Torque distribution control apparatus for vehicle

• US 5,417,298 A
• Filed: 07/06/1994
• Issued: 05/23/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Shibahata, Yasuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Hill, Mitchell J.
• Application Number:
  US08/267,913
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 180/76, 180/233, 180/247, 180/248, 180/79.1, 180/242, 180/243, 180/249, 74/665 T, 74/665 F
• US Class Current: 180/76
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 23/04 for differential gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 23/08 for changing number of driven wheels , for switching from driving one axle to driving two or more axles B60K17/3515 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 23/0808 for varying torque distribution between driven axles, e.g. by transfer clutch
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/14 Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/18 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/364 using electric or hydraulic motors
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/10 with orbital spur gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/36 characterised by intentionally generating speed difference between outputs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19116 Vehicle

Abstract

In a vehicle including a torque distributing device for distributing the torque of an engine to left and right driving wheels, a feed-forward control system determines a lateral distribution torque T₁ from an engine torque T_E, a number Ne of revolutions of the engine, a vehicle speed V and a steering angle θ, and a feed-back control system determines a feed-back torque T_F from a target yaw rate Y determined from the vehicle speed V and the steering angle θ and an actual yaw rate Yaw. A final distribution torque T is determined by adding the lateral distribution torque T₁ and the feed-back torque T_D at a predetermined ratio, and an actuator is driven to distribute the engine torque to the left and right driving wheels on the basis of the final distribution torque T. Thus, it is possible to appropriately distribute the engine torque to the left and right driving wheels, and to allow the actual yaw rate of the vehicle to be matched with the target yaw rate to improve the steering characteristic.

Claims

1. A torque distribution control apparatus for a vehicle for controlling the torque distribution to distribute the torque of an engine to left and right driving wheels at a predetermined torque distribution ratio, comprising

a travel condition detecting means for detecting the travel condition of the vehicle,

an attitude change amount detecting means for detecting the change amount of attitude of the vehicle,

a control means for feed-forward controlling the torque distribution ratio on the basis of an output from said travel condition detecting means, and for feed-back controlling the torque distribution ratio, such that an actual attitude change amount determined on the basis of an output from said attitude change amount detecting means is matched with a target attitude change amount determined on the basis of the output from said travel condition detecting means, and

an actuator for carrying out the torque distribution on the basis of an output from said control means.

3. A torque distribution control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said travel condition detecting means comprises an engine torque sensor for detecting a torque of the engine, a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed, and a steering angle sensor for detecting a steering angle, and said attitude change amount detecting means comprises a yaw rate sensor for detecting a yaw rate.

2. A torque distribution control apparatus for a vehicle for controlling the torque distribution to distribute the torque of an engine to front driving wheels and rear driving wheels at a predetermined longitudinal torque distribution ratio, and controlling the torque distribution to distribute at least one of the torque distributed to the front driving wheels and the torque distributed to the rear driving wheels to the left driving wheels and the right driving wheels at a predetermined lateral torque distribution ratio, comprising

a travel condition detecting means for detecting the travel condition of the vehicle,

an attitude change amount detecting means for detecting the change amount of attitude of the vehicle,

a control means for feed-forward controlling the lateral torque distribution ratio on the basis of an output from said travel condition detecting means, and feed-back controlling the longitudinal torque distribution ratio, such that an actual attitude change amount determined on the basis of an output from said attitude change amount detecting means is matched with a target attitude change amount determined on the basis of the output from said travel condition detecting means, and

an actuator for carrying out the torque distribution on the basis of an output from said control means.