Patent ID: 6512972
Filing Date: 2003-01-28
Classification: B60K

Abstract:
A vehicle trailer tow method employed with a vehicle having a four wheel drive system with a primary and a secondary driveline, the method comprising the steps of:detecting the four wheel drive system is in a mode which allows for torque adjustment between the primary driveline and the secondary driveline; detecting an amount of torque demand; detecting a rotational velocity of a component of the primary driveline; detecting a rotational velocity of a component of the secondary driveline; conducting a plurality of tests to determine if preselected parameters exceed corresponding predetermined thresholds, employing the torque demand, the rotational velocity of the component of the primary driveline and the rotational velocity of the component of the secondary driveline; repeating the tests over a predetermined time interval; and detecting a trailer tow event if the parameters each exceed the corresponding predetermined threshold over the predetermined time interval.