JP2000035334A - Apparatus and method for decision of inclination of running road surface - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an apparatus and a method in which the inclination value of a running road surface on which a vehicle exists can be decided as a level value and as a function of a vehicle variable by a method wherein the vehicle variable which expresses a vehicle motion and/or a vehicle state is measured and the level value inside a liquid container arranged inside the vehicle is found. SOLUTION: A decision device 13 decides a running-road-surface inclination value αwhich expresses the inclination of a running road surface on which a vehicle exists or especially a running-road-surface inclination value α which expresses the inclination of a running road surface in the longitudinal direction and/or the transverse direction with reference to the running direction of the vehicle. A measuring means 11 and a measuring means 12 measure at least one vehicle variable which expresses a vehicle motion 12 and/or a vehicle state 11. A level indication device 5a and a level indication device 5b which decide a liquid level value expressing a level inside a liquid container (a fuel storage container) are installed inside the container arranged inside the vehicle. An evaluation unit 8 is connected to the level indication devices 5a, 5b and the measuring means 11, 12, and it decides the running-road-surface inclination value α as the level value and as a function of at least one vehicle variable.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for determining a road inclination value.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Tilt sensors themselves are known from the prior art in various configurations. They are also used in other areas than vehicle technology. US Patent No. 542890
From US Pat. No. 5,064,098, a tilt sensor having a cylindrical liquid container made of a non-conductive material is known. An electrolysis measurement liquid is present in the liquid container. Electrodes arranged at the four corners of the virtual square and electrodes arranged at the center of the square project from below into the liquid container. By measuring the resistance between the outer and inner electrodes, the position of the sensor, and thus the tilt of the sensor, is determined.

[0003] DE-A 40 25 184 discloses a tilt sensor which can be used in motor vehicles, aircraft or ships. The tilt sensor has a cylindrical liquid container,
A conductive liquid is present in the liquid container. Two electrodes protrude from below into the liquid container, and the electrodes are covered with a dielectric. The electrodes and the conductive liquid form two capacitors. From the capacitance of these capacitors, the position of the sensor and thus the tilt of the sensor are determined. It has been proposed to use multiple anodes or one corresponding sensor for one direction in the same housing to determine acceleration or tilt in multiple directions.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-177117 (Japanese Patent Abstract P-1434, December 16, 1992,
Vol. 491), tilt sensors operating on the optical principle are known. This tilt sensor has a container containing an opaque liquid and two detection elements, which determine the distance to the liquid surface. From both distances the sensor tilt is determined using a geometric relationship.

The disadvantages of these tilt sensors are their complicated and expensive construction. Therefore, these sensors are not suitable for the construction of a simple and cost-effective device for determining the roadway inclination value.

[0006] Furthermore, a liquid level indicating device used in a vehicle is known from the prior art. For example, European Patent Publication No. 0
No. 3,003,874 discloses a device for determining the amount of liquid in a fuel tank provided in a vehicle. This device is 3
The liquid sensors include two liquid level sensors, and the liquid sensors are arranged at predetermined positions with respect to each other. Starting from the readings of the three level sensors, the values for the filling of the tank and for the inclination of the tank and thus of the vehicle are calculated. The inclination of the tank is taken into account in the determination of the filling quantity. The determined filling quantity is therefore independent of the inclination of the tank or the vehicle.

[0007] DE-A-197 06 683 discloses a device for measuring the relative inclination of a container with respect to the liquid level in the container. Thus, when the container in the vehicle has a rigid structure, it is possible to estimate the vehicle inclination and the vehicle acceleration. According to this embodiment, three sensors are used to determine the inclination of the container or vehicle. As the container tilts, different liquid levels are formed, and thus the sensors output correspondingly different voltages. Starting from the different voltages of the level sensor and the known geometry, the tilt signal is determined by the evaluation circuit.

[0008] By using the last two devices described above, it is possible to determine the inclination of the liquid container and thus the inclination of the vehicle. The determination of the slope of the road on which the vehicle is present or on which the vehicle is running, hereinafter referred to as the road slope or the slope, cannot be performed using either of these two devices. Moreover, if the determination of the roadway slope is made starting from the inclination of the liquid container, the determination of the roadway slope cannot be made because the movement of the vehicle must be taken into account. That is, the inclination of the vehicle is essentially formed of two parts. One part is based on the inclination of the traveling road surface. The other part is based on vehicle motion, for example, whether the vehicle motion is accelerating or braking (non-motion) or steering (coasting). In both devices related to the prior art, it is not possible to determine the roadway gradient using these devices, since the variables representing the vehicle motion described above are not available within the range of the vehicle tilt determination.
The reason is that vehicle movement cannot be excluded from vehicle inclination.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method which enable the determination of the roadway slope value and thus the slope of the roadway on which the vehicle is present.

[0010]

It should be noted that when the liquid container is fixedly connected to the vehicle, the inclination of the liquid container corresponds to the inclination of the vehicle or of the liquid contained in the liquid container. is there.

[0011] The device according to the invention for determining a roadway slope value representing the slope of the roadway on which the vehicle is located comprises a measuring means for measuring at least one vehicle variable representing vehicle movement and / or vehicle condition. Including. The roadway slope value advantageously represents the roadway slope in a longitudinal and / or transverse direction relative to the vehicle travel direction.

[0012] The device according to the invention comprises a liquid container containing a liquid, arranged in a vehicle. In this case, a fuel storage container is advantageously used. Protruding from the liquid container is at least one liquid level indicating device for determining a liquid level value representing the liquid level in the liquid container. Furthermore, the device according to the invention comprises an evaluation unit to which the level indicator and the measuring means are coupled.

In the evaluation unit, the roadway slope value is advantageously determined as a function of the liquid level value and at least one vehicle variable. The device according to the invention has the decisive advantage that a very large number of vehicles can utilize the components already equipped. Therefore, for example, a liquid level indicating device existing in each vehicle is used.
As measuring means, measuring means which are likewise already present in the vehicle are used in equipment of the vehicle with a corresponding slip control device. The device according to the invention can therefore be implemented in vehicles with corresponding devices or means without the need for higher costs.

By using components known from the prior art, the device according to the invention has a rigid structure and operates reliably and accurately. According to the invention, it can be seen that a liquid container with a liquid level indicating device already present in the vehicle can be used to detect the roadway inclination. These liquid containers must be adapted to the detection of roadway inclination.
For this, one or more level sensors already present in the liquid container, or even additional level sensors, need to be coupled to the evaluation unit.

From the inclination of the vehicle corresponding to the inclination of the liquid container, the value of the roadway slope, and thus the roadway slope, can be determined when corresponding vehicle variables representing vehicle movement and / or vehicle condition are detected. The inclination of the road surface, also called the inclination of the road surface base, is important as information for detecting vehicle conditions and controlling predetermined vehicle functions.
The information on the road surface inclination is important, in particular, in the detection of the mass of the truck, and in this case, in particular, in the control of the coupling force. Further, information on the road surface inclination is important in running dynamic characteristic control. Here, the detection of a slope curve is mentioned as a keyword (for the technical background, reference is made to DE-A-197 08 508). further,
The function for engine control (in gasoline and diesel engines) can be improved with road slope information.

With the aid of the device according to the invention, it is possible to determine the road slope in the direction of travel or in the direction transverse to the direction of travel. In which direction the road surface inclination can be determined is determined based on the number of liquid level indicating devices in the liquid container and the positioning of the liquid level indicating devices. Basically, the liquid level indicating device must not be placed at the position of the liquid container where the liquid level does not change even when the traveling road surface is inclined.

Due to the inclination of the road surface base, the liquid level in the liquid container changes direction accordingly, and the liquid level in the liquid level indicating device is changed. This change is a measure for the current road slope of the entire vehicle. In this case, it is assumed that the temporal change rate of the liquid level based on the road surface inclination is larger than the temporal change rate of the liquid level based on the instantaneous consumption of the liquid in the liquid container due to driving of the vehicle. The calculation of the rate of change of the liquid level over time is likewise performed in the evaluation unit.

Suitable liquid containers include, for example, a container for brake fluid, a container for coolant, or a container for disc cleaning fluid. It is also conceivable to use more than one container of the vehicle for determining the inclination of the vehicle. At this time, the measurement results of the individual devices can be compared with each other and their validity can be checked.

Due to the selection of a suitable liquid container, the respective liquid does not fill the entire liquid container, so that the liquid surface is positioned relative to the liquid container when the roadway base is inclined. It is important that you can change. Ideally, the liquid container has a symmetrical cuboid shape, such as is present in the case of trucks, for example, and the liquid level can be changed without obstruction in the liquid container in response to the slope inclination. . The mathematical relationship for such a container shape will be described in detail below, and the evaluation device determines the road surface inclination of the traveling road surface base based on the mathematical relationship. For other container shapes, the corresponding relationships to be determined individually (and therefore experimentally) must be determined. This is also true for filling levels where the liquid level cannot change direction freely in response to road slope.

[0020] The liquid container is advantageously formed as a fuel storage container, which will be referred to herein as a fuel tank. The fuel tank is usually already provided with a level indicator, which can be used within the scope of the device according to the invention. The level indicator must also be connected to the evaluation unit. In this way, it is possible to determine the inclination of the roadway base of the motor vehicle with particularly low technical costs and at a low price.

The accuracy and reliability of the device according to the invention
According to an advantageous variant of the invention, the device is greatly improved by having means for damping the splash movement of the liquid in the liquid container. The braking means for this splash movement can be formed in various ways.

Advantageously, the damping means of the splash movement is formed as a lining of a liquid container with a porous material. The present invention provides, according to another advantageous embodiment,
It is proposed that the braking means be formed as a braking material surrounding the liquid level indicating device and having a throttle bore. According to another advantageous embodiment, the damping material is formed as a damping material with a lining made of a porous material surrounding the level indicator.

According to the invention, the liquid level value is evaluated as a function of the driving state in order to determine the roadway inclination value. The additional movement of the liquid in the liquid container based on various driving conditions can be analyzed in advance based on driving experiments or by theoretical evaluation. In order to take into account the driving conditions in the determination of the roadway inclination value, at least one vehicle variable representing the vehicle movement and / or the vehicle conditions is taken into account in the evaluation unit. For the measurement of this vehicle variable, the device according to the invention comprises measuring means.
These measuring means may be means for measuring a value representing the acceleration of the vehicle and / or for measuring a value representing the steering angle of the vehicle and / or for measuring a value representing the speed of the individual wheels. And / or means for measuring a value representative of a vehicle braking condition and / or means for measuring a value representative of an engine condition.

The means for measuring a value representative of the acceleration of the vehicle include acceleration in the direction of travel, ie, longitudinal acceleration, or acceleration transverse to the direction of travel, ie, lateral acceleration based on the curve running or coasting of the vehicle. Is measured. The longitudinal acceleration can be determined, for example, based on engine torque (fuel injection amount) or from wheel rotational speed determined by a wheel speed sensor. The lateral acceleration can be measured by, for example, a lateral acceleration sensor. At this time, the vehicle acceleration is considered in determining the road surface inclination such that the inclination of the liquid in the liquid container is corrected by an inclination value formed by the acceleration.

Instead of or in addition to the acceleration of the vehicle, the steering angle determined by the steering angle sensor and / or the state of the brake, and / or the condition of the brake, in order to take into account the vehicle situation in the determination of the roadway inclination value. Or the state of the institution can also be used in the evaluation unit. Information on the state of the brake can be generated, for example, by a brake slip control integrated in the vehicle. Similarly, information about the state of the engine can be generated by a drive slip control integrated in the vehicle.

The means for measuring acceleration naturally also measures the deceleration of the motor vehicle. The vehicle deceleration can likewise be taken into account in determining the road slope.
As an alternative, the brake pressure may be evaluated for measuring the vehicle deceleration.

If the road inclination is to be determined only in the direction of travel, it is ideal that the level indicator is symmetrically arranged with respect to the width of the liquid container. To this end, the present invention provides, in an advantageous variant, that one level indicator protrudes into the liquid container and that the level indicator is positioned on the horizontal central axis of the liquid container extending in the direction of travel, the vertical center of the liquid container. It is proposed that they are arranged at a predetermined distance from the axis. This minimizes the effects of measurements in a direction transverse to the direction of travel, based on the inclination of the vehicle or road surface, or based on the acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle.

If the road surface inclination only in the transverse direction to the direction of travel is to be determined, it is ideal that the level indicator is arranged symmetrically with respect to the length of the liquid container. For this purpose, the present invention provides, according to an advantageous variant, that one
The two liquid level indicating devices protrude, and the liquid level indicating devices are arranged on the horizontal center axis of the liquid container extending in the transverse direction to the traveling direction.
It is proposed that they are arranged at a predetermined distance from the vertical central axis of the liquid container. This minimizes the effects of measuring the direction of travel based on the inclination of the vehicle or the road surface, or on the acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle.

In the device according to the invention described above, provided with only one level indicator, the level indicator which is present for successive time steps in the evaluation unit for determining the roadway slope value. Preferably, the value of the liquid level value determined by the device is evaluated. For this, two successive time steps are used. This method corresponds to a relative measurement, since a temporal change of the liquid level value is required for the determination of the roadway slope value.

[0030] Of these liquid level indicating devices provided with two liquid level indicating devices, one of the liquid level indicating devices determines the road surface inclination in the running direction, and the other liquid level indicating device is lateral to the running direction. Obviously, a device for determining the slope of the road, which determines the slope of the roadway base of the vehicle, is also conceivable.

According to an advantageous variant of the invention, two level indicating devices protrude into the liquid container, and these level indicating devices are positioned on a horizontal central axis of the liquid container extending in the direction of travel, relative to each other. It is proposed that they are arranged at an interval of. These liquid level indicating devices are symmetrically arranged in the width direction of the liquid container. In this way, the road surface inclination only in the traveling direction can be determined. Thus, the effect of measurements based on the inclination of the vehicle transverse to the direction of travel is minimized. With such a sensor device, the absolute value of the inclination of the vehicle at each time can be determined.

If the road surface inclination only in the transverse direction to the running direction is to be determined, it is ideal that the liquid level indicating device is symmetrically arranged in the length direction of the liquid container. For this purpose, the present invention provides an advantageous variant in which two level indicator devices project into the liquid container, which are positioned on the horizontal central axis of the liquid container extending transversely to the direction of travel. , Are arranged at predetermined intervals relative to each other. In this way, it is possible to determine the road surface inclination only in the lateral direction with respect to the traveling direction. Thus, the influence of measurements based on the inclination of the vehicle in the direction of travel is minimized.

In both of the above-mentioned methods, the determination of the roadway slope value requires two evaluation units.
The value of the liquid level value determined by the two liquid level indicating devices is evaluated. This method corresponds to an absolute measurement, since the absolute value of the liquid level value is required for the determination of the roadway slope value. In this case, the spatial change of the liquid level is evaluated.

In the device according to the invention described above, which has two liquid level indicating devices, the angle of inclination of the liquid surface is independent of the shape of the liquid container. A vehicle having four liquid level indicating devices, one pair of which determines the road surface inclination in the traveling direction and the other pair which determines the road surface inclination in the transverse direction to the traveling direction. Obviously, a device for determining the inclination of the roadway base is also conceivable.

In order to be able to determine the inclination of the road surface base of the motor vehicle not only in the direction of travel but also transversely to the direction of travel, the inclination of the liquid surface relative to the liquid container must be spatially Must be decided. The position of an arbitrary liquid level spread in the space can be determined by the three measurement points. On the basis of this, the invention proposes, according to a further advantageous embodiment, in the liquid container, three level indicator devices which are arranged at a predetermined distance and are offset from one another.

Advantageously, the roadway inclination value is supplied to an engine control and / or a transmission control and / or a driving dynamics control and / or a mass detection unit. To this end, corresponding means for transmitting the road surface inclination value to the engine control device of the vehicle, or corresponding means for transmitting to the transmission control device, or corresponding means for transmitting to the driving dynamic characteristic control device, or Corresponding means for transmitting to the mass detection unit are provided. In this way, the additional information of the roadway slope value can significantly improve the engine control, the driving dynamics control or the mass detection unit.

It is another object to provide a method for determining a roadway slope value which is carried out in the device according to the invention. Hereinafter, two preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0038]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Two preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an overall device 1 for determining a roadway inclination value according to the invention. The determining device 1 has a liquid container 2 arranged in a motor vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the liquid container 2 is formed as an automotive fuel tank. The liquid 3 is filled in the liquid container 2. In order to brake the splash movement of the liquid 3 in the liquid container 2, the liquid container 2
Is covered with a porous material (lining) 4. However, it is also conceivable to arrange thin metal plates, so-called baffles, in order to dampen the splash movement of the liquid 3 in the liquid container 2.

A liquid level indicating device 5 projects from below into the liquid container 2, and a liquid level value indicating the liquid level in the liquid container 2 is determined by the liquid level indicating device 5. However, the liquid level indicating device 5 may be fixed to the upper part of the liquid container 2 and protrude into the liquid container 2 from above. At the same time, in order to dampen the splash movement of the liquid 3 in the liquid container 2, the level indicator 5 is surrounded by a damping material (not shown) provided with a lining made of a porous material. The liquid level indicating device 5 is arranged at a certain distance l ₁ from the inner wall of the liquid container 2.

The liquid level of the liquid 2 changes due to the inclination of the road surface, that is, the inclination of the traveling road surface on which the vehicle exists. This change Δh ′ is also a measure for the current inclination of the entire vehicle and a measure for the road inclination in consideration of vehicle movement. In this regard, it is assumed that the rate of change of the liquid level over time based on the road surface slope is greater than the rate of change of the liquid level over time based on the current withdrawal of liquid. In order to calculate the roadway slope value, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, two measured values h1 'and h2' of the level indicator 5 at different measuring times t1 and t2 are required (both measured values). h1 'and h2' are indicated by the two horizontal lines shown in broken lines in FIG. 1). For this purpose, it is advantageous for the measurement to be obtained from two successive time steps. Next, using these measured values and taking into account the geometrical shape of the liquid container 2, the roadway slope value α is calculated from the following mathematical relationship:

[0041]

(Equation 1)

In the formula (1), l is the length of the liquid container,
l1 is the distance from the edge of the liquid container of the liquid level indicating device, h1
Is the value of the liquid level value at time t1 (time t1 corresponds to the time immediately before the occurrence of the road surface inclination), and h2 is the time t2
(The time point t2 corresponds to a time point immediately after the occurrence of the slope inclination). In this case, t2> t1 holds. Using equation (1), the travel road surface inclination value α can be determined for the case where the liquid level indicating device is disposed in the liquid container.

Here, FIG. 1 shows a value Δh ′ which is given as a difference from the values of the two liquid level values h1 ′ and h2 ′ (the same applies to FIG. 2). You should be careful. The dashed lines indicate that these are the liquid level values on which both effects, the effect based on the roadway slope and the effect based on the vehicle motion, are superimposed. By means of the evaluation means 6, both values h1 'and h1'
From 2 ', a value Δh is formed which excludes the vehicle movement and has only the effect of the roadway inclination. The corresponding symbols are used for the road surface inclination value α and the vehicle inclination α ′. In equations (1) and (2), values without dashes (') are used. The reason for this is that, for the calculation of the road surface inclination value α, the values h1, h2 formed by the evaluation means 6 and excluding the influence of the vehicle motion due to the vehicle motion.
Or Δh is used.

With the device according to the invention shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to determine the road slope in only one direction, either in the direction of travel or transverse to the direction of travel. In order to be able to measure the running road surface inclination not only in the running direction but also transversely to the running direction, the use of two liquid level indicating devices is necessary. In this case, one of the two liquid level indicating devices is arranged on the horizontal central axis of the liquid container extending in the running direction at a predetermined distance from the vertical central axis of the liquid container, and the other liquid level indicating device is arranged. The device is arranged on the horizontal central axis of the liquid container extending in the transverse direction to the running direction and at a predetermined distance from the vertical central axis of the liquid container.

FIG. 2 shows a device 1 for determining a road slope value according to the invention, comprising two liquid level indicating devices 5a, 5b. Both liquid level indicating device 5a, 5b are arranged at a predetermined distance l ₀ relative. In the determination device 1 thus formed, the formula for determining the traveling road surface inclination value α is independent of the geometric shape of the liquid container 2. Furthermore, at each measurement time point, the measurement result of the height difference Δh ′ is available. The reason for this is that, unlike in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, at each measurement time the measured values for h1 ′ and h2 ′ are determined (both heights h1 ′ and h2 ′ are shown in FIG. 2). (Indicated by the dotted horizontal line). The road surface inclination value α is determined from the following mathematical relationship.

[0046]

(Equation 2)

In equation (2), l ₀ is the first and second
Is the interval between the liquid level indicating devices 5a and 5b, h1 is the value of the liquid level value in the first liquid level indicating device 5a, and h2
Is a liquid level value in the second liquid level indicating device 5b.
Using equation (2), the travel road surface inclination value α can be determined for a case where two liquid level indicating devices are arranged in the liquid container.

Another advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention comprises three level indicating devices, these level indicating devices comprising:
They are arranged in the liquid container at predetermined intervals and offset from each other. With the three liquid level indicating devices, any arbitrary spatial position on the liquid surface can be determined. Next, the traveling road surface inclination value in the traveling direction and the traveling road surface inclination value in the transverse direction to the traveling direction can be determined from the relative position of the liquid surface to the liquid container.

FIG. 3 shows a block circuit diagram for determining the roadway gradient value α, which is based on the device according to the invention shown in FIG. Liquid level indicating device 5
a and 5b continuously supply information on the liquid level in the liquid container 2 to the evaluation means 6 according to the liquid level value h1 'or h2'. At the same time, the evaluation means 6 receives from the measuring means 11 to 12 vehicle variables representing the vehicle movement and / or the vehicle state. Sensors for wheel speed, steering angle or lateral acceleration, which are contained in the measuring means 12, supply the evaluation means 6 with values taking into account the vehicle movement. From the means contained in the measuring means 11, variables representing the vehicle state are supplied to the evaluating means 6. In particular, variables representing the state of the brake (for example, an actuation signal of the brake control device or the brake pressure) or the state of the engine (for example, engine speed or engine torque) are supplied. Therefore, when calculating the value Δh in the evaluation means 6, the acceleration process, the deceleration process and / or the curve running can be taken into account. Depending on the state of the vehicle, even when there is no road surface inclination, a relative inclination position of the fuel level with respect to the fuel tank 2 is generated.
Such a gradient of the liquid level must be filtered by the evaluation means 6.

Next, the evaluation means 6 calculates
The height change Δh with the vehicle motion excluded is output and subsequently the height change Δh is determined in order to determine the road surface inclination value α.
Is processed in the determination means 7. The evaluation means 6 and the determination means 7 are arranged in the evaluation unit 8.

Next, the value for the determined road surface inclination value α is supplied to a control device 9 which is an engine control device, a transmission control device or a driving dynamic characteristic control device. α is processed together with other information measured by the measuring means 11 and 12, for example.
The engine control determines, for example, the ignition point or the position of the throttle flap. The transmission controller determines the selection of the gear ratio. The driving dynamics controller determines the braking action to be taken on at least the individual wheels in order to stabilize the vehicle with respect to the center of gravity of the vehicle. The value for the determined traveling road surface inclination value α may be supplied to the mass detection unit 10,
The mass detection unit 10 calculates the vehicle mass (m _{Fa hrzeug} ) from the value of the road surface inclination value together with the wheel rotational speed, the engine torque or the engine rotational speed (these values are measured, for example, by measuring means 11 to 12). ) Calculate the distribution. With the additional information of the roadway inclination value α, the control device 9 which is an engine control or a transmission control or a driving dynamics control, and the mass detection unit 10 can be very simply and improved.

The device for determining a road surface inclination value according to the present invention described above can be used for determining the vehicle inclination α 'with a slight modification. In the case of a motor vehicle, the inclination of the vehicle occurs as a result of the inclined road surface and the movement of the vehicle. The determination of the inclination of the propulsion means is of particular interest also in ships or aircraft.

The device according to the invention described above need only be modified in such a way that, for the determination of the vehicle inclination, the elimination of the vehicle movement is not performed using the evaluation means 6. For this purpose, this function may be suppressed in the evaluation means 6 or the evaluation means 6 may be removed from the evaluation unit 8. In other words, the liquid level value determined by the liquid level indicating device is directly supplied to the determining means 7.

The apparatus for determining a vehicle inclination value representing the inclination of the vehicle includes a liquid container containing a liquid, which is disposed in the vehicle. Advantageously, a fuel storage container is used as the liquid container. Furthermore, the device has at least one liquid level indicating device projecting into the liquid container, the liquid level value representing the liquid level in the liquid container being determined by the liquid level indicating device. Furthermore, the device comprises an evaluation unit to which the liquid level value is supplied, the evaluation unit determining the vehicle inclination value as a function of the liquid level value. In this regard, in a first embodiment, at least one liquid level indicating device is provided on the horizontal central axis of the liquid container extending in the direction of travel and / or of the liquid container extending transversely to the direction of travel. It is arranged on the horizontal center axis.

In the second embodiment, only one level indicator is used. In this case, it has proved to be particularly advantageous for the determination of the vehicle inclination value that the vehicle inclination value is determined from the values of the liquid level values present for two successive time steps.

The inclination of the vehicle is noted from the viewpoint of technical safety against the movement of the vehicle state, but is also used for a redundancy check of other vehicle data. Finally, it should be noted that the form of the embodiments selected above and the figures selected in the drawings do not limit the essential idea of the invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side cutaway view of a device for determining a roadway slope value in a first embodiment according to the present invention, provided with one liquid level indicating device.

FIG. 2 is a side cutaway view of a device for determining a roadway slope value in a second embodiment according to the invention, comprising two liquid level indicating devices.

3 is a block circuit diagram for determining the road slope by means of the device according to the invention shown in FIG. 2 (also applicable to the device according to the invention shown in FIG. 1);

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 13 Roadway slope value determining device 2 Liquid container 3 Liquid 4 Lining 5, 5a, 5b Liquid level indicating device 6 Evaluation means 7 Roadway slope value determining means 8 Evaluation unit 9 Control device (engine, transmission, running Behavior characteristic) 10 mass detection unit 11 measuring means (vehicle movement) 12 measuring means (vehicle state) h 'liquid level value h1, h2 liquid level value h1', h2 'liquid level value (vehicle motion (vehicle state) spacing between the interval l ₂ container vertical center axis and the inner wall of the vessel between the interval l ₁ liquid level indicating device and the inner wall of the container between the effects including) the length l of the liquid container l ₀ liquid level indicating device) t1 Time point immediately before the occurrence of the road surface inclination t2 Time point immediately after the occurrence of the road surface inclination α Running road surface inclination value α 'Vehicle inclination value Δh Fluid level change Δh' Fluid level change (including the effect of vehicle motion (vehicle state))

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Klaus-Dieter Reimbach Germany 71696 Meklingen, Haldenweg 45

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A traveling road surface inclination value (α) representing the inclination of a traveling road surface on which a vehicle is present, in particular a traveling road surface inclination value representing a traveling road surface inclination in a longitudinal direction and / or a lateral direction with respect to a vehicle traveling direction. Device for determining inclination value (α) (1, 1
3) measuring means (11, 12) for measuring at least one vehicle variable representative of vehicle movement (12) and / or vehicle state (11), and a liquid (3) disposed in the vehicle. ), In particular a fuel storage container, and at least one liquid projecting into the liquid container (2) for determining a liquid level value (h ') representative of the liquid level in said liquid container. A position indicating device (5, 5a, 5b); and an evaluation unit (8) coupled to the liquid level indicating device and the measuring means, wherein the traveling road surface inclination value is the liquid An apparatus for determining a roadway slope value that is determined as a function of a position value and the at least one vehicle variable. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for damping a splash movement of the liquid in said liquid container. 3. The lining (4) of the liquid container, wherein the means for damping comprises a porous material.
And / or formed as a damping material with a throttle bore surrounding the level indicator (5, 5a, 5b) and / or as a level indicator (5, 5a, 5b) 3.) The determination device according to claim 2, wherein the damping material is formed as a damping material with a lining made of a porous material surrounding the material. 4. The means for measuring comprises means for measuring a value representing the acceleration of the vehicle and / or means for measuring a value representing the steering angle of the vehicle and / or representing the speed of the individual wheels. Claims: Means for measuring a value, and / or means for measuring a value representing a braking condition of a vehicle, and / or means for measuring a value representing a condition of an engine. 1 determining device. 5. A leveling device (5) protruding into the liquid container and present in the evaluation unit for successive time steps to determine the roadway inclination. The determination device according to claim 1, wherein a value of the liquid level value determined by the liquid level indicating device is evaluated. 6. The liquid level indicating device is disposed on a horizontal central axis of the liquid container extending in a traveling direction at a predetermined interval from a vertical central axis of the liquid container. And / or the liquid level indicating device is provided on a horizontal central axis of the liquid container extending in a transverse direction to a traveling direction,
The determining device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid container is arranged at a predetermined interval with respect to a vertical center axis of the liquid container. 7. The evaluation unit for determining that two liquid level indicating devices (5a, 5b) protrude into the liquid container and determining the traveling road surface inclination,
The determination device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid level values determined by the two liquid level indicating devices are evaluated. 8. The two liquid level indicating devices are arranged at a predetermined interval lo on a horizontal center axis of the liquid container extending in a traveling direction, and / or two liquid level indicating devices are arranged. A liquid level indicating device (5a, 5b) is provided on a horizontal central axis of the liquid container extending in a direction transverse to the traveling direction.
Being arranged at a predetermined interval lo relative to each other,
The determining device according to claim 1 or 7, wherein 9. The determination device according to claim 1, wherein three liquid level indicating devices arranged at a predetermined interval and offset from each other protrude from the liquid container. 10. The determination device according to claim 1, wherein the traveling road surface inclination value is supplied to at least one of an engine control device, a transmission control device, a traveling dynamic characteristic control device, and a mass detection unit. . 11. A traveling road surface inclination value (α) representing the inclination of a traveling road surface on which a vehicle is present, and in particular, the traveling road surface inclination value representing a traveling road surface inclination in a vertical direction and / or a lateral direction with respect to a vehicle traveling direction. A method for determining a road surface slope value (α), wherein a vehicle (3) is disposed therein.
And wherein the liquid container is in particular a fuel storage container and comprises at least one liquid level indicating device (5,5).
a, 5b) protruding into the liquid container (2), wherein the at least one liquid level indicating device indicates the liquid level in the liquid container (α). h '); measuring at least one vehicle variable representative of vehicle motion (12) and / or vehicle condition (11); and as a function of said liquid level value and said at least one vehicle variable: Determining the travel road surface inclination value; and determining the travel road surface inclination value. 12. A device for determining a vehicle inclination value (α ′) which represents the inclination of a vehicle, in particular the inclination of the vehicle as a result of the inclination of the running road surface, wherein the liquid (3) is arranged in the vehicle. , A fuel storage container, and at least one liquid level indicator protruding into the liquid container (2) for determining a liquid level value (h ') representative of the liquid level in the liquid container. An evaluation unit (8) to which the liquid level value is supplied and which determines the vehicle tilt value as a function of the liquid level value, comprising: a device (5, 5a, 5b); The determination device, wherein the at least one liquid level indicating device is on a horizontal central axis of the liquid container extending in a traveling direction and / or on a horizontal central axis of the liquid container extending in a direction transverse to the traveling direction. The vehicle inclination value is characterized by being located Decision device. 13. An apparatus for determining a vehicle inclination value (α ′) representing the inclination of a vehicle, in particular the inclination of the vehicle as a result of the inclination of the running road surface, the liquid comprising a liquid (3) arranged in the vehicle. A container (2), in particular a fuel storage container, and a single liquid level indicating device (h) that protrudes into the liquid container (2) to determine a liquid level value (h ') representing the liquid level in the liquid container (2). 5,5a, 5b) and an evaluation unit (8) to which the liquid level value is supplied and which determines a vehicle tilt value as a function of the liquid level value, wherein the vehicle tilt value is two consecutive An apparatus for determining a vehicle tilt value, which is determined from the liquid level value present for a time step.