JP3499210B2 - Riding terrain vehicle - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention of the present application is a V-belt type continuously variable transmission capable of detecting deterioration of a V-belt which is a sign of belt damage.
The present invention relates to a riding type rough terrain vehicle equipped with a machine .

[Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

A riding type rough terrain vehicle (hereinafter, simply referred to as a rough terrain vehicle) is a three-wheel or four-wheel motorcycle generally called "All Terrain Vehicle (ATV)", sandy land, It can be stably driven on rough terrain and rough terrain such as wetlands, and because it has a large load of luggage and various equipment, it is used for various purposes such as leisure, sports competition, border security, etc.

In such an all-terrain vehicle, in order to transmit the driving force of the engine to the wheels, a V-belt type continuously variable vehicle is used.
A transmission may be used. As shown in FIG. 8 (a), a V-belt B used in a V-belt type continuously variable transmission.
Is a tensile layer Lt and compression layer Lc made of rubber material in recent years.
In general, a tensile body layer Ltm made of aramid fiber (generally made of “Kevlar” fiber developed by DuPont) is sandwiched between the layers.

When deterioration occurs in the V-belt B constructed as described above, fatigue occurs from the side surface inclined in a V-shape during its use, and in particular, the upper side of the tensile layer Lt in FIG. 8A. Phenomenon in which breakage occurs from the corners and the tensile layer Lt is separated as shown in FIG. 8 (b) and peels off from the tensile body layer Ltm (or after the tensile layer Lt peels off from the tensile body layer Ltm, The layer Lt is often divided).

By the way, in the above-described rough terrain vehicle, the V-belt type continuously variable transmission generally has a crankshaft (drive shaft) which penetrates a side surface of the engine and projects laterally,
A drive pulley and a driven pulley respectively mounted on the V-belt type continuously variable transmission and the input shaft (driven shaft) of the gear type transmission interposed between the traveling wheels are wound around these pulleys. It is configured by covering with a belt from the side with a double bowl-shaped cover.
It is fastened to the side of the engine with a large number of hexagon bolts.

Therefore, when the V-belt is once broken, it is necessary to loosen all the hexagon bolts and remove the cover in order to replace the V-belt. It is a burden for passengers to perform such work outdoors on uneven terrain, etc. Therefore, the cover is generally removed to check the deterioration state of the V-belt at the time of regular inspection, etc. Replace the V-belt.

Therefore, even at the time other than the regular inspection, for example, it is possible to detect the precursor of the V-belt breakage so that the V-belt can be replaced before starting the operation. The development of a V-belt type continuously variable transmission to be used in the market is awaited.

As a reference, the detection of such a precursor of breakage of the V-belt is disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2640826.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has a V-belt type continuously variable transmission capable of detecting a sign of breakage of a V-belt without removing a cover and riding on uneven terrain. The purpose is to provide a car.

In order to solve the above problems, a riding type rough terrain vehicle according to the present invention has a drive pulley connected to an output shaft of an on-vehicle engine and a gear type transmission for traveling wheels. A driven pulley connected through the V belt, which has a layered cross-sectional structure, and which connects the drive pulley and the driven pulley together, and is fastened by a plurality of bolts covering the drive pulley, the driven pulley, and the V belt. and mosquitoes <br/> including a belt type continuously variable transmission provided with the and a bar, the driving
The pulley and driven pulley are the movable sheave and the fixed pulley, respectively.
The movable sheave on the drive pulley side is provided with a constant sheave,
The V-belt drive diameter is set according to the level of the engine speed.
While increasing or decreasing, the movable sheave of the driven pulley is
Rotation of the engine by reducing the drive diameter
The In straddle-type all terrain vehicle that has been made in order to transmit to the wheel and steplessly, a position of the inner surface of said cover along a trajectory outside of the V-belt, the engine
Drive belt that increases the V-belt drive diameter during high-speed rotation of the
Is not in contact with the outer surface of the V-belt wound around
The V-bell in touch and immediately after contact with the drive pulley
Are arranged at corresponding positions that tend to swell outward in the radial direction of rotation, and are separated from other layers of the outer layer of the V-belt due to deterioration of the V-belt.
And a contact-type sensor for detecting the contact between the separated portion of, 該Se
Count the number of detections per unit time by the sensor
Counting is repeated until the number of detections per hour exceeds the predetermined number.
The counting means is provided near the steering wheel of the vehicle and the number of detections per unit time by the counting means is
Notify the driver to that effect if the specified number of times is exceeded.
It is characterized by comprising an informing means comprising a voice generator or a light emitting device .

According to the present invention, before the fracture as described above.
Peeling of the tensile layer and tensile body layer, splitting of the tensile layer, etc.
Of contact type to detect physical deformation (deterioration) of V belt of
Since the sensor is provided, this deformation is detected by the sensor.
Occasionally, some kind of notification means
The sign can be notified to the user at an early stage.

The V-belt referred to here is not used for transmission.
Any V-belt can be used, and
Deformation is limited to partial peeling or cutting of the V-belt
Instead, for example, it may be partial expansion, strain, or the like.

Further , the above riding type rough terrain vehicle has a drive
Equipped with a cover that covers the pulley, driven pulley and V-belt
Since it is equipped with a V-belt type continuously variable transmission, the user can
The deterioration status of the
According to the invention of the application, a cover is attached to confirm this deterioration state.
Freed from the effort of removing it.

Further , in the above riding type rough terrain vehicle
Uses a voice generator or light emitter as the notification means.
The V-belt deterioration is detected to the user.
It can be conveyed audibly or visually.

Further , in the above riding type rough terrain vehicle
Is the predetermined number of detections per unit time by the sensor.
If the number of times is exceeded, the notification means is configured to notify.
The number of detections by the sensor is
It is stored in a memory or the like, and the detection times stored in the memory are stored.
The notification means will notify you when the number exceeds a predetermined threshold.
Control. By configuring in this way, false detection
It is possible to reduce the risk of leakage and improve the reliability of the device.
is there.

In the riding type rough terrain vehicle,
Can also use a pressure-sensitive sensor as the sensor.
Noh. This is because the sensor has
V-belt out of its normal orbit due to physical deformation of
It can be easily realized by arranging so that it touches the part of
is there.

Further , in the above riding type rough terrain vehicle
Use a pressure-sensitive conductive rubber material as the sensor.
Is also possible. This pressure-sensitive conductive rubber material is conductive to the rubber material.
It is a mixture of materials and uses the elasticity of rubber material to
The electric resistance value changes according to the deformation (strain) of the. Specifically
Among the above-mentioned piezoelectric elements, is a “pressure-sensitive conductive elastomer”.
"Tomer" can be used. Such pressure sensitive conductivity
A sensor made of rubber is easy to install.
Can be attached to the inside of the cover with an adhesive, etc.
it can.

As described above, according to the present invention, the driver can know the deterioration state of the V-belt while driving, and can judge the V-belt replacement time even at the time other than the regular inspection. Is. The riding type rough terrain vehicle according to the present invention may have either three-wheel or four-wheel configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) Hereinafter, a vehicle equipped with a V-belt type continuously variable transmission according to the present invention will be described.
As an embodiment of a riding type rough terrain vehicle , a riding type four-wheel rough terrain
An example of the traveling vehicle will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the overall structure of an all-terrain vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an overall plan view of the all-terrain vehicle shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in an all-terrain vehicle A according to this embodiment, an engine E is mounted in the center of a body frame F made of pipe material, and the front portion of the body frame F is mounted. A steering column (not shown) that extends substantially vertically with an appropriate caster angle is pivotally supported by the. The bar handle H is fixed to the upper end of the steering column, while the lower part of the steering column is provided with a pair of tie rods (not shown).
The front wheel FW for steering, which is suspended on the left and right sides of the lower front part of the vehicle body frame F, is respectively connected.

Therefore, the rider grips the bar handle H on the riding seat S attached to the upper rear side of the body frame F, and the bar handle H is rotated around the steering column to rotate the front wheel FW. You can steer left and right.

Rear wheels RW having independent axles are respectively suspended on the left and right sides of the rear portion of the vehicle body frame F. These rear wheels RW are driven by the engine E to be described later in a V-belt type continuously variable vehicle. The transmission 1 is driven via a gear type transmission (generally referred to as "transmission gear"), not shown.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the inside of the V-belt type continuously variable transmission shown in FIG. 1 with a part of its cover cut away.
FIG. 4 is a IV-IV sectional view showing the internal structure of the V-belt type continuously variable transmission shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the V-belt type continuously variable transmission 1 is mainly composed of the drive pulley 1 on the engine E side.
0, the driven pulley 20 on the rear wheel RW side (the transmission gear side), the drive pulley 10 and the V-belt B of the low edge cog type wound around the driven pulley 20, and each of these members on the side surface of the engine E case. It is a double bowl-shaped cover C that covers with Ce. It should be noted that in the present embodiment, the transmission gear is housed in the case of the engine E.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the drive pulley 10
Is the crankshaft S protruding from the engine E to the right side of the vehicle body.
At the tip of the drive shaft 11 coaxially connected to c, the drive shaft 11
It is attached so as to rotate integrally with. The drive pulley 10 is formed by combining a fixed sheave 10f and a movable sheave 10m in this order from the engine E side, and the movable sheave 10m is provided on the drive shaft 11 so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the fixed sheave 10f. Further, on the movable sheave 10m side, the movable sheave 10m is operated in the direction of contacting the fixed sheave 10f side as the rotation speed of the drive shaft 11 increases, while the movable sheave 10m moves from the fixed sheave 10f side as the rotation speed decreases. A centrifugal force type movable device D1 that operates in the direction of separating is incorporated.

On the other hand, the driven pulley 20 is mounted on the driven shaft 21 of the V-belt type continuously variable transmission 1 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and the driven shaft 21 is the transmission gear. , Is connected to the rear wheel RW via a differential gear (not shown). The driven pulley 20 is formed by sequentially combining a movable sheave 20m and a fixed sheave 20f from the engine E side, and the movable sheave 20m is rotatably and fixed around the driven shaft 21 in response to the operation of the drive pulley 10. It is provided on the driven shaft 21 that can freely move in and out of the sheave 20f. Further, on the fixed sheave 20f side, a movable device D2 which operates in the following manner in response to the operation of the movable device D1 is incorporated. That is, the movable device D2 moves the movable sheave 20m to the fixed sheave 20f during high speed operation of the V belt B by the drive pulley 10.
While operating in the direction away from the side, during low speed operation,
The movable sheave 20m is designed to move in the direction of contacting the fixed sheave 20f side.

With such a configuration, in the V-belt type continuously variable transmission 1 of this embodiment, when the rotation speed of the engine E is low, the movable sheave 10m on the drive side is as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. Since it is separated from the fixed sheave 10f, the belt diameter of the V belt B wound around the drive pulley 10 is small, and the operating speed of the V belt B is low. Therefore, the movable sheave 20m on the driven side driven by the V-belt B is moved toward the fixed sheave 20f, as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. A large driving torque can be obtained.

On the other hand, when the rotational speed of the engine E increases, the movable sheave 10m on the drive side is pushed toward the fixed sheave 10f and hung on the drive pulley 10 as shown by the solid line in FIG. The belt diameter of the V-belt B increases, and the operating speed of the V-belt B increases. Therefore, the driven sheave 20m driven by this V-belt B
Is the fixed sheave 20 as shown by the solid line in FIG.
The belt is operated so as to be separated from the f side, the belt diameter is reduced, and a high rotational speed of the driven shaft 21 required at high speed running can be obtained.

By the way, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a belt damage sensor 3 made of a pressure-sensitive sensor made of a pressure-sensitive conductive elastomer is bonded to a predetermined position on the inner peripheral surface of the cover C.

As shown in the detailed view of FIG. 5, the belt damage sensor 3 is mainly composed of a substantially rectangular thin plate-shaped conductive member formed by dispersing conductive particles in an insulating rubber material substantially uniformly. The rubber portion 30 and the conductive rubber portion 30 facing each other 2
It is composed of a pair of conducting wires 32 arranged side by side with a proper distance along the sides, and the conducting wires 32 are flat cables covered in a synthetic resin sheet body 31 while maintaining the intervals where they are arranged. I am in a shape.

In a state where the conductive rubber portion 30 is not subjected to external pressure from its plate surface direction, the conductive particles are
Not in contact with each other, both volume resistance and surface resistance are 1
It shows a high electric resistance value of 0 7 or more. On the contrary,
In the pressurized state, the conductive particles gradually start contacting with each other to form a conductive path, and the electric resistance value decreases.

Belt damage sensor 3 in the present embodiment
Uses the change in the electric resistance value to detect the deterioration of the V belt B as described above.
The installation position on the inner surface of the cover C is V as shown in FIG.
It is desirable to be as close as possible to the V-belt B along the outer side of the orbit of the belt B. In addition, the belt damage sensor 3
As shown in FIG. 3, the inner diameter of the cover C is a V-belt type without a belt diameter that is large during high-speed operation of the engine E.
It is desirable to provide it on the drive pulley 10 side of the speed change gear 1, and in particular, the drive pulley 10 that is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG.
It is desirable that the V-belt B be provided at a corresponding rotational position where the V-belt B immediately after coming into contact with the roller tends to bulge outward in the radial direction of rotation.

Further, in the belt damage sensor 3, the longitudinal direction of the conductive rubber portion 30 (in FIG. 5, at least the direction along the portion of the conductive wire 32 in contact with the conductive rubber portion 30) is in the width direction of the V belt B. It is desirable to be arranged along
Moreover, it is desirable to set the length L of the conductive rubber portion 30 so that at least the conductive rubber portion 30 is arranged over the entire width dimension of the V-belt B.

As described above, cover the belt damage sensor 3 with C
When the V-belt B is deteriorated, the tension layer Lt as shown in FIG.
When peeling occurs, the peeled tensile layer Lt is V
It will protrude outward from the original track of belt B,
Each time the belt damage sensor 3 passes through the installation position, the conductive rubber portion 30 is hit, and the change in the electric resistance value due to the deformation of the conductive rubber portion 30 at this time is detected.

As shown in FIG. 6, this belt damage sensor
3 is connected to an engine control unit (ECU) 4 installed at an appropriate part of the rough terrain vehicle A, and the EC
U 4 monitors changes in the electrical resistance value of the belt damage sensor 3 as described above. In addition, the ECU 4 is based on the electric resistance value of the belt damage sensor 3 being monitored,
Recognizing the deterioration of the V-belt B, the warning lamp 5 and / or the buzzer 6 provided on the indicator panel P (see FIG. 2 for the specific arrangement) arranged in the central portion of the bar handle H is energized to the rider. It is configured to issue a warning.

Specifically, such control is executed by the ECU 4 based on a predetermined program stored in advance in a built-in ROM (not shown) of the ECU 4, and The contents will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the ECU 4 resets the value of the counter set in the built-in memory M (step 1 (S
1)), it is determined whether or not the electric resistance value of the belt damage sensor 3 being monitored has dropped below a predetermined value, that is, whether or not "belt damage" has been detected (step 2 (S2)).

The "belt damage" referred to here is a so-called symptom of belt breakage, and includes the process from the start of deterioration of the V-belt B to the breakage, but in reality, the cover C
Erroneous detection due to foreign matter mixed in may be included. Therefore, as will be described below, the warning is output only when the number of detections within a predetermined time exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

When "belt damage" is not detected ("No" in step 2), the ECU 4 repeats step 2 in a predetermined time cycle (for example, the operation cycle of the ECU 4), and When "damage" is detected ("Yes" in step 2), the ECU 4 adds "1" to the value of the counter (step 3 (S3)).

Subsequently, the ECU 4 judges whether or not the value of the counter is equal to or more than a preset threshold value (step 4
(S4)), if smaller than the threshold value (“N” in step 4)
For o ″), the process from step 2 is repeated until the value of the counter becomes equal to or more than the threshold value.

On the other hand, when the value of the counter is equal to or greater than the threshold value (“Yes” in step 4), the ECU 4 determines that the V-belt B has deteriorated to a predetermined level or more, and the indicator panel P A warning is output to the warning lamp 5 and / or the buzzer 6 (step 5 (S5)). Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, the belt damage sensor 3 is
Although an example including a pressure-sensitive sensor made of a pressure-sensitive conductive elastomer has been shown, the belt damage sensor 3 as the “contact type sensor” according to the present invention is a strain gauge, a load cell,
And a piezoelectric sensor in a broader sense such as a vibration sensor. In addition, the belt damage sensor 3,
It is also possible to substitute a button type or touch type switch.

Since the above-mentioned various sensors and switches are commercially available in relatively small sizes, particularly in the V-belt type continuously variable transmission 1 with the cover C, the cover C of the existing size can be installed. There is an advantage that the arrangement is easy. Third Embodiment In the first embodiment, the warning lamp 5 and / or the buzzer 6 included in the indicator panel P is used to give the rider a warning of “belt damage”. The "informing means" according to the present invention is not limited to the warning lamp 5 as the "light emitter" and the buzzer 6 as the "voice generator", respectively.

For example, as another embodiment of the "light-emitting device", an LCD (Liquor) is provided on the indicator panel P as shown in FIG.
id Crystarl Display) and is configured to display the "belt damage" warning on the LCD in addition to displaying the driving or running state information of the rough terrain vehicle A such as vehicle speed, engine speed, running mode, etc. It is also possible to do so.

Further, instead of simply displaying, it is also possible to change the backlight color of the LCD to, for example, a red color to issue a warning, and to use a color LCD as an image of various colors and shapes. It can also be configured to issue a warning.

Further, the warning lamp 5 can be composed of, for example, an optical semiconductor element such as an LED (light emitting diode).

A piezoelectric buzzer, a speaker or the like can be adopted as the buzzer 6 as the "voice generator".

【The invention's effect】

According to the riding type rough terrain vehicle equipped with the V-belt type continuously variable transmission according to the present invention, the V-belt type continuously variable transmission is provided.
It is possible to notify the user of the breakage of the V-belt inside the machine in advance without removing the cover of the machine . Therefore, it is possible to board the vehicle from the complicated work of removing the cover outdoors such as uneven terrain or replacing the V-belt. Can be released.

[Brief description of drawings]

[0049]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an overall configuration of a riding type four-wheel all-terrain vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is an overall plan view of the rough terrain vehicle shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the inside of the V-belt type continuously variable transmission shown in FIG. 1 with a part of its cover cut away.

4 is a IV-IV sectional view showing the internal structure of the V-belt type continuously variable transmission shown in FIG.

5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of the belt damage sensor shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control-related configuration of an all-terrain vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the components shown in the block diagram of FIG.

FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram showing a cross-sectional structure of a V-belt,
(B) is a perspective view showing a typical deterioration phenomenon which is a precursor of breakage of a V-belt having a sectional structure as shown in (a).

[Explanation of symbols]

1 …… V-belt type continuously variable transmission 3 …… Belt damage sensor 4 …… ECU 5 …… Warning lamp 6 …… Buzzer 10 …… Drive pulley 20 …… Driven pulley A …… Riding on uneven terrain Car B ... V belt

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-10-176741 (JP, A) JP-A-62-240827 (JP, A) JP-A-11-182640 (JP, A) JP-A-9- 79329 (JP, A) JP 7-4468 (JP, A) Actually opened 63-57847 (JP, U) Actually opened 61-49018 (JP, U) Actually opened 63-27753 (JP, U) Actually open 54-61972 (JP, U) Actually open 52-16484 (JP, U) Patent 2640826 (JP, B2) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F16H ^7/ 00- 9/26 B62M 9/08 G01L 1/00-25/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A drive pulley connected to an output shaft of an in-vehicle engine, a driven pulley connected to a traveling wheel through a gear type transmission, and a layered cross-section structure, wherein the drive pulley and the driven pulley are connected to each other. A V-belt that is interlockingly connected, and a large number of covering the driving pulley, the driven pulley, and the V-belt .
Belt type without cover with bolts
And a drive pulley and a driven pulley.
Each has a movable sheave and a fixed sheave, and the drive
The movable sheave on the pulley side has high and low engine speeds.
The drive diameter of the V belt is increased or decreased according to the
The movable sheave of R is designed to reduce the V-belt drive diameter.
Then, the rotation of the engine is steplessly changed to change the speed of the wheels.
In straddle-type all terrain vehicle that has been made in order to transfer to, a position of the inner surface of said cover along a trajectory outside of the V-belt, V-belt drive at the time of high-speed rotation of the engine
The V-belt wound around the drive pulley whose diameter increases
The non-contact state relative to the outer diameter surface of the
Immediately after coming into contact with the belt, the V belt swells outward in the radial direction of rotation.
A contact-type sensor that is arranged at a corresponding position that tends to detect the contact of the V-belt with the peeled portion from the other layer due to the deterioration of the V-belt, and the number of detections per unit time by the sensor is counted. , The
Counting means for detecting the number per unit time is repeated counts to greater than a predetermined number of times, provided to the steering wheel near the vehicle, when the detection count per unit time by the counting means exceeds the predetermined number of times, to that effect Sound generator or light emitting device to inform the driver
Straddle-type all-terrain vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a notifying means comprising. 2. The sensor is a pressure-sensitive sensor
The riding type rough terrain vehicle according to claim 1. 3. The sensor is made of pressure sensitive conductive rubber material.
The riding type rough terrain according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that
Traveling vehicle.