Starting assistance device for a vehicle with a motor and dog-clutch control for transmitting a torque to idler wheels

• US 6,008,606 A
• Filed: 09/17/1998
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hamada, Tetsuro, Sekiya, Shigenobu, Arai, Kentaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Nappi, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leykin, Rita
• Application Number:
  US09/154,745
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 318/445-447, 318/452, 318/453, 318/466, 318/488, 318/430, 318/431, 290/38 R, 290/48
• US Class Current: 318/431
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/213 by applying forward/backward torque on each wheel individually
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/00 Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/001 one motor mounted on a propulsion axle for rotating right and left wheels of this axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/387 Actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/442 Series-parallel switching type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/40 Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/26 Wheel slip
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/28 Wheel speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18027 Drive off, accelerating from standstill
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/912 Drive line clutch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/916 : with plurality of drive axles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 : Characterized by control of driveline clutch

Abstract

A starting assistance device for a vehicle has an electric motor and a dog clutch which is switched on at the time of starting of the vehicle to thereby transmit a torque to idler wheels. A sensor is provided to detect the switching on and switching off of the dog clutch. In case the switching off of the dog clutch is not detected when the rotational speeds of the idler wheels have exceeded a predetermined value after the starting of the vehicle, the electric motor is driven in such a direction of rotation so as to cancel the torque which operates on the dog clutch due to the frictional force in the electric motor.

Claims

1. A starting assistance device for mounting on a vehicle in which either front wheels or rear wheels are driven by an engine and the remaining thereof are idler wheels, said device comprising:

an electric motor;

a dog clutch which is switched on at the time of starting of the vehicle to transmit an output torque of said electric motor to the idler wheels,

wherein, after the vehicle has started, said electric motor ceases to be driven and said dog clutch is switched off;

clutch detecting means for detecting switching on and switching off of said dog clutch; and

a temporary driving means for temporarily driving said electric motor in a direction to cancel a torque which operates on said dog clutch due to a frictional force in said electric motor, said temporary driving means said electric motor being performed when switching off of said dog clutch is not detected by said clutch detecting means even when the rotational speed of the idler wheels has exceeded a predetermined value after the starting of the vehicle.

2. A starting assistance device according to claim 1, wherein said temporary driving means drives said electric motor in a normal direction and in a reverse direction within a temporary driving time.