Anti-tire smoke introduction system for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A tire smoke introduction prevention system for a motor vehicle, comprising tire smoke condition characteristics and a controller. When the likelihood of tire smoke generation exceeds a predetermined level or probability, the tire smoke condition characteristics may be adapted to generate a warning signal. The controller is adapted to respond to such a warning signal and cause the climate control system of the motor vehicle to enter a recirculation mode. A related method for preventing the introduction of tire smoke into the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle is also provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure generally relates to the field of motor vehicle equipment, and more particularly, to a system adapted to prevent tire smoke from being introduced into the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle when operating conditions or driving maneuvers have a tendency to generate tire smoke due to wheel spin. Background Art

[0002] During certain driving maneuvers and under certain operating conditions, the driven wheels of a motor vehicle experience a significant amount of wheel spin, which has a tendency to generate tire smoke. For example, line-lock operations, burnouts, drifting, and spinning can generate enough tire smoke to engulf the motor vehicle in a cloud of tire smoke. This tire smoke has a tendency to be introduced into the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and / or the storage compartment of the motor vehicle through the fresh air intake door of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and / or the extraction door of the air extractor. The resulting tire smoke residue can settle on various surfaces inside the motor vehicle, including, for example, the dashboard, the center console, the seats, and even along the surface of the headliner. In addition, some tire smoke residue may coat the inner surface of the HVAC system ducts, where it cannot be easily removed from the surface and may generate odors when the HVAC system is operated by discharging from the ducts.

[0003] This disclosure relates to a tire smoke prevention and introduction system for a motor vehicle that reduces and substantially eliminates the introduction of tire smoke into the passenger compartment and storage compartment of the motor vehicle. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In accordance with the objects and benefits described herein, a new and improved tire smoke prevention and introduction system for a motor vehicle is provided. The tire smoke prevention and introduction system includes: (a) a tire smoke condition feature that monitors the likelihood of tire smoke generation; and (b) a controller that is adapted to respond to the tire smoke condition feature and place the climate control system of the motor vehicle into a recirculation mode. In at least one possible embodiment, the tire smoke condition feature generates a warning signal, and the controller responds to the warning signal.

[0005] For the purposes of this disclosure, the term "tire smoke condition feature" refers to any device or controller associated with a driving mode or driving condition of a motor vehicle that can generate tire smoke and any sensor adapted to detect or monitor tire smoke or tire smoke generation.

[0006] In some embodiments, the tire smoke condition feature may include a tire smoke sensor. In some embodiments, the tire smoke condition feature may include a driving mode control device.

[0007] Tire smoke situation characteristics can include a line lock actuator. For the purposes of this document, a "line lock actuator" is a button, switch, or other switching device adapted to allow a driver of a motor vehicle to engage the front wheel brakes and hold the motor vehicle in line while the rear tires that are burning rubber are spinning.

[0008] Tire smoke situation characteristics can also include a drift mode actuator. For the purposes of this document, a "drift mode actuator" is a button, switch, or other switching device adapted to allow a driver of a motor vehicle to spin the tires and cause the motor vehicle to drift around a corner. Additionally, tire smoke situation characteristics can include a simple actuator to allow an operator to enter the operation of the anti-tire smoke introduction system at any desired time by simply manipulating the actuator.

[0009] Tire smoke situation characteristics can detect any "Excessive Tire Smoke Situation", such as but not necessarily limited to line lock, launch control, entered drift mode (detected excessive yaw), rear wheel speed higher than front wheel speed, and brakes locked while the vehicle is moving. Tire smoke situation characteristics can use the relative wheel speed comparison between driven wheels and non-driven wheels to determine slip. Additionally, tire smoke situation characteristics can use yaw rate error (understeer or oversteer detection) to determine wheel slip.

[0010] Tire smoke situation characteristics can also compare engine torque and / or wheel speed to vehicle acceleration to infer tire slip by determining that the acceleration rate is less than the acceleration rate that would be associated with a "zero wheel slip" situation.

[0011] In the case where the motor vehicle includes an HVAC or climate control system, the anti-tire smoke introduction system can further include: a fresh air intake door for the HVAC or climate control system; and a door actuator for shifting the fresh air intake door to a first closed position.

[0012] Additionally, the anti-tire smoke introduction system can further include: an air extractor door; and an extractor door actuator for shifting the air extractor door to a second closed position. Thus, when the anti-tire smoke introduction system is activated, the door actuator can close the fresh air intake door, and the extractor door actuator can close the air extractor door to prevent the introduction of tire smoke into the passenger compartment and storage compartment or trunk of the motor vehicle.

[0013] According to another aspect, there is provided a method for preventing tire smoke from entering the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. The method includes the steps of: generating a warning signal when the likelihood of tire smoke generation exceeds a predetermined level based on tire smoke condition characteristics; and causing the climate control system of the motor vehicle to enter a recirculation mode in response to the warning signal by a controller.

[0014] In addition, the method may include the steps of: generating a warning signal by a tire smoke sensor. The method may further include the steps of: generating a warning signal by a driving mode control device. The method may include the steps of: generating a warning signal by a line lock actuator. The method may include: generating a warning signal by a drift mode actuator.

[0015] In addition, the method may include the steps of: shifting a fresh air inlet door to a closed position by a controller. Additionally, the method may include the steps of: shifting an extractor door to a closed position.

[0016] In the following description, several preferred embodiments of a tire smoke prevention system and related methods for preventing tire smoke from entering the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle are shown and described. It should be recognized that the tire smoke prevention system and related methods can have other different embodiments, and several details thereof can be modified in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the system and methods as set forth and described in the claims. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Description of the Drawings

[0017] The drawings incorporated herein and forming a part of this specification illustrate several aspects of a tire smoke prevention system and related methods for preventing tire smoke from entering the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, and are used in conjunction with the description to explain certain of its principles.

[0018] Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of a tire smoke prevention system.

[0019] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a possible control logic flowchart of the tire smoke prevention system shown in

[0020] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention of a tire smoke prevention system and a method for preventing tire smoke from entering the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, examples of which are shown in the drawings. Detailed Description

[0021] Now refer to Figure 1, which schematically shows a new and improved anti-tire-smoke-introduction system 10, and the anti-tire-smoke-introduction system 10 is adapted to prevent tire smoke from being introduced into the passenger compartment and the storage compartment or trunk of a motor vehicle. As Figure 1 shown, the anti-tire-smoke-introduction system 10 includes a tire-smoke condition feature, which is generally denoted by reference numeral 12, and the tire-smoke condition feature monitors the likelihood of tire smoke generation. In at least one possible embodiment, the tire-smoke condition feature 12 generates a warning signal when the likelihood of tire smoke generation exceeds a predetermined level. Additionally, the anti-tire-smoke-introduction system 10 includes a controller 14, and the controller 14 is adapted to respond to the tire-smoke condition feature 12. In at least one possible embodiment, the controller 14 is adapted to respond to a warning signal from the tire-smoke condition feature 12 and cause the HVAC or climate control system (not shown) of the motor vehicle to enter a recirculation mode. In the recirculation mode, the interior passenger compartment air is recirculated through the passenger compartment, and fresh air is prevented from being introduced or led into the passenger compartment in a manner described in more detail below.

[0022] The controller 14 may include a computing device, such as a dedicated microprocessor or an electronic control unit (ECU), which operates according to instructions from appropriate control software. The controller 14 may include one or more processors, one or more memories, and one or more network interfaces. It should be understood that all of these processors, memories, and network interfaces can communicate with each other via a communication bus.

[0023] As Figure 1 shown, the tire-smoke condition feature 12 may include one or more of the following: (a) a sensor 16, such as a tire-smoke sensor, (b) an actuator 18, such as a line-lock actuator, a drift-mode actuator, or a simple tire-smoke-condition-feature actuator to allow activation of the anti-tire-smoke-introduction system as needed at any time, and (c) a drive-mode control device 20, such as a powertrain control module (PCM) that may be provided to allow a motor vehicle operator to select the type of motor vehicle operation in a drift mode. Such a PCM can be found in the 2017 Ford Focus RS.

[0024] As Figure 1 further shown in, the anti-tire-smoke-introduction system 10 may further include an air extractor 22, and the air extractor 22 includes an air extractor door 24 and an extractor door actuator 26 for closing the air extractor door 24. As is known in the art, such an air extractor 22 allows the air pressure inside the passenger compartment to equalize with the surrounding environment and is used to prevent wind throb when driving a motor vehicle with the windows open and / or reduce the workload when closing the doors of a motor vehicle with the windows closed.

[0025] Also as Figure 1 shown, the tire smoke intrusion prevention system 10 may further include: a fresh air intake door 28 for allowing an HVAC or climate control system to introduce fresh air into the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle; and a door actuator 30 for overriding the HVAC or climate control system of the fresh air intake door 28 and closing the door to prevent tire smoke from being introduced into the HVAC ducts and the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

[0026] The tire smoke intrusion prevention system 10 can be used in a method for preventing tire smoke from being introduced into the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. The method may include the steps of: (a) generating a warning signal by the tire smoke condition feature 12 when the likelihood of tire smoke generation exceeds a predetermined level or likelihood; and (b) causing the climate control system of the motor vehicle to enter a recirculation mode in response to the warning signal by the controller 14.

[0027] More specifically, the method may include the steps of: generating the warning signal by the tire smoke sensor 16. The method may include generating the warning signal by the driving mode control device 20. The method may include generating the warning signal by means of the actuator 18. The actuator may be in the form of, for example, a line lock actuator, a drift mode actuator, or a simple switch system actuator to allow the operator to activate the tire smoke intrusion prevention system at any desired time. When activated, the tire smoke intrusion prevention system 10 closes the fresh air intake door 28 to prevent fresh air and tire smoke from being introduced into the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle through the HVAC or climate control system. In addition, the tire smoke intrusion prevention system 10 closes the air extractor door 24 to prevent air and tire smoke from being drawn into the storage compartment of the motor vehicle.

[0028] Therefore, it should be understood that the method may be further described as including the steps of: shifting the fresh air intake door 28 to a closed position by the controller 14 and the door actuator 30. Additionally, the method may include the steps of: shifting the extractor door 24 to a closed position by the controller 14 and the extractor door actuator 26.

[0029] The method may further include the steps of: determining an actual wheel slip and comparing the actual wheel slip with a predetermined wheel slip value by the controller 14. If the actual wheel slip exceeds a predetermined threshold, the fresh air intake door 28 and the extractor door 24 are closed.

[0030] The actual wheel slip can be determined in a number of ways. For example, the method can include the steps of: comparing, by the controller 14, the driven wheel speed with the non-driven wheel speed to determine wheel slip. In another example, the method can include the steps of: using the yaw rate error, i.e., performing understeer or oversteer detection to determine wheel slip. In yet another example, the method can include the steps of: comparing, by the controller 14, only the engine torque, only the wheel speed, or the engine torque and the wheel speed together, to determine the acceleration rate (where the acceleration rate is less than the acceleration rate that would be associated with a zero wheel slip condition), and inferring wheel slip.

[0031] Figure 2 FIG. 32 shows one possible embodiment of a control logic flowchart for a tire smoke intrusion prevention system 10. The control logic flowchart 32 is self-explanatory. The driver or motor vehicle operator sets the climate control system at block 34. At block 36, the controller 14 queries whether the motor vehicle is in an excessive tire smoking condition: i.e., whether the likelihood of tire smoke generation exceeds a predetermined level or probability. If the tire smoke condition feature 12 does not generate a warning signal, no change is made to the climate control system at block 38. Instead, in the case where the tire smoke condition feature 12 generates a warning signal, the controller 14 may send a signal to the door actuator 30 to close the fresh air intake door 28 of the HVAC or climate control system. In Figure 2 the embodiment shown, the powertrain control module (PCM) sends signals to the forward control interface module (FCIM): (a) to close the fresh air intake door 28 and specifically provide for recirculating air through the climate control system; and (b) at block 40, to close the active air extraction door 24. Then, the controller 14 waits for a predetermined period, such as 30 seconds (see block 42), and then queries again whether the motor vehicle is in an excessive tire smoke condition where the likelihood of tire smoke generation exceeds a predetermined level (see block 44). If no warning signal is received from the smoke condition feature 12, an unchanged signal is sent to the climate control system, and thus, the climate control system operates without override from the tire smoke intrusion prevention system 10, and the fresh air intake door 28 may be opened if the climate control system settings require it (see block 46). In other words, the climate control is returned to the driver-selected setting. However, if the smoke condition feature 12 generates a warning signal, the operation returns to block 40, and the air extraction door 24 and the fresh air intake door 28 remain closed.

[0032] The description of the embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are apparent in light of the above teachings. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with their fair, legal, and equitable scope.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the features of the above invention further lie in that, through the controller, the extractor door is shifted to the closed position.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the features of the above invention further lie in that it includes determining the actual wheel slip and, through the controller, comparing the actual wheel slip with a predetermined wheel slip value.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the features of the above invention further lie in that it includes comparing the speed of the driven wheels with the speed of the non-driven wheels to determine wheel slip.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the features of the above invention further lie in that it includes using the yaw rate error to determine wheel slip.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the features of the above invention further lie in that, through the controller, the engine torque and / or the wheel speed are compared with the actual vehicle acceleration to determine that the acceleration rate is less than the acceleration rate associated with the zero wheel slip condition to infer wheel slip.

Claims

1. An anti-tire-smoke introduction system for a motor vehicle, the anti-tire-smoke introduction system comprising: A tire-smoke condition feature that monitors the likelihood of tire-smoke generation to prevent the introduction of tire-smoke into the motor vehicle when there is a tendency for tire-smoke; And A controller adapted to respond to the tire-smoke condition feature and cause the climate control system of the motor vehicle to enter a recirculation mode.

2. The anti-tire-smoke introduction system according to claim 1, wherein the tire-smoke condition feature is a driving mode control device.

3. The anti-tire-smoke introduction system according to claim 1, wherein the tire-smoke condition feature is a line lock actuator.

4. The anti-tire-smoke introduction system according to claim 1, wherein the tire-smoke condition feature is a drift mode actuator.

5. The tire smoke prevention and introduction system according to claim 1, wherein the tire smoke prevention and introduction system further comprises: A fresh air intake door; And a door actuator for shifting the fresh air intake door to a first closed position.

6. The anti-tire-smoke-introduction system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the anti-tire-smoke-introduction system further comprises: An air extractor door; And an extractor door actuator for shifting the air extractor door to a second closed position.

7. The tire smoke prevention and introduction system according to claim 1, wherein the tire smoke prevention and introduction system further comprises: An air extractor door; And an extractor door actuator for shifting the air extractor door to a second closed position.

8. A method for preventing the introduction of tire-smoke into the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, the method comprising: Generating, by a tire-smoke condition feature, a warning signal when the likelihood of tire-smoke generation exceeds a predetermined level to prevent the introduction of tire-smoke into the motor vehicle when there is a tendency for tire-smoke; And By a controller, responding to the warning signal to cause the climate control system of the motor vehicle to enter a recirculation mode.

9. The method according to claim 8, the method comprising generating the warning signal by a driving mode control device.

10. The method according to claim 8, the method comprising generating the warning signal by a line lock actuator.

11. The method according to claim 8, the method comprising generating the warning signal by a drift mode actuator.

12. The method according to claim 8, the method comprising, by the controller, shifting a fresh air intake door to a closed position.

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