Driving-torque distribution control system for four-wheel drive vehicles

• US 5,740,877 A
• Filed: 12/21/1995
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Sasaki, Hiroki
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US08/576,357
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 180/233, 180/247, 180/248, 180/249, 180/250, 180/197, 364/424.098
• US Class Current: 180/248
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 23/0808 for varying torque distribution between driven axles, e.g. by transfer clutch

Abstract

A driving-torque distribution control system for a four-wheel drive vehicle, comprises a transfer having a transfer clutch for variably adjusting a front and rear drive-wheel torque distribution, and a torque-split controller for setting a weighting coefficient to a lower speed of rotational speeds of secondary drive wheels depending on a wheel-load shift between the secondary drive wheels e.g. a lateral acceleration exerted on the vehicle or a rolling moment. The controller calculates a simple mean of rotational speeds of primary drive wheels, and also calculates a weighted mean of rotational speeds of the secondary drive wheels based on the weighting coefficient so as to control the transfer clutch in accordance with the front and rear drive-wheel torque distribution based on a difference between the simple mean and the weighted mean. The weighting coefficient is held constant until the lateral acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A driving-torque distribution control system for a four-wheel drive vehicle, comprising:

a transfer having a transfer clutch for variably adjusting a torque distribution between front and rear drive wheels;

sensor means for detecting an amount of shift of wheel-load from one of left and right wheels included in said secondary drive wheels to another;

weighting means responsive to said amount of shift of wheel-load for setting a weighting coefficient to a lower speed of rotational speeds of said left and right wheels included in said secondary drive wheels;

means for calculating a simple mean of rotational speeds of primary drive wheels, and for calculating a weighted mean of rotational speeds of said secondary drive wheels based on said weighting coefficient; and

means for controlling said transfer clutch in accordance with said torque distribution based on a difference between said simple mean and said weighted mean.

2. A driving-torque distribution control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said weighting means maintains said weighting coefficient constant so that said weighted mean of rotational speeds of said secondary drive wheels is identical to a simple mean of rotational speeds of said secondary drive wheels, until said amount of shift of wheel-load exceeds a predetermined threshold, and said weighting means increases said weighting coefficient in accordance with an increase in said amount of shift of wheel-load after said amount of shift of wheel-load exceeds said predetermined threshold.

3. A driving-torque distribution control system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said weighting means linearly increases said weighting coefficient in proportion to an increase in said amount of shift of wheel-load after said predetermined threshold has been reached.

4. A driving-torque distribution control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor means detects a lateral acceleration exerted on the vehicle.

5. An active torque-split control system for a four-wheel drive vehicle, responsive to a wheel-speed difference between primary and secondary drive wheels for actively controlling a torque distribution of driving-torque produced by an engine between front and rear drive wheels, said system comprising:

a transfer having a transfer clutch for variably adjusting said torque distribution;

sensor means for detecting an amount of shift of wheel-load from an inner wheel of said secondary drive wheels to an outer wheel;

selection means for selecting a lower speed of rotational speeds of said secondary drive wheels and a faster speed of the rotational speeds of said secondary drive wheels;

weighting means responsive to said amount of shift of wheel-load for setting a weighting coefficient to said lower speed;

means for calculating a representative rotational speed of said secondary drive wheels as a weighted mean based on said weighting coefficient when said amount of shift of wheel-load exceeds a predetermined threshold, and for calculating said representative rotational speed of said secondary drive wheels as a simple mean when said amount of shift of wheel-load is below said predetermined threshold;

means for calculating a representative rotational speed of said primary drive wheels as a simple mean; and

means for controlling said transfer clutch in accordance with said torque distribution based on a wheel speed difference between said representative rotational speed of said primary drive wheels and said representative rotational speed of said secondary drive wheels.