4WD vehicle with driving force distribution control
First Claim
1. A driving force distribution control system for a vehicle, comprising;
- a torque distributing means comprising a primary drive means for transmitting a driving force from an engine of the vehicle to primary drive wheels of the vehicle, and a secondary drive means for transmitting a driving force from the engine to secondary drive wheels of the vehicle through a torque distributing clutch capable of varying the driving force transmitted to the secondary drive wheels in response to a control signal,a first sensor means for determining a wheel speed difference between a primary wheel speed of said primary wheels and a secondary wheel speed of said secondary wheels,a second sensor means for sensing an engine condition of an engine system which includes the engine and an accelerator system of the engine,a third sensor means for sensing a vehicle speed of the vehicle,a controller means for producing said control signal by processing signals of said first, second and third sensor means, said controller means comprising a first controlling means for normally controlling a clutch engagement force of said torque distributing clutch in accordance with said wheel speed difference, and a second controlling means for controlling the clutch engagement force in accordance with said engine condition when the engine system is in a predetermined state for accelerating the vehicle, and at the same time said vehicle speed is lower than a predetermined threshold speed value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for a 4WD vehicle includes a drive system for directly transmitting a torque to primary drive wheels such as rear wheels, and transmitting a torque to secondary drive wheels such as front wheels through a torque distributing transfer clutch, a group of sensors for determining a front and rear wheel speed difference, an engine condition such as a throttle opening, and a vehicle speed, and a control unit for controlling the engagement force of the transfer clutch. Normally, the control unit employs a first control mode based on the front and rear wheel speed difference. In rapid acceleration to start the vehicle, the control unit replaces the first mode by a second mode in which the clutch engagement force is increased in accordance with the engine condition such as the throttle opening independent of the wheel speed difference, and thereby prevents undesired spin of the primary drive wheels without delay.
52 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A driving force distribution control system for a vehicle, comprising;
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a torque distributing means comprising a primary drive means for transmitting a driving force from an engine of the vehicle to primary drive wheels of the vehicle, and a secondary drive means for transmitting a driving force from the engine to secondary drive wheels of the vehicle through a torque distributing clutch capable of varying the driving force transmitted to the secondary drive wheels in response to a control signal, a first sensor means for determining a wheel speed difference between a primary wheel speed of said primary wheels and a secondary wheel speed of said secondary wheels, a second sensor means for sensing an engine condition of an engine system which includes the engine and an accelerator system of the engine, a third sensor means for sensing a vehicle speed of the vehicle, a controller means for producing said control signal by processing signals of said first, second and third sensor means, said controller means comprising a first controlling means for normally controlling a clutch engagement force of said torque distributing clutch in accordance with said wheel speed difference, and a second controlling means for controlling the clutch engagement force in accordance with said engine condition when the engine system is in a predetermined state for accelerating the vehicle, and at the same time said vehicle speed is lower than a predetermined threshold speed value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification