Patent ID: 7016776
Filing Date: 2006-03-21
Classification: B60K,F16D,F16H,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling wheel slip across a differential mechanism of a motor vehicle having a steering angle and a steering direction, the differential mechanism driven by a driveshaft and having first and second rotating output shafts driveably connected to the wheels and connectable by a clutch that is activated by a magnetic field of variable strength to change a torque capacity of the clutch, the method comprising the steps of: determining the steering angle and the direction of the steering angle; determining a target speed of the output shafts that corresponds to a current driveshaft speed, steering angle and steering direction; determining the speeds of the output shafts; comparing the speeds of the output shafts and the target speeds to determine whether wheel slip is present; and in response to the comparison, adjusting the magnitude of the field strength to increase the torque capacity of the clutch and control the speed of the output shafts such that the wheel slip is reduced.