JPH01314632A - Four wheel drive car - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) This invention relates to a four-wheel drive vehicle in which a viscous coupling differential mechanism and a transfer clutch such as a dog clutch are interposed in series in the power transmission system between the front and rear wheels. In detail, the manual operation mechanism holds the transfer clutch in a disengaged state by manually operating an operator placed at a location where it is difficult for the driver to see, such as on the outer wall of the case in which the transfer clutch is housed; The present invention relates to a four-wheel drive vehicle having a display device that notifies a driver of the operating state of a manual operating mechanism.

(Prior Art) In a four-wheel drive vehicle, the front and rear wheels are generally connected via a transfer clutch such as a hydraulic clutch, and the drive force distribution ratio between the front and rear wheels is controlled by the transfer clutch. Conventionally, this type of four-wheel drive vehicle has a latch and a differential, which can connect and disconnect the transmission system between the front and rear wheels, as described in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 59-188731. It is known that a clutch is provided in series with a viscous coupling having a function, and the clutch is disconnected during braking to maintain stability during braking.

By the way, in the case of the above-mentioned four-wheel drive vehicle, it is desirable to disconnect the power transmission system of the front and rear wheels for towing in the event of a breakdown or inspection of the drive system, and the transfer clutch is manually operated to disengage. A manual operating mechanism is provided that can be held in place. Since such a manual operation mechanism is not normally operated and operability is not considered, the structure is simplified by placing the operator near the transfer clutch, such as on the outer wall of the case housing the transfer clutch. .

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, in a four-wheel drive vehicle having a manual operation mechanism for the transfer clutch as described above, it is difficult for the driver to visually check the operator of the manual operation mechanism or the outer wall of the case. Because the transfer clutch is placed in a difficult location, the driver forgets to return the manual operation mechanism when driving normally after disengaging the transfer clutch by operating the manual operation mechanism when towing, etc. There were some problems.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and provides a four-wheel drive vehicle that notifies the driver of the operating state of a manual operation mechanism that is placed in a position that is difficult for the driver to visually recognize from the operator. The purpose is to enable quick return operation of the manual operation mechanism.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides a power transmission system that connects front wheels and rear wheels with a transfer clutch that connects and disconnects the power transmission system, and a center differential that allows differential movement. ,
In a four-wheel drive vehicle that outputs a command signal instructing the transfer clutch to connect or disconnect, and connects or disconnects the transfer clutch in response to the command signal, an operator is attached to an outer wall of a case in which the transfer clutch is housed. a manual operating means which is attached and whose operating element is mechanically connected to the transfer clutch so that the transfer clutch can be held in a disengaged state by manual operation of the operating element;
an operation state detection means for detecting an operation state of the manual operation means; and a detection signal of the operation state detection means is inputted, and the manual operation means maintains the transfer clutch in a disconnected state based on the detection signal. The gist is to include a display means for informing the driver of what is being done.

(Function) According to the four-wheel drive vehicle according to the present invention, the two-wheel drive state can be maintained by keeping the transfer clutch in a disengaged state using a manually operated mechanism with a simple structure, and towing, etc., can be easily performed. Then, when the operating state of the manual operating mechanism is detected and the transfer clutch is disengaged by the manual operating mechanism, this is notified to the driver using a lamp or a sound. Therefore, even during normal driving after towing, etc., the operating state of the manual operating mechanism can be checked, and the user will not forget to return the manual operating mechanism.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 4 represent a four-wheel drive vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the power transmission system, and FIG.
) is a partially enlarged sectional view of the main mechanism part, FIG. 2(b) is a view taken from the I+ arrow in FIG. 2(a), and FIG. 3(a) is a partially enlarged sectional view of the main mechanism part in a different operating state. Figure, Figure 3 (b
) is a view in the direction of the II+ arrow in FIG. 3(a), and FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the control process.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a power unit in which an engine and a transmission are assembled together, and a bevel gear 12a and a spur gear 13a are fixed to an output shaft 11a of the power unit 11. This power unit 11
The bevel gear 12a or the bevel gear 12b fixed to the front end of the propeller shaft 14 and the spur gear 13a mesh with the driven gear 13b of the front differential 15, and the output shaft 11a provides power to the propeller shaft 14 and the front differential 15. communicably linked. The front differential 15 is connected to the left and right front wheels 16F via axles 17F, respectively.
F is connected to the power unit 11 with differential operation allowed. The propeller shaft 14 is connected at its rear end to a viscous coupling 19 that functions as a center differential and a rear differential via a dog clutch 18 that serves as a transfer clutch for switching between two wheels and four wheels. The dog clutch 18 and the viscous coupling 19 are assembled behind the propeller shaft 14, and the viscous coupling 19 is connected to the left and right rear wheels 16H via axles 17R, respectively.

The dog clutch 18 is shown in FIGS. 2(a), (b) and
As shown in detail in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), there is an input shaft 2 connected to the propeller shaft 14 inside the case 20.
1 and an output shaft 22 connected to the hiscus coupling 19.
are coaxially and rotatably supported, and the input shaft 21 has a hub 2 connected to the outer periphery of the end opposite to the output shaft 22 by spline connection.
3, a piece 25 is provided on the outer periphery of the end opposite to the large force shaft 21 of the output shaft 22 via a torsion tamper 24, and dog teeth 23a, 25a are provided on the opposing end surfaces of the hub 23 and the piece 25, respectively. are formed so that they can engage and disengage. In addition, a groove 21a is formed in the input shaft 21 at a position corresponding to the end of the hub 23, and a plurality of steel holes 26 are formed in the groove 21a and abut against the end of the hub 23.
A is provided, and furthermore, Article ? A holder 21b is provided adjacent to Tj 21a, a plurality of steel balls 26b are supported on the holder 21b, and these steel balls 26a
, 26b, a sleeve 27 is loosely fitted into the steel holes 26a, 26b so as to be movable in the axial direction.

The sleeve 27 is driven in the axial direction by the shift fork 28 by engaging the claw portion 28a at the tip of the shift fork 28 on its outer peripheral surface, and guides the steel ball 26a to move the hub 2.
Regulates the drive of 3.

The shift fork 28 has a cylindrical tube portion 28b at its base end, the above-mentioned claw portion 28a integrally extends from the outer periphery of the tube portion 28b, and the tube portion 28b is fixed to the shift shaft 29. Further, a protrusion 28c is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 28b of the shift fork 28 so as to be able to engage with the stroke switch 30, and an engagement protrusion 28d that engages with the manual switching mechanism 31 is also integrally formed. has been done. The shift shaft 29 is supported so as to be movable in the axial direction parallel to the aforementioned input/output shafts 21 and 22, one end engages with the electromagnetic actuator 32 and is pushed in the axial direction by the actuator 32, and the other end A return spring 33 is compressed between the end surface of the cylindrical portion 28b of the shift fork 28 and the inner wall of the case 20, and the spring 33 exerts an opposing axial biasing force on the electromagnetic actuator 32. The stroke switch 30 is wired to the controller 34, and a detector engages with the protrusion 28c of the shift fork 28 to detect the operating position of the shift fork 28. This stroke switch 30 is activated when the shift fork 28 is operated to the left position in the figure, as shown in FIG. The protrusion 28c of the shift fork 28 engages with the detector and the built-in switch turns on.
do. 36B actuator 32 is the shift shaft 2
9 and a solenoid that energizes the plunger, and the solenoid is connected to the controller 34.

As shown in FIG. 1, the controller 34 is connected to an input system in addition to the above-mentioned stroke switch 30, various sensors 35 for detecting the running state of the vehicle, and a selection switch 36 for manual switching between two wheels and four wheels. In addition, an indicator 37 is connected to the output system together with the electromagnetic actuator 32,
The operation of the electromagnetic actuator 32 and the display 37 is controlled based on the output signals of the sensors 30, 35 and the selection switch 36. The display device 37 is placed near the driver's seat in the vehicle interior, and indicates the disengaged state of the dog clutch 18 by a sound such as a buzzer or by lighting a lamp when the dog clutch 18 is in the disengaged state according to a signal output from the controller 34. inform the person.

The manual switching mechanism 31 is shown in FIGS. 2(a), (b) and 3.
As shown in FIGS. (a) and (b), a column 38 is provided rotatably through the case 20, and a shift fork 28 is attached to the end surface of the column 38 inside the case 20. A pusher 38a that engages with the protrusion 28d is eccentrically formed, and a hexagonal column-shaped operating portion 38b is formed on the end surface of the column 38 outside the case 20. The column 38 is rotated by manual operation using a spanner or the like fitted to the operating portion 38b, and the pusher 38a presses the shift fork 28 through the protrusion 28d to move the shift fork 28 to the third position.
The dog clutch 18 is held in the position shown in the figure, that is, the dog clutch 18 is held in the disengaged state.

Roughly speaking, on the end surface of the column 38 outside the case 20, there is a mark 2.4 at a position corresponding to the mark 2.4 carved on the outer wall surface of the case 20, as shown in FIGS. Colored markings 39 and two symmetrical notches 40a, 40
b is formed, and a mark 4 is formed corresponding to the rotational position of the mark 39 or the column 38, that is, the connection or disconnection of the dog clutch 18.
or 2, and a holder plate 41 detachably attached to the outer wall of the case 20 with a bolt 42 is fitted into the notches 40a and 40b.

This holder plate 41 fits into the notches 46a and 40b to hold the column 38 in this position.

In this four-wheel drive vehicle, if the column 38 of the manual switching mechanism 31 is operated to the position shown in FIGS. The fork 28 is biased by the spring 33, and the sleeve 27, which operates integrally with the shift fork 2B, holds the steel ball 26a in the groove 21a, and the dog teeth 23a and 25a of the hub 23 and piece 25 mesh to form a dog clutch. 18 maintains the connected state, but when the solenoid of the electromagnetic actuator 32 is energized, the shift fork 28 is pressed by the electromagnetic actuator 32 against the elastic force of the spring 33, and the sleeve 2
7 is displaced together with the shift fork 28, and the steel ball 26a jumps out from the groove 21a, and the dog clutch 18
The barbed teeth 23a and 25a are disengaged and separated. In this four-wheel drive vehicle, when the dog clutch 18 is to be held in the disengaged state for towing or inspection, the driver or worker has to fit the column 38 of the manual switching mechanism 31 into the operating part 38b. The shift fork 28 is rotated with a tool such as a spanner, and the suppressor 38a is pressed against the spring 33 to the left end position in the figure, and the column 38 is fixed with the plate 41. For this reason, the dog clutch 18
The separated state is maintained regardless of the operation of the electromagnetic actuator 32, and the rear wheel 16R is separated from the front wheel 16F and the engine 11, allowing for easy towing.

On the other hand, this four-wheel drive vehicle detects the running state of the vehicle with various sensors 35 during normal running, and controls the energization of the solenoid of the electromagnetic actuator 32 with the controller 34 according to this running state, and controls the energization of the solenoid of the electromagnetic actuator 32. Automatically controls the connection and disconnection of the system, that is, the switching between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. At this time, the stroke switch 30 detects the operation (position) of the shift fork 28 as the operation (connection, disconnection) of the dog clutch 18, and the controller 34 controls the electromagnetic actuator 3 based on the detection signal of the stroke switch 30.
2 is feedback controlled. Then, the controller 34 controls the output signal of the stroke switch 30 and the electromagnetic actuator 3.
The operating state of the manual switching mechanism 31 is determined based on whether or not the energization of the second solenoid corresponds to the other. This operation state determination is performed by a series of processes shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, in step P1, a counter T functioning as a timer is reset, and then in step P2, it is determined whether the stroke switch 30h) is ON or not, that is, whether it is in contact with the shift fork 28G detector.

In this step P2, the stroke switch 30 is turned ON.
If it is determined that the stroke switch 30 is not ON, the process from step P1 is repeated, or if it is determined that the stroke switch 30 is ON, the electromagnetic actuator 3 is activated in step P3.
Determine whether or not the solenoid No. 2 is energized. Then, in step P3, if it is determined that the solenoid of the electromagnetic actuator 32 is energized, the process from step P1 is performed, or if it is determined that the solenoid of the electromagnetic actuator 32 is not energized, the counter is activated in step P4. Add 1 to T. Next, in step P5, it is determined whether the count value of the counter T is equal to or greater than the set value N, and if the count value T is less than the set value N, the process from step P2 is executed again, and the count value T is set. If the value is greater than or equal to the value N, the driver is notified that the manual switching mechanism 31 is being operated by lighting a lamp or the like. That is, if the state in which the stroke switch 30 outputs an ON signal continues for a predetermined period of time even though the solenoid of the electromagnetic actuator 32 is not energized, the dog clutch 18 switches to the manual switching mechanism 3.
Since it is determined that the manual switching mechanism 31 is disconnected by 1 and is notified to the driver using a lamp or the like, the driver can easily take measures after returning the manual switching mechanism 31, and will not forget to perform the returning operation. Further, by following the above-described flowchart, abnormality diagnosis can be performed, and its reliability is also increased.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, the four-wheel drive vehicle according to the present invention is equipped with a manual switching mechanism of a simple structure so that the transfer clutch can be maintained in the disengaged state by manual operation of the mechanism. At the same time, the operation status of the manual switching mechanism is detected and the driver is notified, which makes it easier to tow the vehicle in two-wheel drive mode and prevents forgetting to return the manual switching mechanism. or can be obtained.

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[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 4 represent a four-wheel drive vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the power transmission system, and FIG.
) is a cross-sectional view of the main mechanism, and Figure 2(b) is a cross-sectional view of the main mechanism.
), FIG. 3(a) is a sectional view of the main mechanism parts, FIG. 3(b) is a view along the II+ arrow of FIG. 3(a), and FIG. 4 is a flowchart of control processing. . 11...Power unit 16F...Front wheel 16R...Rear wheel 18...
- Dog clutch (transfer clutch) 19... Viscous coupling (candy differential) 30... Stroke switch 31... Manual switching mechanism 32... Electromagnetic actuator 34... Controller 37... Indicator 16

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. The power transmission system is connected to the power transmission system that connects the front wheels and the rear wheels, and a detachable transfer clutch and a center differential that allows differential movement are interposed, and the power transmission system is connected to the transfer clutch. Alternatively, in a four-wheel drive vehicle that outputs a command signal instructing disengagement and connects or disengages the transfer clutch in response to the command signal, an operator is attached to the outer wall of a case in which the transfer clutch is housed, a manual operating means whose child is mechanically coupled to the transfer clutch and capable of holding the transfer clutch in a disengaged state by manual operation of an operator; and operating state detection means for detecting the operating state of the manual operating means; a display means that receives a detection signal from the operation state detection means and informs the driver that the manual operation means is holding the transfer clutch in a disengaged state based on the detection signal;
A four-wheel drive vehicle characterized by being equipped with. 2. The operating state detecting means detects a disengaged state of the transfer clutch, and determines whether or not the state of the transfer clutch detected by the clutch state detecting means matches the command content of the command signal. determining the operating state of the means, and determining that the transfer clutch is held in the disengaged state by the manual operating means if the transfer clutch is in the disengaged state even though the command signal commands connection; Claim 1 characterized by
Four-wheel drive vehicles listed in .