01); B60W 2710/125 (2013.01); F16H 2048/205 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle comprising:
an electric machine configured to generate torque to propel the vehicle;
an axle having (i) a differential configured to receive torque from the electric machine and (ii) first and second half shafts configured to deliver torque from the differential to first and second wheels, respectively;
a locker configured to (i) activate to lock the differential such that the first and second half shafts are restricted to rotate in unison and (ii) deactivate to unlock the differential such that the first and second half shafts are not restricted to rotate in unison; and
a controller programmed to,
in response to (i) activation of the locker, (ii) displacement of at least one of the first and second half shafts or the first and second wheels according to a set of conditions, and (iii) a torque command to the electric machine to a desired value resulting in a torque distribution to the first and second half shafts exceeding a torque capacity of at least one of the first and second half shafts, truncate the torque of the electric machine to less than the desired value such that the torque distribution to the first and second half shafts does not exceed the torque capacity of the first or second half shafts, and
in response to (i) deactivation of the locker, (ii) displacement of at least one of the first and second half shafts according to the set of conditions, and (iii) the torque command to the electric machine to the desired value, control the torque of the electric machine to the desired value.
 
8. A vehicle comprising:
an electric machine;
first and second half shafts configured to deliver torque from the electric machine to first and second wheels, respectively; and
a controller programmed to, in response to (i) locking the first half shaft to the second half shaft, (ii) displacement of at least one of the first and second half shafts or the first and second wheels, and (iii) a torque command to the electric machine to a desired value resulting in a torque distribution to the first and second half shafts exceeding a torque capacity of at least one of the first and second half shafts, truncate the torque of the electric machine to less than the desired value such that the torque distribution to the first and second half shafts does not exceed the torque capacity of the first or second half shafts.
 
16. A vehicle comprising:
an electric machine;
first and second half shafts configured to deliver torque from the electric machine to first and second wheels, respectively; and
a controller programmed to, in response to (i) locking the first half shaft to the second half shaft, (ii) a difference between a twist of the first half shaft and a twist of the second half shaft exceeding a threshold, and (iii) a torque command to the electric machine to a desired value, truncate the torque of the electric machine to less than the desired value.