1. A flame retardant composition, comprising:
at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyurethane, polycarbonate and polycarbonateacrylonitrilebutadienestyrene block copolymer; and
a flame retardant additive comprising a polyacrylate which is a salt of a polyacrylic acid, a salt of a crosslinked polyacrylic acid, a salt of a copolymer of acrylic acid with an olefin or other monomer, a salt of a crosslinked copolymer of acrylic acid with an olefin or other monomer or a salt of a graft copolymer of acrylic acid with an olefin or other monomer improving the compatibility of the additive with the polymer, in combination with
a) at least one zinc borate,
b) at least one silicone resin, and
c) alumina trihydrate or magnesium hydroxide or a mixture thereof,
said additive being free of halogens, antimony oxide and phosphorus-containing substances.
2. The flame retardant composition according to claim 1, wherein the flame retardant additive also comprises:
d) at least one molybdenum compound selected from the group consisting of calcium zinc molybdate and zinc molybdate-magnesium silicate compounds, andor
e) a polymer layered silicate nanocomposite material.
3. The flame retardant composition according to claim 2, comprising the polyacrylate in combination with zinc borate, silicone resin, alumina trihydrate and calcium zinc molybdate.
4. A flame retardant composition comprising the at least one polymer, and a flame retardant additive, wherein the flame retardant additive is as set forth in claim 3.
5. The flame retardant composition according to claim 2, comprising polyacrylate in combination with zinc borate, silicone resin, magnesium hydroxide and calcium zinc molybdate.
6. A flame retardant composition comprising the at least one polymer, and a flame retardant additive, wherein the flame retardant additive is as set forth in claim 5.
7. The flame retardant composition according to claim 2, comprising the polyacrylate in combination with zinc borate, silicone resin, magnesium hydroxide, alumina trihydrate and calcium zinc molybdate.
8. A flame retardant composition comprising the at least one polymer, and a flame retardant additive, wherein the flame retardant additive is as set forth in claim 7.
9. A flame retardant composition comprising the at least one polymer, and a flame retardant additive, wherein the flame retardant additive is as set forth in claim 2.
10. The flame retardant composition according to claim 1, comprising the polyacrylate in combination with zinc borate, silicone resin and alumina trihydrate.
11. A flame retardant composition comprising the at least one polymer and a flame retardant additive, wherein the flame retardant additive is as set forth in claim 10.
12. The flame retardant composition according to claim 1, wherein the polyacrylate is a sodium or potassium salt of a crosslinked polyacrylic acid.
13. A flame retardant composition comprising the at least one polymer, and a flame retardant additive, wherein the flame retardant additive is as set forth in claim 12.
14. The flame retardant composition according to claim 1, which also contains a polymer layered silicate composite material.
15. A flame retardant composition comprising the at least one polymer, and a flame retardant additive, wherein the flame retardant additive is as set forth in claim 14.
16. The flame retardant composition according to claim 1, wherein the polyacrylate is a salt of a copolymer of acrylic acid with an olefin or other monomer or a salt of a graft copolymer of acrylic acid with an olefin or other monomer in order to improve the compatibility of the additive with the polymer.
17. A method of reducing the flammability of the at least one polymer which method comprises mixing said at least one polymer with the flame retardant additive according to claim 1.
18. A flame retardant additive for polymers, comprising:
a polyacrylate which is a salt of a polyacrylic acid, a salt of a crosslinked polyacrylic acid, a salt of a copolymer of acrylic acid with an olefin or other monomer or a salt of a crosslinked copolymer of acrylic acid with an olefin or other monomer improving the compatibility of the additive with the polymer, in combination with
a) at least one zinc borate,
b) at least one silicone resin, and
c) alumina trihydrate or magnesium hydroxide or a mixture thereof,
said additive being free of halogens, antimony oxide and phosphorus-containing substances.
19. The flame retardant additive according to claim 18, wherein the flame retardant additive also comprises:
d) at least one molybdenum compound selected from the group consisting of calcium zinc molybdate and zinc molybdate-magnesium silicate compounds, andor
e) a polymer layered silicate nanocomposite material.
20. The flame retardant additive according to claim 18, comprising the polyacrylate in combination with zinc borate, silicone resin and alumina trihydrate.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A motor vehicle comprising:
a chassis comprising wheels on which the vehicle travels, at least some of which are driven by an internal combustion engine through a powertrain,
a brake system for braking the wheels comprising an actuator that is operated by a driver of the vehicle to brake the vehicle by selective operation of foundation brakes at the wheels and of one or more mechanisms in the powertrain capable of applying braking torque to driven wheels,
a sensor associated with the actuator for disclosing vehicle deceleration request data corresponding to a vehicle deceleration request by the driver, and
a processor comprising an algorithm for comparing vehicle deceleration request data from the sensor with data representing vehicle deceleration that is potentially obtainable by operating one or more of the mechanisms in the powertrain and for requesting operation of the one or more mechanisms to satisfy the request when the comparison discloses that operation of the one or more the mechanisms can satisfy the request.
2. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the algorithm is structured to define a range of vehicle deceleration requests, to evaluate deceleration request data from the sensor against the defined range of vehicle deceleration requests, and to request operation of the one or more mechanisms in the powertrain when both the evaluation of the request discloses that the request is within the defined range and the one or more mechanisms in the powertrain are capable of satisfying the request.
3. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 2 wherein the algorithm is structured to evaluate the ability of the one or more mechanisms in the powertrain to satisfy the request on the basis of current powertrain operation.
4. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 3 wherein the algorithm is structured to evaluate the ability of the one or more mechanisms to satisfy the request according to a hierarchy of the mechanisms.
5. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 4 wherein the sensor commands application of the foundation brakes when the actuator is operated beyond an initial portion of its range of operation.
6. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 2 wherein the sensor comprises a position sensor sensing brake pedal position, and algorithm is structured to evaluate brake pedal position as indicated by data from the sensor against the defined range of vehicle deceleration requests.
7. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 6 wherein the algorithm is structured to command application of the foundation brakes when evaluation of the brake pedal position discloses that the pedal has been depressed beyond a defined amount of pedal travel that corresponds to a limit of the defined range of vehicle deceleration requests.
8. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the algorithm is structured to include an estimate of vehicle weight data in evaluating vehicle deceleration that is potentially obtainable by operating one or more of the mechanisms in the powertrain.
9. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the one or more mechanisms include an engine brake and an engine exhaust brake.
10. A system for adaptive deceleration control of a motor vehicle that comprises a chassis comprising wheels on which the vehicle travels, at least some of which are driven by an internal combustion engine through a powertrain, and a brake system for braking the wheels comprising an actuator that is operated by a driver of the vehicle to brake the vehicle by selective operation of foundation brakes at the wheels and of one or more mechanisms in the powertrain capable of applying braking torque to driven wheels, the system comprising:
a sensor associated with the actuator for disclosing vehicle deceleration request data corresponding to a vehicle deceleration request by the driver, and
a processor comprising an algorithm for comparing vehicle deceleration request data from the sensor with data representing vehicle deceleration that is potentially obtainable by operating one or more of the mechanisms in the powertrain and for requesting operation of the one or more mechanisms to satisfy the request when the comparison discloses that operation of the one or more the mechanisms can satisfy the request.
11. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the algorithm is structured to define a range of vehicle deceleration requests, to evaluate deceleration request data from the sensor against the defined range of vehicle deceleration requests, and to request operation of the one or more mechanisms in the powertrain when both the evaluation of the request discloses that the request is within the defined range and the one or more mechanisms in the powertrain are capable of satisfying the request.
12. A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the algorithm is structured to evaluate the ability of the one or more mechanisms in the powertrain to satisfy the request on the basis of current powertrain operation.
13. A system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the algorithm is structured to evaluate the ability of the one or more mechanisms to satisfy the request according to a hierarchy of the mechanisms.
14. A system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the sensor commands application of the foundation brakes when the actuator is operated beyond an initial portion of its range of operation.
15. A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the sensor comprises a position sensor sensing brake pedal position, and algorithm is structured to evaluate brake pedal position as indicated by data from the sensor against the defined range of vehicle deceleration requests.
16. A system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the algorithm is structured to command application of the foundation brakes when evaluation of the brake pedal position discloses that the pedal has been depressed beyond a defined amount of pedal travel that corresponds to a limit of the defined range of vehicle deceleration requests.
17. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the sensor commands application of the foundation brakes when the actuator is operated beyond an initial portion of its range of operation.
18. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the algorithm is structured to include an estimate of vehicle weight data in evaluating vehicle deceleration that is potentially obtainable by operating one or more of the mechanisms in the powertrain.
19. A method for adaptive deceleration control of a motor vehicle that comprises a chassis comprising wheels on which the vehicle travels, at least some of which are driven by an internal combustion engine through a powertrain, a brake system for braking the wheels comprising an actuator that is operated by a driver of the vehicle to brake the vehicle by selective operation of foundation brakes at the wheels and of one or more mechanisms in the powertrain capable of applying braking torque to driven wheels, a sensor associated with the actuator for disclosing vehicle deceleration request data corresponding to a vehicle deceleration request by the driver, and a processor, the method comprising:
executing an algorithm in the processor to compare vehicle deceleration request data from the sensor with data representing vehicle deceleration that is potentially obtainable by operating one or more of the mechanisms in the powertrain and requesting operation of the one or more mechanisms to satisfy the request when the comparison discloses that operation of the one or more the mechanisms can satisfy the request.
20. A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein execution of the algorithm comprises evaluating deceleration request data from the sensor against a defined range of vehicle deceleration requests, and requesting operation of the one or more mechanisms in the powertrain when both the evaluation of the request discloses that the request is within the defined range and the one or more mechanisms in the powertrain are capable of satisfying the request.
21. A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein execution of the algorithm also comprises evaluating the ability of the one or more mechanisms in the powertrain to satisfy the request on the basis of current powertrain operation.
22. A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein execution of the algorithm comprises evaluating the ability of the one or more mechanisms to satisfy the request according to a hierarchy of the mechanisms.
23. A method as set forth in claim 22 wherein application of the foundation brakes occurs when the actuator is operated beyond an initial portion of its range of operation.
24. A method as set forth in claim 20 comprising sensing brake pedal position via the sensor, and wherein execution of the algorithm evaluates brake pedal position data obtained from the sensing step against the defined range of vehicle deceleration requests.
25. A method as set forth in claim 24 wherein application of the foundation brakes occurs when the pedal has been depressed beyond a defined amount of pedal travel that corresponds to a limit of the defined range of vehicle deceleration requests.
26. A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein execution of the algorithm includes processing an estimate of vehicle weight data in evaluating vehicle deceleration that is potentially obtainable by operating one or more of the mechanisms in the powertrain.