Vehicle Axle Control for Reversing Maneuverability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control systems fail to efficiently manage lifting axles and steered axles to comply with regulations that reduce road and bridge wear, particularly in heavy vehicles, and do not enhance maneuverability during reversing.
Innovation Solution
A programmable control device that automatically lowers lifting axles and unlocks steered axles during reversing, and raises or locks them during forward travel, based on predefined conditions such as vehicle weight and speed, to distribute load and improve maneuverability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the lifting axle is lowered during reversing, then the loading on roads and bridges is reduced and maneuverability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to automatic control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically detects reversing operation through sensor signals and autonomously activates the lifting axle lowering and steered axle unlocking without requiring manual operator input. The system serves itself by monitoring its own operational state and making appropriate control decisions, thereby reducing the need for complex manual control interfaces while achieving the desired load reduction and maneuverability improvement.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is pre-programmed with the logic to lower the lifting axle and unlock the steered axle before reversing begins or at the onset of reversing detection. By preparing the axle configuration in advance based on predicted reversing needs, the system reduces road loading and optimizes maneuverability from the start of the reversing operation, avoiding the need for complex real-time adjustments during maneuvering.
2Ease of operation
If the steered axle is unlocked during reversing, then vehicle maneuverability is improved, but the reliability decreases due to potential incorrect control
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors reversing status through dedicated sensors and provides feedback to the control unit. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that the steered axle unlocking and lifting axle lowering are activated only when reversing is actually detected, preventing incorrect control activation during forward travel or stationary conditions. The feedback loop validates the operational context before executing control actions, thereby maintaining reliability while improving maneuverability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical control of the steered axle locking mechanism with an automated electronic control system. The electronic control unit processes sensor signals and actuates the unlocking mechanism through electrical signals, eliminating the need for manual operator judgment and reducing the risk of incorrect control. This substitution of mechanical manual operation with automated electronic control enhances reliability while maintaining improved maneuverability during reversing.
Data Source
AI summary
A control method is provided for a vehicle, especially a utility vehicle trailer, that has at least one lifting axle that can be lowered and raised in a controllable manner and/or at least one steered axle that can be locked and unlocked in a controllable manner, and that also has a control device operable to control the lifting axle and/or the steered axle. When the vehicle is traveling in reverse, the control device automatically generates a control signal that lowers the lifting axle, and/or automatically generates a control signal that unlocks the steered axle. The control device can be embodied as an electronic control unit having a processor suitably programmed to carry out the foregoing process steps. The control device can be incorporated into a vehicle control system for a vehicle having an anti-lock braking system or an electronically controlled braking system.