JPH0124676B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

The present invention relates to an attitude control device for a motorcycle, which controls a suspension system having a vehicle height adjustment function to appropriately control the attitude of a vehicle body. In order to properly control the vehicle height regardless of the weight of passengers, luggage, etc., a vehicle height adjustment device is used only when the vehicle is stopped, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 46-8165. The actuators are known in the art. By the way, when a motorcycle is stopped, the operator generally keeps his/her feet on the ground to keep the motorcycle in an upright position, so the load carried when the motorcycle is stopped is the same as when the rider is running with both feet on the steps. smaller than the payload. Therefore, when adjusting the vehicle height of a motorcycle according to the loaded load, if this is done only when the motorcycle is stopped as in the conventional method, the vehicle height will be lower than the appropriate value when the motorcycle is in a running state.
This causes problems specific to motorcycles. In addition, in order to eliminate this problem, if the vehicle height adjustment is performed both when the vehicle is stopped and when the vehicle is running, the vehicle will start or
Another problem is that the vehicle height adjustment device operates every time the vehicle is stopped, which wastes energy. The present invention has been proposed in view of the above, and it solves the above-mentioned problems peculiar to motorcycles by automatically adjusting the height of the motorcycle only when the vehicle is running, when its carrying load is at its maximum. It is an object of the present invention to provide the above-mentioned device that can avoid this problem and always ensure a proper running posture. In order to achieve this purpose, the present invention
An attitude control system for a motorcycle that includes a suspension device that supports wheels on the vehicle body, and a vehicle height adjustment device that can adjust the effective length of the suspension device to an appropriate value regardless of the load mounted on the vehicle body. a running state detector that detects that the motorcycle is in a running state; an attitude change detector that detects that the attitude of the vehicle body deviates from a specified state;
and in a condition where the attitude of the vehicle body deviates from a specified state, actuating the vehicle height adjustment device in response to each output signal of the driving state detector and the attitude change detector;
The vehicle height adjusting device is also characterized by comprising: a control device that maintains the vehicle height adjustment device in an inoperative state under conditions other than the above conditions. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, a front wheel 4 and a rear wheel 5 are supported on a body 1 of a motorcycle M via front and rear suspensions 2 and 3, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, the rear suspension system 3 includes a pair of left and right buffer air cylinders 6, 6', which are attached to the vehicle body 1 so that conduits 7, 7' extending from them communicate with each other. It is connected to a pressure balancer 8. This pressure equalizer 8 has two inlets 9, 10, one inlet 9 is connected to a conduit 12 via a manual cock 11, and the other inlet 10 is provided with an emergency air injection valve 13. An electric air pump 14, a normally closed solenoid valve 15, and a pressure gauge 16 are connected to the conduit 12 in parallel. A dehumidifier 18 is inserted in the suction passage connecting the air pump 14 and the air purifier 17, and a one-way valve 19 is installed in the discharge passage leading from the air pump 14 to the conduit 12 to prevent backflow of air discharged from the air pump 14. is inserted. The solenoid valve 15 opens and closes an air exhaust passage 20 communicating with the conduit 12 using a poppet valve 21.
The poppet valve 21 is normally held in a closed position by a spring 22, and is opened by a solenoid 23. An orifice 24 for regulating the air discharge speed is provided at the atmosphere opening of the air discharge passage 20.
is provided. The air pump 14 and the solenoid valve 15 cooperate with each other to constitute the vehicle height adjustment device of the present invention, which can adjust the effective length of the suspension device 3 to an appropriate value regardless of the load mounted on the vehicle body. The operation is controlled by the output signal of the control device 25. Further, the control device 25 is controlled by output signals from a running state detector 26 and an attitude change detector 27. 2
Reference numeral 8 indicates a power source thereof, and reference numeral 29 indicates a main switch. An example of the installation position of these on the motorcycle M is shown in FIG. The above configuration will be specifically explained with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5B. First, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the running state detector 26 consists of a rotary plate 31 that rotates in conjunction with the pointer shaft of a vehicle speed meter 30, and a photoelectric device 32 provided near the periphery of this rotary plate 31. configured. Rotating plate 3
A notch 33 is provided on the periphery of the frame 1 over a rotation angle range corresponding to a vehicle speed of a predetermined value (for example, 16 km/h) or higher.
is formed, while the optoelectronic device 32 includes a light projector 32
a and a light receiver 32b, and a light emitter 32a
When the vehicle speed is less than a predetermined value, the light emitted from the rotary plate 31 is blocked and does not reach the light receiver 32b, and when the vehicle speed exceeds the predetermined value, the light passes through the notch 33 as the rotary plate 31 rotates. and reaches the light receiver 32b. When the light emitted by the light emitter 32a reaches the light receiver 32b, the photoelectric device 32 immediately produces a high level output signal indicating that the vehicle speed has exceeded a predetermined value, that is, the motorcycle is substantially in a running state. This photoelectric device 32, that is, the running state detection device 26
The following table shows the output level in response to changes in vehicle speed.

[Table] Next, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the attitude change detector 27 is connected to a lifting plate 34 that is connected to the body 1 of the motorcycle M and moves up and down according to changes in vehicle height, and a rear suspension system 3. It is composed of first and second photoelectric devices 35 and 36 connected to the rear fork 3a, which is a constituent member, and arranged around the elevating plate 34, and these photoelectric devices 35 and 36 are a floodlight 35a,
36a and light receivers 35b, 36b. The elevating plate 34 has first and second slits 37 and 38 extending in the vertical direction, such that a certain lower area of the first slit 37 and a certain upper area of the second slit 38 are adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction. Both slits 37 and 38 are displaced in the vertical direction, and the first slit 37 has the following cooperative relationship with the first photoelectric device 35, and the second slit 38 has the following cooperative relationship with the second photoelectric device 36. That is, when the vehicle height is within the specified value range, the light emitted from each of the projectors 35a and 36a passes through the slits 37 and 38 and reaches the receivers 35b and 36b, and when the vehicle height is below the specified value range. When the light is decreased, the light emitted by the projector 35a passes through the slit 37 and reaches the receiver 35b, but the light emitted by the projector 26a is blocked by the elevating plate 34 and does not reach the receiver 36b. When increases beyond the specified value range, contrary to the above, the light receiver 35b does not receive light,
The light receiver 36b is configured to receive light. Both photoelectric devices 35, 36 produce high level output signals when their photoreceptors receive light. Here, the output levels of the first and second photoelectric devices 35 and 36 are shown in the following table in response to changes in vehicle height.

[Table] In FIG. 3, the first and second photoelectric devices 3
The output signals of 5 and 36 are sent to the NAND circuit 39,
This NAND circuit 39 and running state detector 26
The output signal of is sent to the first AND circuit 40, and this
The output signal of the AND circuit 40 is sent to the timer circuit 41, and the timer circuit 41 and the first photoelectric device 3
The output signal of No. 5 is sent to the second AND circuit 42, and the output signal of the timer circuit 41 and the output signal of the first photoelectric device 35 inverted by the inverter 43 are sent to the second AND circuit 42.
3AND circuit 44, and the second AND circuit 4.
The output of 2 causes the air pump 14 to
The solenoid valves 15 are operated by the output of the 3AND circuit 44, respectively. Also, the second,
A pilot lamp 45 is connected to the output sides of the 3AND circuits 42 and 44 via diodes D ₁ and D ₂ , which is lit depending on the output of either of them. In the above, the NAND circuit 39, first to first
The 3AND circuits 40, 42, 44, the timer circuit 41, and the inverter 43 constitute the control device 25, and the air pump 14 and the solenoid valve 15 constitute the vehicle height adjustment device. Next, to explain the operation of this embodiment, first, the main switch 29 is closed. If the vehicle speed is less than the predetermined value, the output of the driving state detector 26 is at a low level, so the
1NAND circuit 40, timer circuit 41 and second,
The outputs of the third AND circuits 42 and 44 are both at a low level, and both the air pump 14 and the solenoid valve 15 do not operate. When the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined value and the motorcycle is substantially in a running state, and the vehicle height has decreased below the specified value range, the output of the running state detector 26 is at a high level, and the first photoelectric device 35 is also at a high level, and the output from the second photoelectric device 36 is at a low level.
9 becomes a high level, and in response to this high level output and the high level output of the running state detector 26, the
The output of the 1AND circuit 40 also becomes high level, which causes the timer circuit 41 to operate and produce a high level output after a certain period of time (for example, 6 seconds). Then, the
The 2AND circuit 42 receives the high level output of the timer circuit 41 and the high level output of the first photoelectric device 35 and produces a high level output, so the air pump 14 is operated and the pressurized air discharged from it is as shown in FIG. Air is supplied to the air cylinders 6, 6' through the one-way valve 19, the conduit 12, the pressure equalizer 8 and the conduits 7, 7' shown in FIG. on the other hand,
The third AND circuit 44 receives as one input the high level output of the first photoelectric device 35 which has been inverted to a low level by the inverter 43, so its output is at a low level and therefore the solenoid valve 15 is activated. do not. When the vehicle speed is above a predetermined value, the motorcycle is substantially in a running state, and the vehicle height is within the specified value range, the high level output of the first photoelectric device 35 and the high level output of the second photoelectric device 36 are output. Output and NAND
The output of circuit 39 is at a low level, so that both air pump 14 and solenoid valve 15 are not activated, as is clear from the above-described operation. Therefore, as described above, if the vehicle height increases due to the operation of the air pump 14 and falls within the specified value range, the air pump 14 immediately stops operating. When the vehicle speed is above a predetermined value, the motorcycle is substantially in a running state, and the vehicle height has increased beyond the predetermined value range, the low level output of the first photoelectric device 35 and the second photoelectric device 36 are output. The NAND circuit 39 generates a high level output and activates the timer circuit 41, and after a certain period of time,
The third AND circuit 44 generates a high level output in response to the high level output generated by the first photoelectric device 1 and the high level output obtained by inverting the low level output of the first photoelectric device 35, and the third AND circuit 44 generates a high level output. operates,
That is, the valve is opened. As a result, in FIG. 2, the pressurized air in the air cylinders 6, 6' is
is emitted into the atmosphere, reducing the vehicle height. When the vehicle height returns to within the specified value range, the electromagnetic valve 15 returns to the closed state, as is clear from the above-described operation. Even if the vehicle height is within the specified value range, for example, when driving on an uneven road surface, the vehicle body 1 repeatedly vibrates up and down due to the cushioning effect of the suspension systems 2 and 3, so the vehicle height may momentarily deviate from the specified value range. and the first AND each time
A high level output from the circuit 40 is input to the timer circuit 41, but the input time is instantaneous and does not exceed the delay time of the timer circuit 41, so the output of the timer circuit 41 is still kept at a low level and the air Pump 14 and solenoid valve 15 do not operate. 6 to 8 show a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the running state detector 26 is connected to the seventh embodiment.
As shown in the figure, the position of the notch 33 of the rotating plate 31 is determined so that the light receiver of the photoelectric device 32 receives light when the vehicle speed is less than a predetermined value, and the attitude change detector 27 is set as shown in FIG. As such, the positions of the first and second photoelectric devices 35, 36 are reversed from that in FIG. 5A. Therefore, the situation of the output level of the running state detector 26 of the second embodiment is shown in Table 3, and the situation of the output level of the first and second photoelectric devices 35 and 36 of the attitude change detector 27 is shown in Table 4. Each is shown in the table.

【table】

[Table] Now, in FIG. 6, the main switch 29 is closed. Then, when the vehicle speed is less than a predetermined value, the output of the running state detector 26 is at a high level, that is, the transistors Q ₁ and Q ₂ are closed, and accordingly, the transistor Q ₃ of the running state detection circuit 46 is opened. state. and transistor Q ₄ through resistor R ₁
transistor by energizing the base of
Q ₄ becomes closed. Meanwhile, at the same time, in the first and second timer circuits 47 and 48, capacitors C ₁₁ and
Charging of C ₂₁ starts, but since the charging of capacitors C ₁₁ and C ₂₁ does not reach a certain value until a certain period of time has passed, the base potential of transistors Q ₁₅ and Q ₂₅ does not drop sufficiently. As a result, the transistors Q ₁₅ , Q ₁₆ ; Q ₂₅ , Q ₂₆ remain open, and accordingly the transistors Q ₁₇ , Q ₂₇ become closed, and the normally open relay 49 operates to operate the air pump 14 and , the solenoid valve 15 operates and the pilot lamp 45 lights up. When a certain period of time elapses after charging of capacitors C ₁₁ and C ₂₁ starts, the base potential of transistors Q ₁₅ and Q ₂₅ decreases sufficiently, transistors Q ₁₅ and Q ₂₅ become closed, and resistors R ₁₈ and R ₂₈ , charging of capacitors C ₁₂ and C ₂₂ is started via transistors Q ₁₅ and Q ₂₅ and resistors R ₁₄ and R ₂₄ , and the transistors are further charged via resistors R ₁₅ and R ₂₅ .
By energizing the bases of Q ₁₆ and Q ₂₆ , the potential of those bases increases and the transistors
Q ₁₆ and Q ₂₆ are closed. Correspondingly, the base potential of the transistors Q ₁₇ and Q ₂₇ decreases, and the transistors Q ₁₇ and Q ₂₇ become open, and as a result, the simultaneous operation of the air pump 14, the solenoid valve 15, and the pilot lamp 45 is stopped. In this way, the fact that the three loads 14, 15, and 45 operate simultaneously for a certain period of time immediately after the main switch 29 is closed means that there is no failure in the electric circuit. When the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined value and the motorcycle is substantially in a running state, the output of the running state detector 26 is at a low level, that is, the transistors Q ₁ and Q ₂ are in an open state, and accordingly, the output voltage is increased through the resistor R ₀ . As a result, the base of transistor Q ₃ is energized and its base potential rises, so that transistor Q ₃ becomes closed, and therefore transistor Q ₄ becomes open as its base potential decreases. In this state, if the vehicle height is within the specified value range, the output of the first photoelectric device 35 is at a high level;
That is, since the transistors Q ₁₁ and Q ₁₂ are in the closed state, the transistors of the first posture change detection circuit 50
Q ₁₄ is in the closed state, and accordingly, the transistor Q ₁₅ of the first timer circuit 47 is in the closed state because its base potential is kept at a low potential, and the transistor Q ₁₇ is in the open state and normally open. Relay 49 is not activated and therefore air pump 14 remains stopped. On the other hand, since the output of the second photoelectric device 36 is also at a high level, the transistor _Q27 of the second timer circuit 48 is kept open due to the same effect as described above, and the solenoid valve 15 is also stopped (in the closed state). ). When the vehicle speed is above a predetermined value, the motorcycle is substantially in a running state, and the vehicle height is reduced below the predetermined value range, the output of the first photoelectric device 35 is at a low level, that is, the transistors Q ₁₁ and Q Since transistor _Q12 is open, transistor _Q14 is open. Then, the capacitor _C11 of the first timer circuit starts discharging through the resistor _R12 , and after a certain period of time, the transistor C11 starts discharging through the resistor R12.
_Q15 becomes open as its base potential increases. As a result, the capacitor C ₁₂ begins to discharge through the resistors R ₁₅ and R ₁₆ , and as the base potential of the transistor Q ₁₆ decreases, the transistor Q ₁₆ becomes open, and the voltage flows through the resistor R ₁₇ to the base of the transistor Q ₁₇ . When the transistor Q17 is energized and its base potential rises, the transistor _Q17 is closed, the normally open relay 49 is closed, and the air pump 14 is activated to extend the air cylinders 6, 6' and increase the vehicle height. let At the same time, the pilot lamp 45 also lights up. On the other hand, since the output of the second photoelectric device 36 remains at a low level, the transistor _Q27 of the second timer circuit 48 remains open and the solenoid valve 15 remains inactive. Furthermore, when the vehicle speed is above a predetermined value, the motorcycle is substantially in a running state, and the vehicle height increases beyond the predetermined value range, the output of the second photoelectric device 36 becomes a lower level. The transistor Q ₂₄ of the second attitude change detection circuit 51 is closed, and the transistor Q ₂₇ of the second timer circuit 48 is also closed for a certain period of time, and the solenoid valve 15 is activated to contract the air cylinders 6, 6'. , the vehicle height is lowered, and the pilot lamp 45 is turned on at the same time. In the above embodiment, the running state detection circuit 46,
The first and second posture change detection circuits 50 and 51 and the first and second timer circuits 47 and 48 are connected to the control device 2.
5. Note that F ₁ and F ₂ in FIG. 6 are low-pass filters. 9A and 9B show a modification of the posture change detector 27, which includes a rotating plate 52 rotatably supported on the vehicle body 1, and first and second photoelectric devices disposed close to the outer circumference of the rotating plate 52. 35, 36, and the rotary plate 52 has an operating lever 53 and a connecting rod 54.
It is connected to the rear fork 3a via the rear fork 3a, and rotates in conjunction with the vertical swing of the rear fork 3a. Further, the rotating plate 52 is connected to the photoelectric devices 35 and 36.
It has stepped notches 55 and 56 on the outer periphery that cooperate with the
When the vehicle height is within the specified value range, only the light from the emitter 35a of the first photoelectric device 35 reaches its light receiver 35b through the shallow notch 55, and when the vehicle height is below the specified value range, both photoelectric devices The light from the projectors 35a, 36a of the devices 35, 36 is blocked by the rotary plate 52, and when the vehicle height is above the specified value range, the light from the projectors 35a, 36a of both photoelectric devices 35, 36 passes through the deep notch 56. Each light receiver 35b,
36b. In this case, the situation of the output level of the second photoelectric device 36 is completely opposite to that in Table 4, so this is shown in Table 6.
To apply the present invention to the illustrated embodiment, it is necessary to provide signal inverting means on the input side of the transistor _Q24 of the second attitude change detection circuit 51. Further, in this device, the link 54 is equipped with a turnbuckle 57, and this turnbuckle 5
7 to adjust the length of the connecting rod 54 and rotate the rotary plate 5.
By changing the phase of the two notches 55 and 56, the value of the vehicle height to be adjusted can be adjusted. Further, the attitude change detector 27 may directly detect the distance between the vehicle body 1 and the road surface, or may directly detect the swing angle of the rear fork 3a. FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment of the present invention,
Both the front and rear suspension systems 2 and 3 are configured to be pneumatic, and the heights of the front and rear parts of the vehicle body 1 are adjusted by controlling each of them separately. In this case, compared to the previous embodiment, a front attitude change detector 27' for detecting a change in the front vehicle height of the vehicle body 1, a solenoid valve 58' for supplying pressurized air to the front suspension system 2 system, and a pressure A solenoid valve 15' for air discharge and a solenoid valve 58 for supplying pressurized air to the rear suspension system 3 are newly added. The air pump 14 and the solenoid valves 15, 15', 58, and 58' cooperate with each other to constitute the vehicle height adjusting device of the present invention. FIG. 11 shows a suspension system, for example a rear suspension system 3.
This shows a modification of the vehicle height adjustment device for use in a vehicle, in which a pressure accumulator 59 is connected to the conduit 12 connected to the suspension device 3 via a solenoid valve 60, and a one-way valve 19 is connected to the pressure accumulator 59.
An air pump 14 is connected through the air pump. The vehicle height increase signal issued from the control device 25 is sent to the electromagnetic valve 60 to open it, and the pressurized air stored in the pressure accumulator 59 is supplied to the suspension system 3 through the conduit 12, causing the pressure accumulator to open. When the pressure of the air pump 59 is reduced below a certain pressure, the air pump 14 is activated. Therefore, the air pump 14, the solenoid valves 15, 6
0 and the pressure accumulator 59 cooperate with each other to constitute the vehicle height adjustment device of the present invention. In each of the above embodiments, the vehicle height adjustment device is configured to be pneumatic, but it may also be configured to be mechanical or hydraulic. As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a suspension device that supports wheels on a vehicle body; a vehicle height adjustment device that can adjust the effective length of the suspension device to an appropriate value regardless of the load mounted on the vehicle body; a running state detector that detects when the motorcycle is in a running state; an attitude change detector that detects when the motorcycle's attitude deviates from a specified state; Under conditions that deviate from the above conditions, the vehicle height adjustment device is operated in response to output signals from the running condition detector and the attitude change detector, and under conditions other than the above conditions, the vehicle height adjustment device is maintained in an inoperable state. The vehicle height adjustment device is operated only when the motorcycle is running when its carrying load is at its maximum, and the running posture of the vehicle body can be automatically and accurately adjusted at all times. Like when adjusting the vehicle height only when the vehicle is stopped.
This eliminates the problem that is typical of motorcycles, such as when the vehicle height drops below the appropriate value when the vehicle starts riding after adjustment is completed, and the vehicle body can always maintain an accurate running posture regardless of the weight of the loaded load. This can greatly contribute to improving the driving performance of motorcycles. In addition, the vehicle height adjustment device can be kept inactive when the vehicle is stopped when the vehicle height adjustment is not originally required, so the vehicle height adjustment device does not operate every time the vehicle stops or starts. Energy can be saved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show embodiments of the present invention; FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a motorcycle equipped with the device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the device of the present invention, and FIG. Electrical circuit diagram embodying the main parts of Figure 2, No. 4A
The figure is a front view of the running condition detector in Figure 3, and Figure 4B.
5A is a front view of the attitude change detector in FIG. 3, FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the main part, and FIG. 6 is a second view of the device of the present invention. The electric circuit diagram of the embodiment, FIG. 7 is a front view of the running state detector in FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a front view of the attitude change detector in FIG. 6, and FIG. 9A is a front view of the attitude change detector. FIG. 9B is an enlarged front view of the main parts, FIG. 9C is an enlarged perspective view of the main parts, and FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the third embodiment of the device of the present invention. , FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a modification of the vehicle height adjustment device. M...Motorcycle, 1...Vehicle body, 2...Front suspension, 3...Rear suspension, 4...Front wheel, 5...
...Rear wheel, 25...Control device, 26...Driving state detector, 27'...Front attitude change detector, 27...
Rear attitude change detector, 14; 15, 15', 58,
58', 60; 59...Air pump constituting the vehicle height adjustment device; Solenoid valve; Pressure accumulator.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An attitude control system for a motorcycle that includes a suspension system that supports wheels on the vehicle body and a vehicle height adjustment system that can adjust the effective length of this suspension system to an appropriate value regardless of the load mounted on the vehicle body. a running state detector that detects that the motorcycle is in a running state; an attitude change detector that detects that the attitude of the vehicle body deviates from a specified state; Under conditions that deviate from the above conditions, the vehicle height adjustment device is operated in response to output signals from the driving state detector and the attitude change detector, and under conditions other than the above conditions, the vehicle height adjustment device is maintained in an inoperable state. An attitude control device for a motorcycle, comprising: a control device;