Torque distribution control apparatus for 4 wheel driven vehicle

• US 6,208,929 B1
• Filed: 06/05/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo KK (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Matsuno, Koji, Hiwatashi, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/327,349
• Time in Patent Office: 661 Days
• Field of Search: 701/41, 701/48, 701/69, 701/70, 701/87, 701/81, 701/89, 701/72, 180/197, 180/233, 180/244, 180/248, 303/121, 303/143, 303/190
• US Class Current: 701/89
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 23/0808 for varying torque distribution between driven axles, e.g. by transfer clutch
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/165 acting on elements of the vehicle drive train other than the propulsion unit and brakes, e.g. transmission, clutch, differential acting on brakes B60T8/17
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1769 specially adapted for vehicles having more than one driven axle, e.g. four-wheel drive vehicles

Abstract

In the case that a brake controller is installed to a 4 wheel driven vehicle, braking force control should be carried out effectively enough so that running stability of the vehicle can be up-graded at cornering. The brake controller 40 calculates differential value of aimed yaw rate, differential value of predicted yaw rate on low friction road and deflection of the two differential values. And also it calculates deflection of real yaw rate and aimed yaw rate. Then the brake controller 40 determines aimed braking force and applies the aimed braking force to a selected wheel to carry out braking control. The torque distribution controller 70 receives control parameters and signals of status of brake control and carries out torque distribution control based on the parameters and signals through the hydraulic multi-plate clutch 21. The hydraulic multi-plate clutch 21 is so controlled with certain weak engaging force as to make each wheel rotate freely, when braking control is carried out by applying braking force to a selected wheel. Thus the brake controller 40 can perform as aimed.

Claims

1. A torque distribution control apparatus of a four wheel drive vehicle, the vehicle comprising an engine mounted on said vehicle for supplying a driving force to front wheels and rear wheels respectively of the vehicle, an automatic gear train (2) mounted on said vehicle and mechanically connected to said engine for changing a speed of the vehicle and for transmitting a driving force to each of said wheels, a center differential mechanically interposed between said automatic gear train and said front and said rear wheels for changing a torque distribution ratio between said front and said rear wheels, a brake actuator hydromechanically connected to all of said wheels for stopping a rotation of any of said wheels by wheel cylinders installed on the vehicle for respective ones of said wheels, wheel speed sensors provided near said wheels for detecting speeds of respective ones of said wheels, and for generating respective wheel speed signals, and vehicle driving control means responsive to said wheel speed signals for controlling said vehicle under driving conditions, said torque distribution control apparatus comprising:

braking force control means connected to said brake actuator for controlling a braking force to each of said wheels, and for generating a braking force control signal; and

a torque distribution controller responsive to said braking force control signal for establishing a smaller engaging force to said center differential than a usual value of engaging force upon application of said braking force to said front wheels or said rear wheels so as to stabilize controllability of said vehicle upon cornering by increasing a free rotation of said wheels, and to improve a response characteristic during a running of the vehicle on a road.

2. A torque distribution control apparatus of a four wheel drive vehicle, the vehicle comprising an engine mounted on said vehicle for supplying a driving force to front wheels and to rear wheels of the vehicle, an automatic gear train mounted on said vehicle and mechanically connected to said engine for changing a speed of the vehicle, and for transmitting a driving force to each of said wheels, a center differential mechanically interposed between said automatic gear train and said front and said rear wheels for changing a torque distribution ratio between said front and said rear wheels, a brake actuator hydro-mechanically connected to said wheels for stopping a rotation of any of said wheels by wheel cylinders installed on the vehicle for respective ones of said wheels, wheel speed sensors provided near said wheels for detecting speeds of respective ones of said wheels and for generating respective wheel speed signals, an acceleration sensor (81) mounted on said vehicle for detecting an acceleration in a running direction of said vehicle and for generating a longitudinal acceleration signal, and a vehicle driving controller responsive to said wheel speed signals for controlling said vehicle under driving conditions, said torque distribution control apparatus comprising:

braking force control means connected to said brake actuator for controlling an optimum braking force to each of said wheels and for generating a braking force control signal; and

torque distribution controller responsive to said longitudinal acceleration signal and said braking force control signal for calculating a weight distribution for said front and said rear wheels upon application of said braking force to said front wheels or said rear wheels, and for producing a weight distribution signal;

wherein

said torque distribution controller is operated responsive to said weight distribution signal for applying an engaging force to said center differential in accordance with a predetermined equation based upon said weight distribution so as to stabilize a controllability of said vehicle in various driving conditions and to improve a response characteristic during a running of the vehicle on a road.

3. A torque distribution control apparatus of a four wheel drive vehicle, the vehicle comprising an engine mounted on said vehicle for supplying a driving force to front wheels and to rear wheels of the vehicle, an automatic gear train mounted on said vehicle and mechanically connected to said engine for changing a speed of the vehicle and for transmitting a driving force to each of said wheels, a center differential mechanically interposed between said automatic gear train and said front and said rear wheels for changing a torque distribution ratio between said front and said rear wheels, a brake actuator hydromechanically connected to all of said wheels for stopping a rotation of any one of said wheels by wheel cylinders installed on the vehicle for respective ones of said wheels, wheel speed sensors provided near said wheels for detecting speeds of respective ones of said wheels and for generating respective wheel speed signals, an acceleration sensor mounted on said vehicle for detecting an acceleration in a running direction of said vehicle and for generating a longitudinal acceleration signal, and a vehicle driving controller responsive to said wheel speed signals for controlling said vehicle under driving conditions, said torque distribution control apparatus comprising:

braking force control means connected to said brake actuator for controlling a braking force to each of said wheels, and for generating a braking force control signal; and

a torque distribution controller responsive to said longitudinal acceleration signal and said braking force control signal for calculating a turning capability of said vehicle when said braking force is applied to at least one of said front wheels and said rear wheels while turning and for producing a turning capability signal;

wherein

said torque distribution controller is operated responsive to said turning capability signal for applying an engaging force to said center differential in accordance with a turning capability of said vehicle so as to stabilize a controllability of said vehicle in over-steering or under-steering conditions, and to improve a response characteristic during a running of the vehicle on a road.

4. The torque distribution control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein torque distribution to said rear wheels is modified so as to increase at changing turning characteristics to those favorable to turn as a result of said application of said braking force to a respective one of said wheels by said braking force control means.

5. The torque distribution control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein torque distribution to said rear wheels is modified so as to increase with a predetermined value at changing turning characteristics to those favorable to turn as a result of said application of said braking force to a respective one of said wheels by said braking force control means.

6. The torque distribution control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein torque distribution to said rear wheels is modified so as to increase according to deflection of real yaw rate and aimed yaw rate at changing turning characteristics to those favorable to turn as a result of said application of said braking force to a respective one of said wheels by said braking force control means.

7. The torque distribution control apparatus for 4 wheel driven vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the apparatus is operative to modify torque transmission to said front wheels, increasing torque at changing turning characteristics to those unfavorable to turn as a result of said application of said braking force to a respective one of said wheels by said braking force controlling means.

8. The torque distribution control apparatus for 4 wheel driven vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus is operative to increase a torque distribution ratio to said front wheels to a predetermined value, at changing turning characteristics, to those unfavorable to turn as a result of said application of said braking force to a respective one of said wheels by said braking force controlling means.

9. The torque distribution control apparatus for 4 wheel driven vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus is operative to modify torque transmission to said front wheels to increase torque according to deflection of real yaw rate and aimed yaw rate, at changing turning characteristics, to those unfavorable to turn as a result of said application of said braking force to a respective one of said wheels by said braking force controlling means.