以下内容是根据维基百科https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ControlTrac的内容翻译而成,本人非专业人员,翻译水准比较差,仅供大家参考,有能力者可看下面原版内容。
视频详解博格华纳TOD分动箱:http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzAwMTAzMjg0MA==.html
视频详解分动箱实物拆解测试演示视频 http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzA3NDE1ODgxNg==.html
ControlTrac四轮驱动是福特汽车公司提供的可选自动全时四轮驱动系统的品牌。
这个四轮驱动系统是在20世纪80年代中期的博格华纳公司TorqTransfer Systems部门设计开发的。
博格华纳公司(BorgWarner)称之为按需扭矩系统(Torque-On-Demand)(TOD)。
ControlTrac是第一款使用软件控制的自动四驱系统,无行星齿轮或斜齿轮齿轮传动的中心差速器。
这个四驱系统使用可变智能锁定中心多盘差速器代替行星齿轮或锥齿轮齿轮传动中心差速器。
可用性
ControlTrac于1995年1月12日首次亮相,用于1995年第二代福特探险者中型运动型多用途车型。ControlTrac的重型版本于1996年推出,用于1997年第一代福特征服者全尺寸运动型多用途车型。
2011年第五代福特探险者(U502)更换了自动智能四轮驱动和地形管理的ControlTrac四轮驱动系统。
设计开发
1985年,在博格华纳公司(BorgWarner),一个电子控制的四轮驱动系统的想法出现了。博格华纳公司(BorgWarner)的原始设计要求使用软件控制的电磁多盘(也称为多片)离合器组件和行星齿轮或锥齿轮传动中心差速器。第一个原型系统是粗糙的,它最初的离合器组件控制器是一个变阻器。齿轮传动中心差速器将用于允许前驱动轴和后驱动轴以不同的转速转动,从而消除驱动系统在路面上使用时的任何“传动系统结合(drivetrain binding)”或“拧紧扭矩(torque windup)”。在需要时,智能多片离合器将被用来逐步地将扭矩传递到前后驱动轴之间,同时也会锁定提供一个永久锁定的前后50:50的扭矩分布。
一年之内,控制器变得越来越大,越来越复杂。一种用传感器放大器和大型控制模块完成的面包板电子版,它消耗了一辆旅行车的整个后端。输入数据来自于安装在前传动轴、后传动轴、油门、刹车和转向的可变磁阻传感器。目标是通过控制电流控制离合器的执行。
然而,随着开发过程的继续,博格华纳公司(BorgWarner)的工程师发现,通过智能的软件编程,他们可以控制可变电磁多盘式离合器,使其可以使前驱动轴和后驱动轴以不同的转速在其上旋转,没有行星齿轮或锥齿轮齿轮传动中心差速器的帮助。 在自动模式下,新的软件算法允许多盘离合器组件的摩擦和离合器盘根据需要滑动,模拟行星齿轮或斜齿轮齿轮传动中心差速器,使齿轮差速器冗余。 因此,齿轮差速器被放弃,因此从未包含在四轮驱动系统的最终生产版本中。
在1989年,他们在多盘式离合器的控制系统方面取得突破,设计团队对自己的理念感到信心。 闭环控制的开发使其操作平滑。使用它,多片离合器进行了较小的调整,但更频繁。 微处理器将每20毫秒检查传感器的输入,并决定前桥是否需要更多的扭矩。 使用这种技术,本机的计算机观察驱动轮滑移。 如果它检测到前轴和后轴之间的转速差只有一半,差速器就会将功率信号发送到多片离合器。 离合器接合,以10%的增量将扭矩转向前轴,直到减轻了驱动轮的滑动。 因此,该系统可以在轮式转速的三分之一内控制失控的驱动轮速度。
越野测试
在开发初期,博格华纳采用了一种烧结青铜离合器材料,其表现出通常称为“粘滑”的操作条件。这个滑点激发了工程师将其替换为安装在金属顶部的纸质材料。提供了更好的摩擦系数,解决了滑移问题。博格华纳公司(BorgWarner)的自动传输组件部门被认为是提出了这个解决方案。
然而,热被证明是一个持续的问题。过多的热积聚会耗尽新的离合器材料。为了解决这个问题,工程师们研究了离合器的扭矩容量。确定离合器的温度升高是由于离合器转矩能力不足引起的。工程师提高了系统的容量,并装备了一批试验车辆,他们被带到加利福尼亚南部的Anza-Borrego沙漠。 他们总共进行了11次测试,对原型机进行高热,山地、深沙驾驶测试,智能型多盘离合器被要求几乎连续传递扭矩。刚开始,这种环境下,很快烧掉了离合器。 但随着工程师获得知识,离合器得到改进。 最终,工程师通过改进离合器组件,使得测试车辆几乎可以从各种困难道路使用中消除热量积聚,离合器组件仍然会看起来很好。
模式
ControlTrac具有不同的驱动模式以及针对这些驱动模式的不同操作方式,具体取决于使用哪种车辆。例如,征服者在自动模式下使用了新的自动锁定功能。 自动锁定的自动模式当时在探险者上不可用。
两驱高速模式(Two High mode)
除了1995 - 1996年之外,探险者没有配备两驱高速模式。 在1998年中,也没有两高可用。 仅提供自动,四高和四低模式。 “两高”模式是征服者的独特之处,尽管在1999-2002年之间已经停产。在2003年重新设计的第二代征服者(U222)上重新引入了两个高模式,并展示了一个全新的前轴断开系统,带有真空操作的前锁定轮毂,将不会断开前轴、前差速器和前驱动轴,在路面上更安静,更省油。 福特声称,改善的两高模式可以帮助燃油经济性提高至每加仑汽油半英里。在两高模式下,扭矩仅传送到后驱动轮,模仿后轮驱动。
自动模式(Auto mode)
自动模式在Explorer和Expedition上都有装配,可以根据各种路况的需要,实现全天候的全时四轮驱动功能。在自动模式下,发动机的扭矩通常传递到后驱动轮。对这个系统的误解是,它根据需要不断地从四轮驱动模式中转换。这不是真的,因为当选择自动模式时,前轴轮毂永久接合,将其锁定到前轴、前差速器和前驱动轴上。这是因为当车辆以一定速度驱动时,前驱动轴总是旋转(转)。计算机控制系统需要前驱动轴转动,从而可以监控和比较前后驱动轴的转速。如果后驱动轴比前面开始转动得更快,系统会将其与其他传感器的输入一起解释为牵引损失。当检测到牵引力损失时,扭矩通过中心多片离合器以10%的增量向前发送到前差速器。如此,智能控制软件允许中心多片离合器的行为像齿轮传动中心差速器,从而不会发生“传动系统结合(drivetrain binding)”或“拧紧扭矩(torque windup)”。扭矩的传递是秘密进行的,实际上乘坐车辆的乘客感觉不到的。
在21世纪初,在2002年,ControlTrac系统更新并推出了基于系统人工智能的更先进的软件系统。四轮驱动系统更新的人工智能允许系统在牵引损耗发生之前预测,以便在需要扭矩之前就可以传输。这种改进意味着系统可以像其他“永远在线”全时四轮驱动系统一样运行,因为它不再需要“等待”牵引力损失才能采取行动。另一个改进是自动模式下前后“转矩偏置(torque biasing)”功能。ControlTrac的智能多盘差速器现在可以发送所有100%的发动机扭矩,如果预计,预测或检测到严重的牵引损失,将其偏置到前端差速器。

四驱高速和低速模式(Four High and Four Low modes)
探险者和征服者也都有四高四低模式。四高模式告诉智能锁定多盘差速器锁定,提供永久锁定的50:50扭矩分配。前驱动轴和后驱动轴完全锁定,迫使它们以相同的速度旋转,无论牵引条件如何。四低模式还会告知智能锁定多盘差速器锁定,但是它指示博格华纳(BorgWarner)分动箱选择低档减速齿轮传动。减速装置用于将车辆的速度降低到可管理的爬行,并增加(乘以)来自发动机的提供的扭矩。因此,驱动轮具有足够的扭矩以以低速移动车辆。它还用于控制下降速度,同时降低陡坡,并提高车辆的越野爬行率。
四高模式和四低模式都不能在路面上使用,因为“传动系统结合(drivetrain binding)”或“拧紧扭矩(torque windup)”可能会发生,从而损坏四轮驱动系统。
AdvanceTrac
自动ControlTrac四轮驱动系统可以与AdvanceTrac电子稳定控制相结合,包括四轮电子牵引力控制。这两个系统的组合是创新的,因为具有这样系统的车辆,只有一个车轮具有牵引力时,也可以继续前进。AdvanceTrac的四轮电子牵引力控制系统使用车辆的四轮四传感器四通道防抱死制动系统(ABS),并附加防滑逻辑来编程,以通过大量“制动器锁定”来模拟差速锁或后驱动桥差速器。通过ABS制动器锁定前后差速器,可将高达100%的扭矩发送到任何一个驱动轮,允许车辆保持移动,即使其两个驱动轮(一个前部,一个后部)完全离开地面。
ControlTrac II
ControlTrac II是基于粘性耦合单元的福特四轮驱动系统。粘性联轴器取代了四轮驱动应用中使用的典型中心差速器。该系统在前轮驱动中正常工作,但是除了前轮被驱动之外,一个轴被驱动,其运行到后部的粘性联轴器。如果前轮滑动,则粘性联轴器逐渐向后轮释放扭矩。此外,ControlTrac II系统提供了四轮驱动的机械锁定,尽管系统没有提供低范围。
ControlTrac II已经被智能四轮驱动系统所替代,一个类似的系统将粘性联轴器由电脑控制的离合器代替。智能4WD系统在功能上类似于ControlTrac II系统,其前轮主要被驱动,扭矩仅根据条件要求发送到后轮。智能4WD系统也缺少ControlTrac II提供的机械锁。
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原版内容如下:
ControlTrac
ControlTrac four-wheel drive is the brand name of a selectable automatic full-time four-wheel drive system offered by Ford Motor Company. The four-wheel drive system was designed and developed at BorgWarner under its TorqTransfer Systems division in the mid 1980s. BorgWarner calls the system Torque-On-Demand (TOD). ControlTrac was the first automatic system to use software control and no planetary or bevel geared center differential. Instead of a planetary or bevel geared center differential, the system uses a variable intelligent locking center multi-disc differential.
Availability
ControlTrac made its debut on January 12, 1995, for the 1995 model year on the second generation Ford Explorer mid-size sport utility vehicle. A heavy-duty version of ControlTrac was introduced in 1996 for the 1997 model year on the first generation Ford Expedition full-size sport utility vehicle.
The fifth generation 2011 Ford Explorer (U502) replaced automatic ControlTrac four-wheel drive with automatic Intelligent four-wheel drive and Terrain Management.
Design & development
The idea for an electronically controlled four-wheel drive system emerged at BorgWarner in 1985. BorgWarner’s original design called for using both a software controlled electromagnetic multi-disc (also called multi-plate) clutch pack and a planetary or bevel geared center differential together. The first prototype system was crude, and its original clutch pack controller was a rheostat.
The geared center differential would be used to allow the front and rear drive shafts to turn at different rotational speeds so as to eliminate any "drivetrain binding" or "torque windup" while the system was being used on pavement. The intelligent multi-disc clutch would be used to progressively transfer torque back-to-front and front-to-back between the front and rear drive shafts when needed and would also lockup providing a permanently locked front 50:50 rear torque distribution.
Within a year, the controller had become larger and more complex. A breadboard electronic version complete with sensor amplifiers and large control modules consumed the entire back end of a station wagon. Input data came from variable reluctance sensors installed at the front drive shaft, rear drive shaft, throttle, brakes, and steering. The goal was to control clutch actuation by controlling current.
However, as the development process continued, engineers at BorgWarner discovered that, with clever software programming, they could control the variable electromagnetic multi-disc clutch to a point where it would allow the front and rear drive shafts to turn at different rotational speeds on its own, without the aid of a planetary or bevel geared center differential. In Auto mode the new software algorithms allowed the multi-disc clutch pack's friction and clutch discs to slip as needed, simulating a planetary or bevel geared center differential, making a geared differential redundant. Thus, the geared differential was abandoned and therefore never included on the final production version of the four-wheel drive system.
The design team gained confidence in their concept in 1989, when they made a breakthrough in the multi-disc clutch's control system. Development of closed-loop control smoothed its operation. Using it, the multi-disc clutch made smaller adjustments, but did it more frequently. The microprocessor would review input from sensors every 20 milliseconds and decide if the front axle needed more torque. Using this technique, the unit's computer watched for drive wheel slip. If it sensed as little as half an rpm difference between the front and rear axles, it sent a power signal to the multi-disc clutch. The clutch engaged, diverting torque to the front axle in 10 percent increments, until it alleviated the drive wheel slip. As a result, the system could control runaway drive wheel speed in as little as a third of a wheel revolution.
Off road testing
Early in the development, BorgWarner had employed a sintered bronze clutch material that exhibited an operating condition commonly known as "stick slip." The slippage had inspired engineers to replace it with a paper-based material mounted atop metal. The paper offered a better coefficient of friction and solved the slippage problem. BorgWarner's automatic transmission components division is credited for the solution.
However, heat proved to be a persistent issue. Excessive heat buildup would burn out the new clutch material. To solve the problem, engineers studied the clutch's torque capacity. It was determined that excessive heat buildup was caused by inadequate clutch torque capacity. Engineers increased the system's capacity and equipped a fleet of test vehicles, which they took to the Anza-Borrego desert in southern California. They made a total of 11 trips, subjecting the prototypes to heat, mountain driving, and deep sand with the intelligent multi-disc clutches being called upon for almost continuous delivery of torque. At first, the environment quickly burned out the clutches. But as engineers gained knowledge, the clutches improved. Eventually, the engineers were able to improve the clutch packs enough that the test vehicles could be virtually destroyed from hard off road use, but the clutch packs would still look good.
The Modes
ControlTrac has different drive modes as well as different operational behavior for those drive modes depending on which vehicle it is used in. For example, the Ford Expedition used a new auto lock feature in Auto mode. Auto mode with auto lock was not available on the Explorer at that time.
Two High mode
Predominantly, Explorer was not equipped with Two High mode except in the 1995-1996 model years. In model years 1998-up no Two High was available. Only Auto, Four High and Four Low modes were offered. Two High mode was unique to the Expedition, though it was discontinued between the 1999–2002 model years. Two High mode was reintroduced on the redesigned second generation Expedition (U222) for the 2003 model year and featured a new full front axle disconnect system with vacuum operated front locking hubs that would disconnect the front axle, front differential, and front drive shaft when not needed for quieter, more fuel-efficient operation on pavement. Ford claimed that the improved Two High mode could help increase fuel economy up to half-a-mile per gallon of gasoline. In Two High mode, torque is routed to the rear drive wheels only, imitating rear-wheel drive.
Auto mode
Auto mode was featured on both Explorer and Expedition and allows for all-weather, full-time four-wheel drive capability on pavement as needed. In Auto mode, the engine’s torque is normally routed to the rear drive wheels. A misconception about the system is that it continuously shifts into and out of four-wheel drive as needed. This is not true, for when Auto mode is selected, the front axle hubs are permanently engaged, locking them to the front axle shafts, front differential, and front drive shaft. This is so the front drive shaft always rotates (turns) when the vehicle is being driven at speed. The computer control system needs the front drive shaft to turn, so that it can monitor and compare the rotational speed of both the front and rear drive shafts. If the rear drive shaft starts to turn faster than the front, the system interprets that (along with input from other sensors) as traction loss. When traction loss is detected, torque is sent forward to the front differential in 10 percent increments, via the center multi-disc clutch. As it does so, intelligent control software allows the center multi-disc clutch to behave like a geared center differential, such that "driveline binding" and "torque windup" do not occur. The transfer of torque is done in secrecy, virtually undetectable by the occupants of the vehicle.
In the early 2000s, ControlTrac was updated and introduced in 2002 with more advanced software programming, building on the system’s artificial intelligence.[8] The four-wheel drive system's updated artificial intelligence allowed the system to predict traction loss before it happened, so that torque can be transferred before it was needed. This improvement meant the system could operate more like other "always-on" full-time four-wheel drive systems as it no longer had to "wait" for traction loss to take action. Another improvement was front-to-rear "torque biasing" capability in Auto mode. ControlTrac's intelligent multi-disc differential could now send all 100 percent of the engine’s torque forward, biasing it to the front differential if severe traction loss was anticipated, predicted, or detected.
Four High and Four Low modes
Four High and Four Low modes were also featured on both Explorer and Expedition. Four High mode tells the intelligent locking multi-disc differential to lock, providing a permanently locked 50:50 torque distribution. The front and rear drive shafts are fully locked, forcing them to rotate at the same speed regardless of tractive conditions. Four Low mode also tells the intelligent locking multi-disc differential to lock, however it instructs the BorgWarner transfer case to select low range off road reduction gearing.[4] Reduction gearing is utilized to reduce the vehicle’s speed to a manageable crawl, and to increase (multiply) the supplied torque coming from the engine. Thus the drive wheels have ample torque to move the vehicle at low speeds. It is also used to control downward speeds while descending steep gradients and to improve the vehicle’s off road crawl ratio.
Both Four High mode and Four Low mode cannot be used on pavement as "driveline binding" and "torque windup" can occur, causing damage to the four-wheel-drive system.
AdvanceTrac
The automatic ControlTrac four-wheel drive system can be coupled with AdvanceTrac electronic stability control, which includes four-wheel electronic traction control. The combination of these two systems is innovative due to a vehicle equipped as such, can continue to move forward with only one wheel having traction. AdvanceTrac's four-wheel electronic traction control system uses the vehicle's four-wheel four-sensor four-channel anti-lock braking system (ABS) and is programmed with additional anti-slip logic to simulate differential locks via aggressively "brake locking" either the front or rear drive axle differentials. By ABS brake locking the front and rear differentials, up to 100 percent of torque can be sent to any one drive wheel, allowing the vehicle to keep moving, even with two of its drive wheels (one front, one rear) completely off the ground.
ControlTrac II
ControlTrac II was a Ford four-wheel drive system based on a viscous coupling unit. The viscous coupling replaced the typical center differential used in four-wheel drive applications. The system worked normally in front wheel drive but in addition to the front wheels being driven, a shaft is powered that runs to the viscous coupling in the rear. If the front wheels slip, the viscous coupling progressively releases torque to the rear wheels. Additionally, the ControlTrac II system provided a mechanical lock of four-wheel drive though there was no low range provided by the system.
ControlTrac II has since been replaced by the automatic Intelligent four-wheel drive system, a similar system with the viscous coupling replaced by a computer controlled clutch. The Intelligent 4WD system functionally acts similar to the ControlTrac II system, with the front wheels being driven predominately with torque being sent to the rear wheels only as conditions dictate. The Intelligent 4WD system also lacks the mechanical lock provided by ControlTrac II.




















































