JP2005214328A - Clutch control device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the time that elapses before a breaking off action of a clutch at the time of start, facilitate starting, and accurately detect the position of a clutch breaking off point necessary for control at the time of start at all times, thus contribute to an improvement in marketability of a transmission with an automatic clutch. <P>SOLUTION: A clutch control device for a vehicle is provided with a control means. At the time of start of an engine, when control hydraulic pressure for controlling the clutch is smaller than an evaluation value, and it is determined that a condition for release is met by a means of evaluation determining the condition for the release of clutch engagement, then a flow control valve is open-controlled before the start of drive of an oil pump, and the clutch is open-controlled concurrently with the start of the drive of the oil pump by the control means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle clutch control device, and more particularly to a vehicle clutch control device that controls and automatically controls a diaphragm spring type starting clutch of an automobile with a manual transmission.

  In an automobile, a clutch and a transmission are provided in order to properly transmit the driving force of the engine to the wheels according to the traveling state. The clutch is interposed between the engine and the transmission, and interrupts the driving force transmitted from the engine to the transmission.

JP 9-287625 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-227316

  By the way, in a conventional vehicle clutch control device, for example, a starting clutch of an automobile with a manual transmission, a large number of diaphragm types are employed. At this time, the driver operates the starting clutch by a clutch pedal.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the operation at the time of operation of the starting clutch is performed in a hydraulic system that operates a hydraulic circuit (also referred to as “hydraulic unit”) including at least an oil pump and a flow rate control valve. When there is a clutch release request (202), pump drive control for driving the oil pump is started (204), and it is determined whether the control hydraulic pressure is equal to or higher than a specified value (206), and this determination (206) is NO. In this case, the determination (206) is repeated until the determination (206) becomes YES.

  If the determination (206) is YES, the process proceeds to a determination (208) as to whether or not the clutch release condition is satisfied. If the determination (208) is NO, the program ends (214). If the determination is YES and the determination (208) is YES, the flow valve is operated (210) to release the starting clutch.

  After the flow valve actuating process (210), a determination (212) is made as to whether or not the starting clutch is in an open state. If the determination (212) is NO, the determination (212) is YES. The determination (212) is repeatedly performed until it is, and when the determination (212) is YES, the program is ended (214).

  At this time, there are the following problems when the starting clutch is automatically controlled by hydraulic pressure as described above.

  First, in the diaphragm type starting clutch, the friction material of the clutch disk is worn by long-term use, and the pressing load of the clutch changes depending on the wear amount of the friction material, and the moving position of the release bearing moves. As a result, changes occur in the release piston stroke and clutch torque characteristics detected in the control.

  Since the release characteristic is not a linear characteristic due to the diaphragm spring characteristic, the release piston performs feedback control of the release piston stroke not by pressure but by flow rate control, and performs clutch torque control. There is an inconvenience that torque control becomes difficult.

  Next, as a hydraulic problem, the control hydraulic pressure must be operated even when the engine is stopped. Therefore, in order to use an electric oil pump and to secure a stable hydraulic pressure, it is necessary to reduce the pressure with an accumulator or the like. There is.

  Therefore, when starting the engine from a state where there is no control hydraulic pressure due to the stop of the hydraulic system, it is necessary to increase the hydraulic pressure by operating the hydraulic system, and then stroke the release piston to disengage the starting clutch. Since it takes a long time to start, there is a disadvantage that there is a problem in startability.

  Accordingly, in order to eliminate the above-described disadvantages, the present invention provides a clutch that connects and disconnects power transmission from the engine to the transmission, a clutch actuator that drives the clutch, and at least an oil pump that hydraulically controls the clutch actuator. Whether or not a condition for releasing clutch engagement is satisfied in a vehicle clutch control device that includes a hydraulic circuit including a flow rate control valve and controls the release or engagement of the clutch by controlling the stroke of the clutch actuator Determination means for determining the flow rate control valve before starting the oil pump driving when the engine is started and the control hydraulic pressure for controlling the clutch is smaller than the determination value and the determination means determines that the release condition is satisfied. The clutch is released and the oil pump is started. Characterized by comprising a control means for release control.

  As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a clutch for connecting / disconnecting power transmission from the engine to the transmission, a clutch actuator for driving the clutch, and at least an oil pump and a flow control valve for hydraulically controlling the clutch actuator. And determining whether or not a condition for releasing the clutch engagement is satisfied in a vehicle clutch control device that controls the release or engagement of the clutch by controlling the stroke of the clutch actuator. Means for controlling the opening of the flow rate control valve before starting the oil pump when the control hydraulic pressure for controlling the clutch at the time of engine start is smaller than a determination value and the determination means determines that the release condition is satisfied, Control means for clutch release control at the start of oil pump drive By was example, since the clutch actuator before the driving of the oil pump is in operation, it is possible to reduce the time to break the operation of the clutch at the start, it is possible to improve the startability.

  The clutch actuator further includes a clutch for connecting / disconnecting power transmission from the engine to the transmission, a clutch actuator for driving the clutch, and a hydraulic circuit including at least an oil pump and a flow rate control valve for hydraulically controlling the clutch actuator. In the vehicle clutch control device for controlling the release or engagement of the clutch by controlling the stroke of the vehicle, the hydraulic circuit includes pressure detection means capable of detecting the hydraulic pressure, and the stroke amount detection means capable of detecting the stroke amount of the clutch actuator. The pressure detection means and the stroke amount detection means are provided with a control means for calculating the clutch transmission torque from the pressure detection means and the stroke amount detection means and learning and controlling the clutch disengagement point by the calculated clutch transmission torque. The characteristics obtained from the means By Rukoto, can always accurately detect the clutch disconnection point position necessary for start control, it is capable of contributing to the improvement of product strength with automatic clutch transmission.

  By inventing as described above, the clutch actuator is operated before the oil pump is driven, and the time until the clutch is disconnected at the time of starting is shortened to improve the startability.

  In addition, by using the characteristics obtained from the pressure detection means and stroke amount detection means, the clutch disengagement point position required for the start-up control is always accurately detected, contributing to the improvement of the product power of the transmission with an automatic clutch. ing.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 8 show an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, 2 is a crankshaft of an engine (not shown) mounted on an automobile (not shown), 4 is a manual transmission, 6 is a manual transmission case, and 8 is an input shaft.

  The manual transmission 4 connected to the engine is provided with an input shaft 8 coaxially with the crankshaft 2.

  The manual transmission case 6 is provided with an input bearing holding portion 12 on the case wall portion 10 on the side facing the engine (left side in FIG. 2). The input bearing holding portion 12 holds an input bearing 14, and the input shaft 8 is pivotally supported by the input bearing 14.

  A diaphragm spring type starting clutch 16 is provided in the manual transmission case 6.

  In this clutch 16, as shown in FIG. 2, a clutch cover 22 is attached to a flywheel 20 attached to a shaft end of the crankshaft 2 by a wheel attachment bolt 18 by a cover bolt 24. In the clutch cover 22, a clutch hub 26 is engaged with an input shaft 8 provided coaxially with the crankshaft 2 so as to be axially movable and non-rotatable.

  An annular plate-shaped clutch disk 30 is attached to the clutch hub 26 via a damper 28. The clutch disk 30 is disposed with one side facing the flywheel 20 and the other side with a pressure plate 32 engaged with the flywheel 20 so as to be axially movable. Yes.

  The pressure plate 32 is provided with the outer peripheral edge of the diaphragm 34 in contact therewith. The diaphragm 34 is provided with the vicinity of the outer periphery held by the clutch cover 22 and the other side of the inner periphery contacting the release bearing 36. The release bearing 36 is provided on the input shaft 8 provided coaxially with the crankshaft 2 in the manual transmission case 6 so as to be movable in the axial direction.

  The release bearing 36 is provided with a release lever 38 that is swung so as to move the release bearing 36 in the axial direction. 2 and 3, the release lever 38 is attached to the inner end of the manual transmission case 6 of the release shaft 40 that is pivotally supported so as to pass through the manual transmission case 6, and the release shaft 40 is manually operated. A release arm 42 is attached to the outer end of the transmission case 6.

  A clutch actuator 44 for driving the clutch 16 is fixed to the manual transmission case 6 at the swinging end of the release arm 42.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the clutch actuator 44 includes an actuator main body 44-1, a through-hole portion 44-2 formed in the longitudinal direction in the actuator main-body portion 44-1, and a through-hole portion 44-2. A closing member 44-3 that closes one end (the left side in FIG. 4), and a sliding direction in the longitudinal direction in the through-hole portion 44-2 in the direction of contact with and separating from the closing member 44-3 A piston 44-5 that makes the control hydraulic chamber 44-4 appear or disappear between the member 44-3 and the tip portion, and a control formed in the actuator main body 44-1 to communicate with the control hydraulic chamber 44-4. And a hydraulic communication hole 44-6.

  A connecting member 44-7 connected to the swinging end portion of the release arm 42 is attached to the other end side (right side in FIG. 4) of the piston 44-5, and a sensor is provided in the middle of the piston 44-5. A stroke sensor 44-9, which is a stroke amount detecting means for detecting the stroke amount of the clutch actuator 44, which is a sliding movement amount of the piston 44-5, is provided through the shaft 44-8.

  Further, a hydraulic circuit 46 that hydraulically controls the clutch actuator 44 is provided, and the clutch 16 is released or engaged by controlling the stroke of the clutch actuator 44.

  That is, the control hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic circuit 46 enters the clutch actuator 44 and pushes the piston 44-5. At this time, the stroke of the piston 44-5 is detected by the sensor shaft 44-8 by the stroke sensor 44-9.

  When the piston 44-5 is pushed, the release arm 42 is pushed, the release shaft 40 rotates and pushes the release lever 38, and the diaphragm start clutch 16 is disengaged.

  The hydraulic circuit 46 has at least an oil pump 48 and a flow control valve 50.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the hydraulic circuit 46 is provided with an oil pump 48 that sucks up oil from the oil tank 52, and connects the oil pump 48 and the flow rate control valve 50 to introduce a first passage 54 for introducing oil. The second passage 56 is provided to connect the flow control valve 50 and the oil tank 52 to return the oil, and the intermediate portion of the first passage 54 and the oil tank 52 are connected to adjust the control hydraulic pressure to relieve excess hydraulic pressure. A third passage 58 is provided.

  In the first passage 54, from the oil pump 48 side, a one-way valve 60 that secures a predetermined control oil pressure, a pressure sensor 62 that is a pressure detection means that can detect the oil pressure, and an accumulator 64 that stores livestock pressure are sequentially provided. A relief valve 66 is provided in the middle of the third passage 58.

  The oil pump 48 is driven by a motor 68 that is driven within a base pressure range by a detection signal of the pressure sensor 62.

  Furthermore, the accumulator 64 reduces the hydraulic pressure fed from the oil pump 48.

  Furthermore, the flow control valve 50 controls the transmission torque of the starting clutch 16 by controlling the stroke of the clutch actuator 44. The relationship between the piston stroke (also referred to as “release bearing stroke”) and the torque is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, since it changes with the wear of the clutch disk 30, it is necessary to learn its characteristics as described later.

  Here, a determination means 70 for determining whether or not a condition for releasing the clutch is satisfied is provided, the control hydraulic pressure for controlling the clutch at the time of engine start is smaller than a determination value, and the release condition is set by the determination means 70. When it is determined that the oil pump is satisfied, the flow control valve 50 is controlled to be opened before the oil pump driving is started, and the control means 72 is configured to control the clutch opening when the oil pump driving is started.

  The control means 72 includes a pressure sensor 62 which is a pressure detection means capable of detecting the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic circuit 46, and a stroke sensor 44- which is a stroke amount detection means capable of detecting the stroke amount of the clutch actuator 44. 9, and a function of calculating a clutch transmission torque from the pressure sensor 62 and the stroke sensor 44-9 and learning and controlling a clutch disengagement point based on the calculated clutch transmission torque.

  More specifically, before the oil pump 48 for generating the control hydraulic pressure is driven in a vehicle state where the engagement of the starting clutch 16 can be released when the control system including the control means 72 described above is started from the stop state. The flow control valve 50 is controlled in the clutch release direction.

  Thereafter, when the oil pump 48 is driven, the oil pumped by the oil pump 48 pushes the piston 44-5 of the clutch actuator 44 before the stock pressure in the accumulator 64 to release the clutch 16. The hydraulic pressure at this time is generated with respect to the release load and can be detected by the pressure sensor 62 of the hydraulic circuit 46, which is a hydraulic unit, and the relationship between the release piston stroke and the hydraulic pressure, that is, the release load can be obtained. is there.

  Further, as is apparent from FIG. 8, there is a close relationship between the release load and the transmission torque, and the above characteristics are converted into piston stroke (also referred to as “release bearing stroke”) and transmission torque characteristics, and the learning value is obtained. As feedback to the control.

  Furthermore, when the engine is started from the start of the hydraulic system that operates the hydraulic circuit 46 (which can also be referred to as a “hydraulic unit”), it has conventionally been possible to start by releasing the clutch after completion of the pressurization, and a time until the pressurization is required. However, in the embodiment of the present invention, the clutch 16 is immediately released at the start of pump driving, and the time required for starting the engine is minimized.

  Next, the operation will be described along the control flowchart of the vehicle clutch control device of FIG.

  When there is a clutch release request at the time of engine start (when the control hydraulic pressure for controlling the clutch at the time of engine start is smaller than a determination value) (102), it is determined whether the clutch release condition is satisfied (104).

The determination (104) as to whether or not the clutch release condition is satisfied includes the following.
(1) Whether or not neutral (2) Whether or not parking brake is ON (3) Whether or not foot brake is ON

  When the determination (104) of whether or not the above-described clutch release condition is satisfied is YES, the flow valve is operated (106) to release the starting clutch 16, and when the determination (104) is NO Terminates (118) this program.

  Then, after the flow valve operation process (106), in order to perform the release control of the starting clutch 16, a determination (108) is made as to whether or not the control hydraulic pressure is equal to or greater than a specified value. If this determination (108) is YES, The clutch is released and the program ends (118). If the determination (108) is NO, the drive control of the oil pump 48 is started (110), the relationship of the release bearing stroke hydraulic pressure, which is the piston stroke, is measured (112), and the starting clutch is in the released state. It shifts to judgment (114) of no.

  Further, when the determination (114) as to whether or not the starting clutch is in the released state is NO, the relationship of the release bearing stroke hydraulic pressure as the piston stroke is returned to the measurement process (112), and the determination (114) is determined. In the case of YES, the process shifts to storing the learned value (116) and then shifts to the end (118) of this control program.

  As a result, when it is determined by the control means 72 that the release condition is satisfied by the determination means 70, the flow control valve 50 is controlled to be released before the oil pump drive is started, and the clutch release control is performed together with the oil pump drive start. Since the clutch actuator 44 is operated before the oil pump 48 is driven by the addition, the time until the clutch 16 is released at the time of starting can be shortened, and the starting performance can be improved. It is.

  Further, the control means 72 includes a pressure sensor 62 which is a pressure detection means capable of detecting the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic circuit 46, and a stroke sensor 44-9 which is a stroke amount detection means capable of detecting the stroke amount of the clutch actuator 44. Pressure detecting means is provided with a function of calculating a clutch transmission torque from the pressure sensor 62 and the stroke sensor 44-9 and learning and controlling the clutch disengagement point by the calculated clutch transmission torque. By using the characteristics obtained from the pressure sensor 62 and the stroke sensor 44-9 as the stroke amount detection means, the clutch disengagement point position required for the start-up control can always be accurately detected, and an automatic clutch is provided. It can contribute to the improvement of the product power of the transmission.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various application modifications are possible.

It is a flowchart for control of the clutch control apparatus for vehicles which shows the Example of this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing of a clutch. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of a clutch actuator. It is a general | schematic expanded sectional view of a clutch actuator. It is a schematic block diagram of a hydraulic circuit. It is a control block diagram of a vehicle clutch control device. It is a figure which shows the load characteristic of a diaphragm spring. It is a figure which shows a release bearing position, a load, and a torque characteristic. 3 is a flowchart for the operation of a hydraulic circuit showing the prior art of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

2 Crankshaft 4 Manual Transmission 6 Manual Transmission Case 8 Input Shaft 10 Case Wall 12 Input Bearing Holding Unit 16 Starting Clutch 20 Flywheel 22 Clutch Cover 26 Clutch Hub 28 Damper 30 Clutch Disc 32 Pressure Plate 34 Diaphragm 36 Release Bearing 38 Release lever 40 Release shaft 42 Release arm 44 Clutch actuator 44-1 Actuator body 44-2 Through hole 44-3 Closing member 44-4 Control hydraulic chamber 44-5 Piston 44-6 Communication hydraulic communication hole 44- 7 Connecting member 44-8 Sensor shaft 44-9 Stroke sensor 46 Hydraulic circuit 48 Oil pump 50 Flow control valve 52 Oil tank 54 First passage 56 Second passage 58 Third passage 60 One way Lube 62 pressure sensor 64 accumulator 66 relief valve 68 motor 70 determining section 72 control means

Claims (2)

  A clutch for connecting / disconnecting power transmission from the engine to the transmission; a clutch actuator for driving the clutch; and a hydraulic circuit including at least an oil pump and a flow rate control valve for hydraulically controlling the clutch actuator. In the vehicle clutch control device that controls the release or engagement of the clutch by controlling the stroke of the actuator, the vehicle clutch control device includes determination means for determining whether or not a condition for releasing the clutch engagement is satisfied. When the control hydraulic pressure for controlling the oil pressure is smaller than the determination value and the determination means determines that the release condition is satisfied, the flow control valve is controlled to open before starting the oil pump drive, and the clutch release control is performed together with the oil pump drive start. Vehicle characterized by comprising control means The clutch control device.   The hydraulic circuit includes pressure detection means capable of detecting hydraulic pressure, and includes stroke amount detection means capable of detecting the stroke amount of the clutch actuator, and calculates clutch transmission torque from the pressure detection means and the stroke amount detection means. 2. The vehicle clutch control device according to claim 1, further comprising control means for learning and controlling the clutch disengagement point based on the calculated clutch transmission torque.

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