DRIVING FORCE TRANSMISSION CONTROL APPARATUS

• US 20140163831A1
• Filed: 11/29/2013
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jtekt Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Jtekt Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: KODAMA, Akira, TANIGUCHI, Kenta
• Granted Patent: US 9,243,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/68
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/344 having a transfer gear
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2023/0833 for adding torque to the rear wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2023/0858 with electric means, e.g. electro-hydraulic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 23/0808 for varying torque distribution between driven axles, e.g. by transfer clutch
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0208 Clutch engagement state, e.g. engaged or disengaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0225 Clutch actuator position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0241 Clutch slip, i.e. difference between input and output speeds
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/027 Clutch torque
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 13/54 with means for increasing the effective force between the actuating sleeve or equivalent member and the pressure member
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2023/123 Clutch actuation by cams, ramps or ball-screw mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2121/04 acting on a piston-type actuator, e.g. for liquid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2121/24 using motors
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 23/12 Mechanical clutch-actuating mechanisms arranged outside the clutch as such specific for combined clutches F16D21/00; mechanisms specific for synchronisation F16D23/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/1024 combined with hydraulic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/10431 4WD Clutch dividing power between the front and the rear axle
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/10462 Dog-type clutch
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/30406 Clutch slip
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3067 Speed of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/30806 Engaged transmission ratio
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3115 Vehicle wheel speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3144 : Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/50236 : Adaptations of the clutch characteristics, e.g. curve clutch capacity torque - clutch actuator displacement
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/70404 : Force
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/70406 : Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 28/00 : Electrically-actuated clutches arrangements for synchronisation F16D23/02; clutches actuated directly by means of an electromagnet F16D27/00; automatic clutches F16D43/00 - F16D45/00; external control F16D48/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 48/06 : Control by electric or electronic means, e.g. of fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 48/066 : Control of fluid pressure, e.g. using an accumulator F16D48/062, F16D48/068 take precedence

Abstract

A driving force transmission control apparatus includes a multiple disc clutch including a plurality of outer clutch plates, and a plurality of inner clutch plates; a pressing mechanism that presses the multiple disc clutch; and a control portion that controls the pressing mechanism. The outer clutch plates and inner clutch plates are engaged with an intermediate shaft and an inner shaft respectively. The control portion makes a determination as to whether the multiple disc clutch is in a first operating condition in which the multiple disc clutch is pressed with a relative rotation speed between the intermediate and the inner shafts being equal to or higher than a predetermined value, or in a second operating condition in which the multiple disc clutch is pressed with the relative rotation speed being lower than the predetermined value, and the control portion controls the pressing mechanism based on a result of the determination.

Claims

1. A driving force transmission control apparatus comprising:

an outer rotary member having an inner peripheral surface in which a plurality of inner peripheral spline teeth is formed, the inner peripheral spline teeth extending in a direction of a rotation axis;

an inner rotary member supported inside the outer rotary member so as to be coaxially rotatable relative to the outer rotary member, and having an outer peripheral surface in which a plurality of outer peripheral spline teeth is formed, the outer peripheral spline teeth extending in the direction of the rotation axis;

a multiple disc clutch including a plurality of outer clutch plates engaged with the inner peripheral spline teeth so as to be axially movable, and a plurality of inner clutch plates engaged with the outer peripheral spline teeth so as to be axially movable, the outer clutch plates and the inner clutch plates being alternately arranged in the direction of the rotation axis;

a pressing mechanism that presses the multiple disc clutch in the direction of the rotation axis; and

a control portion that controls the pressing mechanism, wherein the control portion makes a determination as to whether the multiple disc clutch is in a first operating condition in which the multiple disc clutch is pressed with a relative rotation speed between the outer rotary member and the inner rotary member being equal to or higher than a predetermined value, or in a second operating condition in which the multiple disc clutch is pressed with the relative rotation speed being lower than the predetermined value, and the control portion controls the pressing mechanism based on a result of the determination.

2. The driving force transmission control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a case where the result of the determination indicates the first operating condition, the control portion increases a pressing force for pressing the multiple disc clutch applied by the pressing mechanism, as compared to a case where the result of the determination indicates the second operating condition.

3. The driving force transmission control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control portion controls the pressing mechanism by selectively referring to a first characteristic torque map and a second characteristic torque map according to whether the multiple disc clutch is in the first operating condition or the second operating condition, each of the first characteristic torque map and the second characteristic torque map defining a relationship between a command value of a driving force to be transmitted between the outer rotary member and the inner rotary member, and a control target value relating to a pressing force to be generated by the pressing mechanism,

in the second characteristic torque map referred to by the control portion in a case where the multiple disc clutch is in the second operating condition, the control target value is set so that the pressing force is smaller than the pressing force in the first characteristic torque map referred to by the control portion in a case where the multiple disc clutch is in the first operating condition.

4. The driving force transmission control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control portion controls the pressing mechanism by selectively referring to a first characteristic torque map and a second characteristic torque map according to whether the multiple disc clutch is in the first operating condition or the second operating condition, each of the first characteristic torque map and the second characteristic torque map defining a relationship between a command value of a driving force to be transmitted between the outer rotary member and the inner rotary member, and a control target value relating to a pressing force to be generated by the pressing mechanism,

in the second characteristic torque map referred to by the control portion in a case where the multiple disc clutch is in the second operating condition, the control target value is set so that the pressing force is smaller than the pressing force in the first characteristic torque map referred to by the control portion in a case where the multiple disc clutch is in the first operating condition.

5. The driving force transmission control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pressing mechanism includes an electric motor, and a conversion mechanism that converts a torque of the electric motor to a pressing force for pressing the multiple disc clutch.

6. The driving force transmission control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pressing mechanism includes an electric motor, and a conversion mechanism that converts a torque of the electric motor to a pressing force for pressing the multiple disc clutch.

7. The driving force transmission control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein in each of the first characteristic torque map and the second characteristic torque map, a torque to be generated by the electric motor is defined as the control target value.

8. The driving force transmission control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein in each of the first characteristic torque map and the second characteristic torque map, a torque to be generated by the electric motor is defined as the control target value.

9. The driving force transmission control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein in each of the first characteristic torque map and the second characteristic torque map, a rotation angle of the electric motor is defined as the control target value.

10. The driving force transmission control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein in each of the first characteristic torque map and the second characteristic torque map, a rotation angle of the electric motor is defined as the control target value.

11. The driving force transmission control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pressing mechanism includes a piston that presses the multiple disc clutch, and a hydraulic pump that supplies hydraulic oil into a hydraulic oil chamber for the piston.

12. The driving force transmission control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pressing mechanism includes a piston that presses the multiple disc clutch, and a hydraulic pump that supplies hydraulic oil into a hydraulic oil chamber for the piston.

13. The driving force transmission control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein in each of the first characteristic torque map and the second characteristic torque map, a hydraulic pressure to be generated by the hydraulic pump is defined as the control target value.

14. The driving force transmission control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein in each of the first characteristic torque map and the second characteristic torque map, a hydraulic pressure to be generated by the hydraulic pump is defined as the control target value.

15. The driving force transmission control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the pressing mechanism further includes a pressure control valve that controls a pressure in the hydraulic oil chamber.

16. The driving force transmission control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the pressing mechanism further includes a pressure control valve that controls a pressure in the hydraulic oil chamber.

17. The driving force transmission control apparatus according to claim 15, wherein in each of the first characteristic torque map and the second characteristic torque map, a control hydraulic pressure of the pressure control valve is defined as the control target value.

18. The driving force transmission control apparatus according to claim 16, wherein in each of the first characteristic torque map and the second characteristic torque map, a control hydraulic pressure of the pressure control valve is defined as the control target value.