JP2018179137A - Life estimation device and life estimation method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively estimate a residual life of a release bearing.SOLUTION: A life estimation device includes: an operation time calculation part 110 for calculating a connection-release operation time of a clutch device 20; a temperature acquisition part 120 for acquiring temperature of a release bearing 27; a cumulative damage degree calculation part 130 for calculating a cumulative damage degree of the release bearing 27 by cumulating damage degrees that are obtained by multiplying the connection-release operation time by temperature; and a residual life estimation part 140 for estimating a residual life of the release bearing 27 based on the cumulative damage degree.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a life estimation device and a life estimation method, and more particularly to the life estimation of a release bearing of a clutch device capable of connecting and disconnecting the power transmitted from a drive source mounted on a vehicle to a transmission.

  Conventionally, various techniques have been proposed to appropriately notify the driver that the parts need to be replaced if the possibility of breakage or the like is generated by predicting the life of various parts mounted on a vehicle. (See, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2013-231673 JP 2002-92137 A

  By the way, in a general clutch device, a release bearing is provided between the diaphragm spring and the release fork so as to allow relative rotation of these. Such a release bearing is repeatedly moved by the clutch engagement / disengagement operation, and if it continues to be affected by heat over a long period of time, it may cause seizure due to thermal deterioration of the grease and the like, resulting in breakage. If the release bearing is broken, power can not be transmitted from the drive source to the transmission, and there is a risk that the vehicle can not travel on the road. For this reason, it is desirable to prevent the road breakdown of the vehicle in advance by effectively predicting the remaining life of the release bearing and appropriately notifying the driver of the appropriate replacement time and the like.

  The technique of the present disclosure aims to effectively estimate the remaining life of a release bearing.

  A device according to the present disclosure is a life estimation device of a release bearing of a clutch device capable of connecting and disconnecting power transmitted from a drive source mounted on a vehicle to a transmission, and calculating a disconnection operating time of the clutch device The cumulative damage degree of the release bearing is calculated by integrating the damage degree obtained by multiplying the operating time by the operating time calculating means, the temperature acquiring means for acquiring the temperature of the release bearing, and the disconnection operating time. It is characterized by comprising: cumulative damage degree calculation means; and residual life estimation means for estimating the residual life of the release bearing based on the cumulative damage degree.

  Further, it is preferable that the remaining life estimation means estimates the remaining life of the release bearing based on the relationship between the accumulated damage prescribed in advance and the remaining time until the release bearing reaches a failure.

  The temperature sensor may further include an oil temperature sensor for detecting a lubricating oil temperature of the transmission, and the temperature acquiring unit may determine the temperature of the release bearing based on a predetermined relationship between the lubricating oil temperature and the temperature of the release bearing. It is preferable to estimate.

  Further, it is preferable to further include notification means for notifying the driver of the information when the remaining life reaches a predetermined threshold.

  A method of the present disclosure is a method of estimating the life of a release bearing of a clutch device capable of connecting and disconnecting power transmitted from a drive source mounted on a vehicle to a transmission, and calculating a connection operating time of the clutch device The accumulated damage degree of the release bearing is calculated by acquiring the temperature of the release bearing and integrating the damage degree obtained by multiplying the temperature by the disconnection operation time, and based on the accumulated damage degree, The remaining life of the release bearing may be estimated.

  According to the technology of the present disclosure, the remaining life of the release bearing can be effectively estimated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a typical whole block diagram of the vehicle carrying the lifetime estimation apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a typical functional block diagram showing the life estimation device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the temperature estimation map which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the lifetime estimation map which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the estimation process of the bearing life which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, a life estimation device and a life estimation method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the attached drawings. The same parts are given the same reference numerals, and their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description about them will not be repeated.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of a vehicle 1 equipped with a life estimation device according to the present embodiment. An input shaft 42 of a transmission 40 is connected to a crankshaft 11 of the engine 10 via a clutch device 20 so as to be able to be connected and disconnected. In the transmission case 41 of the transmission 40, an input shaft 42, an output shaft 43, a counter shaft 44, a plurality of transmission gear trains 45 provided on these shafts 42 to 44, a synchro mechanism (not shown) and the like are arranged. . The output shaft 43 of the transmission 40 is connected with left and right drive wheels via a propeller shaft 47, a differential device (not shown), left and right drive shafts, and the like.

  The vehicle 1 also includes an engine speed sensor 50 for detecting the speed of the crankshaft 11, a transmission input speed sensor 51 for detecting the speed of the input shaft 42, and a vehicle speed sensor 52 for detecting the speed of the vehicle 1. An accelerator opening sensor 53 for detecting the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal 71, a shift position sensor 54 for detecting the shift position of the shift operating device 72, an oil temperature sensor 55 for detecting the temperature of lubricating oil in the transmission case 41, a stroke sensor Various sensors such as 56 are provided. The sensor values of the various sensors 50 to 56 are input to an electrically connected electronic control unit (hereinafter, ECU) 100.

  The clutch device 20 is, for example, a dry single-plate clutch device, and the output side end of the crankshaft 11 and the input side end of the input shaft 42 are disposed in the clutch housing 21.

  At the input end of the input shaft 42, a clutch disc 22 is provided movably in the axial direction. The clutch disc 22 is provided with a damper spring (not shown) and a clutch facing 23.

  The flywheel 12 is fixed to the output end of the crankshaft 11, and a clutch cover 24 is provided on the rear side surface of the flywheel 12. A pressure plate 25 and a diaphragm spring 26 are disposed between the flywheel 12 and the clutch cover 24.

  The release fork 28 is provided swingably around the fulcrum 19. The release fork 28 has one end side housed in the clutch housing 21 and the other end side protruding outside the clutch housing 21.

  The release bearing 27 is provided between the inner peripheral edge of the diaphragm spring 26 and one end of the release fork 28 to allow the diaphragm spring 26 and the release fork 28 to rotate relative to each other. More specifically, the release bearing 27 includes an inner ring (rotating ring) A with which the inner peripheral edge of the diaphragm spring 26 contacts, an outer ring (non-rotating ring) C to which one end of the release fork 28 is connected, and the inner ring A and the outer ring And a sphere B rotatably disposed between C. The release bearing 27 is moved to the output side (right direction in the figure) by the elastic force of the diaphragm spring 26 at the time of contact operation when the clutch device 20 switches from disconnection to contact, and at the time of disconnection operation when the clutch device 20 switches from connection to disconnection. It is pushed by the release fork 28 and moved to the input side (left direction in the drawing).

  A release cylinder 30 is provided outside the clutch housing 21. The release cylinder 30 is movably accommodated inside the cylinder body 31 and has a piston 32 defining an oil pressure chamber, a proximal end fixed to the piston 32, and a push whose distal end abuts against the release fork 28 A rod 33 and a spring 34 provided in the cylinder body 31 to hold the push rod 33 between the piston 32 and the release fork 28 are provided. The release cylinder 30 is connected to the master cylinder 60 via a pipe 35.

  The master cylinder 60 has a reserve tank 61 for storing hydraulic oil, a piston 63 movably accommodated in the cylinder body 62 to define an oil pressure chamber, a proximal end fixed to the piston 63, and a distal end And a clutch pedal 70, and a return spring 65 provided in the hydraulic pressure chamber for biasing the piston 63. Further, the master cylinder 60 is provided with a stroke sensor 56 that detects the stroke amount of the rod 64.

  In the clutch device 20, when the driver depresses the clutch pedal 70, the piston 32 moves in a stroke together with the push rod 33 by the hydraulic pressure supplied from the master cylinder 60 to the release cylinder 30, and the release fork 28 is counterclockwise in FIG. By rotating around and pressing the release bearing 27, it is possible to switch from "contact" to "disconnect". On the other hand, in the clutch device 20, when the driver releases the clutch pedal 70, the clutch facing 23 of the clutch disc 22 is pressed against the flywheel 12 by the elastic force of the diaphragm spring 26, thereby switching from "disconnected" to "connected". It is supposed to be

  The ECU 100 performs various controls of the engine 10 and the like, and includes a known CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an input port, an output port, and the like. In order to perform these various controls, sensor values of various sensors 50 to 56 are input to the ECU 100.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the ECU 100 includes a clutch operation time calculation unit 110, a bearing temperature estimation unit 120, a cumulative damage degree calculation unit 130, a bearing remaining life estimation unit 140, and a notification processing unit 150. As a functional element of Although each of these functional elements is described as being included in the ECU 100 which is an integral hardware, any part of these may be provided in a separate hardware.

The clutch operation time calculation unit 110 is an example of the operation time calculation means of the present invention, and calculates the disconnection / operation time _{TIME_C} of the clutch device 20 in which the release bearing 27 is moved in the axial direction. More specifically, the clutch operation time calculation unit 110 detects the start of connection / disconnection operation of the clutch device 20 (the start of movement of the release bearing 27) based on the sensor value of the stroke sensor 56. The connection operation time _{TIME_C} is calculated by measuring the time from the start of the operation to the end of the connection operation (the movement stop of the release bearing 27).

  The sensor for detecting the connection / disconnection operation of the clutch device 20 is not limited to the stroke sensor 56, and any other sensor capable of detecting the movement of the release bearing 27 may be used.

The bearing temperature estimation unit 120 is an example of the temperature acquisition unit of the present invention, and estimates the temperature of the release bearing 27 (hereinafter, bearing temperature TEMP — _B ). More specifically, the memory of the ECU 100, was prepared in advance by experiment or the like, the temperature estimation map M1 that defines the correlation between the lubricating oil temperature TEMP _{_O} of the transmission 40 and the bearing temperature TEMP _{_B} (see FIG. 3) is stored ing. In the temperature estimation map M1, the bearing temperature TEMP _{_B} is set to be higher in accordance with the lubricating oil temperature TEMP _{_O} increases. Clutch temperature estimating unit 120, by referring based on the lubricating oil temperature TEMP _{_O} inputted temperature estimation map M1 from an oil temperature sensor 55, for estimating the bearing temperature TEMP _{_B.}

  The temperature estimation map M1 does not necessarily have to be stored graphically, and may be stored as numerical data. Further, the sensor used for temperature estimation is not limited to the oil temperature sensor 55, and another sensor may be used as long as it includes another sensor or the like for acquiring the temperature in the clutch housing 21.

The cumulative damage degree calculation unit 130 is an example of the cumulative damage degree calculation means of the present invention, and the bearing estimated by the bearing temperature estimation unit 120 at the _{disconnection} / operation time _{TIME_C} calculated by the clutch operation time calculation unit 110. The temperature TEMP _{_B} is multiplied to calculate the degree of damage D, and the degree of damage D is integrated to calculate the cumulative degree of damage DD (= Σ (Q × Tc)) of the release bearing 27.

The bearing remaining life estimating unit 140 is an example of the remaining life estimating unit according to the present invention, and the remaining time until the release bearing 27 causes seizure due to thermal deterioration of grease and the like until it breaks is _{TIME_Rem} (hereinafter referred to as bearing remaining _life ). Estimate the lifetime). More specifically, in the memory of the ECU 100, a lifetime estimation map M2 which defines the correlation between the cumulative damage degree _DD and the remaining time _{TIME_Rem} until the release bearing 27 reaches breakage, prepared in advance by experiment etc. (see FIG. 4) Is stored. In the lifetime estimation map M2, the remaining time _{TIME_Rem} is set to be shorter as the cumulative damage degree _DD increases. The bearing remaining life estimation unit 140 estimates the remaining time _{TIME_Rem} by referring to the life estimation map M2 based on the cumulative damage degree _DD calculated by the cumulative damage degree calculation unit 130.

  The life estimation map M2 does not necessarily have to be stored graphically and may be stored as numerical data. Further, the estimation of the remaining bearing life is not limited to time, and may be the traveling distance of the vehicle 1 or the like.

The notification processing unit 150 is an example of the notification unit of the present invention, and when the remaining time _{TIME_Rem} estimated by the bearing remaining life estimation unit 140 reaches a predetermined threshold, the display 80 in the driver's cab displays the release bearing 27. It outputs an instruction signal indicating that replacement is necessary. In addition, the method of alerting | reporting is not limited to the display to the indicator 80, You may carry out by the audio | voice by the speaker etc. which are not shown in figure.

  Next, the process of estimating the bearing life of the present embodiment will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. The present control is started simultaneously with the ignition key ON operation of the engine 10.

  In step S100, it is determined based on the sensor value of the stroke sensor 56 whether or not the clutch device 20 has started either the disconnection operation or the engagement operation. When the disconnection start of the clutch device 20 is detected (Yes), the present control proceeds to step S110.

In step S110, the timer 160 incorporated in the ECU 100 starts clocking of the _{disconnection} / operation time _{TIME_C} . Then, in step S120, the bearing temperature _{TEMP_B} is estimated based on the temperature estimation map M1.

In step S130, based on the sensor value of the stroke sensor 56, whether or not the disconnection operation of the clutch device 20 has ended (if step S100 is the start of the disconnection operation, the termination operation is the end, if step S100 is the contact operation start) The contact operation end) is determined. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S140, and the timing of the _{disconnection} operation time _{TIME_C} ends.

At step S150, the by multiplying the bearing temperature TEMP _{_B} the disengaging operation time TIME _{_C,} damage degree _{D n} is calculated. Further, in step S160, the cumulative damage degree .SIGMA.D _n is calculated in real time by any time added to the accumulated degree of damage .SIGMA.D _n-1 to the damage degree D _n was previously calculated to be calculated in step S150.

In step S170, the remaining time _{TIME_Rem} as the remaining bearing life is estimated by referring to the life estimation map M2 based on the cumulative damage degree DD _n calculated in step S160.

In step S180, it is determined whether the remaining time _{TIME_Rem} has reached a predetermined threshold. If the remaining time _{TIME_Rem} has reached the threshold (Yes), the control proceeds to step S190, and a notification is displayed to indicate that the release bearing 27 needs to be replaced on the display 80.

On the other hand, when the remaining time _{TIME_Rem} has not reached the threshold value (negative), the present control is returned, and the next clutch disconnection / engagement operation start is suspended.

As described above in detail, according to this embodiment, disengaging operation time of the clutch device 20 TIME _{_C} and, based on the cumulative damage degree D, which is calculated from the bearing temperature TEMP _{_B,} until the release bearing 27 to failure while the estimated remaining time _{tIME _Rem,} said residue time _{tIME _Rem} is when it reaches a predetermined threshold value, the replacement of the release bearing 27 to the driver is adapted to notify that required. As a result, it is possible to appropriately grasp the appropriate timing of component replacement while effectively estimating the bearing remaining life, and to prevent the road breakdown of the vehicle 1 caused by the breakage of the release bearing 27 in advance. it can.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be appropriately modified and implemented without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, the clutch device 20 is not limited to the manual clutch device shown in the illustrated example, and any clutch device including the release bearing 27 can be widely applied to other clutch devices such as an automatic clutch device.

  Further, the vehicle 1 is not limited to one including the engine 10 as a drive source, and may be a hybrid vehicle or the like including a traveling motor.

10 Engine 11 Crankshaft 20 Clutch Device 21 Clutch Housing 22 Clutch Disc 23 Clutch Facing 24 Clutch Cover 25 Pressure Plate 26 Diaphragm Spring 27 Release Bearing 28 Release Fork 40 Transmission 42 Input Shaft 55 Oil Temperature Sensor (Temperature Acquisition Means)
56 Stroke sensor 80 Display (informing means)
100 ECU
110 Clutch operation time calculation unit (operation time calculation means)
120 Bearing temperature estimation unit (temperature acquisition means)
130 Cumulative damage calculator (cumulative damage calculator)
140 Bearing remaining life estimation unit (remaining life estimation means)
150 notification processing unit (notification means)

Claims (5)

A life estimation device for a release bearing of a clutch device capable of connecting and disconnecting power transmitted from a drive source mounted on a vehicle to a transmission,
Operating time computing means for computing a disconnection operating time of the clutch device;
Temperature acquisition means for acquiring the temperature of the release bearing;
Cumulative damage degree calculation means for calculating the cumulative damage degree of the release bearing by integrating the damage degree obtained by multiplying the temperature by the disconnection operation time;
And a remaining life estimating means for estimating a remaining life of the release bearing based on the cumulative damage degree. The life estimation according to claim 1, wherein the remaining life estimation means estimates the remaining life of the release bearing based on a relationship between the cumulative damage prescribed in advance and the remaining time until the release bearing reaches a failure. apparatus. It further comprises an oil temperature sensor for detecting the lubricating oil temperature of the transmission,
The life estimation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the temperature acquisition means estimates the temperature of the release bearing based on the relationship between the temperature of the lubricant and the temperature of the release bearing, which are defined in advance. The life estimation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising notification means for notifying the driver of the information when the remaining life reaches a predetermined threshold. A method of estimating the life of a release bearing of a clutch device capable of connecting and disconnecting power transmitted from a drive source mounted on a vehicle to a transmission,
The cumulative damage degree of the release bearing is calculated by calculating the disconnection operating time of the clutch device, acquiring the temperature of the release bearing, and integrating the damage degree obtained by multiplying the temperature by the disconnection operating time. A life estimation method comprising calculating and estimating the remaining life of the release bearing based on the cumulative damage degree.

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