Saddled vehicle

• US 10,336,329 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2016
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha FCC
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha FCC
• Inventors: Ohashi, Tatsuyuki, Miyachi, Kazuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ebner, Katy M
• Application Number:
  US15/368,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20170080938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/36 Cycles; Motorcycles; Scooters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/00 Input parameters relating to occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/146 Speed limiting
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18063 Creeping
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18118 Hill holding
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/10 Interpretation of driver requests or demands
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/12 Handlebars; Handlebar stems
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/04 Twist grips
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/06 Levers
• CPC Class Codes: B62L 3/00 Brake-actuating mechanisms for back-pedalling brakes B62L5/00; Arrangements thereof

Abstract

A saddled vehicle configured to be driven by a driver sitting on a saddle seat and steering with a handlebar can include a grasping grip to be grasped by a driver and a throttle grip for an accelerator operation respectively, two brakes for braking a front wheel and a rear wheel of the vehicle, each having a different braking operation target, and a cruise control for performing automatic propulsion control of the vehicle wherein the control by the cruise control is performed by changing a control degree in accordance with operation conditions of the first brake and the second brake.

Claims

1. A saddled vehicle configured to be driven by a driver sitting on a saddle seat of the vehicle while steering the vehicle with a handlebar comprising:

a handlebar comprising first and second ends, a grasping grip provided on the first end and configured to be grasped by a driver, and a throttle grip provided in the second end and configured for an accelerator operation;

first and second brake operation means for performing braking operations of a front wheel and a rear wheel, each having a different braking operation target;

a cruise controller configured to perform automatic travel control of the vehicle by controlling the travel of the vehicle to a control degree; and

a cruise control adjustment means for controlling the control degree wherein the cruise control adjustment means changes the control degree in accordance with operation conditions of the first brake operation means and the second brake operation means.

2. The saddled vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a driver'"'"'s demand judgment means for judging a driver'"'"'s demand for the cruise control adjustment means based on the operation conditions of the first brake means and the second brake means and wherein the control by the cruise control adjustment means is performed based on the driver'"'"'s demand judged by the driver'"'"'s demand judgment means.

3. The saddled vehicle of claim 1, wherein the control degree of the vehicle controlled by the cruise control adjustment means is a target vehicle speed.

4. The saddled vehicle of claim 3, wherein the cruise control adjustment means changes the target vehicle speed to a speed of the vehicle at a time of completion of a braking operation when at least the front wheel is braked by operation of the first brake operation means or the second brake operation means.

5. The saddled vehicle of claim 4, wherein the cruise control adjustment means performs the change of the target vehicle speed in response to the braking operation of the front wheel by operation of the first brake means or the second brake means, continuously performed for a at least a predetermined period of time.

6. The saddled vehicle of claim 4, wherein the cruise control adjustment means performs the change of the target vehicle speed in response deceleration of the vehicle reaching a predetermined value or more when the braking operation of the front wheel by operation of the first brake means or the second brake means is performed.

7. The saddled vehicle of claim 3, wherein the cruise control adjustment means maintains the target vehicle speed when only the rear wheel has been braked by the first brake means or the second brake means.

8. The saddled vehicle of claim 7, wherein the cruise control adjustment means changes the target vehicle speed to a vehicle speed of the vehicle at a time of completion of a braking operation in which only the rear wheel has been braked by the first brake means or the second brake means when the vehicle is lower than a predetermined speed.

9. The saddled vehicle of claim 8, wherein the cruise control adjustment means changes the target vehicle speed to a vehicle speed of the vehicle at a time of completion of an accelerator operation when the accelerator operation is performed by the throttle grip.

10. The saddled vehicle of claim 1, wherein a creep control for travelling is performed by controlling a clutch under states of no accelerator operation by the throttle grip (Ga) and of idling of a driving source subject to that the vehicle speed is lower than a predetermined value.

11. The saddled vehicle of claim 10, wherein it becomes a neutral state in the creep control when both the first brake means and the second brake means are operated.

12. The saddled vehicle of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a driving power limiting means and wherein the control degree of the vehicle by the cruise control adjustment means is a limit degree determined by the driving power limiting means.

13. The saddled vehicle of claim 12, wherein the first brake means is mounted on the handlebar at a position near the throttle grip and the second brake means is mounted on the handlebar at a position near the grasping grip or a foot brake and wherein the driving power limit degree of the second brake means is set smaller than that of the first brake means.

14. The saddled vehicle of claim 1, wherein a cruise control range and a drive range are selectable and wherein the control by the cruise control adjustment means is performed when the cruise control range is selected and the control by the cruise control adjustment means is released when the drive range is selected.

15. The saddled vehicle of claim 1, wherein further comprising detection means for detecting operated positions of stands for holding the vehicle in the standing position and a detection means for detecting presence or absence of a driver on a saddle seat of the vehicle and wherein the control by the cruise control adjustment means is released when the detection means has detected the operated positions of stands or the detection means has detected absence of a driver on a seat.

16. A saddled vehicle configured to be driven by a driver sitting on a saddle seat of the vehicle while steering the vehicle with a handlebar comprising:

a handlebar comprising first and second ends, a grasping grip provided on the first end and configured to be grasped by a driver, and a throttle grip provided in the second end and configured for an accelerator operation;

first and second brake operation input members, the first brake operation member being operatively connected a front brake configured to brake a front wheel of the vehicle, the second brake operation member being operatively connected to at least a rear brake configured to brake a rear wheel of the vehicle;

a propulsion system configured to drive at least one wheel of the vehicle; and

a cruise controller configured to control the propulsion system so as to cause the vehicle to travel at a target speed, the cruise controller also configured to vary the target speed differently in response to operation of the first and second brake operation input members.

17. The saddled vehicle of claim 16, wherein the cruise controller is configured to detect a speed of travel of the vehicle and to changes the target speed to a detected speed of the vehicle at a time of completion of an operation of at least one of the first and second brake operation input members.

18. The saddled vehicle of claim 17, wherein the cruise controller is configured to change the target speed in response to operation of at least one of the first and second brake operation input members for a predetermined period of time.

19. The saddled vehicle of claim 16, wherein the cruise controller is configured to detect a deceleration of the vehicle and to change the target speed in response the detected deceleration reaching a predetermined value or more.

20. The saddled vehicle of claim 16, wherein the first brake operation input member is mounted on the handlebar at a position near the throttle grip and the second brake operation input member is mounted on the handlebar at a position near the grasping grip or a foot brake.