CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE

• US 20170009668A1
• Filed: 07/06/2016
• Published: 01/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: NISHIDA, Hideyuki
• Granted Patent: US 10,309,323 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/46 Vacuum systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/02 Arrangements of pumps or compressors, or control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0207 changing valve lift or valve lift and timing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/04 using engine as brake
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/001 for engines with variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/41 Control to generate negative pressure in the intake manifold, e.g. for fuel vapor purging or brake booster
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/02 peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0005 during deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/022 in relation with the clutch status
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/12 for deceleration F02D41/0005, F02D41/107 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/123 the fuel injection being cut-off
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A vehicle having a valve stop mode control unit configured such that an intake valve and an exhaust valve are stopped in a closed state during rotation of an output shaft, supply of fuel to an engine is stopped, a clutch is made to be in an engaged state, and pistons are driven by rotational forces from driving wheels through the output shaft. When there is a request for valve stop inertial running, a negative pressure is supplied to an intake passage by a vacuum pump.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for a vehicle configured to control a vehicle comprising a valve operation mechanism that can stop an intake valve and an exhaust valve in an engine in a closed state during rotation of an output shaft of the engine, and a clutch that can switch a power transmission route between the engine and a driving wheel between an engaged state and a disengaged state, further comprising:

a valve stop mode control unit configured to, in a case where a request for valve stop inertial running is made, stop the intake valve and the exhaust valve in the closed state during the rotation of the output shaft, stop supply of fuel to the engine, control a throttle valve of the engine to an idling opening or less, and set the clutch in an engaged state to drive pistons of the engine by a rotational force of the driving wheel through the output shaft; and

an intake pressure control unit configured to, in a case where the request for valve stop inertial running is made, supply a negative pressure to an intake passage section by a vacuum pump connected to the intake passage section.

2. The control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the vacuum pump is configured to supply a negative pressure to a brake booster for assisting a brake force of a brake.

3. The control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the engine further comprises a vacuum switching valve for opening/closing a connecting conduit that connects the vacuum pump and the intake passage, wherein

the intake pressure control unit is further configured to control the vacuum switching valve.

4. The control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the intake pressure control unit is further configured to control a pressure of the intake passage section to be below a predetermined value smaller than an atmospheric pressure, in a case where a request for valve stop inertial running is made.