JP2003034161A - Clutch mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a clutch mechanism capable of easily reducing the required leg-power required for actuating a clutch pedal 1. SOLUTION: This clutch mechanism additively comprises a required leg-power reducing means for reducing the required leg-power required for actuating the clutch pedal 1. Accordingly, the required leg-power required for actuating the clutch pedal 1 can be reduced, and the operation load of the clutch pedal 1 by a driver can be easily reduced. The reduction in operation load also facilitates a drive capable of improving the fuel economy of an automobile.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a clutch mechanism for reducing the pedaling force required for clutch pedal operation, which is intended to enable a driving method that frequently uses clutch pedal operations.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A manual transmission of an automobile is provided with a clutch mechanism for transmitting or interrupting the driving force of an engine to a transmission. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a conventional clutch mechanism.

The clutch pedal 1 is rotatably supported on a toe board of a driver's seat (not shown), and one end of a release cable 2 is connected to the upper portion thereof. Then, a pedal spring 3 for constantly urging the clutch pedal 1 toward the driver side, that is, in the direction of returning the depressed pedal.
Is attached.

The clutch body 5 includes a clutch cover 7 having a diaphragm spring 6 and the clutch cover 7.
A clutch disc (neither shown) that abuts against the pressure plate by the urging force of the diaphragm spring 6 inside, and a release fork that separates the pressure plate from the clutch disc against the urging force of the diaphragm spring 6 by swinging. 9 is equipped. The other end of the release cable 2 is connected to the tip of the release fork 9, and a tension spring 4 that constantly urges the release cable 2 in the pulling direction is attached. That is, the tension spring 4 supplies the urging force in the direction of increasing the required pedal force of the clutch pedal 1.

Therefore, by depressing the clutch pedal 1, the release fork 9 is swung, and the pressure plate is separated from the clutch disc against the urging force of the diaphragm spring 6 and the urging force of the tension spring 4. By gradually returning the clutch pedal 1 that has been turned off and stepped on, the pressure plate can be brought into close contact with the clutch disc to engage the clutch.

Further, conventionally, a large vehicle such as a bus or a truck is provided with a clutch booster for reducing the force with which the operator depresses the clutch by utilizing the negative pressure of the engine.

[0007]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the required pedal force required to depress the clutch pedal 1 is the urging force of the diaphragm spring 6, the urging force of the tension spring 4, the clutch pedal 1, and the like. The structure is determined by the length of the release fork 9 or the set value of the booster, and cannot be changed to an arbitrary one later according to individual differences.

Therefore, the clutch pedal 1 may feel heavy for the elderly and women. Therefore, every time the clutch pedal 1 is operated, a burden is felt. As a result, it has been difficult to adopt a driving method in which the clutch is frequently depressed.

That is, it has been unsuitable for adopting an operating method which mainly uses the idle rotation state of the engine, which frequently uses the operation of the clutch pedal.

Further, it has been conventionally considered that the clutch pedal needs to have a certain strong depression repulsion force, and it is better to lighten the so-called clutch so as to reduce the depression force of the clutch pedal. There was no.

According to the invention of the present application, the clutch is depressed as much as possible to increase the traveling rate by inertia, that is, the operating method mainly based on the idle rotation state of the engine, without causing a particular decrease in traveling performance. The idea is to focus on a driving method that has never existed that can effectively reduce fuel consumption, and it is difficult to support this driving method from the idea of the conventional clutch mechanism. It was That is, in order to frequently step on the clutch, there is a problem that the required pedal force of the clutch is too strong for an elderly person or a woman with relatively weak leg strength.

[0012] The inventor of the present application does not pose a risk as conventionally considered even if the clutch is operated to increase the proportion of traveling by inertia. Actual coasting is repeated in regions and urban areas to confirm the situation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a clutch mechanism capable of coping with a driving method suitable for improving fuel efficiency by frequently depressing a clutch pedal. To provide.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, a clutch mechanism according to a first aspect of the present invention is a clutch mechanism capable of transmitting a driving force of an engine to a transmission by operating a clutch pedal to disengage the transmission. It is characterized in that a required pedal force reducing means for reducing the required pedal force required to depress the clutch pedal is additionally provided.

According to the present invention, the required pedal effort required for depressing the clutch pedal can be reduced by the required pedal effort reducing means additionally provided in the existing clutch mechanism. Therefore, it is possible to easily reduce the burden on the operator of operating the clutch pedal, and to easily take a driving method of operating the clutch as frequently as possible to increase the running ratio by inertia without physical burden. , Can contribute to the achievement of energy-saving driving.

The clutch mechanism described in claim 2 is
The clutch mechanism according to claim 1 is characterized in that the required pedal effort reducing means has a setting means for arbitrarily setting the required pedal effort.

According to the present invention, it is possible to perform adjustment so as to reduce the difference according to the individual difference of the operator. Therefore, the operator's burden of operating the clutch pedal can be reduced more accurately and individually.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the clutch mechanism according to the first or second aspect, the required pedal effort reducing means includes a pedal effort detection sensor for detecting a pedal effort for operating the clutch pedal, and a pedal effort detection sensor. It is characterized in that it has an urging means for starting the urging operation of the clutch pedal in a direction to reduce the required pedal effort based on the detection signal.

According to the present invention, the stepping force detection sensor detects the start of stepping on the clutch pedal, and based on the detection signal, the stepping force reducing means constituted by, for example, a motor, reduces the stepping force required by the clutch pedal. The operation of urging the clutch pedal is started. Therefore, it is possible to easily detect the operation of depressing the clutch pedal by the operator and quickly and surely reduce the required depressing force required for depressing the clutch pedal.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the most primitive implementation of the arrangement of the invention.

As shown in the figure, the clutch pedal 1 is provided with an urging force supplying means 100 for supplying an urging force in a direction to reduce the required pedaling force at an intermediate position thereof. The urging force supply means 100 is formed of a spring, the outer side of which is covered by a tubular body having a different diameter, and the small diameter portion 100a is configured to move into and out of the large diameter portion 100b during its expansion and contraction operation. .

The urging force of the urging force supply means 100 can be set variously, but the clutch pedal 1 does not move only by attaching it, but the required pedal force which is the force required for the depression is reduced. It is the urging force of the extent that is done. Therefore, the required pedal force of the clutch pedal 1 is reduced, and the clutch pedal 1 can be operated with less force. The urging force supplying means 100 is formed in a size that does not support the depression operation of the clutch pedal 1.

By mounting the urging force supply means 100 having the above structure, the following method of driving an automobile becomes easy. First, the clutch is engaged and the accelerator pedal is depressed to accelerate the vehicle to a desired speed.
Then, after reaching the desired speed, when it is determined that acceleration is unnecessary, the clutch pedal 1 is stepped on and the accelerator pedal is returned. As a result, the automobile runs by inertia while the engine is in the idle rotation state.

Then, coasting is carried out until it is necessary to accelerate again. Then, the traveling speed decreases to a predetermined speed,
When reacceleration is required, the clutch is re-engaged and the accelerator pedal is depressed to accelerate to the desired speed.

In this way, by the operation method in which the clutch pedal 1 is frequently operated and the inertia running and the acceleration are alternately repeated, the engine is kept in the idle rotation state during the inertia running.
Fuel consumption during traveling can be suppressed.

At that time, by the urging force supply means 100,
The required pedal effort required to depress the clutch pedal 1 is reduced, and the operator's burden of operating the clutch pedal 1 can be reduced easily. Therefore, it is possible to easily take an operating method in which the clutch is operated as frequently as possible to increase the traveling ratio by inertia without physical burden, and it is possible to contribute to the achievement of energy-saving traveling.

Further, by exchanging the biasing force supply means 100 with one having an arbitrary biasing force, the required pedal effort can be adjusted so as to be reduced according to the individual difference of the operator. Therefore, the operator's burden of operating the clutch pedal can be reduced more accurately and individually.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows the conventional clutch mechanism shown in FIG. 5 as an example, and the same reference numerals are given to the same elements as the conventional constituent elements, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The required pedal effort reducing means indicated by reference numeral 11 in FIG. 2 has a main body portion 12, which is retrofitted to a toe board (not shown) on which the clutch pedal 1 is suspended and supported. Attached and fixed. Clutch pedal 1
A sensor portion 13 is attached to the pedal portion 1a of the.

The main body 12 is provided with an electric assist motor 14 as a biasing means, and the power of the electric assist motor 14 is transmitted to the clutch pedal 1. That is, means for transmitting the driving force of the electric assist motor 14 to the clutch pedal 1 as a force for reducing the required pedaling force is provided in the main body 12.

The power transmission means for reducing the required pedal effort as described above can have various structures which are usually considered for converting the rotational force of the electric assist motor 14 into the force in the stepping operation direction of the clutch pedal 1. .

For example, in the present embodiment, although not shown, the rotational movement of the electric assist motor 14 is changed to a rotational movement of an appropriate speed through a gear mechanism, and one end is engaged with the clutch pedal 1 by this rotational movement. By pulling or winding the stopped wire, the depression operation of the clutch pedal 1 can be assisted. Also,
It is also possible to apply a rotational force to the rotary shaft of the clutch pedal 1 via the gear mechanism.

However, in the configuration of each of the above-described embodiments, the driving force of the electric assist motor 14 is a force that cannot actuate the clutch pedal 1 with only that force, and is based on the stepping force of the operator. And, it functions as an aid to that power.

The sensor section 13 is a load cell 15 as a pedal force detection sensor for detecting the pedal force applied to the clutch pedal 1 by the operator, that is, the pressure applied to the pedal.
Is used and is electrically connected to the main body 12. Further, the power supply to the electric assist motor 14 is
This is performed by inserting the plug 20a of the power cord 20 into a cigarette lighter or the like inside the vehicle.

Required pedal effort reducing means 11 having the above configuration
Are mounted in place. And clutch pedal 1
When the pedal portion 1a of is depressed, the pedaling force is detected by the load cell 15 of the sensor portion 13, and the detection signal is
Control is sent to the main body 12 to start driving the electric assist motor 14 based on the signal, and biases the clutch pedal 1 in a direction in which the required pedal effort is reduced. Therefore, the required pedal force of the clutch pedal 1 is reduced,
It becomes possible to depress the clutch pedal 1 with less force.

Further, when the clutch pedal 1 is depressed gradually to engage the clutch, the sensor unit 13
The pedal effort is detected by, and the electric assist motor 14 is driven according to the detected pedal effort, and the clutch pedal 1 is urged in a direction to reduce the required pedal effort. Therefore, the required pedal force of the clutch pedal 1 is reduced, and the clutch pedal 1 can be operated with less force.

If the clutch pedal 1 is depressed at a speed higher than a preset speed, the connection with the clutch pedal 1 is released and the clutch pedal 1 is operated at a speed higher than the set speed. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to easily detect the operation of depressing the clutch pedal by the operator and quickly and surely reduce the required depressing force required for depressing the clutch pedal.

The inventor actually used this driving method for about 80,000 km.
As a result, about 35 liters of fuel, 480km-5
It is possible to drive over a cruising range of 00km, and fuel efficiency is improved by about 20% or more compared to the past, which is a very excellent result that was not available in the past.

According to the present invention, the pedaling force can be easily retrofitted, and the required pedal effort can be easily changed without changing the body parts such as the diaphragm spring 6, the clutch pedal 1, the release fork 9 and the like, or changing the structure. be able to. Therefore, the operator's operation load on the clutch pedal 1 can be easily reduced, and the clutch operation can be performed frequently.

Therefore, the clutch is engaged to accelerate to a predetermined speed, and when the predetermined speed is reached and it is determined that acceleration is not necessary, the clutch is disengaged, and a driving method of coasting until acceleration is determined is easily performed. And as a result,
Fuel consumption can be suppressed.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the inventor used an actual vehicle (displacement 15
Fig. 3 is a graph showing the results of an actual running test performed on a passenger car (00cc, already running 120,000 km, fitted with winter tires).
Is a graph showing the relationship between vehicle speed and time on a flat ground,
FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between vehicle speed and time on a downhill. In this running test, as shown in FIG. 3, the clutch is disengaged and coasting is performed when the vehicle speed reaches 60 km / h on a flat ground, and when the vehicle speed decreases to 55 km / h, the clutch is engaged and the vehicle accelerates to 60 km / h. Then, the clutch is disengaged again and coasting is performed. It is known that the vehicle can run for about 80 m at idle speed between the time when the clutch is disengaged and the time when the clutch is reengaged.

Further, in the case shown in FIG. 4, when the vehicle traveling speed is 60 km per hour on a downhill, the clutch is disengaged to coast, and when the vehicle exceeds 65 km per hour, the gear is turned on and the engine brake is used. He depresses the brakes to reduce the vehicle speed to 60 km / h, disengages the clutch again, and coasts. As a result, when the vehicle is decelerated, it is possible to drive the vehicle in an almost idle rotation state by using only the engine brake. Therefore, fuel efficiency can be dramatically improved.

[0043]

As described above, according to the clutch mechanism of the present invention, the required pedal effort required to depress the clutch pedal can be reduced. Therefore,
It is possible to easily reduce the operation load on the operator's clutch pedal, and to easily operate the clutch method as often as possible to increase the running ratio by inertia without physical stress, which saves energy. It can contribute to the achievement of running.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the most primitive implementation of the configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a relationship between vehicle speed and time on a flat ground.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a relationship between vehicle speed and time on a downhill.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a conventional clutch mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 clutch pedal 1a Pedal part 11 Required pedal effort reduction means 12 Main body 13 Sensor section 14 Electric assist motor 15 Tread force detection sensor (load cell) 100 urging force supply means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A clutch mechanism for transmitting or cutting off a driving force of an engine to a transmission by operating a clutch pedal, wherein a required pedal force reducing means for reducing a required pedal force required for stepping on the clutch pedal is additionally provided. A clutch mechanism that is provided on the. 2. The clutch mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the required pedal effort reducing means has setting means for arbitrarily setting the required pedal effort. 3. The required pedal effort reducing means includes a pedal effort detection sensor for detecting a pedal effort to operate the clutch pedal, and the clutch pedal in a direction to reduce the required pedal effort based on a detection signal from the pedal effort detection sensor. The clutch mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a biasing unit that biases the clutch mechanism.