JP2019173673A - Engine automatic stop/start device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an engine automatic stop/start device which can suppress the occurrence of a vehicle behavior which is not intended by a driver without increasing the number of part items.SOLUTION: An engine automatic stop/start device for use in a vehicle having a transmission which can switch a power transmission state and a power non-transmission state, and a neutral position switch for detecting a neutral state comprises a control device for automatically stopping an engine when a prescribed stop condition is established, and restarting the engine when a prescribed restart condition is established during an automatic stop of the engine. The prescribed stop condition and the prescribed restart condition include the fact that the neutral state is detected by the neutral position switch, and when the neutral state is detected by the neutral position switch during the automatic stop of the engine, the control device sets the engine to an engine automatic stop prohibition state that the engine is not automatically stopped even if the prescribed stop condition is established after a restart of the engine.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an engine automatic stop / start device.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a transmission in which a first neutral switch and a second neutral switch are respectively installed on a clutch case and a rear case located on both sides of a transmission case. According to this conventional transmission, since the first neutral switch and the second neutral switch are largely separated with the transmission case in between, the state of transmission of the mission oil to each neutral switch changes and is included in the mission oil. The degree of occurrence of clogging caused by iron powder or the like can be made different between the first neutral switch and the second neutral switch. Thereby, the conventional transmission can prevent the same failure from occurring at the same time in the first neutral switch and the second neutral switch.

  The transmission described in Patent Document 1 uses the detection signals of the first neutral switch and the second neutral switch for engine idle stop control. For this reason, according to this transmission, when the failure determination is made when the detection signals from the two neutral switches are different from each other, the failure determination can be made reliably and the idle stop control can be prohibited.

Japanese Patent No. 4967804

  By the way, when a signal indicating that the transmission is in a power non-transmission state due to a failure of the neutral switch is output even though the transmission can transmit power to the wheels during the idle stop control, The engine may be restarted in a state where the transmission can transmit power. In this case, when the engine is restarted, the motive power of the engine is transmitted to the wheels, which may cause a vehicle behavior unintended by the driver.

  In the transmission described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of the vehicle behavior as described above during the idle stop control by reliably determining failure of these neutral switches using two neutral switches.

  However, the transmission described in Patent Document 1 requires two neutral switches to suppress the occurrence of the vehicle behavior as described above, which increases the number of parts and increases the manufacturing cost of the vehicle. End up.

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and provides an engine automatic stop and start device capable of suppressing the occurrence of vehicle behavior unintended by the driver without increasing the number of parts. Objective.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a power transmission capable of switching between a power transmission state in which engine power can be transmitted to wheels and a power non-transmission state in which power is not transmitted between the engine and the wheels. An engine automatic stop / start device for use in a vehicle comprising a mechanism and a power transmission state detection unit for detecting the power transmission state or the power non-transmission state, and the engine when a predetermined stop condition is satisfied And a control unit that restarts the engine when a predetermined restart condition is satisfied during the automatic stop of the engine, the predetermined stop condition and the predetermined restart condition include: It is included that the power non-transmission state is detected by the power transmission state detection unit, respectively, and the control unit is controlled by the power transmission state detection unit during the automatic stop of the engine. When said power transmission state is detected, has a configuration that automatically set to the automatic engine stop prohibition condition is not stopped after restarting said engine even if the predetermined stop condition is satisfied in the engine.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the engine automatic stop start apparatus which can suppress generation | occurrence | production of the vehicle behavior which a driver | operator does not intend can be provided, without increasing a number of parts.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a vehicle equipped with an engine automatic stop / start device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of the engine automatic stop function management control executed by the control device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing an example of a driving mode in the vehicle of the comparative example. FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing an example of a driving mode of a vehicle equipped with an engine automatic stop / start device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The engine automatic stop / start device according to one embodiment of the present invention can switch between a power transmission state in which the power of the engine can be transmitted to the wheels and a power non-transmission state in which the power is not transmitted between the engine and the wheels. An automatic engine start / stop device for use in a vehicle provided with a simple power transmission mechanism and a power transmission state detection unit for detecting a power transmission state or a power non-transmission state, when the predetermined stop condition is satisfied And a control unit that restarts the engine when a predetermined restart condition is satisfied during the automatic engine stop, and a power transmission state detection is detected in the predetermined stop condition and the predetermined restart condition. The power non-transmission state is detected by the unit, respectively, and when the power transmission state is detected by the power transmission state detection unit during the automatic stop of the engine, Wherein the predetermined stop condition after engine restart is automatically set to the automatic engine stop prohibition condition not to stop the engine even satisfied. Thereby, the engine automatic stop / start apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention can suppress the occurrence of vehicle behavior not intended by the driver.

  Hereinafter, an engine automatic stop and start device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle 1 equipped with an engine automatic stop / start device according to this embodiment includes an engine 2, an engine start device 3, a transmission 4, a clutch 5, and drive wheels 6 as wheels. And the control device 10.

  The engine 2 is a four-cycle gasoline engine that performs a series of four strokes including an intake stroke, a compression stroke, an expansion stroke, and an exhaust stroke, and ignites during the compression stroke and the expansion stroke to generate the driving force of the vehicle 1. It is configured. The engine 2 may be a diesel engine.

  The engine starter 3 includes a starter motor, a gear, a clutch mechanism, and the like, and the starter motor can be connected to the crankshaft of the engine 2 via the gear and the clutch mechanism.

  The engine starting device 3 starts the engine 2 by driving the starter motor based on the start signal transmitted from the control device 10 to rotate the crankshaft of the engine 2 via the gear and clutch mechanism. Yes.

  The start signal is transmitted from the control device 10 to the engine start device 3 on condition that, for example, an ignition switch 7 described later is turned on or a predetermined restart condition described later is satisfied.

  The transmission 4 is configured by a manual transmission that establishes an arbitrary shift stage among a plurality of shift stages according to the operation of the shift lever 42 by the driver. The transmission 4 has an input side connected to the engine 2 via a clutch 5, and an output side connected to the drive wheels 6.

  When the clutch 5 is engaged, the transmission 4 shifts the rotation of the engine 2 input via the clutch 5 at a gear ratio according to the established gear and transmits the rotation to the drive wheels 6. It is like that. In the present embodiment, the state in which the transmission 4 changes the rotation of the engine 2 and transmits it to the drive wheels 6 as described above is referred to as a power transmission state.

  Further, the transmission 4 is configured to be able to form a neutral state in which no gear stage is established, that is, a neutral state. In this neutral state, the rotation of the engine 2 input to the transmission 4 is not transmitted to the drive wheels 6. In the present embodiment, the case where the transmission 4 is in the neutral state as described above is referred to as a power non-transmission state.

  As described above, the transmission 4 is configured to be able to switch between a power transmission state in which the power of the engine 2 is transmitted to the drive wheels 6 and a power non-transmission state in which the power is not transmitted between the engine 2 and the drive wheels 6. Has been. The transmission 4 in the present embodiment constitutes a power transmission mechanism in the present invention.

  The transmission 4 is provided with a neutral position switch 41. The neutral position switch 41 is turned on when the operation position of the shift lever 42 is in the neutral position, and detects the neutral state of the transmission 4. The neutral position switch 41 is turned off when the operation position of the shift lever 42 is other than the neutral position.

  The neutral position switch 41 detects whether the transmission 4 is in a power transmission state or a power non-transmission state by detecting the neutral state of the transmission 4. The neutral position switch 41 in the present embodiment constitutes a power transmission state detection unit in the present invention.

  The clutch 5 is provided in a power transmission path between the engine 2 and the transmission 4, a transmission state in which power is transmitted between the engine 2 and the transmission 4, and power between the engine 2 and the transmission 4. It switches between a blocking state for blocking transmission.

  The control device 10 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory for storing backup data, an input port, and an output port. It is composed of computer units. The ROM of the computer unit stores programs for realizing the functions of the computer unit, in addition to various constants and maps.

  An ignition switch 7, an accelerator opening sensor 8, a clutch switch 9, a neutral position switch 41, a vehicle speed sensor 61, an engine starter 3, and an engine 2 are connected to the control device 10.

  The accelerator opening sensor 8 detects the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal 81 by the driver. The clutch switch 9 detects whether or not the clutch pedal 91 is depressed by the driver. The vehicle speed sensor 61 detects the speed of the vehicle 1, that is, the vehicle speed.

  The control device 10 has a function as an automatic stop control unit 11 capable of executing automatic stop control for automatically stopping the engine 2 when a predetermined stop condition is satisfied. The control device 10 has a function as a restart control unit 12 capable of executing restart control for restarting the engine 2 when a predetermined restart condition is satisfied while the engine 2 is automatically stopped. The control device 10 in the present embodiment constitutes a control unit in the present invention.

  As the predetermined stop condition, for example, at least that the vehicle speed is a predetermined vehicle speed or less, the accelerator pedal 81 is not depressed, the clutch pedal 91 is not depressed, and the transmission 4 is in a neutral state. include.

  The predetermined restart condition includes, for example, at least that the transmission 4 is in a neutral state and that the clutch pedal 91 is depressed. Thus, in the present embodiment, both the predetermined stop condition and the predetermined restart condition include that the transmission 4 is in the neutral state.

  When it is detected by the neutral position switch 41 that the transmission 4 is in the power transmission state during the automatic stop of the engine 2, the control device 10 changes the automatic stop function management state of the engine 2 to the engine automatic stop prohibition state. It has a function as the engine automatic stop prohibition state setting unit 13 to be set.

  Specifically, the control device 10 determines that the neutral position switch 41 is turned off during the automatic stop of the engine 2, that is, the number of times the transmission 4 is switched from the power non-transmission state to the power transmission state during the automatic stop of the engine 2. Count (hereinafter referred to as “switching count”). For example, the control device 10 includes a counter (hereinafter referred to as “switching counter”) that counts the number of times of switching, and whenever the transmission 4 is switched from the power non-transmission state to the power transmission state during the automatic stop of the engine 2. The value of the switching counter is incremented by “+1”.

  The control device 10 sets the automatic stop function management state of the engine 2 to the automatic engine stop prohibition state on condition that the above-mentioned number of times of switching counted in one driving cycle has reached a predetermined number (in this embodiment, “twice”). It is supposed to be set to. One driving cycle refers to a period from when the ignition switch 7 is turned on to when it is turned off. The predetermined number of times described above is set to an arbitrary number depending on the specifications of the vehicle 1 and the like, and is not limited to twice.

  When the automatic stop function management state is set to the engine automatic stop prohibition state, after the power transmission state is detected, after the engine 2 that has been automatically stopped is restarted, even if a predetermined stop condition is satisfied, the engine 2 Will not be automatically stopped.

  Whether or not the engine is in the automatic engine stop prohibited state is managed by, for example, a prohibit flag. When the engine automatic stop prohibition state is set, the prohibition flag is set to “1”. When the engine automatic stop prohibition state is not set, the engine automatic stop permission state is set and the prohibition flag is set to “0”.

  The control device 10 cancels the setting of the engine automatic stop prohibition state by resetting the prohibition flag to “0” every driving cycle. The control device 10 also resets the value of the switching counter to “0” every driving cycle.

  Next, the engine automatic stop function management control executed by the control device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This engine automatic stop function management control is repeatedly executed at predetermined time intervals from when the ignition switch 7 is turned on until it is turned off.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 10 determines whether or not the engine 2 is automatically stopped (step S1). When determining that the engine 2 is not automatically stopped, the control device 10 ends the engine automatic stop function management control.

  When it is determined that the engine 2 is automatically stopped, the control device 10 determines whether or not the transmission 4 is switched from the power non-transmission state to the power transmission state, that is, when the engine 2 is automatically stopped. It is determined whether or not the switch 41 is turned off (step S2).

  When it is determined that the transmission 4 has not been switched from the power non-transmission state to the power transmission state, the control device 10 proceeds to step S4.

  When it is determined that the transmission 4 has been switched from the power non-transmission state to the power transmission state, the control device 10 switches the transmission 4 from the power non-transmission state to the power transmission state while the engine 2 is automatically stopped. The number of times of switching is counted up, that is, the value of the switching counter is incremented by “+1” (step S3).

  Next, the control device 10 determines whether or not the value of the switching counter has reached a predetermined number (step S4). When it is determined that the value of the switching counter has not reached the predetermined number of times, the control device 10 sets the engine automatic stop permission state as the automatic stop function management state, that is, after the prohibition flag is set to “0”. (Step S6), the process returns to Step S1.

  When it is determined that the value of the switching counter has reached the predetermined number of times, the control device 10 sets the engine automatic stop prohibition state as the automatic stop function management state, that is, after the prohibition flag is set to “1” ( Step S5), the process returns to step S1. Thus, thereafter, the automatic stop of the engine 2 is prohibited until the ignition switch 7 is turned off.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, in the vehicle of the comparative example in which the engine automatic stop function management control of the present embodiment is not executed with respect to the driving mode of the vehicle equipped with the engine automatic stop / start device according to the present embodiment It demonstrates in comparison with a driving | running aspect.

  Each of the time charts shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 shows a driving mode of the vehicle in one driving cycle.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the vehicle of the comparative example, during the first automatic stop of the engine, the transmission is not switched from the power non-transmission state to the power transmission state, and the second, third and fourth times are not performed. During the automatic stop of the engine, the transmission is switched from the power non-transmission state to the power transmission state.

  When the transmission is switched to the power transmission state while the engine is automatically stopped, the engine power may be transmitted to the drive wheels when the engine is restarted. Behavior may occur.

  However, when the neutral position switch is functioning normally, the power transmission state of the transmission is detected and the predetermined restart condition is not satisfied, so the engine is not restarted. Thereby, there is no possibility that the vehicle behavior not intended by the driver will occur.

  However, if the neutral position switch is faulty and the transmission is in the power transmission state but the neutral position switch erroneously detects the power non-transmission state, the engine is restarted to drive the engine power. May be transmitted to the wheel. In this case, as described above, there is a possibility that a vehicle behavior not intended by the driver may occur.

  Accordingly, when the transmission is switched to the power transmission state while the engine is automatically stopped, a vehicle behavior unintended by the driver may occur, which requires caution. In FIG. 3, as a caution state at the time of automatic engine stop, a state where a vehicle behavior unintended by the driver as described above may occur is “caution”, and a state where the vehicle behavior is not likely to occur is “normal”. ".

  However, in the vehicle of the comparative example, the number of times of switching from the power non-transmission state of the transmission to the power transmission state is not counted, and the transmission is switched from the power non-transmission state to the power transmission state during the automatic stop of the engine. Even if this is done, the automatic engine stop is not prohibited.

  For this reason, in the vehicle of the comparative example, every time the transmission is switched from the power non-transmission state to the power transmission state while the engine is automatically stopped, a vehicle behavior unintended by the driver may occur.

  On the other hand, in the vehicle 1 equipped with the engine automatic stop / start device according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the power transmission from the power non-transmission state of the transmission 4 during the second automatic stop of the engine 2 is performed. The number of times of switching is “+1” by switching to the state. At this time, since the number of times of switching has not reached the predetermined number of two, the automatic stop function management state remains set to the automatic stop permission state (described as “permitted” in FIG. 4).

  Next, in the vehicle 1 equipped with the engine automatic stop / start device according to this embodiment, the transmission 4 is switched from the power non-transmission state to the power transmission state during the third automatic stop of the engine 2. The number of times of switching is “+1”, which reaches a predetermined number of times.

  In the vehicle 1 equipped with the engine automatic stop / start device according to the present embodiment, the automatic stop function management state is set to the automatic stop prohibition state (described as “prohibited” in FIG. 4) because the number of times of switching has reached a predetermined number of two. Set to

  Thus, thereafter, the automatic stop of the engine 2 is prohibited until the ignition switch 7 is turned off. For this reason, in the vehicle 1 equipped with the engine automatic stop / start device according to the present embodiment, the number of times that the vehicle behavior unintended by the driver may occur may be reduced as compared with the vehicle of the comparative example. it can.

  As described above, in the engine automatic stop / start device according to the present embodiment, when the neutral position switch 41 detects that the transmission 4 is in the power transmission state during the automatic stop of the engine 2, The automatic stop function management state is set to an engine automatic stop prohibition state.

  For this reason, in the engine automatic stop / start apparatus according to the present embodiment, after the automatic stop function management state is set to the engine automatic stop prohibition state, a predetermined stop condition is satisfied until the ignition switch 7 is turned off. Even so, the automatic stop of the engine 2 is prohibited.

  As described above, the engine automatic stop / start device according to this embodiment uses the detection result of the ready-made neutral position switch 41 without providing a sensor, a switch, or the like for determining a failure of the neutral position switch 41. Automatic stop can be prohibited.

  Therefore, the engine automatic stop / start device according to the present embodiment can reduce the number of times that the vehicle behavior unintended by the driver may occur without increasing the number of parts. Thereby, the engine automatic stop / start apparatus according to the present embodiment can suppress the occurrence of vehicle behavior not intended by the driver without increasing the number of parts.

  When the transmission 4 is in a power transmission state while the engine 2 is automatically stopped, the engine 2 is automatically restarted when the engine 2 is started, for example, due to securing of brake negative pressure or battery charging. Can not do it. In such a case, for example, it is necessary to prompt the driver to perform a shift operation so that the transmission 4 is in a power non-transmission state, which is a burden on the driver.

  In the engine automatic stop start device according to the present embodiment, after the automatic stop function management state is set to the engine automatic stop prohibition state as described above, a predetermined stop condition is maintained until the ignition switch 7 is turned off. Even if it is established, the automatic stop of the engine 2 is prohibited. Thereby, it can suppress falling into the situation which becomes a burden for a driver as mentioned above.

  The engine automatic stop / start device according to this embodiment sets the automatic stop function management state of the engine 2 to the engine automatic stop prohibition state on condition that the number of times of switching counted in one driving cycle has reached a predetermined number. It is configured.

  For this reason, the engine automatic stop / start device according to the present embodiment is frequently used when a driver who performs a shift operation to switch the transmission 4 to the power transmission state during the automatic stop of the engine 2 drives the vehicle 1. As described above, the automatic stop of the engine 2 can be prohibited.

  On the other hand, if the transmission 4 is switched to the power transmission state while the engine 2 is automatically stopped, for example, only once during one driving cycle, the automatic stop of the engine 2 is not prohibited.

  Thus, the engine automatic stop / start apparatus according to the present embodiment can prohibit the automatic stop of the engine 2 according to the behavior tendency of the driver, that is, the tendency of the shift operation.

  Since the engine automatic stop start device according to this embodiment cancels the setting of the engine automatic stop prohibition state every driving cycle, the engine automatic stop function management state of the engine 2 is permitted every time one driving cycle is completed. Can be in a state.

  For this reason, for example, when the driver who drives the vehicle 1 is changed or when the tendency of the driver's shift operation is changed, the engine automatic stop prohibition state is not maintained. Thus, even when the engine automatic stop prohibition state is set in the previous driving cycle, it is not detected that the transmission 4 is in the power transmission state during the automatic stop of the engine 2 in the current driving cycle. The automatic stop function management state is not set to the engine automatic stop prohibition state.

  Therefore, the engine automatic stop / start device according to the present embodiment can appropriately perform the automatic stop of the engine 2 when the driver is changed or the tendency of the driver's shift operation is changed, thereby improving the fuel consumption. be able to.

While embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. All such modifications and equivalents are intended to be included in the following claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 2 Engine 3 Engine starter 4 Transmission (power transmission mechanism)
5 Clutch 6 Drive Wheel 7 Ignition Switch 8 Accelerator Opening Sensor 9 Clutch Switch 10 Control Device (Control Unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Automatic stop control part 12 Restart control part 13 Engine automatic stop prohibition state setting part 41 Neutral position switch (power transmission state detection part)
42 Shift lever 61 Vehicle speed sensor 81 Accelerator pedal 91 Clutch pedal

Claims (3)

A power transmission mechanism capable of switching between a power transmission state in which power of the engine can be transmitted to the wheels and a power non-transmission state in which power is not transmitted between the engine and the wheels;
A power transmission state detection unit for detecting the power transmission state or the power non-transmission state, and an engine automatic stop / start device used in a vehicle,
A controller that automatically stops the engine when a predetermined stop condition is satisfied, and restarts the engine when a predetermined restart condition is satisfied during the automatic stop of the engine;
The predetermined stop condition and the predetermined restart condition include that the power non-transmission state is detected by the power transmission state detection unit, respectively.
When the power transmission state is detected by the power transmission state detection unit during the automatic stop of the engine, the control unit causes the engine to stop even if the predetermined stop condition is satisfied after the engine is restarted. An engine automatic stop and start device characterized in that the engine automatic stop prohibition state is set so as not to stop automatically.   The control unit sets the engine automatic stop prohibition state on condition that the number of times of switching from the power non-transmission state to the power transmission state has reached a predetermined number during the automatic stop of the engine. The engine automatic stop and start device according to claim 1. When the ignition switch is turned on and then turned off is one driving cycle,
The engine automatic stop / start apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit cancels the setting of the engine automatic stop prohibition state for each driving cycle.

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