Patent ID: 7356401

Claim:
A method for protecting and managing a drivetrain system comprising: monitoring a first wheel speed for a first wheel and a second wheel speed for a second wheel wherein the first and second wheels rotate about a first common axis; monitoring a third wheel speed for a third wheel and a fourth wheel speed for a fourth wheel wherein the third and fourth wheels rotate about a second common axis defined by a drive axle; determining a wheel speed for at least one unmonitored wheel as a function of monitored wheel speeds; determining whether the third wheel is operating in a spin condition, a slip condition, or a no-spin condition based on the first, second, third, and fourth wheel speeds; determining whether the fourth wheel is operating in a spin condition, a slip condition, or a no-spin condition based on the first, second, third, and fourth wheel speeds; determining if a spin threshold is exceeded when at least one of the unmonitored wheels, the third wheel, and the fourth wheels is in the spin condition; and generating a control signal to control wheel speed by controlling input torque into the drive axle when the spin threshold is exceeded.