Abstract: A vehicle can be operated in a first drive mode in which a front differential is set to a non-driven state and a rear differential is set to a differential state, a second drive mode in which the front differential is set to a non-driven state and the rear differential is set to a differential locked state, a third drive mode in which the front differential is set to a differential state and the rear differential is set to a differential locked state, and a fourth drive mode in which the front differential is set to a differential locked state and the rear differential is set to a differential locked state. Transition is allowed only between adjacent drive modes.

Abstract: An all-terrain or utility vehicle having various combinations of left and right front wheels, left and right rear wheels, a differential rotationally variably coupling the left and right front wheels together with a variable coupling torque and a source of motive power being selectively coupled to the left and right rear wheels in one configuration and coupled to the left and right front wheels as well as to the left and right rear wheels in a second configuration. The coupling torque is relatively stronger when a speed of the vehicle is relatively slower and is relatively weaker when the speed of the vehicle is relatively faster.

Abstract: A running vehicle has front and rear driving wheels, and a sensor for measuring the acceleration of the running vehicle. The vehicle determines a distribution rate of torque to each of the driving wheels in accordance with the found acceleration, and changes driving torque to each of the front and rear driving wheels based on the found distribution rate to control driving motors.

Abstract: A slippage detection system for a continuously variable transmission capable of continuously changing a ratio between a speed of rotation of an input member and a speed of rotation of an output member is provided. The slippage detection system calculates a correlation coefficient relating to the input rotation speed and the output rotation speed, based on a plurality of measurement values of the input rotation speed and a plurality of measurement values of the output rotation speed, and determines slippage of the torque transmitting member in the continuously variable transmission based on the calculated correlation coefficient.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle having first and second wheels is provided that includes a differential apparatus adapted to distribute torque between the first and second wheels and a traction controller for controlling operation of the differential apparatus from vehicle launch up to a predetermined vehicle speed. The traction controller is configured to engage the differential apparatus in a first operating state according to at least one vehicle operating parameter indicative of a low traction operating condition and to further control engagement of the differential apparatus in a second vehicle operating state during the low traction operating condition according to a difference between an actual vehicle yaw rate and a predetermined target vehicle yaw rate. The control system also includes a stability controller for controlling engagement of the differential apparatus at or above the predetermined vehicle speed.

Abstract: A power boost system and method. An illustrative embodiment of the power boost system includes an operator interface having a system activation button; a vehicle system controller connected to the operator interface; and at least one of an engine system controller, a battery system controller and an accessory system controller connected to the vehicle system controller.

Abstract: A front wheel is placed on a lifting table, which is rotated by an actuator together with the front wheel. By rotating the lifting table by the actuator, the front wheel is rotated under constraint of a steering mechanism of an automobile. The rotation angle of an arm with respect to a base is detected by an encoder provided at an end of an extendable rod which pivotally supports the arm in a rotatable manner. The rotation angle of the base is detected by a second encoder to determine the rotation angle ?2??1 and rotation radius Lt of the front wheel under constraint of the steering mechanism. Based on reaction force F detected by a load cell, rotation radius Lt, and rotation angle ?2??1, friction torque Tt is determined.

Abstract: The turning control apparatus for a vehicle has a driving torque controlling mechanism adjusting driving torque of left and right wheels. The apparatus includes a maximum-yaw momentum value calculating means having means for estimating an outside-wheel gripping capacity, which is capacity of adhesive friction between the outside-wheel and a road surface, and an inside-wheel gripping capacity, which is capacity of adhesive friction between the inside-wheel and the road surface, and means for calculating a torque adjustment limiting value indicating an adjustment amount of driving torque by the driving torque controlling mechanism so that the adjustment amount does not exceed the gripping capacity. The maximum-yaw momentum value calculating means sets the maximum-yaw momentum value indicating possible yaw momentum, which is estimated if the driving torque is adjusted along with the torque-adjustment-limit value calculated by the torque adjustment limiting value calculating means.

Abstract: A work vehicle (10) comprises a MFWD (13) and a MFWD switch (16) associated with the MFWD (13). The MFWD switch (16) comprises a momentary-ON position for momentarily activating the MFWD (13).

Abstract: A work vehicle (10) comprises a MFWD (13) and a controller unit (42) for automatically controlling the MFWD (13) based on speed ratio and other possible input.

Abstract: A braking and drive force control apparatus for a vehicle whose wheels are separately driven by electric motors. A controller calculates a drive force or a braking force to be applied to each wheel in accordance with the average sprung displacement and average sprung velocity of the vehicle body which are calculated based on sensed sprung acceleration. By adding the calculated drive force or braking force to the drive force at the time of running, at the time of bouncing of the vehicle body, a downwards force can be generated in the vehicle body which is rising, and an upwards force can be generated in the vehicle body which is descending. By applying an upwards or downwards force to each wheel so as to permit upwards and downwards vibration of the wheels, variations in the ground contact load can be suppressed.

Abstract: A vehicle stability control system uses a physical quantity corresponding to a driver accelerator input to control engine power produced by an engine and to controllably drive an engine load device for regulating the engine power to produce a desired drive force. The vehicle stability control system includes a vibration detector and a corrector. The vibration detector determines a vibration that occurs during running of the vehicle to disturb the stability of the vehicle. The corrector drives the engine load device to suppress the vibration in response to the vibration determined by the vibration detector.

Abstract: A system for estimating vehicle side-slip in the linear vehicle operating region that includes updating front and rear cornering stiffness signals. The system includes a first state observer processor that employs a bicycle model with state feedback for generating yaw acceleration and lateral acceleration signals. The system further includes a subtractor that receives the yaw acceleration and lateral acceleration signals and measured yaw rate and lateral acceleration signals, and generates yaw acceleration and lateral acceleration error signals. A parameter estimation processor calculates an updated front cornering stiffness and rear cornering stiffness signals. The updated front and rear cornering stiffness signals are sent back to the first state observer processor, and are used by second state observer processor for generating the estimated vehicle side-slip.

Abstract: An adjustment unit identifies a front-rear driving force distribution control unit and a braking force control unit, and calculates based on the current vehicle state, a target yaw moment required for each of the front-rear driving force distribution control unit and braking force control unit. Then, based on the current operating state of each of the control units, a control correction value for each unit is calculated in consideration of the maximum value, and outputted.

Abstract: A device operable to control a turning of a vehicle, includes: a motion controller operable to: control a first adjuster so as to increase the drive force applied to at least one of front wheels and rear wheels situated in an inner side of the turning, and control a second adjuster so as to increase the braking force applied to at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels situated in an outer side of the turning; and control the first adjuster so as to increase the drive force applied to at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels situated in an outer side of the turning, and control the second adjuster so as to increase the braking force applied to at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels situated in an inner side of the turning.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a semi-active suspension including suspension dampers controllably adjustable in accordance with electronic stability control commands and ride and handling commands. Vehicle steering response states, turning direction states and vehicle dynamics states are binary coded in respective state variables and suspension control calibrations are binary coded in calibration words. Integrity and security of state variables and calibration words are ensured in efficient binary digit resource allocation schemes.

Abstract: An ECU (Electronic Control Unit) executes a program including a step of detecting a driver's preference potential Hdr, a step of calculating a target engine output Ptgt using Hdr when a deceleration request is detected, a step of calculating a target slippage tsl using Hdr, a step of calculating a target engine speed tne, a step of calculating a target ISC (Idle Speed Control) opening tidle from Ptgt and tne, a step of assigning a guard value to tidle when tidle is smaller than the guard value, a step of calculating a current engine output Pnow and a step of calculating a motor output (regeneration quantity) Phv from (Ptgt-Pnow).

Abstract: An electronic traction optimization system includes a control unit adapted to produce a corner speed estimate signal for each wheel of a machine, produce an ideal target speed signal for each wheel having a value at least partially responsive to the corner speed estimate signals, produces a practical target speed signal for each wheel, generates an actual target speed signal having a value responsive to a comparison of the ideal target speed signal and the practical target speed signal for each wheel. The control unit compares each actual target speed signal to an associated wheel speed signal to obtain a wheel speed error signal for each wheel and converts each wheel speed error signal to a clutch control signal, wherein each differential clutch actuator is responsive to an associated clutch control signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing the torque applied to the primary and assist drive systems of an all-electric vehicle is provided, the torque adjustments taking into account wheel slip as well as other vehicular operating conditions.

Abstract: A driving-force distribution control device includes a distributing mechanism, a distribution controller, an anti-skid brake system, an acceleration detector, a synthesized acceleration calculator and a control coefficient controller. The distributing mechanism is operable to variably distribute a driving force from an engine to individual drive wheels of a vehicle. The distribution controller is operable to control the distributing mechanism based on a running state of the vehicle. The acceleration detector is operable to detect a first acceleration in a front-rear direction and a second acceleration in a left-right direction of the vehicle. The synthesized acceleration calculator is operable to calculate a synthesized acceleration of the first acceleration and the second acceleration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic inter-axle differential sensor configuration (i.e., location) and calibration method for a vehicle having a tandem drive axle. The method involves determining the speed of the vehicle, determining pulses per minute from each inter-axle differential sensor via the vehicle electronic control unit (ECU), where each of the inter-axle differential sensors are connected to an inter-axle differential gear, determining a location of each inter-axle differential sensor from each of the inter-axle differential sensor pulses per minute, and assigning a number of teeth to each of the inter-axle differential gears in calibrating each of the inter-axle differential sensors. The revolutions per minute for each of the inter-axle differential sensors may be utilized to lock the inter-axle differential during slippage of the vehicle, without human intervention.

Abstract: A method for variable operation of a vehicle transmission using rough road sensing includes defining a first set of parameters to calibrate the vehicle transmission for a smooth road condition and a second set of parameters to calibrate the vehicle transmission for a rough road condition. The method includes sensing a road condition, generating a road condition signal corresponding to the road condition, and measuring a magnitude of the road condition signal. The method includes switching from the first set of parameters to the second set of parameters to operate the vehicle transmission when the magnitude of the road condition signal exceeds a first predetermined threshold. The method includes switching from the second set of parameters to the first set of parameters to operate the vehicle transmission when the magnitude of the road condition signal is less than a second predetermined threshold that is different than the first predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A drive force control method for a four-wheel drive vehicle including a torque distributing mechanism capable of changing a drive force distribution ratio between front and rear wheels and a drive force distribution ratio between right and left front wheels or between right and left rear wheels. This method includes the steps of increasing the drive force distribution ratio of the rear wheels to the front wheels according to an increase in absolute value of a lateral G signal, and increasing the drive force distribution ratio of a turning outer wheel as one of the right and left front wheels or one of the right and left rear wheels to a turning inner wheel as the other. A lateral G sensor signal is corrected by an estimated lateral G signal calculated according to a steering angle and a vehicle speed to obtain a control lateral G signal, which is used as the lateral G signal.

Abstract: A vehicle lateral control system that integrates both vehicle dynamics and kinematics control. The system includes a driver interpreter that provides desired vehicle dynamics and predicted vehicle path based on driver input. Error signals between the desired vehicle dynamics and measured vehicle dynamics, and between the predicted vehicle path and the measured vehicle target path are sent to dynamics and kinematics control processors for generating a separate dynamics and kinematics command signals, respectively, to minimize the errors. The command signals are integrated by a control integration processor to combine the commands to optimize the performance of stabilizing the vehicle and tracking the path. The integrated command signal can be used to control one or more of front wheel assist steering, rear-wheel assist steering or differential braking.

Abstract: If a condition for finishing speed limit control is satisfied, a gradient of a slope of the road is estimated based on a steady component of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle, and a correction factor is computed based on the slope gradient of the road, while a target acceleration of the vehicle is computed based on the vehicle speed. Then, a target vehicle speed is computed by adding the target vehicle speed of the last cycle to the product of the correction factor, target acceleration and the cycle time of the control, and the braking or driving force of each wheel is controlled so that the vehicle speed becomes equal to the target vehicle speed. In this manner, a passenger of the vehicle is prevented from feeling uncomfortable about the speed increase after the completion of the vehicle speed limit control.

Abstract: A safety logic for vehicle rollover detection systems comprising a main rollover detection logic and at least one protection device for the occupant or occupants of the vehicle, including a vehicle lateral acceleration sensor (11), which generates an output signal indicating a near rollover event, when a lateral acceleration of a vehicle exceeds the first predefined threshold value (15) or, when a lateral acceleration of vehicle exceeds the second predefined threshold value (16) that is lower than the first predefined threshold value (15) and simultaneously at least one additional safety logic activation signal is present (1, 1?, 1?, 1??).

Abstract: The invention relates to a powertrain for a motor vehicle having a permanently driven primary axle, comprising: a drive unit for the generation of a drive torque; a first clutch for the transfer of a variable portion of the drive torque to a secondary axle of the motor vehicle; a second clutch for the deactuation of a torque transfer section of the powertrain arranged between the first clutch and the second clutch when the first clutch is opened; and a control unit for the automatic control of the first clutch, with the control unit being connected to at least one sensor for the detection of a wheel slip at the primary axle; with the control unit being made, starting from a deactuated state of the torque transfer section, to close the second clutch in dependence on a detected wheel slip at the primary axle.

Abstract: A vehicle dynamics control (VDC) apparatus for an automotive vehicle with a differential limiting device capable of limiting at least one of a differential motion between front and rear wheel axles and a differential motion between left and right wheel axles, includes a VDC system that controls a braking force of at least one of road wheels to control vehicle cornering behavior depending on a vehicle's turning condition independently of a driver's braking action. The VDC system advances a VDC initiation timing used in a differential limited state in which at least one of the front-and-rear wheel axle differential motion and the left-and-right wheel axle differential motion is limited, in comparison with a VDC initiation timing used in a differential non-limited state in which the front-and-rear wheel axle differential motion and the left-and-right wheel axle differential motion are allowed.

Abstract: A method of cooperative vehicle control in which a high level controller includes a high level algorithm that manages the overall control strategy of the vehicle and decides which vehicle subsystems to control, with what timing and with what authority. Depending on the given situation at hand, including existing or potential conflict between sub-algorithms in the high level controller, the status of the various subsystems and the effectiveness of additional change of these subsystems, desired intervention speed, and environmental repercussions in the total vehicle system, the high level controller may decide to use differing control strategies to meet performance characteristics of the total vehicle system as well as maintain control of vehicle stability, traction characteristics and overall body motions.

Abstract: To maintain operating safety by driving force distribution control system when an abnormal state arises and to smoothly transition from a normal state to an abnormal state without sudden changes in vehicle behavior. The driving force distribution control part calculates the transfer torque for the transfer clutch for the center differential device and the torque movement for the hydraulic motor for the rear wheel final reduction gear. When the control state detection part detects an abnormal state, there is control of the hydraulic motor in the direction that torque movement is lost on the one hand, and the transfer torque for the transfer clutch is controlled in the direction of front and rear distribution; after a preset time and after this control is carried out, the transfer torque drops.

Abstract: The estimating method for a road friction coefficient ? includes the steps of detecting a steering angle by a steering angle sensor; detecting a lateral acceleration by a lateral acceleration sensor; and calculating an approximate friction coefficient ? by referring to a road friction coefficient ? determination table where a plurality of regions each composed of steering angle and lateral acceleration are defined so as to respectively correspond to a plurality of road friction coefficients ?i (i=1 to n, n is an integer not less than 2) on the basis of a boundary line derived from lower limits of the lateral acceleration over various values of the steering angle, and by specifying one of said regions according to the steering angle detected by said steering angle sensor and the lateral acceleration detected by said lateral acceleration sensor to thereby specify one of said road friction coefficients ?i as said approximate friction coefficient ?.

Abstract: A vehicle and a method for mechanical decoupling of front and rear wheels and left and right wheels of a vehicle by mechanically decoupling the left and right wheels, while controlling the braking to maintain proper wheel speed during vehicle maneuvers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a 4 wheel drive apparatus for vehicles capable of driving two wheel or four wheels having a simple structure without conventional transfer case. The 4 wheel drive apparatus for vehicles includes a driving shaft connected to an engine, receiving a power from the engine, and having plural driving gears connected to thereon; a transmission including plural change gears geared with the plural driving gears, and an output shaft connected to front wheels and rear wheels of the vehicle; a front power transfer part including a front clutch installed on one end of the output shaft and transferring/blocking a power of the output shaft to the front wheels; a rear power transfer part including a rear clutch installed on the other end of the output shaft and transferring/blocking a power of the output shaft to the rear wheels; and a control part controlling the front and rear power transfer parts in order to restrict a power transferred from the output shaft to the front wheels 20 and the rear wheels.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a vehicle roll stability indicator that dynamically estimates the probability for vehicle rollover. The system determines vehicle kinematics from various vehicle sensors. From these kinematic values, the system estimates a roll angle of the vehicle and a bank angle of the vehicle. The estimated bank angle is used to correct the roll angle. The system determines a roll energy of the vehicle and a roll energy rate of the vehicle from the corrected roll angle. The system also calculates a tire lateral load transfer of the relative forces on the vehicle tires, and the duration that any of the tires have been off of the ground. From the roll energy, the roll energy rate, the tire lateral load transfer and the wheel airborne duration, the system calculates the roll stability indicator.

Abstract: A method to prevent chain jump in a drivetrain of a four-wheel drive vehicle including receiving sensed vehicle parameters from sensors in the four-wheel drive vehicle, generating transfer case chain-jump parameters based on the sensed vehicle parameters and sending a command signal to initiate disengagement of a clutch pack in a transfer case of the drivetrain responsive to the generated transfer case chain-jump parameters.

Abstract: A method controls a powertrain that directs power from an engine and a transmission to all four wheels or to just front wheels or to just rear wheels. The method includes monitoring information transmitted over a communications network. The method determines whether one or more components of the powertrain are in an active condition or in an inactive condition. The one or more components of the powertrain are in the inactive condition when not connected to the transmission and not connected to the front wheels or the rear wheels. The one or more components of the powertrain are in the active condition when connected to the transmission and connected to the front wheels and the rear wheels. The method switches the one or more components of the powertrain between the inactive condition and the active condition based only on the information from the communications network and without intervention from a user.

Abstract: A turning behavior control device for vehicle has a left and right wheel driving force adjustment mechanism for adjusting a difference in driving force between right and left, a braking force adjustment mechanism for adjusting a difference in braking force between the wheels, an auxiliary steering mechanism for adjusting a steering angle of the wheels, a vehicle velocity sensor, a steering wheel sensor, and a yaw rate sensor for detecting the behavior of a vehicle, and a control unit for controlling the foregoing mechanisms based on the vehicle velocity, the steering angle, and the yaw rate detected by the sensors. The control unit operates the front wheel auxiliary steering mechanism before operating at least one of the left and right wheel driving force adjustment mechanism and the braking force adjustment mechanism.

Abstract: A method for steering and regulating a driving mechanism in motor vehicles having hybrid drive. A drive torque (M) desired by the driver is distributed to at least one electric motor (Em) and a combustion engine (Vm) so that therewith the driving mechanism of the vehicle can be steered, together with the hybrid functions. In a central digital unit (1), a resulting distribution degree of the torques (M_Em, M_Vm) of at least one electric motor and of the combustion engine is determined, the sum of the torque (M_Em, M_Vm) corresponding to the drive torque (M) desired by the driver. The resulting distribution degree takes into account here requirements according to the needed hybrid and driving mechanism functions.

Abstract: In a driving force control apparatus for an automotive vehicle employing an engine that drives a main drive wheel, a generator driven by the engine, and a motor driven by an electric power output generated by the generator to drive a subsidiary drive wheel, a subsidiary-drive-wheel acceleration slip estimation circuitry is provided to estimate a subsidiary-drive-wheel acceleration slip rate. An electric power output suppression circuitry is provided to suppress the electric power output of the generator when the estimated subsidiary-drive-wheel acceleration slip rate exceeds a predetermined slip rate. Also provided is a subsidiary-drive-wheel acceleration-slip period engine output torque reduction circuitry that reduces an engine output torque responsively to suppressing the electric power output.

Abstract: A method for deploying torque commands from a vehicle stability assist control system to a four wheel drive system in a vehicle that includes utilizing a firewall within a four wheel drive system electronic control unit to analyze commands sent from a vehicle stability assist electronic control unit to the four wheel drive electronic control unit. Additionally, the commands from the vehicle stability assist electronic control unit, when the vehicle control system is in operation, are integrated with commands independently generated by the four wheel drive electronic control unit, and resultant wheel torque commands are generated to be provided to each individual wheel in the four wheel drive system.

Abstract: A turning control apparatus for a vehicle with improved turning ability and that avoids degradation of acceleration ability is provided. The turning control apparatus comprises: a driving torque controller (31) for adjusting driving torque between a left and right wheels (14L and 14R); a unit(41) for setting a basic-driving-torque-difference value indicating a difference of the driving torque between the left and right wheels (14L and 14R); a unit (42) for obtaining an acceleration/deceleration value indicating a degree of acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle; and a unit (43) for adjusting the basic-driving-torque-difference value, as a target driving torque difference, according to the acceleration/deceleration value and the velocity of the vehicle sensed. The driving torque controller (31) adjusts the driving torque between the left and right wheels (14L and 14R) according to the target driving torque obtained by the basic-driving-torque-difference value adjusting unit (43).

Abstract: A method for automatically actuating longitudinal blocks in four-wheel vehicles, particularly in working machines and service vehicles. The longitudinal blocks are always open when driving situations occur in which the blocking effect is absolutely unnecessary. The longitudinal blocks are closed in all other situations.

Abstract: A torque transfer mechanism includes a multi-plate clutch assembly that is operably disposed between a first rotary and a second rotary member. A control system determines a desired quantity of torque to deliver to the second rotary member and controls the clutch to produce the desired torque.

Abstract: The differential limiting control apparatus having a clutch unit interposed between one rotational shaft and the other rotational shaft for variably transmitting a driving force between the one rotational shaft and the other rotational shaft, having: a feedback control unit for computing the clutch torque on basis of vehicle behaviors through a feedback control, a feed forward control unit for computing the clutch torque based on the behaviors through feed forward control, a tire diameter difference computing unit for computing a diameter difference of a tire, and a clutch torque computing unit for computing a final clutch torque by changing a ratio of the clutch torque obtained through the feedback control and a clutch torque obtained through the feed forward control so as to appropriately decide the feed forward control by effectively suppressing the tire slip while avoiding the occurrence of the internal circulation of the torque.

Abstract: In a drive force control method for a four-wheel drive vehicle using an estimated drive torque for the control, a delay element is added to a value for the estimated drive torque at the trailing edge thereof. With this control, the behavior of the four-wheel drive vehicle is stabilized when a depression force applied to an accelerator pedal is removed.

Abstract: A drive power distribution control section calculates an engaging torque of clutch means including an input torque sensitive transfer torque, a steering angle/yaw rate sensitive transfer torque, and a tack-in prevention transfer torque. The input torque sensitive transfer torque is estimated by using respective time constants corresponding to an increasing or decreasing of the engine torque. Also, when the input torque is large, a variation of the input torque sensitive transfer torque is increased. The steering angle/yaw rate sensitive transfer torque is corrected by an yaw moment according to an vehicle slip angular velocity, and an upper limit is set on the variation of the yaw moment per time.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the alignment of the wheels of a motor vehicle, which comprises sensing devices adapted to detect the coordinates, with respect to a same reference system, of at least three base points which belong to the supporting surface that supports the motor vehicle for which wheel alignment is to be determined, to detect the coordinates of at least two chassis points identified in symmetrical positions of the chassis of the motor vehicle with respect to the longitudinal centerline plane of the motor vehicle, and to detect the coordinates, with respect to the reference system, of four wheel points, which belong to a preset wheel plane that is at least tangent with respect to the rim of the wheel whose alignment is to be determined.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for automatically determining the steering system calibration of a vehicle in accordance with vehicle loading. The apparatus comprises a combination of a load monitor and a steering controller. The load monitor senses the actual loading of the vehicle and provides a corresponding feedback signal to the steering controller. The steering controller determines a steering calibration appropriate for the load represented by the feedback signal. As a result, the handling performance of the vehicle can be improved over that of a single, fixed steering calibration for a wide range of load conditions.

Abstract: A vehicle powertrain with mechanically independent sets of front and rear traction wheels has separate motive power units. An electronic control system including traction wheel slip control is electronically coupled to a first motive power unit and to a second motive power unit to separately establish maximum rear wheel traction and maximum front wheel traction. Independent requests are made for an increase or a decrease in wheel torque for one set of traction wheels and an increase or decrease in wheel torque for the other set of traction wheels thereby improving acceleration performance and enhancing vehicle stability.

Abstract: A method for detecting damage done to a clutch having at least two components that transfer torque by frictional engagement comprises the following steps: determining the friction power L introduced into the friction surfaces of the components by slippage between the torque-transferring components, calculating an individual damage value ESW=f(L,t), wherein t denotes time, and rating the clutch as damaged when ESW exceeds a predetermined value.