Patent ID: 7223204
Filing Date: 2007-05-29
Classification: B60K,B60W,F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for automatic freewheeling of a vehicle, the vehicle comprising speed-lowering means, at least one engine, at least one wheel driven by the engine via an automated stage-geared gearbox, a gas pedal for regulating the driving torque of the engine, the freewheeling being automatically activated in the presence of input signals indicating vehicle speed and gas pedal position within a predetermined swivel angle range of the gas pedal, the swivel angle range starting at a distance from a rest position of the gas pedal and extending over an angle within a total range of swivel of the gas pedal, the method comprising: deactivating activated freewheel function when a predetermined vehicle speed limit is exceeded; automatically braking the vehicle with the speed-lowering means; and reactivating freewheel function once the vehicle speed has fallen to close to equal to the predetermined vehicle speed limit.