JP7154710B2 - electric parking brake - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electric parking brake.

Conventionally, in vehicles such as trucks, when the vehicle is stopped, an operation lever on the driver's seat is pulled up to drive an electric actuator, and the driving of the electric actuator pulls a parking cable to operate a parking brake main body to generate a braking force. Electric parking brakes are known.

In this type of lever-operated electric parking brake, the parking brake main body is actuated when the operating lever is pulled up in the upright state, while the parking brake main body is released when the operating lever is pushed down. It's becoming

However, if the lifted control lever is incompletely locked, the driver carelessly touches the control lever when getting off the vehicle, causing the control lever to fall down. Otherwise, there is a risk that an object may fall on the operating lever while the driver is absent, and the operating lever may fall down, resulting in misunderstanding of the parking brake main body unintentionally by the driver. elimination can occur.

Therefore, in the conventional art, in order to eliminate the possibility of erroneous release of the parking brake main body unintentionally by the driver as described above, the parking brake is prevented even if the operation lever is tilted while the ignition switch is off. Interlocking measures are taken to prevent the brake body from being released.

Prior art document information related to this type of electric parking brake includes the following Patent Document 1 and the like.

JP 2005-247194 A

However, there are cases where the driver stops the vehicle while it is idling and leaves the vehicle to complete a simple task, or where the driver stops while the vehicle is idling and takes a nap while the air conditioner is running. In these cases, if the lock is incomplete and the operation lever falls down due to careless contact with the operation lever, the interlock will not work because the ignition switch is not turned off. , erroneous release of the parking brake main body unintentionally by the driver could have occurred.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric parking brake that can reliably prevent erroneous release of the parking brake main body unintended by the driver, regardless of whether the ignition switch is turned on or off. and

The present invention provides an electric parking brake that operates a parking brake main body by pulling a parking cable by driving an electric actuator when the vehicle is stopped. a control device that operates and releases the parking brake main body via an electric actuator, and the control device selects a manual mode in which the parking brake main body is forcibly operated in a standing state in which the operation lever is pulled up; Selecting an auto mode in which the parking brake body is automatically activated and released according to the operating conditions when the operation lever is pushed down and in a lying down state, and in the auto mode, the release is not permitted when the ignition switch is off and the ignition switch is on. It is characterized in that the brake pedal is not released even when the brake pedal is depressed.

In this case, when the operating lever is pulled up to the upright state, the manual mode is selected by the control device and the parking brake main body is forcibly operated, while the operating lever is pushed down to the collapsed state. Then, the automatic mode is selected by the control device, and the parking brake main body is automatically operated/released according to the operating conditions.

At this time, in the auto mode that is selected when the operating lever is pushed down, not only is the automatic mode not allowed to be released when the ignition switch is turned off, but even when the ignition switch is on, it is not released unless the brake pedal is depressed. Therefore, regardless of whether the ignition switch is turned on or off, erroneous release of the parking brake main body, which is not intended by the driver, does not occur.

More specifically, when the vehicle is stopped normally with the ignition switch turned off, the driver carelessly touches the control lever when getting off the vehicle, or an object falls on the control lever and collides with it while the driver is absent. Even if the operating lever falls down, the parking brake main body is not permitted to be released as before, and the operating state is maintained.

Moreover, when the vehicle is stopped with the ignition switch turned on, such as when the driver stops the vehicle in the idling state and leaves the vehicle, or when the driver stops the vehicle in the idling state and falls asleep, the operator inadvertently touches the operation lever. Even if the operating lever falls down as a result, the parking brake main body will not be released unless the driver steps on the brake pedal in a safe state, and the operating state will be maintained.

Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that the control device is configured to automatically release the parking brake main body when the accelerator pedal is depressed when the shift position is in neutral or other than parking when the engine is operating in the auto mode.

In this way, in an unmatched state in which the parking brake body is operating in the auto mode while the operating lever is laid down at the release position, the driver can start the vehicle without noticing the operation of the parking brake body. However, when the accelerator pedal is stepped on at a shift position other than neutral or parking, the parking brake main body is immediately released, and dragging operation with the parking brake main body operating is avoided.

In addition, when starting on a slope with the parking brake applied, if the operation lever is pushed down to set the auto mode, the parking brake can be released in a timely manner by depressing the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle can be easily started. It is not necessary to match timing between release of the brake main body and depression of the accelerator pedal.

Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable that the control device is configured to automatically operate the parking brake main body when the shift position is neutral and the ignition switch is off in the auto mode. When the vehicle is normally stopped with the ignition switch turned off, even if the driver forgets to pull the operation lever and leaves the parking brake body unactuated, the parking brake body is automatically actuated by the control device.

Further, in the present invention, a driver absence detector is provided for detecting the absence of a driver, and the control device operates by means of the driver absence detector in the auto mode with the shift position in neutral and the ignition switch turned on. It is preferable that the parking brake body is automatically operated when the absence of the driver is detected, so that the driver will not forget to pull the operation lever when the vehicle is stopped with the ignition switch turned on. Even if the parking brake body is left unactuated by the control device, the parking brake body is automatically actuated by the control device.

Here, the driver absence detector may be a courtesy switch that detects the opening and closing of the driver's door, a seating sensor that detects the seating of the driver, or a seat belt sensor that detects the wearing of the seat belt in the driver's seat. Alternatively, it is possible to use a timer that measures the elapsed time from when the ignition switch is turned on and the shift position becomes neutral.

According to the above-described electric parking brake of the present invention, the following various excellent effects can be obtained.

(I) According to the invention of claim 1 of the present invention, the manual mode is selected by the control device by pulling up the operation lever to the upright state, and the parking brake main body is forcibly operated, while the operation lever is pulled up. By pushing it down to make it fall down, the control device selects the auto mode, and not only does not allow release when the ignition switch is off in the auto mode, but even when the ignition switch is on, it is not released unless the brake pedal is stepped on. Therefore, erroneous release of the parking brake body not intended by the driver can be reliably prevented regardless of whether the ignition switch is turned on or off, and the operational reliability of the parking brake body can be greatly improved. can be done.

(II) According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the drag operation from being performed while the parking brake main body is in operation. In addition, when starting on a slope with the parking brake applied, it is possible to realize a simple start by eliminating the need to match the timing of release of the parking brake and depression of the accelerator pedal. , it is possible to greatly reduce the operation burden on the driver when starting on a slope.

(III) According to the invention of claim 3 of the present invention, even if the driver forgets to pull the operation lever and does not activate the parking brake main body when the ignition switch is turned off and the vehicle is normally stopped, The parking brake main body can be automatically operated by the control device, and a situation in which the vehicle is stopped without the parking brake main body being operated can be reliably prevented.

(IV) According to the fourth to eighth aspects of the present invention, when the vehicle is stopped with the ignition switch turned on, the driver forgets to pull the operation lever and does not operate the parking brake main body. Even so, the parking brake main body can be automatically actuated by the control device, and the situation in which the vehicle is stopped without the parking brake main body being actuated can be reliably prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is the schematic which shows the example of a 1st form of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the control procedure of the automatic mode of the example of a 1st form of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the example of a 2nd form of this invention, and the example of a 3rd form. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a control procedure of an automatic mode according to the second embodiment of the invention; FIG. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a control procedure of an automatic mode according to the third embodiment of the invention; It is the schematic which shows the example of a 4th form of this invention. FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a control procedure of an automatic mode according to the fourth embodiment of the invention;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 indicates an electric parking brake in which an electric actuator 2 is driven to pull a parking cable 3 to operate a parking brake main body 4 when the vehicle is stopped. In the example shown here, a center brake type parking brake body 4 is installed at the rear of the transmission to fix the main shaft and propeller shaft of the transmission. A drum brake is generally adopted for the parking brake main body 4, and a pair of brake shoes in a floating state inside the drum is pushed open by pulling the parking cable 3 through a required shoe gap. A braking force is obtained by pressing each of the brake shoes against the drum.

In such an electric parking brake 1, a control signal 6a is output to the electric actuator 2 in accordance with an operation lever 5 on the driver's seat operated by the driver, and the operation lever 5 is tilted to operate the parking brake main body 4. In this control device 6, the state of the tilting operation of the operating lever 5 is grasped based on the on/off signal 5a, and the operating lever 5 is pulled up to stand up. While the manual mode is selected in which the parking brake main body 4 is forcibly operated in the state, the automatic mode in which the parking brake main body 4 is automatically operated and released according to the driving conditions is selected when the operating lever 5 is pushed down. It is designed to be

Here, the control device 6 also serves as an engine control unit (ECU: Engine Control Unit), and is adapted to receive signals regarding various operating conditions. 4 is in operation, based on the on/off signal 7a from the ignition switch 7, release of the parking brake main body 4 is not permitted when the ignition switch 7 is off. Even when 7 is on, the parking brake main body 4 is not released unless depression of the brake pedal 8 is detected based on the detection signal 9a from the brake sensor 9 (see FIG. 2).

In this case, when the operating lever 5 is pulled up to stand up, the manual mode is selected by the controller 6 and the parking brake main body 4 is forcibly operated while the operating lever 5 is pushed down. When the parking brake main body 4 is automatically operated/released according to the operating conditions, the automatic mode is selected by the control device 6 when the vehicle is in the lying down state.

At this time, in the auto mode selected when the operation lever 5 is pushed down, not only is the automatic mode not permitted to be canceled when the ignition switch 7 is turned off, but also the brake pedal 8 is not allowed to be depressed even when the ignition switch 7 is turned on. Therefore, regardless of whether the ignition switch 7 is on or off, erroneous release of the parking brake body 4 not intended by the driver does not occur.

More specifically, when the vehicle is stopped normally with the ignition switch 7 turned off, the driver carelessly touches the control lever 5 when getting off the vehicle, or an object falls on the control lever 5 and collides with it while the driver is absent. Even if the operation lever 5 falls down, the parking brake main body 4 is not permitted to be released as before, and the operating state is maintained.

Moreover, when the vehicle is stopped with the ignition switch 7 turned on, such as when the driver stops the vehicle in the idling state and leaves the vehicle, or when the driver stops the vehicle in the idling state and falls asleep, the operation lever 5 is carelessly operated. Even if the operating lever 5 falls down due to contact with the parking brake, the parking brake main body 4 will not be released unless the driver steps on the brake pedal 8 in a safe state. .

Therefore, according to the first embodiment, the manual mode is selected by the control device 6 by pulling up the operating lever 5 to make the parking brake main body 4 forcibly operate, while the operating lever 5 is pushed down. By setting the lying state, the control device 6 selects the auto mode, and in the auto mode, not only is cancellation permitted when the ignition switch 7 is off, but the brake pedal 8 must be depressed even when the ignition switch 7 is on. Since it is prevented from being released, erroneous release of the parking brake main body 4 not intended by the driver can be reliably prevented regardless of whether the ignition switch 7 is on or off, and the operational reliability of the parking brake main body 4 can be improved. can be greatly improved.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In the control device 6 in this second embodiment, not only is control related to prevention of erroneous release of the parking brake main body 4 as described above performed, but also a shift is performed. Based on a detection signal 10a from a shift position sensor 10 that detects the state and a detection signal 12a from an accelerator sensor 12 that detects the amount of depression of an accelerator pedal 11, the parking brake main body 4 is operating when the auto mode is selected. In this state, the parking brake main body 4 is automatically released when the accelerator pedal 11 is depressed while the engine is operating and the shift position is not in neutral or parking (see FIG. 4).

In this way, in an unmatched state in which the parking brake main body 4 is operated in the auto mode while the operating lever 5 is laid down at the release position, the vehicle can be operated without the driver noticing the operation of the parking brake main body 4. Even if the vehicle is started, the parking brake body 4 is immediately released by depressing the accelerator pedal 11 at a shift position other than neutral or parking, and dragging operation is avoided while the parking brake body 4 is operating. be done.

In addition, when starting on a slope with the parking brake main body 4 applied, if the operation lever 5 is pushed down to enter the auto mode, the parking brake main body 4 can be released in a timely manner by depressing the accelerator pedal 11, and the vehicle can be easily started. Therefore, it is not necessary to match the timing between the release of the parking brake main body 4 and the depression of the accelerator pedal 11 .

Therefore, according to the second embodiment, it is possible to prevent the drag operation from being performed while the parking brake main body 4 is operated, so that the parking brake main body 4 is prevented from being damaged by the drag operation. In addition, when starting on a slope with the parking brake main body 4 applied, it is possible to eliminate the need for matching the timing between releasing the parking brake main body 4 and stepping on the accelerator pedal 11, thereby realizing a simple start. It is possible to greatly reduce the operation burden on the driver when starting on a slope.

Further, FIG. 3 also shows a third embodiment of the present invention, and the control device 6 in this third embodiment not only performs control related to prevention of erroneous release of the parking brake main body 4 as described above and automatic release. , based on the ON/OFF signal 7a from the ignition switch 7 and the detection signal 10a from the shift position sensor 10, the shift position is neutral when the parking brake main body 4 is released when the auto mode is selected. If the ignition switch 7 is off, the parking brake main body 4 is automatically operated (see FIG. 5).

Therefore, according to the third embodiment, even if the driver forgets to pull the operation lever 5 and does not operate the parking brake main body 4 when the vehicle is normally stopped with the ignition switch 7 turned off, the above control can be performed. The parking brake main body 4 can be automatically operated by the device 6, and a situation in which the vehicle is stopped without the parking brake main body 4 being operated can be reliably prevented.

Further, FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The control device 6 in this fourth embodiment only performs control related to prevention of erroneous release, automatic release, and automatic operation of the parking brake main body 4 as described above. Instead, the courtesy switch 13 that detects the opening and closing of the door of the driver's seat is diverted as a driver absence detector that detects the absence of the driver, and based on the detection signal 13a of the courtesy switch 13, parking is performed when the auto mode is selected. It is presumed that the driver left the vehicle and was absent when it was detected that the driver's door was open while the brake body 4 was released, the shift position was in neutral and the ignition switch 7 was on. Then, the parking brake main body 4 is automatically operated (see FIG. 7).

With this arrangement, even if the driver forgets to pull the operation lever 5 and leaves the parking brake main body 4 unactuated while the vehicle is stopped with the ignition switch 7 turned on, the parking brake can be controlled by the control device 6. The main body 4 can be automatically actuated, and a situation in which the vehicle is stopped without the parking brake main body 4 being actuated can be reliably prevented.

Here, the courtesy switch 13 is used as a driver absence detector for detecting the absence of the driver, but as indicated by the phantom lines in FIG. Based on a detection signal 14a from the seating sensor 14, the seating sensor 14 detects the presence of the driver when the ignition switch 7 is on and the shift position is in neutral in the auto mode. It is also possible to presume that the driver is absent when the driver is gone, and automatically operate the parking brake main body 4 .

Further, as indicated by the phantom line in FIG. 6, a seat belt sensor 15 for detecting the wearing of the seat belt in the driver's seat is provided as a driver absence detector, and based on the detection signal 15a from the seat belt sensor 15, When the seatbelt sensor 15 no longer detects that the driver is wearing the seatbelt while the shift position is in neutral and the ignition switch 7 is on in the auto mode, the parking brake main body 4 presumes that the driver is absent. can be automatically activated.

Further, as indicated by a virtual line in FIG. 6, a timer 16 for measuring the elapsed time after the shift position becomes neutral when the ignition switch 7 is turned on is incorporated in the control device 6 as a driver absence detector (hardware). It may be incorporated in the wear or implemented in software), and when the timer 16 times up in the auto mode with the shift position in neutral and the ignition switch 7 turned on, it is estimated that the driver is absent. , the parking brake main body 4 may be automatically operated.

It should be noted that the electric parking brake of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and of course various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

1 Electric Parking Brake 2 Electric Actuator 3 Parking Cable 4 Parking Brake Main Body 5 Operation Lever 6 Control Device 7 Ignition Switch 8 Brake Pedal 11 Accelerator Pedal 13 Courtesy Switch (Driver Absence Detector)
14 Seating sensor (driver absence detector)
15 seat belt sensor (driver absence detector)
16 timer (driver absence detector)

Claims (8)

An electric parking brake that operates a parking brake main body by pulling a parking cable by driving an electric actuator when the vehicle is stopped, comprising: an operation lever operated by a driver; a control device responsible for operating and releasing the parking brake main body, the control device selecting a manual mode in which the parking brake main body is forcibly operated in a standing state in which the operating lever is pulled up, while pushing down the operating lever. An auto mode is selected in which the parking brake body is automatically activated and released in accordance with the driving conditions in the fallen state, and in the auto mode, release is not permitted when the ignition switch is turned off and the brake pedal is not allowed even when the ignition switch is turned on. An electric parking brake, characterized in that it is configured so as not to be released unless the is stepped on. 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to automatically release the parking brake main body when the accelerator pedal is depressed when the shift position is in neutral or other than parking when the engine is operating in the auto mode. electric parking brake. 3. The electric parking brake according to claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to automatically operate the parking brake main body when the shift position is in neutral and the ignition switch is off in the auto mode. . A driver absence detector is provided for detecting the absence of a driver, and the control device detects the absence of the driver by the driver absence detector when the shift position is in neutral and the ignition switch is on in the auto mode. 4. The electric parking brake according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the parking brake main body is automatically actuated when the parking brake is stopped. 5. The electric parking brake according to claim 4, wherein the driver absence detector is a courtesy switch that detects opening and closing of the door of the driver's seat. 5. The electric parking brake according to claim 4, wherein the driver absence detector is a seating sensor that detects the seating of the driver. 5. The electric parking brake according to claim 4, wherein said driver absence detector is a seat belt sensor that detects that a driver's seat belt is being worn. 5. The electric parking brake according to claim 4, wherein the driver absence detector is a timer that measures the elapsed time after the shift position is in neutral when the ignition switch is turned on.

Images